Friends and Neighbors,
As Memorial Day Weekend gets underway, I encourage everyone to be mindful of the sacrifices so many have made protecting our country, Constitution, and values. On Monday and every day, let us show respect for ongoing sacrifices of family and friends surviving the loss of their loved ones. We owe it to them and our fallen veterans to use the freedoms they helped secure for Americans to always strive toward a more perfect Union. There are several Memorial Day events throughout the district where we can honor the military men and women who died in service; we have listed them below.
Monday, May 29— Local Memorial Day Events
Midland
- 9:00am Presentation of the Wreaths, Midland County Veterans Memorial by the Midland County Courthouse
- 10:00am Parade, route travels from Main Street to Rodd Street and ends at the intersection of Rodd and East Nelson.
Saginaw
- 11:00am Parade, route travels along S. Washington Ave from Janes Ave to the Saginaw County Veterans Memorial Plaza at Hoyt Park.
- Noon Ceremony (following the parade where it ends) Saginaw County Veterans Memorial Plaza
Kristen McDonald Rivet
State Senator, District 35
(517) 373-1725
PO Box 30036
Lansing, MI. 48909
SenKMcDonaldRivet@senate.michigan.gov
IN THIS EDITION
- Legislative Updates
- In the Community
- Coffee Hour
- Helpful Resources and Links
- Contact Us
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Senate Passes Transformational State Budget
After decades of disinvestment, we are finally seeing dollars being put toward addressing today’s crumbling infrastructure, strained schools, and other challenges that have been left out of critical conversations.
My Senate colleagues and I put ourselves in the community to listen and learn so that your voices can shape our work and budget decisions. We’re prioritizing opportunities for everyday people, and the budgets we presented showed just that.
This budget includes the highest per-pupil funding in Michigan’s history; child care, education, housing, community revitalization, and infrastructure investments; funding for bipartisan work programs, criminal justice, public safety, and veterans’ needs; significant protections to air, land, and water; and innovative, equitable investments across the state.
The Senate and House will now take each budget bill into a conference committee, where they will create a finalized product to vote through each chamber to present to the Governor.
>> Read more here.
Expanding C-PACE to Boost Environment and Energy-Focused Projects
Sen. Darrin Camilleri and I testified before the Senate’s Energy and Environment Committee on Senate Bills 302–303. These bills would expand Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) loans to cover water conservation and environmental hazard projects, and add agricultural and multi-family dwellings as eligible properties. This is smart policy for our climate, Michigan businesses and jobs, and I’m excited it’s my first big environmental legislation to pass the Senate.
Other Sponsored Bills. Details in prior enewsletters; click links to track legislative progress.
- ‘Buy Michigan’ – Senate Bills 316 – 317
- ‘Missing Middle’ Housing – Senate Bill 293
- Heritage Farmland – Solar Income – Senate Bill 277
- Speeding Up EITC Payments To Families – Senate Bill 144
- Sexual Assault Under Guise of Medical Care – Senate Bill 72
Nurses Month Resolution
Our state needs more registered nurses to meet our health care needs. I offered Senate Resolution 45 to recognize May 2023 as Nurses Month in Michigan because developing and maintaining a thriving nurse workforce is of concern to all Michigan residents. I’ll always support smart options to attract more people to this field and ensure staffing and resources allow nurses to do their jobs safely and well.
McDonald Rivet Joins New DEAL As One of Nation’s Outstanding Rising Leaders
I was selected as one of 22 leaders from across the country to join the NewDEAL (Developing Exceptional American Leaders), a national network of state and local elected officials working in innovative ways to solve America’s most pressing challenges. The picture above is from the New DEAL leaders Spring Summit in Detroit, May 15-16.
>> Read more here.
IN THE COMMUNITY
Bay Area Chamber of Commerce Annual State Legislative Luncheon
Sen. McDonald Rivet was among state legislators speaking on the issues and investments impacting our region and its businesses at this Bay Area Chamber of Commerce event.
Bay Veterans Workshop & Learning Center Grand Opening
Director of District and Constituent Services Kevin Hayes attended our Bay Veterans Foundation’s Workshop & Learning Center grand opening. Resources like this let veterans know they are valued here at home, offer opportunities to connect, get mentorship in the trades, mental health support and more.
