news

Dear Friend, Somehow, I don’t feel the lazy hazy days of summer. There is much going on, many things to worry about, and challenges to address. The weather this last week has been Michigan perfect save for the thunderstorms and a tornado… But I’ve spent lots of time outside crisscrossing the district, participating in numerous meetings, tours, learning, brainstorming, researching,… Read more »

Dear Friend,   Congress is out for August and I just finished the first whole week at home. Just been getting around, visiting facilities and businesses in the district, participating in meetings, digging into issues like utilities, power outages, the environment, veterans, guns, river dams, caregiving, and more. Celebrated National Night Out in multiple communities, hosted formal… Read more »

Dear Friend, Home. Home for six glorious weeks of Michigan summer. Lots planned from Congress in your Corners, town halls, festivals and parades, farmers markets, tours of companies and facilities, farm tours, county fairs, roundtables, picnics, barbecues- just being out and about.    The last week of Washington ended the summer session, thankfully, as there has just been… Read more »

Dear Friend, Another busy week. One week left before the August recess. Honestly, it’s pretty discouraging as we consider bills in both the Committee and on the floor, where some want to fight culture wars rather than getting anything done. The display of nude pictures hit a new low, and I wish we could just work together, without drama and division, and focus on policy issues… Read more »

Dear Friend, We’re busy in D.C. and the tone is bothering me, quite frankly. A lot of time in Committee, moving important legislation, but amendments in both Committee and on the floor are being designed to divide people, a trend I find disturbing. We got some important work done last week and I voted against some major bills because of their tone and divisive content. We reintroduced… Read more »

Dear Friend, Happy Independence Week! Congress is out for two weeks, but Washington, D.C. has been far from quiet with multiple Supreme Court decisions that are being reacted to in very complicated ways, strong feelings on all sides, deep reactions by many, and lots of concern. Honestly, I am still trying to absorb it. I am home and very much out and about, talking to many and getting… Read more »

Dear Friend, Home. There is no place like home, especially after the last few intense weeks. From debt ceiling negotiations, messaging bills that are divisive (and accomplish nothing), to a low point of the censure of Adam Schiff. It will be good to be in the district for two weeks. Out and about. Farmer's markets, Fourth of July celebrations and parades, summer festivals, picnics,… Read more »

Dear Friend, What a week! We got a lot done in a few days in Washington, though I must admit it’s the Committee work that matters deeply. Floor consideration of legislation did start to move again, but Republicans are moving bills designed really as messaging bills, but not to get things done for people... just to “stir the pot." One example was a proposed censure of Adam Schiff, it… Read more »

Dear Friend, This week was a busy one, with lots of meetings, hearings, attempted votes in DC, and at home, the regular Mayor meetings, economic announcements, community gatherings as well as reports from the electeds to their cities and townships, townhalls, a keynote speech to the VFW and American Legion, farmer markets, walks, festivals, ribbon cuttings, and just my favorite- being… Read more »

Dear Friend,   I am glad to say this week has finally ended looking more positive than it started. We voted, in both chambers, to pass the Bipartisan Budget Agreement to raise the debt ceiling. I don’t like a lot of what’s in this bill, but it was critical we avoid catastrophic default that would rock our economy for years, if not decades. With the debt ceiling taken care of, I was… Read more »