Dear Friend,
Thank you for reading my e-newsletter. It’s an honor to serve as your State Senator and represent Kalamazoo County and Antwerp Township of Van Buren County.
Featured in this newsletter:
- FY 2023-24 Budget Passage and Highlights
- Legislative Updates
- District Activities
- Kalamazoo Pride
- Comstock Community Learning Center Visit
- Virtual Coffee Hour
- Helpful Resources
As always, please feel free to contact my office and let me know your thoughts, concerns and how I and my staff can be of service to you.
Sincerely,
Sean McCann
State Senator
District 19
HISTORIC FY 2023-24 BUDGET PASSAGE AND HIGHLIGHTS
Last week, I was proud to join my colleagues in the Michigan Legislature in passing historic budgets for the FY 23-24 Fiscal year. I am hopeful the Governor will sign them into law soon. The overall budget will make investments in our schools, local communities, roads and infrastructure, health, public safety and more:
- More than $24.3 billion committed to school funding in the FY 23-24 budget, which represents a more than 9% increase from the current year’s budget. Alongside other programs, the state will pilot universal free breakfast and lunch for all primary school students. It allots $160 million for the idea, along with putting $225 million to reimburse public school teachers up to $400 a month to pay off student loans.
- A $6.6 billion Michigan Department of Transportation budget, with $1.95 billion distributed to local road agencies.
- In the Department of Health and Human Services, $140 million to support an 85-cent-per-hour wage increase for direct care workers and long-term care workers.
- Tens of millions of dollars in spending from the Natural Resources Trust Fund to add new parkland and improve existing parks.
- A $100 million deposit into the state’s Budget Stabilization Fund, more commonly known as the Rainy-Day Fund, and a $450 million deposit from the School Aid Fund into a newly created Budget Stabilization Fund for school funding.
Additionally, as Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I have worked hard during the budget process to bring back state resources to our community. I am especially proud to help secure funds towards the completion of the U.S. 131 Interchange, a project I have been passionate about for decades and hope will be transformational for our community. I was also pleased to work closely with Rep. Christine Morse and Rep. Julie M. Rogers to help bring investments to the phenomenal higher education institutions in our community: Western Michigan University and Kalamazoo Valley Community College.
In working with my House colleagues, Representatives Morse and Rogers, the following projects and funding for our community are included in the budget sent to Governor Whitmer:
- $20 million to complete the U.S. 131 Interchange Business Loop
- $4 million for the Western Michigan University Autism Center of Excellence to expand services for children with severe needs
- $3 million for the Michigan Geological Survey housed at Western Michigan University
- $2.2 million for Texas Township to address long-term flooding challenges
- $1.75 million for the City of Portage to build a new farmers market
- $530,000 for Kalamazoo Valley Community College to help build a pipeline of careers in renewable energy
- $500,000 for the Community Based Crisis Response Pilot Program in Kalamazoo to train behavioral health specialists working with law enforcement
- $250,000 towards the development of a multi-venue performing arts center in downtown Kalamazoo (KNAC)
LEGISLATIVE UPDATES
Repealing Michigan’s “No Stricter than Federal” Law
For my first sponsored bill in the 102nd Michigan Legislature, I re-introduced legislation to repeal Michigan’s “No Stricter than Federal” law. The bill would repeal Public Act 602 of 2018, which prohibits the state from setting standards that exceed federal rules and allows Michigan to implement the best science and practices to safeguard Michigan’s natural resources. Federal regulations are often set at the lowest common denominator, which prohibits stronger action, backed up by well-established data, that is unique to a given state.
The existing law currently requires state officials to spend time and taxpayer dollars building a case for better protections any time they exceed the national standard. This causes delays or eliminates the adoption of best practices, leaving residents and our environment vulnerable. My legislation, for instance, would ensure Michigan can adopt safer standards to protect Michigan’s drinking, subsurface and surface water more quickly.
My legislation, Senate Bill 14, was passed in the Michigan Legislature on June 28, 2023. I look forward to Governor Whitmer signing this vital legislation that will allow Michigan to be able to better protect our natural resources.
Allowing Alcohol at Intercollegiate Athletic Events
My bill, Senate Bill 247, which would allow for the licensing and serving of alcoholic beverages at a limited number of intercollegiate athletic events at Michigan colleges and universities, is on its way to the Governor’s desk as of June 27. It would allow colleges and universities to apply for liquor licenses for not more than five locations where they would be eligible to sell alcoholic beverages during intercollegiate athletic events. I am proud to have received bipartisan support from my colleagues in passing this bill. This legislation provides parity between the suite holders and regular patrons who enjoy the athletic competition at our amazing colleges and universities. I look forward to Governor Whitmer signing this legislation into law.
