Dear Neighbor,
Happy New Year! I hope you and your loved ones were able to enjoy a restful holiday season and are feeling energized for 2025. While it was great to spend time with my family over the holidays, due to extended family health issues, I spent a lot of time navigating our health care system and experiencing how frustrating it is for older people who are really struggling with their health. I will keep working to make it easier wherever I can.
It was an exciting, productive year for us in the Senate, and we’re proud of all that we accomplished for you. My colleagues and I returned to the Capitol last week, kicking off the 103rd Legislature — and we’re excited to continue delivering more progress for the residents of our state this year.
If you or anyone you know would like to provide feedback about what’s happening in Lansing, or needs assistance of any sort, please feel free to reach out to my office. You can contact me by sending an email to sensshink@senate.michigan.gov or calling (517) 373-2426. Also, please visit my official Facebook page for the latest updates.
Sincerely,
Sue Shink
State Senator
14th Senate District
- In the final days of 2024, the Senate passed important legislation to improve the lives of Michiganders. Now, we’re headed back to the Capitol to begin our work in the 103rd Legislature!
- Jan. 11 was National Human Trafficking Awareness Day, an annual observation to bring awareness to modern-day slavery and prevention efforts. The Governor recently signed my bill to help put traffickers behind bars, Senate Bill 516 of 2023 (Public Act 184 of 2024) – Michigan Legislature.
- To kick off the first day of the 103rd Legislature, my colleagues and I introduced a bill package, Senate Bills 3–5, to create a Prescription Drug Affordability Board to lower drug costs and keep Big Pharma in check.
Reflecting on the Historic Progress of the 102nd Legislature
Over these first two years in the Senate Democratic Majority, Senate Democrats worked hard to make Michigan a national leader in pragmatic policymaking, and we’ve delivered great wins for the residents of our state. Our long list of accomplishments includes:
- Keeping more money in people’s pockets by phasing out the unfair retirement tax, quintupling the state Earned Income Tax Credit, and making child care and higher education more affordable and accessible;
- Securing transformative investments in people, schools, and communities across the state, including free school meals for all public-school students;
- Passing clean, renewable energy policies to protect our air, land, water, and health;
- Protecting people from being shot by enacting commonsense gun violence prevention measures;
- Protecting the rights of all Michiganders, including voters, workers, women, and the LGBTQ+ community;
- And many more.
My colleagues and I look forward to the beginning of the 103rd Legislature this month, and we’re excited for another productive year of working for our constituents.
Combating Human Trafficking in Michigan
Michigan Senate Democrats recognized Jan. 11 as National Human Trafficking Awareness Day. Every year, this day serves as an opportunity to spread awareness about human trafficking and prevention efforts. Over 27.6 million people globally are estimated to be subjected to this form of modern-day slavery, undermining international law and public safety across the world.
Senate Democrats championed Senate Bills 515–517 to put more human traffickers behind bars in Michigan by allowing statements given outside of court to be admissible as evidence, allowing survivors to not have to appear in court and see their perpetrator face-to-face to participate in a trial. I was proud to co-sponsor this legislation, which was signed into law on December 30, 2024. It will support survivors, enable law enforcement to better prosecute this heinous crime, and bring more abusers to justice.
Fighting to Reduce Drug Costs
On day one of the 103rd Legislature, my colleagues and I introduced legislation to establish a Prescription Drug Affordability Board in Michigan (PDAB) — an independent board to lower prescription drug costs and hold Big Pharma accountable for price gouging. While the pharmaceutical industry raked in over $29 billion in net profits during a recent 3-month period, nearly a third of Michigan residents stopped taking their prescriptions because of cost, and 60% of older adults reported concerns over not being able to afford their essential medications. My bill is part of a package that will help Michiganders stay healthy and save money.
Community Town Hall in Ann Arbor
I appreciated seeing and hearing from the many residents who came out to the Ann Arbor community town hall at the Michigan Union. As part of your Washtenaw Legislative Team, it was great to share news and answer your questions. Special thanks to Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Rep. Jason Morgan for hosting this important event.
Salem Township Landfill Listening Forum
The landfill in Salem Township is planning to expand. In December, I attended a town hall and listening session with residents, state legislators and county and township officials to better understand the residents’ experiences and view of the landfill.
