Friends and Neighbors,
Halloween decorations and colorful trees are just a couple reminders that fall is in full swing! It’s a great time of year for outdoor activities, and I encourage you to visit some of the beautiful autumn scenery of our Great Lakes Bay Region before the season changes.
In addition to legislative and community updates, this edition has several important resource announcements. If they don’t happen to apply to you, please consider sharing with others who might benefit from the information.
Thank you for staying connected to our work and the community we serve.
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
- Community Investments
- Community Connections
- Helpful Resources and Links
- Contact Us
Legislative Updates
Educator Evaluation Reform
Michigan needs the right metrics to improve education outcomes. Data shows tying teachers’ livelihoods to standardized testing — while underfunding and ignoring student and educator needs — does not work. In mid-October, Sen. Dayna Polehanki and I testified before the Senate Education Committee on our respective Senate Bills 395–396 which aim to restructure an over-burdensome, over-regulated educator evaluation process. The fair and constructive changes we’re proposing include decoupling standardized testing from evaluations of teachers and school administrators. The Senate passed our legislation on October 19, sending it to the House for their consideration.
Protecting Crime Victims and Domestic Violence Survivors
With strong bipartisan support, the Senate recently passed a package of billsimproving crime victims’ safety and better connecting them to resources. The legislation would allow victims to provide oral impact statements remotely and have their image blurred in publicly streamed court proceedings.
Earlier this month, the Senate passed SB 471, 472 and 528 with some support from across the aisle. Aimed at protecting domestic violence survivors, this legislation would allow state and local prosecutors to prosecute violations of existing federal firearm prohibitions in this area, and it would create an eight-year prohibition on possession of firearms for domestic abusers convicted of violent offenses.
Domestic violence situations where a gun is present increases the risk of homicide by 500%, according to a study cited by The U.S. Department of Justice and the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Thirty-two states, including numerous Republican-led legislatures, have passed similar bills to protect domestic violence survivors. In previous sessions, these bills were introduced in our Legislature as a bipartisan package.
Both packages of bills would empower and provide privacy for crime victims, protect survivors of domestic violence from further abuse, and save lives.
Medical Sharps Standards
I’m always interested in practical measures, especially when they are environmentally friendly. In September, I introduced Senate Bill 482, which seeks to change Michigan’s required disposal standard for medical sharps from the current 90 days to whenever a container is three-quarters full (the national standard). In testimony before the Senate Health Policy Committee, I explained Michigan’s 90-day requirement often results in replacement of sharps containers less than half full or even empty. This unnecessarily adds to our waste stream and related costs. I’m hopeful for bipartisan support on this commonsense move.
Additional Legislative Updates
In the week following our last eNews edition, the Michigan Senate took steps on several pressing issues facing Michiganders. You may find details and developments on the bills cited in the graphic below by entering the Bill Number(s) in the specified field on this Michigan Legislature webpage.
Since then, I joined my Senate colleagues in passing several health and insurance related measures, including:
- Oral Chemo Fairness — We passed House Bill 4071 with strong bipartisan support (36-2), sending it to Gov. Whitmer’s desk. It ensures similar out of pocket costs for oral and intravenous chemotherapy.
- Ending Drugmaker Immunity — We passed Senate Bill 410 with broad bipartisan support (30-8) and it is now on the House Judiciary Committee’s docket. It repeals pharmaceutical manufacturers and sellers’ immunity from product liability claims.
- Codifying key provisions of the Affordable Care Act — We passed House Bills 4619, 4620, 4621, 4622 and 4623 with some bipartisan support. These consumer protection provisions of the ACA include those around pre-existing conditions and lifetime coverage caps. Governor Whitmer signed these bills into state law to protect Michiganders’ health regardless of future changes to corresponding federal laws.
