Friends and Neighbors,
As I shared in my November newsletter, it has been an honor to serve as your voice in the Michigan Senate these last two years. I set out to prioritize people and results over politics and noise — fighting for everyone in our 35th Senate District who works hard to have a fair shot to get ahead.
In leading the largest tax cut for working families in state history and repealing the unfair retirement tax, I helped put $1 billion back in the pockets of Michigan workers and retirees each year. Along with that crucial financial relief, we worked to give every child a strong educational foundation, create more paths to higher paying jobs, and make better lives more affordable in Michigan.
On January 3, 2025, when I move into my new role representing the people of the Great Lakes Bay region, my priorities will remain the same. I will keep everyday people at the center of my work, continuing our significant progress on kitchen table issues like lowering costs, creating good-paying jobs, making affordable paths to get ahead, and building safer communities.
Thank you for your engagement with our work. Moving forward, if you need assistance with state matters, Senate staff remain available to help, or you may contact your elected state representative. For any federal issue, you may reach my Michigan 8th Congressional office at the contact information that will be posted here after January 3rd.
Your Senate District 35 team and I will always be grateful for this opportunity to serve you. We hope your holiday season is a joyful one.
Kristen McDonald Rivet
State Senator
District 35
(517) 373-1725
PO Box 30036, Lansing, MI 48909
SenKMcDonaldRivet@senate.michigan.gov
End of the Term
Each legislative session ends with priorities fulfilled and unfulfilled. Many bills passed by the Senate in recent months, several with bipartisan support, did not get a vote in the House before that chamber adjourned for the year. Because 2025 begins a new term, any unfinished legislation from 2023-24 must begin anew.
It is my sincere hope that members of both parties in the incoming Michigan Legislature will work in good faith to strengthen opportunities and outcomes for Michiganders and our state, building on what passed, and what fell short, these past two years.
After my last official day with the Michigan Senate, my Senate website will redirect to the Michigan Senate Democrats caucus website. For updates on the final legislative action of 2024, and to follow early work in the 2025-26 term, please visit SenateDems.com and refer to the “Stay In Touch” section at the end of this newsletter.
Honoring A Fallen Trooper
To honor Michigan State Police Trooper Joel Popp, who died in the line of duty last January, the Senate unanimously voted to designate a portion of I-75 in Saginaw County as the Trooper Joel E. Popp Memorial Highway. Senator Kevin Daley (R-Lum) joined me in paying tribute to this fallen officer, and voicing support for this legislation from State Representative Amos O’Neal (D- Saginaw) which will help ensure the life, outstanding character, and invaluable service of Trooper Popp will have the lasting legacy he deserves.
Farewell Remarks to Constituents, Colleagues, and Staff
Before concluding my Senate service, I took a few moments on the Senate floor to thank the people who encouraged me to make a difference this way, and who supported, guided, and inspired my work. I also shared something that hit home for me as I transitioned from campaigning for this role to working on behalf of 35th Senate District constituents and Michiganders — public service is not a ‘good guys’ versus ‘bad guys’ battle. It is about people: the single working parent struggling to keep food on the table; the senior hoping to retire after a lifetime of hard work; the student dreaming of being a scientist. Our politics can attract and result in so much good if we all remember that no single legislator and no single political party ‘owns’ caring for people.
Going PRO Talent Fund Awards Combined $4.8 Million to 80+ Businesses in Mid-Michigan
Thanks to the most recent round of Going PRO Talent Fund grants, 80+ businesses in our greater mid-Michigan region will receive $4.8 Million in combined funding. The money will be used for classroom and on-the-job training for new employees and registered apprentices, and help existing employees adapt to new technologies and industry trends. This is fantastic news because helping Michigan workers gain and retain higher-skill, higher-wage jobs boosts our working families, our businesses who need a stronger workforce to compete, and our local economies.
The Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity awards Going PRO Talent Funds to employers through sponsoring Michigan Works! Agencies. Click here to view all Going PRO Talent Fund 2025 Cycle 1 grant recipients.
