Dear Neighbor,
With the arrival of May and all the sunshine and warmth that accompanies late spring, I’m energized to continue delivering results for our community and look forward to all we can accomplish together.
Both in Lansing and throughout District 14, our team is keeping busy crafting a balanced budget, making progress on legislative priorities, and connecting with constituents. With this newsletter, I provide an update on the many things we’ve been up to.
As always, if you or someone you know would like to provide feedback about what’s happening in Lansing or needs assistance, feel free to contact my office. You can email us at sensshink@senate.michigan.gov or call (517) 373-2426. And don’t forget to visit my official Facebook page for the latest updates on happenings at the Capitol and in the district.
Sincerely,
Sue Shink
State Senator
District 14
Legislative Updates
Senate Democrats Fight to Expand Access to Mental Health Care
Throughout our state, residents have told us they lack access to mental health support— a crisis particularly affecting young Michiganders and our veterans. That’s why Senate Democrats acted and made critical investments in the 2024 State Budget to address this gap in coverage and ensure all Michigan residents who need assistancecan access it. A few highlights of the investments we have made thus far in mental health care include:
- $280 million for certified community behavioral health clinics to expand access to care.
- $328 million in the education budget to address the mental health and safety concerns of students and teachers.
- $1.2 million for suicide prevention programs for military veterans and their families.
As we recognize May as Mental Health Awareness Month and as we continue to craft our budget for 2025, my colleagues and I remain committed to ensuring every person in our state can access essential services and programs to improve their mental health and overall well-being. Together, we can break down barriers to care for people and create a healthier, more resilient Michigan.
Senate Democrats Introduce Momnibus Bills to Uplift Black Maternal Health in Michigan
Senate Democrats have introduced the “Momnibus” — a robust legislative package (Senate Bills 818–827) aimed to increase equity and accountability in maternal healthcare services statewide. With a multi-faceted approach, these bills aim to strengthen community-driven programs, enhance prenatal care and maternal healthcare, and amplify the voices of Black birthing individuals, mothers, women, and families.
It is critical for our state to pass such legislation as we see Black mothers in the United States face disproportionately higher risks during pregnancy and childbirth. According to the Centers for Disease Control, Black women’s mortality rate from pregnancy-related causes is three times higher than that of white women, with structural racism underlying these disparities.
Black women face unfair healthcare challenges compared to white women, leading to higher risks and even life-threatening complications. As mortality rates climb and reproductive freedoms come under fire, I am working to support local initiatives that enhance prenatal and maternal care, support breastfeeding and nutrition and safeguard abortion access.
The “Momnibus” will now advance to the Senate Housing & Human Services Committee for further consideration.
In Recent News
$20 Million Available for Michigan’s first-ever Environmental Justice Impact Grants
Michigan’s Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy’s (EGLE) Office of the Environmental Justice Public Advocate (OEJPA) is launching a $20 million Environmental Justice Impact Grant program.
My Democratic colleagues and I secured funding for this program in our 2024 state budget to help reduce environmental health burdens in Michigan’s environmental justice communities.
Applications are now open for place-based, equity-focused projects.
Eligible projects include:
- Improving local public health.
- Monitoring pollution.
- Removing blight.
- Cleaning up contamination.
- Enhancing indoor air quality in schools and childcare facilities.
Federally recognized tribes, community-based nonprofits, local governments, schools, and childcare centers can apply for up to $500,000. The deadline for applications is July 15, 2024, with funds awarded by early September 2024.
Detroit Shines on National Stage as NFL Draft Host, Economic Impact Estimated in Hundreds of Millions
A few weeks ago, the NFL Draft arrived in Detroit, shining a spotlight on the Motor City as it aimed to “reintroduce” itself on the national stage. In exciting news: the city broke the NFL Draft’s attendance record with 775,000 peopleflocking to Detroit to see which collegiate stars would be selected to join their favorite team’s roster.