- Repealing laws restricting access to reproductive healthcare — Senate Bills 474, 475, 476 and 477 passed along party lines. When voters approved last year’s Proposal 3 ballot initiative, it led to the repeal of several outdated abortion laws and codified Michiganders’ right to make their own reproductive health decisions. These bills repeal remaining restrictions which impose delays and financial hardships on people seeking reproductive healthcare, particularly in rural areas.
- Reforming Auto No Fault legislation — With some bipartisan support, we passed Senate Bills 530, 531 and 575 to address unintended consequences of 2019 reform measures. These latest bills will improve access to care for people who have been severely injured and permanently disabled by an auto accident.
Michigan Arts and Culture Council Awards
Creative 360 has provided valuable arts and wellness experiences for countless community members in its 28 years of operation. Having recently moved to a new Midland location, they were awarded two grants from the Michigan Arts and Culture Council: a Capital Improvement Grant of $12,150 toward performance spaces and an Operational Support Grant of $16,500 toward their mission of creating environments allowing people of all ages and abilities to experience the creative process.
It was tough weather, but we were tougher women. We also had great motivation. Project Independence, the mobility assistance volunteer effort led by the United Way of Saginaw County and local Labor, brought some joy to our new 11-year-old friend and his family. Thanks to all our local unions who helped make this ramp build successful and fun. Learn more: https://www.unitedwaysaginaw.org/project-independence
Amplifying Voices at U.S. Senator Gary Peters’s Black Inclusive Policy Discussion
Our Director of District & Constituent Services, Kevin Hayes, joined in a policy discussion organized and hosted by U.S. Senator Gary Peters. We appreciated this opportunity to share experiences and perspectives from Black community members and leaders across our Great Lakes Bay Region. Senator Peters is a great partner for us at the federal level, and we thank him for his commitment to listen and move Washington D.C. forward on important issues like education, civil rights, and economic opportunity.
Student Journalist Shadows a Day in Lansing
Our team recently hosted The Swag Magazine founder, Julian Morris, for a shadow experience at the State Capitol. This accomplished teen journalist asked thoughtful interview questions and keyed in on a few ‘day in the life’ moments to illustrate his observations. You can read Julian’s takeaways on The Swag Magazine’s Facebook page posts linked here: Part 1 and Part 2.
Additional Events, Meetings in District
Senator McDonald Rivet’s other events and meetings included her October Constituent Hour, the Saginaw Bishop’s Community Affairs Committee monthly breakfast; Saginaw County School Superintendents legislative meeting; a meeting with Midland’s Mayor and City Manager; Bay City’s Legislative Eye Opener; Bay County Listening Session; River’s Edge Learning Tree’s Trunk or Treat; and Pastor Marvin T. Smith’s retirement ceremony where she presented a tribute.
Director of District and Constituent Services Kevin Hayes also attended meetings for UAW retirees Locals 699, 455, and 467; Saginaw Partnership Center’s Open House; Bay County’s Dept of Aging Olympic Games Award Banquet; Bay & Arenac Counties Superintendents meeting; and several of the Senator’s events listed above.
Legislative Director Stephen Prince attended the Go Great Memorial Cup transit planning meeting and the Midland Business Alliance Advisory Committee on Infrastructure monthly meeting.
Community Communications, Interviews
Oct. 5, Midland Daily News: Michigan Senate passes Prescription Drug Affordability Board legislation
Oct. 11, Bridge Michigan: Michigan looks to soften teacher evaluation. Will it help or hurt students?
Oct. 18, The Swag Magazine: Profile Interview Part One, Part Two
Oct. 19, Bridge Magazine: Opinion: “Michigan needs state drug board to combat rising costs, greed”
Upcoming Event:
WHAT: Constituent Conversation Happy Hour
WHEN: Monday, November 20, 2023, from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
WHERE: Heidelberg Inn, 411 S. Franklin Street, Saginaw, MI 48607
Helpful Resources & Links
Breast cancer is the most diagnosed cancer among Michigan women. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services urges Michiganders to take advantage of these free health screening programs:
- The Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Navigation Program (BC3NP), available statewide, provides free breast and cervical cancer screening services to low-income women.