EGLE Awards Saginaw-Based Initiative $499,961 Environmental Justice Impact Grant
The Office of the Environmental Justice Public Advocate in the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) has selected “Resilient Roots” to receive a nearly half million dollar grant to improve public health and reduce environmental burdens in Saginaw.
The Michigan Health Improvement Alliance will implement the Resilient Roots initiative to empower Saginaw residents to address environmental challenges and advocate for improved public health. The project will engage stakeholders, complete 24 environmental improvement projects, and produce a strategic priorities plan for ongoing progress. EGLE’s press release announcing statewide recipients and grants can be found here.
Bay City Awarded $375,000 For Marquette Avenue Upgrades
I’m pleased to share that Bay City is one of nine communities just awarded a Transportation Economic Development Grant. This grant will save local taxpayers $375,000, covering 80% of the costs to make repairs and upgrades on Marquette Avenue from Transit Street to Harry S. Truman Parkway.
Marquette Avenue qualifies for this grant due to its importance as a truck route that connects the ports at Independence Bridge to the rest of the city. This resurfacing project will make sure our key commerce route can keep pace with our region’s increased demand for construction materials, industrial products and more.
Classroom Catchup with Bay City Academy
I kicked off December with a great visit to Bay City Academy. Thank you to the first and fifth graders for reading along with me, the tenth graders for our Q&A, and all the teachers and staff who shared their time and classes with me. I hope students, parents, and teachers have a great rest of the school year!
Now is an excellent time to winterize your home and vehicle, and to make or review an emergency plan for extreme cold and other winter weather events. The Michigan State Police recommend weatherproofing homes, insulating pipes, cleaning gutters to prevent ice dams, and ensuring heating systems are safe. Install battery-operated carbon monoxide detectors and create an emergency kit with essentials like food, water, and blankets. Have emergency supplies in your vehicle including a flashlight, jumper cables, and extra warm clothing. The resource links below also have helpful information:
Severe Storm, Power Outage and Utilities Assistance Resources
- MI READY (disaster, power outage, and emergency preparedness)
- Managing Storm Debris (EGLE resource for local officials)
- State Emergency Relief Program (extreme hardship threatening health and safety)
- Michigan Energy Assistance Program
- Weatherization Assistance Program
College and Career Training Resources and Scholarships
Mental Health Crisis Lines
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988, or visit this Lifeline Chat, to connect with a trained crisis counselor at this free 24/7 nationwide confidential hotline.
- Veterans Crisis Line: Call 1-800-273-8255 and press 1 or text 838-255.
- The Trevor Project has counselors trained in the challenges young people in the LGBTQ community face. Call 1-866-488-7386, text 678-678, or click here for their 24/7 support.
Locating Mental Health Treatment Services
- Michigan 211: Call 211 or visit mi211.org to speak with a live person who can help you locate long-term mental health resources or talk through a problem. All conversations are confidential, can be made anonymously, and are available in 180 languages upon request.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: Visit FindTreatment.gov, a confidential and anonymous resource, to locate treatment facilities for mental and substance use disorders near you.
- Michigan Community Mental Health Services Programs: CMHSPs provide a comprehensive range of services and supports to children, adolescents and adults with mental illnesses, developmental disabilities and substance use disorders in all 83 Michigan counties. Find your local program here.
If You Need Help
If you have issues dealing with any state government department, including accessing unemployment benefits or tax information, Senate staff remain available to help resolve it. While we usually cannot assist with local or federal issues, we will always do our best to connect you with the most appropriate person or organization for help.
- Phone: (855) 347-8035 | Email: District35@senate.michigan.gov
Most Current Updates
Social media sites are neither official government websites nor are they well suited for constituent correspondence. However, social media accounts can be a very timely way to learn about legislative action, community news and impacts. Michigan Senate Democrats accounts to follow include Facebook, Instagram, and X (Twitter).
Additional Ways to Stay Informed