Legislative Updates, Veterans Events and More

Nov 8, 2023 | Email

Friends and Neighbors, 

For 247 years, a distinct group of men and women have answered our country’s call to service. We owe these heroes much more than a single day can hold. This Veterans Day and throughout the year, let’s all find ways to recognize veterans’ service and respect their families’ sacrifices. 

If you or your family served in any of our military branches, please note this week’s local, veterans-focused events listed in our Resources and Links section toward the end of this newsletter. Please also spread the word about these events to reach as many veterans in our community as possible.  

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 Connections  
  • Community Investments 
  • Veterans Events, Other REsources and Links  
  • Contact Us  

Legislative Updates   

McDonald Rivet Educator Evaluation Bill Heads to Governor  

Last week, the Michigan House passed Senate Bills 395–396, which Sen. Dayna Polehanki and I sponsored, to give teachers and local administrators greater flexibility in determining the most appropriate educator and student growth metrics. In testimony, I explained that years of data shows what hasn’t worked in Michigan: state government being overly prescriptive and tying teacher evaluations to standardized testing. A less restrictive, less burdensome evaluation process will result in fairer, more constructive performance evaluations and allow teachers to focus more on student needs instead of “teaching to the test.”  

McDonald Rivet Solar-Farmland Bill Passes House, Governor Signing Expected 

The Michigan House passed SB 277, my bill that prioritizes heritage farm owners’ personal property rights, giving them the option to rent land for solar operations. Tax breaks are paused while solar is active but that property stays enrolled in the PA 116 Farmland Preservation program. Solar diversifies farm owners’ revenue and helps our state’s transition to clean energy, and key stakeholders agree this policy has been successfully implemented the past four years. The Senate is expected to concur on a technical amendment and send the bill to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer for her signature. You may read about the bipartisan and widespread support for my work from agricultural, economic and environmental organizations in this news release.    

Michigan Senate, House Advance Clean Energy Legislation 

As October closed and November began, the Michigan Senate and House passed a set of bills that create opportunities for Michigan to reduce costs, improve reliability and increase independence when it comes to energy use. In establishing clean and renewable energy standards, new energy efficiency targets and increased oversight of those efforts, we’re also protecting our state’s natural resources and Michiganders’ health. 

The status quo has cost Michiganders deeply. For too long, we have paid high prices to address negative environmental impacts on our people and planet. For too long, we have suffered expensive losses during extended power outages. Without a strong move toward clean and renewable energy now, those costs will keep increasing, hurting everyday folks the most, and Michigan would miss out on opportunities for new energy sector investment and jobs.  

Investing in our future is smarter than continuing to pay for mistakes and missed opportunities. We also have a historic allocation of federal funds available to help implement these policies now, bringing further investment to our state. Our responsible transition to clean and renewable energy will be less expensive than the compounding costs of inaction on this front.

Senate Adopts Bills Implementing Prop 1 Financial Disclosure  

In November 2022, after decades of previous majorities blocking reform efforts, Michigan voters overwhelmingly supported Proposal 1 and sent a strong message: Enough with secrecy and scandals. Financial transparency and integrity in candidates and elected officials matter.  

Last week, with strong bipartisan support, the Michigan Senate passed long overdue measures that check every box of that Proposal 1 ballot initiative. This historic turnaround will finally end Michigan’s status as one of only two states where lawmakers don’t have to file any type of public report about their personal finances. The bills subject both candidates and office holders to financial disclosure requirements including disclosure of assets shared jointly with spouses. 

Additional details are in this news release. 

 

Community Connections   

Welcoming the Michigan Sugar Court to the Capitol  

Michigan Sugar has a tradition of sending a delegation to visit the State Capitol on Halloween. I had the pleasure of welcoming Michigan Sugar Queen Court Attendant Kylie Spiekerman to the Senate chamber. Kylie is a district resident and Saginaw Valley State University student with plans to attend law school. She and her fellow court attendant, Maria Ivezaj, are aspiring young women who have contributed much to their communities and no doubt will accomplish more!  

Northwood University “POWER Up” Conference in Midland 

At Northwood University’s “POWER Up” conference, I talked with some of their student-athletes about pairing purpose with personal strengths. Thanks to the Midland Business Alliance, Midland County Inclusion Alliance and Ernst & Young for partnering to host this leadership event for women in business. 

Salvation Army Food Distribution in Bay City 

“Many hands make lighter work.” You can see that in action at food distributions every two weeks at the Salvation Army in Bay City. Our Director of District & Constituent Services Kevin Hayes and Communications Director Carol Sullivan joined volunteers at a recent distribution for a firsthand experience of their operations and the community needs they aim to meet. Learn more about Salvation Army assistance programs and volunteer opportunities in Bay City on their Facebook page or website. 