- The WISEWOMAN Program, available in select areas of Michigan, helps participants understand their chronic disease risk factors and make healthy lifestyle choices and offers a free health screening.
Updated COVID-19 Vaccine for New Variants; Insurance and Testing Information
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services recommends all Michiganders 6 months and older receive the updated 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine, designed to provide protection against severe COVID-19 disease from currently circulating variants.
Most health insurance plans will cover the COVID-19 vaccine at no cost to the individual covered. The CDC’s Bridge Access Program provides free vaccines to underinsured and uninsured residents. Vaccines.gov details additional ways to obtain a free vaccine.
You may sign up at COVIDTests.gov to receive up to four free at-home tests per household, delivered via the U.S. Postal Service. MDHHS also continues to partner with libraries across the state to provide free at-home tests to Michiganders. To locate in-person testing sites, visit Michigan.gov/COVIDTest.
Flu and RSV Vaccine Recommendation
I also ask you to consider MDHHS’ recommendation to get the flu and Respiratory Syncytial Virus vaccines to protect against seasonal respiratory viruses.
Michigan Reconnect Free Tuition Now Available for Residents 21+
More Michigan residents can now earn a degree or skills certificate, tuition-free. Previously limited to individuals 25 and older, Michigan Reconnect has expanded its eligibility to include adults between the ages of 21 and 24 who have not yet obtained a college degree. The Reconnect program allows eligible students to pursue an associate degree or Pell-eligible skills certificate at in-district community colleges without the burden of tuition fees. The age expansion is only available for a limited time, and you must apply by Nov. 15, 2024.
Student Loan Payments Resume
After they were temporarily paused during the pandemic, federal student loan payments have resumed as due starting this month, October 2023. The Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services has a dedicated webpage with important reminders and helpful resources on this topic: https://www.michigan.gov/finlit/student-loan-payment-restart.
Resources for Michiganders Potentially Affected by the UAW Strike
For those who may be potentially impacted by the UAW strike, it is important to be prepared as negotiations continue. The Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) is offering assistance to all affected business owners and workers in Michigan — including the following resources:
- The Claimant Roadmap
- First-time filer coaching sessions
- UIA Community Connect
- Assistance with resetting account passwords
- Work Share
- Registration and Seeking Work Waiver
- Employer Filed Claims
To connect with your local Michigan Works! service center for career services, call (800) 285-WORKS (9675) or visit Michigan.gov/MichiganWorks. For additional assistance, workers may schedule appointments at Michigan.gov/UIA or call Customer Service at (866) 500-0017.
Public Comment Needed: High-Speed Internet Access Expansion
The Michigan High-Speed Internet Office (MIHI) is accepting public comment now through Oct 31, 2023 on Michigan’s Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) Initial Proposal. Through BEAD, Michigan has received $1.559 billion in federal funds to expand access to high-speed internet service to more communities.
As of 2023, close to 500,000 Michigan households are unserved or underserved by high-speed internet infrastructure and another 730,000 households face barriers related to a combination of affordability, adoption, device access and digital literacy.
Veterans Resource Fair – Operation Green Light
The Bay County Department of Veterans Affairs is hosting a resource fair on Thursday, November 9, 2023, 10am – 2pm. Click here to learn more about this event.
Additional resources you may find helpful:
- MI Student Aid and Paying for College in Michigan
- Michigan Achievement Scholarships
- Energy Assistance Program | Power Outages | Ready.gov
- Interactive District Map
- Find Your Senator
- Senate TV website
- Michigan Senate website
- My sponsored bills
Contact Us
- Website Contact Form: This is the best, fastest way to reach us.
- Website News Page: This page archives our official press releases and statements.
- Past ENewsletters: This page archives our prior enewsletter editions.
- 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. Visit Senator Kristen McDonald Rivet’s Facebook page here.