To celebrate this momentous occasion, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued proclamations declaring the week of April 22-28 as NFL Draft Week in Michigan and April 25 as Honolulu Blue Day. In true Detroit-fashion, Michiganders turned up and turned out to paint the streets blue in support of the Lions. With the influx of visitors to the city, the economic impact is anticipated to be in the hundreds of millions of dollars in business.
To learn more about how sports and government can work together to strengthen our communities, click here.
Working to Keep Michigan Roads Safe: Senate Democrats Recognize Distracted Driving Awareness Month
Distracted driving accounts for about 25% of all crash fatalities, and in 2021, there were 6,543 motor vehicle crashes here in Michigan involving a distracted driver.
To help reduce deaths and injuries and keep our roads safe for Michiganders driving to work, school or anywhere in between, I joined a bipartisan group of colleagues last year to update our distracted driving laws. Before, texting while driving was a ticketable offense, but things like scrolling social media or taking a video were not. Senate Bills 239–241made a much-needed update to our laws to ensure Michigan is truly a hands-free state and encourage people to focus on the most important task on the road: driving safely. The Governor signed these bills into law, and they took effect on June 30, 2023.
Under the new law, you may not manually do any of the following on a cell phone or other electronic device while driving:
- Make or answer a telephone or video call.
- Send or read a text or email message.
- Watch, record, or send a video.
- Access, read, or post to social media.
- Browse or use the Internet.
- Enter information into GPS or a navigation system.
As we recognized April as National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, I hope you will take time to learn more about these laws and how you can play your part in keeping our roads safe for yourself and your fellow Michiganders. Find more information by visiting the Michigan State Police Office of Highway Safety website at Michigan.gov/DistractedDriving.
In the Community
Road to Restoration
The Secretary of State’s mobile office traveled to Parnall Road Correctional Facility to hold Road to Restoration Day to provide ID, voter registration and the first steps to restoring driver’s licenses for 300 inmates who will be released in the next six months. I was happy to be there with Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson to see how state government is working withreturning citizens as they prepare for success.
Road to Restoration is a free mobile clinic that assists Michigan residents in restoring their driving privileges using one-on-one meetings with Department of State staff and volunteer attorneys.
Walk & Talk at Waterloo State Recreation Area
On May 10, the DNR hosted me at the Eddy Discovery Center at Waterloo Recreation Area. Together with a group of constituents, we enjoyed a walk on the trails and learned about plant life and geology in one of Michigan’s many beautiful natural places.
Upcoming Events
Mark your calendar for Friday, June 14! I’ll join a panel discussion hosted by the Washtenaw County Commission on Aging and led by U.S. Representative Debbie Dingell on Safe Aging. We’ll learn about community resources for senior safety, listen to residents’ concerns, and answer questions.
WHAT: Safe Aging Townhall
WHEN: June 14, 2024, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
WHERE: Chelsea Senior Center, 512 Washington St., Chelsea, MI
Resources
District 14 Map
I am proud to serve Michigan’s 14th Senate District. The District is within Washtenaw and Jackson Counties, and includes parts of Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor Township, and Lodi Township, and all of Blackman Township, Chelsea, Columbia Township, Dexter, Dexter Township, Freedom Township, Grass Lake Township, Hanover Township, Henrietta Township, Jackson, Leoni Township, Liberty Township, Lima Township, Lyndon Township, Napoleon Township, Northfield Township, Norvell Township, Rives Township, Salem Township, Sandstone Township, Scio Township, Sharon Township, Spring Arbor Township, Summit Township, Sylvan Township, Tompkins Township, Waterloo Township, and Webster Township.
Safe Disposal of Medicines
As your Senator, I am committed to the health and well-being of our community. One important aspect of this is ensuring the proper use, storage, and disposal of household medicines. There are over 43 disposal options available in our district and nearby areas, including several pharmacies and police departments, where residents can safely and securely dispose of their unwanted, unused, or expired medications. In doing this, together we can prevent misuse and better protect our neighbors and the environment. For more information, click here.