Other Events with Community and Constituents
Sen. McDonald Rivet was a featured speaker at the 75th Anniversary of VFW Post 9809 in Kochville, and our region’s Moms Demand Action May meeting. She held her fourth in-district coffee hour and met with Saginaw’s Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem and City Manager, as well as Saginaw Co. Superintendents; leaders from Saginaw ISD Head Start/ Early Head Start and Guided Grace. She also welcomed students from Midland’s Adams Elementary and Bay City Central High School during their Capitol visits.
Chief of Staff Liz Trombley joined Senator McDonald Rivet for an in-district meeting with administrators and leaders from Bay Arenac ISD and Delta College.
Legislative Director Stephen Prince represented the Office of the Senator in meetings with individuals representing groups including the Midland Business Alliance; MBA Advisory Committee on Infrastructure; State Budget Office, Saginaw Future Inc./Saginaw Co. Chamber of Commerce and area health and educational administrators; Disability Network of Mid-Michigan; Boys and Girls Clubs of the Great Lakes Bay Region; ROCK Center for Youth Development; and Bay City Central High School students. He also attended the High Water Mark event updating the greater Midland community on proposed flood reduction projects and related studies.
Director of District and Constituent Services Kevin Hayes attended several meetings along with Sen. McDonald Rivet; represented the Office of the Senator at (3) Retiree Lunches for UAW Locals 699, 455 and 467, and spoke with Michigan Senior Advocates Council members during their Capitol event.
Director of Communications Carol Sullivan represented the Office of the Senator at Safe & Sound Child Protection and Advocacy’s Annual Art + Advocacy event.
Community and Legislative Communications
MAY 8, MIDLAND DAILY NEWS: “McDonald Rivet chosen for Developing Exceptional American Leaders”
MAY 8, MIRS NEWS RADIO (Michigan Information & Research Service): MIRS Monday, May 8, 2023 Podcast Sen. Kristen McDonald Rivet and John Damoose (R-Harbor Springs) discuss bipartisanship and their “Buy Michigan” legislation at 17min mark.
MAY 10, MLIVE “Michigan businesses should have advantage in securing state contracts, senators say”
MAY 17, FOOD BANK COUNCIL OF MICHIGAN PODCAST “FOOD FIRST: A conversation about Sen. McDonald Rivet’s legislative priorities and how they help families across the state.
MAY 18, MIRS: Capitol Capsule “Farms, Apartments May Plug into Clean Energy Program”
“MSHDA To Ask Legislature, Businesses for Housing Crisis Help”
MAY 18, GONGWER News Items
“Senate Panel Discusses Energy Efficient Building Legislation”
BAY COUNTY COFFEE HOUR
WHEN: Monday June 26, 2023, from 1 – 2 pm
WHERE: Bangor Twp. Hall Board Room, 180 State Park Dr, Bay City, MI 48706
MIDLAND COUNTY COFFEE HOUR
WHEN: Monday July 24, 2023, from 1 – 2 pm
WHERE: Midland Business Alliance Conference Room, 300 Rodd St, Unit 101, Midland, MI 48640
HELPFUL RESOURCES AND LINKS
Jobs and Education Fair at the STARS Plaza
WHEN: Thursday, June 1, 10 am – 3 pm
WHERE: Saginaw Transit Authority Regional Services – STARS Plaza, 615 Johnson, Saginaw, MI 48607
HELPFUL RESOURCES AND LINKS
- Michigan Achievement Scholarships
- RAP 2.0 Revitalization and Placemaking Overview Applications
- State Land Bank Authority Blight Elimination Grant Applications Due May 31
- Energy Assistance Program
- Power Outages | Ready.gov
- Interactive District Map
- Find Your Senator
- Senate TV website
- Michigan Senate website
CONTACT MY OFFICE
- Website Contact Form: This is the best, fastest way to reach us.
- Website News Page: This page archives our official press releases and statements.
- Social Media: Social media sites are neither official government websites nor are they well suited for constituent correspondence. However, since we post frequently, social media can be a very timely way to access news and information. Our “Office of Senator Kristen McDonald Rivet” Facebook page is linked here: