Dear Neighbor,
I want to make sure you’re informed about what has been going on in our state government and update you on what I’ve been working on.
As always, you can reach my office at (517) 373-2406 or by replying to this email.
Please join me this Saturday for a Coffee Hour. These events are a great way to share your questions and ideas with me while also receiving a firsthand update on what my colleagues and I are working on in the Legislature.
WHEN: Saturday, September 16 at 11:00 a.m.
WHERE: Brewed Awakenings Café, 7025 E Michigan Ave, Saline, MI 48176
Since it is this week, don’t forget to click “Going” on the Facebook event page to get a reminder the day before and the day of.
If you have any questions, please contact my office at (517) 373-2406 or by responding to this email.
District Events
Ann Arbor Farmers Market: Saturday, September 9 at 7 a.m. | 315 Detroit St.
Besties on The Boulevard: Thursday, September 14 from 4 p.m. – 8 p.m. | Downtown Tecumseh
WRAP Movie Night in the Park: Friday, September 15 from 8:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. | Frog Island Park
Entheofest (I will be a guest speaker): Sunday, September 17 from 1:11 p.m. – 4:20 p.m. | The Diag, University of Michigan Central Campus
Classic Car & Bike Show: Thursday, September 21 from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. | 205 E. Chicago Blvd. Tecumseh
Manchester Farmers Market: Thursday, September 28 from 3 p.m. – 7 p.m. | Chi-Bro Park, 209 Ann Arbor Street
Ypsilanti Farmers Market: Saturday, September 30 from 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. | 100 Rice St.
Legislative Update
The Legislature meets on a schedule that roughly parallels the school year, though legislators spend the summer meeting with constituents and working on future legislation. I’m excited to be back in Lansing as important legislation is being introduced and advancing through the Senate. Here’s a few of the projects I’ve been working on and plan to introduce in the coming weeks:
Ensure Foster Care Review Boards Appropriately Serve Indigenous Children
Michigan has a system of local volunteer foster care review boards (FCRB) who provide a third-party perspective to the courts and MDHHS on certain foster care cases. Unfortunately, Michigan law does not direct the boards to work with tribal governments when cases involve Native American children, and some boards have refused to engage with tribes. This exclusion perpetuates the shameful role of the child welfare system in systematically removing indigenous children and severing their relationships to their tribes. My bill would codify the role of tribal governments in the FCRB process so that Native American children can remain connected to their communities and cultures.
Ensure Dyslexia is Identified and Addressed
Dyslexia is the most common learning disability, affecting at least 1 in 20 people in the US, but it can be easy to miss in young kids until they have already fallen far behind in reading. I am working with colleagues to re-introduce legislation to require schools to screen kids specifically for difficulty in decoding and other characteristics of dyslexia, provide appropriate evidence-based intervention services, and require teacher preparation programs to include information on dyslexia and science of reading. This session, this legislation will be integrated into the Read by Third Grade law, which will make it simpler for schools to implement and to avoid duplicative testing.
Decriminalize Entheogenic Plants
Entheogenic plants and fungi (also known as psychedelics) are part of traditional spiritual practices in many religions and have a low potential for abuse. Entheogens are increasingly being used in professional mental health treatment for PTSD and depression, including by the Veterans’ Administration. Michigan law still classifies entheogens as Schedule I substances with no medical use, so our state continues to waste public money on enforcing a failed policy of prohibition. My bill would decriminalize the cultivation, transfer and use of entheogenic plants and fungi containing naturally occurring substances such as mescaline or psilocybin. Selling entheogens would still be illegal.
Clean up Pollution and Hold Polluters Accountable
Michigan’s laws on environmental cleanup have been weakened over the years. We have tens of thousands of orphaned sites where the polluter is unknown, defunct or unable to pay for cleanup. Even at sites where there is a viable “responsible party,” the law often allows polluted land or water to be fenced off instead of cleaned up (for example, the Gelman Sciences plume). I am working with colleagues on a broad legislative package designed to require better cleanups, make more information about sites available to the public, require polluting industries to fund cleanups and provide better civil recourse to the public and to individuals who are harmed by pollution.
Support Parents Who Give Kids Reasonable Independence
Many parents, myself included, would like to be able to exercise their judgment and knowledge of their own kids to allow them to do more things independent of adult supervision. We would like our kids to develop skills and confidence from the sorts of activities that we did on our own at their age: walking to school, playing at the park and biking to the library. While many argue that the world has become too dangerous for this sort of childhood, facts about crime rates and injuries don’t bear that out. What has changed is attitudes towards parenting. Parents have a justified fear that they will be reported to the police or Child Protective Services for leaving their kids unaccompanied even in the most benign of settings; such cases show up in the news regularly. This legislation would clarify that, allowing kids reasonable independence appropriate to their age and life skills does not constitute child abuse or neglect.
Resources
September Is National Recovery Month
National Recovery Month (Recovery Month), celebrated throughout September, is a time to honor the resilience and strength of individuals who have embarked on the journey of recovery from addiction or mental health challenges. It is a month dedicated to raising awareness, reducing stigma and promoting understanding of the recovery process.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) sees Recovery Month as an opportunity to inspire hope and reinforce the message that recovery is a lifelong journey worth pursuing. Through education, advocacy and events, SAMHSA works to raise public awareness regarding mental health and addiction recovery.
Throughout September, SAMHSA is hosting several events to commemorate National Recovery Month. A list of events, times, locations and registration information can be found here.
SAMHSA also offers additional resources, including:
- National Recovery Month Tool Kit
- Ways to find support
- Resources to find treatment
- Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
Mini-grants Available to Address PFAS Testing Efforts
The Great Lakes PFAS Action Network is providing mini grants to impacted communities to directly fuel local, grassroots efforts to organize and test for PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), as well as promote educational information about the pollutant.