Saginaw Medical Diamond Partnership Celebration

In the Fiscal Year 2024 State Budget, we helped secure eight-figure funding for several transformational projects across our district. One of them is the Saginaw Medical Diamond, a partnership holding tremendous promise to change Saginaw’s infant mortality, obesity and poverty rates (currently highest and second highest in Michigan) and improve overall public health and economic opportunities in our region. I recently joined in a celebration of this collaborative effort between the City of Saginaw, County of Saginaw, Saginaw Future Inc., the Saginaw County Chamber of Commerce, Central Michigan College of Medicine and many others.  

Additional Events, Meetings in District  

Senator McDonald Rivet’s other events and meetings included a conversation with MyMichigan Health nurses; discussing sanitary sewer with Bay County and Bay Future officials; and a zoom meeting with district township officials. 

Director of District and Constituent Services Kevin Hayes also attended the Midland County Council on Aging & Senior Services Annual Meeting. 

Legislative Director Stephen Prince represented the Senator on a watershed tour guided by members of the Midland Business Alliance Committee on Infrastructure.  

Community Communications 

OCT 27: “$200M in grants to help 70K in Michigan get high-speed internet” 

NOV 2: “The ROCK builds resilience in kids, focusing on a growth mindset” 

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

Community Investments 

High-Speed Internet for Nearly 1,500 Unserved Homes, Businesses in our Region 

In late October, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan High-Speed Internet Office (MIHI) announced 70,000+ unserved homes and business across Michigan would connect to high-speed internet through the initial round of Realizing Opportunity with Broadband Infrastructure Networks (ROBIN) awards. Our region has 1,446 locations which will benefit from these ROBIN funds made possible through federal dollars. 

Affordable access to high-speed internet unlocks opportunities in education, jobs, health care and more. I can’t overstate how meaningful it is for our Great Lakes Bay Region residents and local economy that broadband will be expanded to such a significant number of households and businesses here.  

Michigan Arts and Culture Council Awards  

The Michigan Arts and Culture Council awards grants to help every community and individual in Michigan enjoy the social, economic and educational benefits of the arts. Since our last newsletter spotlighted grants to Creative 360 and the Jefferson Project, numerous other local organizations thanked us for our support of MACC funding they recently received:  

Arts Saginaw; Saginaw Choral Society; Friends of Roethke Foundation; Midland Center for the Arts; the Castle Museum; Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra; Studio 23/the Arts Center; Saginaw County Parks and Recreation for the Saginaw Valley Rail Trail; and Old Town Saginaw Association for the Showdown 2024’s public art beautification event. Individual artists residing in Munger and Freeland also thanked us for MACC mini-grants supporting their work in painting and fine arts photography.

Veterans Events, Other Resources and Links 

Appreciation Events, Resource Fairs for Veterans, Responders+  

This Saturday, November 11, please join me in honoring our veterans at the Presentation of Wreaths Ceremony at the Veterans Plaque in front of the Midland County Courthouse, 301 W. Main St., Midland. The ceremony begins at 11:00 a.m.  

Please also note these resource and appreciation events happening in Saginaw and Bay Counties: 

$10M Scholarship Program Launches for Students Seeking High-Demand Jobs 

On October 30, the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity launched the $10M Michigan Achievement Skills Scholarship program. Students and adults seeking paths to in-demand jobs such as health care, information technology, advanced manufacturing, construction and automotive could get a state-funded scholarship of up to $4,000 over two years to lower related education costs. Learn more about eligibility, covered career training programs, and tuition assistance here.  

MI Healthy Climate Corps to Launch in January 2024; Hosts Needed 

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy announced that the MI Healthy Climate Corps (MHCC) program will start in January 2024. MHCC will identify and train 30 federal AmeriCorps members who will provide critical support to communities tackling climate change. State agencies, tribal governments, local governments or nonprofit organizations interested in hosting an MHC Corps member should review program information and requirements available here and submit a completed application by 5 p.m. Wednesday, November 22.

Food Access Survey for Saginaw Residents   

If you’re a City of Saginaw resident, please consider providing input on your local grocery retail options and food access. This Food Access Survey will be used by City Council members as they plan, make decisions and take action to increase food access in Saginaw. Paper copies are available at City Hall, City Manager’s Office, 1315 S. Washington Avenue Room 203. 

Child Care Survey  

The East Michigan Child Care Coalition is surveying parents, employers, providers and staff to learn about their experiences related to childcare. They are also hosting paid interviews. Learn more at these respective survey links: 

For a paper or phone survey option, email jordan@data-driven-decisions.org or call/text 269-330-5067. 

Vaccine Recommendations, Testing Information 

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services recommends residents get the updated 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine which is designed to protect 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. Vaccines.gov details ways to obtain a free vaccine if under- or uninsured. U.S. residents may visit COVIDTests.gov and sign up to receive up to four free at-home tests per household delivered via the U.S. Postal Service. To locate in-person testing sites, visit Michigan.gov/COVIDTest. 

MDHHS also recommends residents get the flu and RSV vaccines to protect against respiratory viruses this season. 

Additional resources you may find helpful:  

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.