Kalamazoo River Sediment Damage-Inspired Legislation
On June 21, I was proud to reintroduce legislation with Rep. Rogers that would strengthen the authority of the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) to protect Michigan’s water and natural resources from damage by dam operators and other polluters. This legislation is in response to environmental damage and continuing non-remediation from a release of choking sediment from a Kalamazoo-area dam
In 2019, STS Hydropower, operators of the Morrow Dam located on the banks of the Kalamazoo River in Comstock Township, lowered water levels around their dam in order to make repairs deemed necessary by federal regulators. When they did so, they unleashed 400,000 cubic yards of sediment downstream into the river, where it remains, causing ongoing damage to the river’s ecosystem of fish, wildlife and vegetation.
In March 2022, Attorney General Dana Nessel filed a lawsuit that is still pending against STS Hydropower following the mismanagement of dam repairs of the Kalamazoo River. Despite multiple attempts made by the State of Michigan and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to establish measures that would curtail drawdowns with environmental impacts, these demands have not been met.
One of the first lessons you learn in life is to clean up after yourself. This situation has been devastating for the Kalamazoo River and for our community. Rep. Rogers and I have sent letters to STS Hydropower demanding action, and our entire community has been pleading for them to clean up their mess. Our requests have been ignored or outright refused. It is crucial that our laws are updated to give EGLE mechanisms to protect our inland lakes and streams, and their ecosystems. I look forward to seeing this important legislation advance in the Michigan Legislature.
The “Bottle Bill”
On June 29, I was proud to introduce legislation with Rep. Morse to update and modernize Michigan’s recycling system by expanding Michigan’s “Bottle Bill” law. Senate Bill 453 and House Bill 4904 would extend Michigan’s current 10-cent deposit on certain soft drinks, beer and other carbonated beverages to all other non-carbonated beverages, except for milk containers.
Over 40 years ago, Michigan became a pioneer with its historic ‘Bottle Bill’ to promote recycling and prevent littering. To this day, it is our state’s most widely used and accepted state conservation program. With this legislation, we have an opportunity to expand upon the success of the iconic legislation from the 1970s. We must act to protect our future by expanding our beverage container recycling system to keep bottles and cans out of landfills now.
Among other reforms, the bills would:
- Require universal redemption, allowing consumers to take any recyclable containers to a large store while allowing smaller stores to maintain smaller takebacks;
- Create a bottle–handling fund to reimburse distributors and dealers on a per-bottle-basis;
- Make funding available for audits and fraud enforcement; and
- Provide $25 million each year to address contaminated sites.
I look forward to this legislation being considered further in the Michigan Legislature.
DISTRICT ACTIVITES
Kalamazoo Pride
June was Pride Month, and I was honored to have the opportunity to have a table at Kalamazoo’s OutFront Pride Celebration. This is an event I look forward to every year. I am proud today and every day to be an ally to the LGBTQ+ community.
Comstock Community Learning Center Event
On June 19, I was thrilled to join the Comstock Community Learning Center to discuss my role in government with the pre-school and school-aged Summer Fun kids.
VIRTUAL COFFEE HOUR
I’m inviting you to join me for a virtual coffee hour on Tuesday, July 18, 2023. Join me to learn about what’s going on in Lansing and to share your thoughts and opinions.
WHEN: Tuesday, July 18, at 11am
WHERE: Via Zoom, click here for more details.
STAY IN TOUCH
Visiting the Michigan Capitol? If you plan to visit Lansing for a conference or to advocate for an issue important to you, please contact my office so we can set up a time to meet you.
Paying tribute? It is my pleasure to produce official legislative tributes honoring Kalamazoo County residents for milestone birthdays, anniversaries, retirements, and special accomplishments. If you would like a tribute from state officials, please let me know and we would be glad to assist.
PUBLICATIONS
A resource my office has to offer, but many may not know about, are constituent publications! The Michigan Legislature produces several publications full of useful information for constituents to use, and my office can provide them.
Some of our most popular publications are our Constituent’s Guide, the US and Michigan Constitutions, Services for Seniors, and Veterans Benefits. Many of these publications include how-to guides for forms and services that can be very helpful.
Please reach out to my office if you are interested in learning more or would like us to send you any copies.
HELPFUL LINKS