Organizations, community groups and individuals are eligible to apply for the mini-grants program. Project proposals should fit under one or more of the three funding areas: PFAS Education and Awareness Raising, PFAS Research and Testing, or Community Organizing. Applications will be accepted through September 12.
For more information, click here. To access the grant application, click here.
Power Outages and Severe Weather Resources
In response to recent severe weather across the state, our first responders and officials are working hard to ensure there is a swift delivery of resources to affected areas. To those of you who suffered outages lasting days, I share your frustration. Some of us are on our 5th power outage of the year. We need accountability, more than pitiful credits. If you’d like to hear me discuss these necessary changes in detail and how we can move towards grid reliability, you can listen here on Michigan Radio.
Please continue to exercise caution as some areas are still being cleared and assessed for damage. If you need help or see something to report, use the following links.
To report downed power lines:
🔌 DTE: outage.dteenergy.com/report-down-line
🔌 Consumers Energy: Call 1-888-535-9003
To report flooding or flood damage, visit Michigan.gov/difs/consumers/disaster-prep/flood.
For additional safety tips, visit Michigan.gov/miready.
UIA Coaching Session for First Time Filers
Workers in Michigan applying for jobless benefits now can receive online guidance from trained instructors at the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA). These coaching sessions can be accessed through the UIA website. It’s important to note that participating in an orientation session is not mandatory to qualify for benefits.
During these sessions, UIA staff will provide guidance on the UIA’s new online Claimant Roadmap, a user-friendly tool designed to simplify the application process and enhance understanding of benefits. Here’s the specific information you need to know:
- Sessions are available on specific days and times:
- 9-11 a.m. Tuesdays
- 3-5 p.m. Wednesdays
- 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursdays
- 1-3 p.m. Fridays
- After signing up, users will receive an email with a link to use during their selected session.
- Reminder emails will be sent one day and one hour before the session begins.
- These sessions are not for individuals with current claims.
- Those with current claims can seek assistance through other channels:
- Call UIA’s Customer Service line at 1-866-500-0017
- Visit Michigan.gov/UIA to schedule an in-person, phone or virtual appointment
- Use the website’s Ask Ava chat feature for answers to questions
Safety Precautions During Yellowjacket and Hornet Peak Seasons
As we transition into the late summer and early fall, it’s important to be aware that August and September mark the peak seasons for yellowjackets and hornets. These stinging insects become more active during this time, making it crucial to take necessary precautions to ensure your safety.
Here are some tips to keep you and your family safe:
- Locate the nest and treat it with a registered insecticide.
- Check your property for potential harborage points, like open spots in the ground, hollow tree stumps or openings between the walls.
- Cover eating containers as much as possible, especially when eating outdoors.
- Be sure to add natural wasp-repellent plants like eucalyptus, spearmint or thyme around your surrounding property.
- Contact pest control for removal service and related information:
- To contact the State of Michigan’s Pesticide and Plant Pest Management Division (PPPMD), call 1-800-292-3939.
- To utilize free yellow jacket and hornet removal, contact mihornetremoval.com. They are willing to travel 40 miles from Perry, Michigan or further based on order status. In the event they cannot make it to your area, they will be able to provide solid referrals to other free removal services.
By staying informed and implementing effective measures, we can minimize the risk of encountering these pests and enjoy the remaining warm days of the season with peace of mind.
Things To Know When Considering Student Loans
As Michiganders prepare for fall semester, tuition bills are piling up and student loans are looming. That is why the Michigan Department of Treasury’s MI Student Aid Team is asking students and their families to be alert and informed when considering student loans. To make the best decision regarding student loans, the MI Student Aid Team recommends to:
- Complete the FAFSA to maximize financial aid options
- Understand that loans must be repaid with interest
- Compare interest rates and repayment terms before accepting a loan
- Only accept the amount needed and follow instructions to adjust loan amounts
- Beware of loan scams and protect personal banking information
- Visit the school’s financial aid office regularly to stay informed
- Create a studentaid.gov account to manage federal student loans and explore repayment options
For more information, visit michigan.gov/mistudentaid or contact MI Student Aid via email, phone, or social media.
Keep Your Medicaid Coverage
Michigan will restart Medicaid eligibility renewals in June, and amend certain waived policies that were in place during the pandemic. Monthly renewal notifications will be sent by mail in the beginning of May. You can learn more about the changes here.
To determine if you still qualify:
- Make sure your contact information is up to date
- Check your mail or text messages for a letter
- Complete your renewal form (only if you receive one)
Ways to complete a renewal:
- Complete and return the paper renewal mailed to you.
- Complete on MI Bridges
- Fax your renewal to 1-517-346-9888.
- Call 1-833-599-6444, TTY: 1-866-501-5656 to complete the renewal over the phone for Medicaid/Healthy Michigan Plan programs.
Video Resources
Check Your Tax Refund Status
Check the status of your tax refund online by using information from your tax returns eServices Individual Income Tax (michigan.gov).
Weekly Road Work Schedule
If you want to avoid construction and road closures, you can view current road closures and construction projects by township here.
Michigan Achievement Scholarship
The Michigan Achievement Scholarship application has opened for all high school seniors! This scholarship will provide:
- Up to $2,750 if you attend a community college per year
- Up to $5,500 if you attend a public university, per year
- Up to $4,000 if you attend a private college or university, per year
There is no deadline for this scholarship. Students have 15 months from either their high school graduation or high school equivalency completion to enter college and use the funds they are awarded.
High school seniors can get started by following these steps:
- File your FAFSA
- Create a MiSSG Student Portal account three to five business days after filing your FAFSA