Dear Neighbor,
In Lansing and throughout District 28, our team has been keeping busy crafting a balanced budget and making progress on legislative priorities that get things done for Michiganders. And — as a favorite part of our work — we have been engaging with constituents, hearing first-hand what is important to the folks who call this great state home. With this newsletter, I hope to 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 SenSSingh@senate.michigan.gov or call (517) 373-3447.
Sincerely,
Sam Singh
State Senator
District 28
Featured in the Newsletter
- In the District
- Resources
- Upcoming Events
- Other News
In the District
Michigan Dental Association
Last year a top legislative priority for me was ensuring children had access to dental screenings. I introduced legislation that was passed into law to create the dental oral assessment program, which will serve 112,000 kindergarteners in Michigan through the work of the State of Michigan and Delta Dental. I was honored to receive the Michigan Dental Association’s “Legislator of the Year Award” at the Michigan Dental Association’s award ceremony last month.
May 6 Coffee Hour with Rep. Tsernoglou
Earlier this month, I had the pleasure of meeting with constituents alongside Rep. Tsneroglou at the Williamston Public Library. During this visit we were able to discuss several issues concerning our district, from clean energy citing bills to butterflies and teacher retention within Michigan.
Resources
Mental Health Awareness Month
With one in five Americans and nearly 1.5 million Michiganders experiencing mental health issues each year, it’s important to remind ourselves to care for our mental and emotional health. If you find yourself emotionally struggling or experiencing a mental health crisis, please be sure to utilize the following resources and remember — you matter!
Crisis Lines
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: 988 is a 24/7 toll-free nationwide hotline that provides confidential and compassionate care for anyone struggling with behavioral health issues, emotional distress or substance use crisis. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or visit their Lifeline Chat to connect with a trained crisis counselor.
- Veterans Crisis Line: The Veterans Crisis line provides veterans and their family members with 24/7, confidential support. To connect, call 1-800-273-8255 and press 1 or text 838-255. You do not have to be enrolled in VA benefits or health care to call.
- Trevor Lifeline: The Trevor Project has trained counselors who understand the challenges young people in the LGBTQ community face and are available for support 24/7. Call 1-866-488-7386, text 678-678, or click here to speak with a crisis counselor.
Locating Treatment Services
- Michigan 211: If you need assistance locating long-term mental health resources, talking through a problem, or exploring mental health treatment options, call 211 or visit mi211.org to speak with a live person who can help. 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.
Guidance on Creating Tick-Safe Zones Around Residential Properties
The Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development (MDARD) is advising Michigan residents of the dangers of ticks and providing tips for preventing encounters. As warmer weather approaches, so does the increased risk of tick encounters, posing potential health threats to people and pets enjoying outdoor activities.
There are more than 20 known tick species in Michigan. Most often, they survive by feeding on wildlife. Several species of ticks are known to bite people and pets; and the insects may harbor dangerous bacteria, viruses, or parasites. Not all ticks carry diseases, but tick-related diseases (including Lyme disease) do occur in Michigan and can be serious or fatal if not properly diagnosed and treated.
Here are some simple techniques to help reduce tick populations around your home:
- Clear tall grasses and brush around homes and at the edge of lawns.
- Place a 3-foot-wide barrier of wood chips or gravel between lawns, wooded areas, patios, and play equipment. This will restrict tick migration into recreational areas.
- Maintain short grass in lawns and keep leaves raked.
- Stack wood neatly in a dry area to discourage rodents that ticks feed on.
- Keep playground equipment, decks, and patios away from yard edges and trees. If possible, place these items in a sunny location.
If you do choose to use pesticides, follow these safety tips:
- Always follow label directions and wear the personal protective equipment specified on the label.
- Store pesticides in their original containers with proper labels.
- Keep pesticides locked up and out of the reach of children and pets.
- Use the amount specified on the label. Using additional product will not be more effective and may harm you, your pets, and/or the environment.
- Wash clothes that have been in contact with pesticides separately.
- Wash hands with soap and water after using a pesticide, including insect repellents.
- Use the Environmental Protection Agency’s search tool to find a repellent product that is right for you.
Upcoming Events
Virtual Coffee Hour
WHEN: Friday, May 24, from 8:00 – 9:00 a.m.
WHERE: Virtual — Register online: senatedems.com/singh/coffee-hour-register
June 3 Clean Energy Town Hall
WHEN: Monday, June 3, from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: MSU STEM Building, Room 3202, 642 Red Cedar Road, East Lansing, MI 48824
July 22 Coffee Hour
WHEN: Saturday, June 22, from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Corunna Public Library, 210 E Corunna Ave, Corunna, MI 48817
August 16 Coffee Hour
WHEN: Friday, August 16, from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Bath Public Library, 14051 Webster Rd, Bath Twp, MI 48808
In Other News
Happy Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month!
Pictured above from left to right: Rep. Ranjeev Puri, Rep. Mai Xiong, Sen. Stephanie Chang, and Sen. Sam Singh in Senate Chambers
This month we recognize and celebrate the vibrant culture and contributions of the AAPI community here in the state of Michigan. I was proud to serve as the first Indian American elected to the State House in 2012, and to break that milestone again serving my first term in the Michigan Senate. The AAPI community has been an integral part of our state through building small businesses, advocacy, community development, the arts and so much more. Gov. Whitmer’s proclamation recognizing this month as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage month honors and brings important awareness to those contributions.
“Michigan is a beacon of opportunity where people from all over the world came to for economic opportunity and success,” said Governor Whitmer. “In Michigan, we not only value and respect our differences, but we embrace them. During AAPI Heritage Month, we celebrate our state’s strong, vibrant Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities. Let’s keep working together to ensure anyone can ‘make it’ in Michigan.
EPA Awards Michigan With Historic Investment in Solar Energy for Low-Income Residents
Local and state leaders from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), Michigan Infrastructure Office (MIO), City of Detroit, community organizations and state legislators are celebrating a historic $156 million investment in solar energy by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to the State of Michigan to accelerate the deployment of community and rooftop solar for thousands of low-income households across the state.
The initiative, known as the Michigan Solar for All (MISFA) program, aims to reduce utility costs for families, foster job creation, and strengthen Michigan’s advanced clean energy sector – all while moving the state toward its MI Healthy Climate Plan goals. The program is expected to make a substantial impact by providing low-income households across Michigan with access to affordable renewable energy and by enabling home repairs, reducing their energy bills by up to 20%.
Progress builds on progress, and that’s especially true when we are able to utilize opportunities at the federal level to bolster state programs and objectives. As lead sponsor of the Clean Energy Future Plan, I was proud to lead the charge on a clean energy future in Michigan that tackles climate change while helping workers, communities and residents with lower incomes. This federal funding will allow us to expand our efforts to improve access to safe, clean and affordable energy for all in Michigan.
To stay informed with MISFA updates, please sign up via the MI Solar for All Interest Form.
EGLE announces $14.1 million allocated for maintenance, removals, & reconstruction
We’re pleased to see that Elsie in Duplain Township will receive $1.2 million for the removal of the Elsie Dam from the Maple River. With these funds, the township aims to finalize the removal design and execute construction activities, safeguarding against future failures and sediment release downstream.