Dear Neighbor,
I hope this letter finds you and your family well. With fall officially in full swing, I encourage you to take some time to go outside and enjoy all the wonderful autumn festivities our state offers. From cider mills and apple picking to watching the leaves change color, there’s no end of options to choose from. Accompanying the cool weather is the beginning of the fall legislative session here in Lansing. I look forward to working with my colleagues over the coming months to deliver solutions to lower costs for Michiganders, protect our environment and address the issues important to you.
I hope to hear from you. I work hard to represent you and appreciate hearing your concerns and ideas (more on what we’ve accomplished below!). The best ways to connect with my office can be found below. For more frequent updates on what I am working on and where I am in the district, please follow my official Facebook page.
- Email: sensshink@senate.michigan.gov
- Phone: (517) 373-2426
- U.S. Mail: P.O. Box 30036 Lansing, MI 48909
Sincerely,
Upcoming Events
Consumer Protection and Senior Town Hall with Attorney General Dana Nessel
Join Attorney General Dana Nessel and myself to learn how to protect yourself and report scams and fraud in Michigan. The event will include a presentation on scams that target seniors. Learn how to spot the telltale signs of scams through phone calls, mail, email and texts and how to minimize your risk of being scammed.
WHEN: Tuesday, October 3, 2023, from 6-7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Mill Creek Middle School Cafeteria, 7305 Dexter Ann Arbor Road, Dexter, MI 48130
Please help us get an accurate count of expected attendees by signing up here.
MDOT Public Meeting to Discuss Proposed Changes to Surrounding Area of the Michigan Rail Line
The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is hosting a public meeting at Washtenaw Community College on a proposed fence in areas along Huron River Drive adjacent to the Michigan rail line, which carries Amtrak’s Wolverine passenger train service between Detroit/Pontiac and Chicago.
WHERE: Tuesday, October 3, 2023, from 5-6:30 p.m.
WHEN: Washtenaw Community College — Morris Lawrence Building: Room 105, 4800 E Huron River Drive Ann Arbor, MI 48105 (Parking available in Lot 1).
In addition to the public meeting, comments can be submitted via an online comment form and e-mail. Provide your comments by Oct. 17. For additional information about the public meeting, please visit the MDOT website.
Legislative Updates
Senate Priorities Reflected in “What’s Next” Address
During her Aug. 30 address, Governor Whitmer highlighted key legislative priorities for the fall session including public safety, healthcare, the climate, and more. Michigan Senate Democrats are eager to come together and pass legislation that addresses the diverse needs of Michigan residents.
“Our Majority for the People has already made enormous strides, and we are excited to keep that same energy and focus heading into the fall,” said Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks. “We are looking forward to another productive, people-focused legislative season fueled by the support of folks across the state.”
Read more about “What’s Next” from the Michigan Senate here.
Moving Michigan Towards a Clean Energy Future
We’ve been hard at work all year crafting a legislative package to move Michigan towards a clean energy future that includes everyone. This legislation will establish a clean energy standard for utilities — with 100% of energy production being carbon-free by 2040. I’m proud to be a leader on this package and sponsor of SB 502, which will give the Public Service Commission the authority to make sure utilities are meeting these standards while providing affordable, reliable energy to Michiganders.
Community Resources
Apply for the MI Future Educator Fellowship
The MI Future Educator Fellowship offers $10,000 scholarships to up to 2,500 future educators every year. It is now accepting applications for the 2023-2024 academic year!
To be eligible, the student must fulfill the following requirements:
- Complete the annual MI Future Educator Fellowship application.
- File a current-year Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
- Be a high school graduate.
- Be admitted into an eligible Educator Preparation Program (EPP) approved by Michigan’s State Board of Education.
- Be working on their initial teacher certification.
- Be enrolled in enough coursework to be considered enrolled full-time during the academic year, or its equivalency for individuals enrolled in an alternative certification program.
- Have reached Junior grade level according to the institution’s definition.
- Have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0.
- Be a Michigan resident since July 1 of the previous calendar year.
- If you are a dependent student, your parent on your FAFSA must also be a Michigan resident since July 1 of the previous calendar year.
- Complete a Commitment to Teach in Michigan Agreement, which requires that the recipient teach in Michigan in a public school or qualifying public preschool program for a specific number of years, depending on the number of years the recipient has received the MI Future Educator Fellowship. This will be issued to applicants when the institution confirms eligibility.
For more information, visit here.
Home Heating Tax Credit
The deadline to apply for the Home Heating Tax Credit in Michigan is September 30th. On average, households that qualify for the tax credit will receive $200 dollars intended to assist with some of the costs associated with heating a home. Eligibility is determined based on household resources. More information about the credit can be found here, Home Heating Credit Information. The form to apply for the credit can be found here.
In the Community
M-14 Town Hall
Earlier this month, I held an exciting event at Wines Elementary discussing the future of M-14 with representatives from the City of Ann Arbor and the Michigan Department of Transportation. I appreciated hearing from community members about their preferences regarding the various projects taking place on M-14 including the Planning and Environmental Linkage study for the M-14/Barton Drive interchange and the concrete patching project which will be shaping the way our community uses this road in the coming years. I also appreciated hearing about resident concerns along the Huron River.
Reproductive Health Act Town Hall
Last week, I was joined by Planned Parenthood and Representative Carrie Rheingans at the Westgate Branch of the Ann Arbor District Library to have a discussion with the community about the Reproductive Health package that has been introduced in the Michigan Legislature. Thank you to everyone who was able to attend last week.