Dear Neighbor,
The summer season is finally upon us! I hope you and your family are able to enjoy the sunshine and spend time taking advantage of all the fun that Pure Michigan summer activities have to offer. Even though summer break is here for our youngest Michiganders, the Legislature remains hard at work.
From standing up to federal cuts to nutrition programs and advancing gun safety policies to holding polluters accountable and protecting Michigan renters and consumers, we’ve had a busy few weeks at the Capitol. Keep reading to learn more about these efforts and the steps we’re taking to build a healthier, safer, and more prosperous Michigan for all who call our state home.
As always, please feel free to reach out to share your thoughts or seek assistance with any challenges you may be facing with state departments. You can email me at SenSSingh@senate.michigan.gov or call (517) 373-3447.
Sincerely,
Sam Singh
State Senator
District 28
- My colleagues and I remain committed to serving you and all Michiganders at the Capitol, where we’ve recently advanced legislation to break barriers for renters, hold polluters accountable, protect communities from the threat of gun violence, and more.
- Join me for my next virtual community conversation on Friday, July 11, from 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. Register here.
- With the dangerously hot temperatures we recently experienced and likely more on the way this season, find information on local cooling center locations below in case you or someone you know needs a place to escape the heat.
Supporting Michigan Renters — Senate Democrats recently introduced a comprehensive bill package to strengthen protections and break barriers for Michiganders trying to access rental housing. This legislation works to lower costs for renters, hold landlords accountable, and allow for the expungement of eviction records.
Holding Polluters Accountable — Another large-scale legislative package introduced recently would protect public health and our environment by strengthening Michigan’s pollution clean-up laws. This legislation would hold polluters accountable by requiring more thorough cleanups as well as empowering those harmed by pollution to seek justice.
Protecting Michigan Consumers — Long overdue legislation to restore power to the Michigan Consumer Protection Act by equipping the Attorney General with the authority to hold bad actors and businesses accountable recently passed the Senate floor. Senate Bill 134 — legislation I’m proud to have sponsored — would also enhance education efforts to reduce scams and strengthen penalties for violations against elderly and vulnerable adults. And, to protect Michigan consumers from disruptive, deceptive telephone solicitation tactics, the Telephone Solicitation Act was also introduced recently. This bipartisan bill package would prohibit telephone solicitors from engaging in misleading, exploitative business practices and grant the Attorney General the authority to act against violators.
Building a Future Free from Gun Violence
From big cities to small rural towns, gun violence hits communities in every corner of our state. To keep our communities safe from this senseless gun violence, my colleagues and I championed a slate of gun safety policies, including legislation to:
- Strengthen background checks to close the private sale loophole;
- Promote safe storage by creating child access protection laws to keep legal firearms safely and securely stored and out of the hands of children and teens;
- Allow courts to issue Extreme Risk Protection Orders to temporarily intervene and suspend a person’s access to firearms if they show clear warning signs of violence and pose an immediate threat to themselves or others;
- Protect survivors of domestic violence by preventing those convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence crimes from possessing, using, purchasing, or carrying a firearm in Michigan for eight years; and
- Safeguard the democratic process and protect voters by prohibiting an individual from possessing a firearm at or near a polling place, an early voting site, an absentee voter ballot drop box, and other spaces where election work is occurring.
Building on this progress, the Senate passed legislation this week that would:
- Prohibit bump stocks, a device that can convert semi-automatic firearms into deadly weapons that have a fire rate similar to that of a machine gun;
- Address ghost guns, which are fully functioning, untraceable firearms and the fastest-growing gun safety problem facing our country; and
- Keep the Michigan Capitol complex safe from gun violence to ensure a secure environment for students, teachers, parents, advocates, and lawmakers.
These actions come during National Gun Violence Awareness Month when communities across the nation come together to honor survivors of gun violence and build community with those working to address this pervasive issue. To learn more about how my colleagues and I are working to build a future free from gun violence, click here.