Students Visit the Capitol
It was a treat to welcome students and teachers of Ann Arbor’s Michigan Islamic Academy to the Capitol. Visiting with them and hearing their ideas made my day!
When students visit during session, all of the senators take a few minutes to announce them and clap for them to welcome them to the Capitol!
During the busy days of lame duck, my team and I were happy to take a break to visit with the wonderful students of Keicher Elementary and Northwest Elementary. I enjoyed their questions and comments and was proud to recognize them from the rostrum of the Senate. When students visit the Capitol, we meet with them personally if we can and ask them what they would like to make better in their community and the world.
Gun Safety Meeting
Thank you to the constituents who visited me in Lansing to talk about how gun violence has personally affected them and to advocate for safer communities.
Lowering the Cost of College for 56,100 Michigan Students
Here in Michigan, we believe that everyone should have access to higher education. That’s why my colleagues and I secured $330 million in this year’s state budget for the Michigan Achievement Scholarship, a bipartisan program established to lower the cost of community, private, and public college by thousands of dollars a year for most graduating seniors.
This year, 56,100 Michigan students are benefiting from no- or reduced-cost tuition thanks to our investment in the Michigan Achievement Scholarship. In total, Michigan families are saving over $131.5 million in tuition — which equals around $2,345 in savings per student. We’ll continue working to make higher education attainable and affordable for more families.
New Jobs, Investments Slated for Several Michigan Counties
Seven projects will receive funds through the Strategic Outreach and Attraction Reserve (SOAR) to support the creation or expansion of six businesses and nearly 150 housing units in several counties across Michigan, as recently announced by the Michigan Strategic Fund Board (MSF). Combined, these projects will create more than 1,300 jobs, retain more than 2,000 jobs, and secure up to $1.8 billion in investment for communities in Wayne, Washtenaw, Oakland, Kent, and Kalamazoo counties. Check out the full list of projects below, or dive into more detail here or here.
- Ypsilanti Twp. (Washtenaw Cty.): at least 200 high-paying jobs created through new high-performance computing facilities led by the University of Michigan and Los Alamos National Laboratory. Many of the people who work at this facility will live in District 14.
- Kent County: up to 147 news jobs created by a Benteler Automotive battery components factory
- Muskegon County: up to 300 new jobs created by an expansion of Howet Aerospace
- Oakland County: up to 190 new jobs created by an expansion of HTC Global operations in its artificial intelligence and machine learning solutions
- Comstock Twp. (Kalamazoo Cty.): at least 125 new jobs created for Landscape Forms, Inc. to expand its manufacturing capacity
- Grand Rapids (Kent Cty.): 48 residential units and 1,500 square feet of ground floor commercial space created through the rehabilitation of a vacant former grocery store
- Redford Twp. (Wayne Cty.): up to 436 new jobs created and 2,000 retained through an expansion of Detroit Diesel Corporation
Wonderful Winter Waterfowl
Did you know that over 30 species of waterfowl migrate south to spend their winters in Michigan each year? The Chelsea Update recently offered fascinating tips for enjoying winter bird/duck watching, presented in part below.
Here are just a few reasons to love Michigan’s winter ducks:
- They are beautiful. From the elegant northern pintail, with its dapper three-piece-suit plumage, to the playful surf scoter, which sports a striking orange bill, many winter ducks catch the eye of birdwatchers.
- They have unique adaptations and behaviors, which are a delight to watch. Surf scoters can dive deep for food amid cresting waves, while the common goldeneye occasionally shows off its quirky mating displays in the winter.
- They gather in awe-inspiring congregations. Up to tens of thousands of waterfowl can be seen on Great Lakes open waters! One species, the ruddy duck can often be found in large flocks, rarely mixing with other ducks, as they strut a punky tail and vibrant blue beak.
Whether you’re a seasoned birder or brand new to the hobby, winter is the perfect time to explore Michigan’s waterways. Grab your binoculars and see how many of these fascinating species you can spot.
Learn more about the different winter waterfowl you can expect across Michigan. Watch the “Winter Waterfowl ID” webinar, presented by MI Birds in partnership with Ducks Unlimited, the River Raisin Institute, and the Detroit Bird Alliance.
With every new season, there’s something to see in the birding world. In 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the DNR introduced Winged Wednesday text updates on birds being spotted in state parks across Michigan. The Winged Wednesday weekly messages are starting up again in February, and you can register to receive these updates by signing up here.
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.