Senate District 20 News and Year in Review

Dear Friend,   

It is my privilege and honor to represent the people of Kalamazoo County at our State Capitol in Lansing. It is hard to believe that another year is about to come to a close. With legislative activity for 2021 concluded and the holiday season upon us, I would like to reflect on the work we did together over the past year and use it as a guide for what will need to be done in 2022.  

Below is a look at some of our legislative and community service highlights of the past year: 

THE YEAR IN NUMBERS 

THE YEAR IN PHOTOS 

I proudly welcomed President Joseph R. Biden to Portage when he toured the Pfizer plant that produces COVID-19 vaccines, one of his first presidential visits after taking office. 

My team and I knocked on thousands of doors throughout Kalamazoo County to hear directly from you about the most important issues facing our community. 

I continue to stand in solidarity with workers from BCTGM Local 3-G who are on strike for an equitable wage system.

I was honored to see Gov. Whitmer sign into law my SB 686 of 2021, and to join her for a belated ceremonial signing of my bill that became Public Act 68 of 2019. 

On Friday, Dec. 17, I had the chance to tour the construction site for the new Portage Senior Center. I was proud to work with Rep. Christine Morse and Mayor Patricia M. Randall to secure $1.5 million toward construction and am excited to see this center in use in 2022. 

LEGISLATIVE WORK  

When you contact me about issues affecting your families or communities, you play a special role in the legislative process. Your concerns and insights helped shape the legislation I introduced, supported, or opposed this year. Here are just a few examples. 

Introduced Bills  

This year, I introduced bills to:  

• Fight the opioid epidemic and prevent future overdose deaths by creating Drug Fatality Review Teams made up of medical examiners, public health experts, and first responders. (Senate Bill 436) 
• Increase recycling by expanding Michigan’s successful “Bottle Bill” to include plastic water bottles and other single-use containers. (Senate Bill 167) 
• Ensure equity in our school attendance policies by creating universal definitions for “truant” and “chronically absent,” and prohibit suspension or expulsion as punishment for truancy. The punishment for missing school should not be to keep kids out of school. (Senate Bill 68) 
• Make our streets safer by creating Vulnerable Road User protections for cyclists, pedestrians, and wheelchair users. (Senate Bill 580) 
• Conserve energy and save heating costs for low-income households by increasing our state’s investment in weatherization programs. (Senate Bill 749) 
• Protect voting rights by passing a resolution to urge the United States Congress to pass the “For the People Act” ensuring voting access, election integrity and security in our electoral system in all states nationwide. (Senate Resolution 54) 

Co-sponsored Bills  

In addition, I supported legislation by co-sponsoring bills that will:   

• Affirm women’s right to freedom with their reproductive health choices by repealing 1930s-era laws criminalizing abortion and creating the Michigan Reproductive Health Act. (Senate Bill 70, Senate Bill 732) 
• Provide greater access to affordable housing by prohibiting discrimination in housing based on source of income. (Senate Bill 254) 
• Advance LGBTQ+ equality by expanding Michigan’s Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act and banning “conversion therapy” for minors. (Senate Bill 208, Senate Bill 367)  
• Expand health care coverage to postpartum women on Medicaid. (Senate Bill 252) 
• Stand up for auto accident victims by reforming reimbursement rates to rehabilitation clinics providing care to individuals with long-term traumatic injuries from auto accidents. (Senate Bill 314) 

State Budget  

This year, my colleagues and I in the Michigan Senate came together in bipartisan fashion to pass bills enacting a state budget for Fiscal Year 2022-23. I am proud of what we accomplished – click here to review the highlights of this budget including some exciting projects in Kalamazoo County such as: 

• $3 million toward construction of a new U.S. 131 interchange 
• $1.5 million toward construction of a new Portage Senior Center 
• $3.5 million total toward expanded autism treatment services in Kalamazoo County 

HAPPY HOLIDAYS from my family to yours, and I look forward to continuing to serve you in 2022! 

Sean McCann
State Senator
20th District