Senate Hearings Highlight Risks of Proposed Cuts to Families, Farms, and Food Access
As Washington Republicans’ sweeping and short-sighted budget bill currently makes its way through Congress, Michigan Senate Democrats recently held two committee hearings to examine how their plan threatens the health and well-being of Michigan families and farmers across the state.
In order to afford a massive $4 trillion tax break for the wealthiest Americans, Congressional Republicans are proposing a $300 billion cut in SNAP funding, in addition to adding unnecessary red tape for program participants and threatening the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). If signed into law, these cuts would directly disrupt and devastate millions of Michiganders who rely on these benefits to put food on their table and meet their nutritional needs. They would also further exacerbate economic instability for Michigan families, farmers, and communities by slashing resources for local food banks and the state’s agricultural industry. To read more about the impact of these cuts, click here.
These committee hearings build on Senate Democrats’ previous efforts to examine and uplift the impact of federal cuts and actions on families and communities around the state. Learn more here.
Virtual Community Conversation
WHEN: Friday, July 11, from 8:00 – 9:00 a.m.
WHERE: Virtual – Register here
Community Conversation in Haslett
WHEN: Tuesday, July 29, from 8:00 – 9:00 a.m.
WHERE: Blondies Barn, 5640 Marsh Rd., Haslett, MI 4884
Community Conversation in DeWitt
WHEN: Tuesday, August 26, from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
WHERE: DeWitt District Library, 13101 Schavey Rd., DeWitt, MI 48820
Visit my website to stay up to date on all of my upcoming events. Hope to see you soon!
Stay Safe in the Heat —Cooling Center Info
We hope everyone stayed safe during our recent extreme heat wave. As we head into the summer and continue to face high temperatures, below are some local cooling station locations if you or someone you know needs a space to escape the heat.
INGHAM COUNTY:
- Letts Community Center — 1220 W. Kalamazoo St., Lansing
- Foster Community Center — 200 N. Foster St., Lansing
- Gier Community Center — 2400 Hall St., Lansing
- Alfreda Schmidt Southside Community Center — 5825 Wise Rd., Lansing
SHIAWASSEE COUNTY:
- Shiawassee Council on Aging – Durand — 8618 E. Lansing Rd., Durand
- Shiawassee Council on Aging – Owosso — 300 N. Washington St., Owosso
- Shiawassee District Library – Owosso Branch — 502 W. Main St., Owosso
- Shiawassee District Library – Durand Branch — 700 N. Saginaw St., Durand
CLINTON COUNTY:
- Briggs District Library — 108 E. Railroad St., St. Johns
- First Congregational Church — 100 Maple Ave., St. Johns
- Elsie United Methodist Church — 160 W. Main St., Elsie
Free rides to Cooling Centers are available for residents with a physical and financial need through CATA, EATRAN, and Clinton Area Transit. Residents should call 2-1-1 for more information.
Recognizing Juneteenth
Happy Juneteenth! Observed on June 19 every year, Juneteenth commemorates the day that the last people who were enslaved in the U.S. learned of their freedom — June 19, 1865, over two years after President Abraham Lincoln presented the Emancipation Proclamation.
The significance of Juneteenth extends beyond its historical roots. It symbolizes triumph over the injustices of slavery and stands as a testament to the progress made and the work still needed to achieve true freedom and equality for all. As we celebrate this day, please know that I remain committed to fighting for equity and justice so that all people are not only free but can have access to opportunity here in Michigan.
Heads Up Michigan Drivers: Be Aware of Toll Road Scams
The Michigan Dept. of Transportation (MDOT) wants Michigan drivers to be aware of the newest toll road scam, which includes an imposter government website that mimics MDOT’s official site but carries a different URL address. MDOT reminds all drivers that Michigan does not have toll roads and will never solicit payment via text or include threatening verbiage to avoid late fees or harsher penalties.
To stay safe, please remember that government agencies:
- Will not request personal information through email, over the phone or text.
- Will never demand money through email, over the phone or text. They will mail you a notice and offer payment options.
- Do not ask for or take payment by prepaid gift card, wire transfer, cryptocurrency, or a payment app.