news

Here is an update for June 24th. 
 
Thought of the day: “The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it.” ― Neil deGrasse Tyson
 
On Tuesday, Michigan reported 221 new COVID-19 cases and 11 COVID-19 related deaths. This virus is still out there. The country is still in the middle of the first wave. Michigan is doing well compared to other states, but that doesn’t mean the virus is gone. And if you believe you may have come in contact with the virus, go get tested.  

Yesterday, the Energy and Commerce Committee held a hearing with the White House COVID -19 Task Force. Dr. Tony Fauci told us that he was “seeing a disturbing surge of infections in some parts of the country, as Americans ignore social distancing guidelines and states reopen without adequate plans for testing and tracing.” Dr. Robert R. Redfield, director of the CDC had the same concerns. Seven states are reporting new highs for current COVID-19 hospitalizations. On Tuesday, Texas and California had 5,000 new cases of COVID-19 in just 24 hours. This virus is still very real and out there. We must continue to listen to health experts, wear our masks, wash our hands, and be smart. 
 
This morning we learned that a Canadian utility company officially dropped its application for an underground nuclear waste repository near the shores of Lake Huron. Nuclear waste and water should never mix, this was the right move and we will continue to fight work hard against additional efforts to store nuclear waste near our water sources. This is a significant win for protecting the Great Lakes. Nuclear waste and water should never mix. When we all work together we can get it done, but we must remain vigilant against further efforts to store nuclear waste on the shores of the Great Lakes.
   
The  Michigan Democratic Congressional Delegation is urging Line 5 be shutdown until authorities determine after reports of further damage to dislodged anchor support was discovered. Line 5 should be shutdown until they determine it is safe and poses no danger to the Great Lakes. All the people who call this region home deserve to know what happened and to have federal regulators undertake an investigation to determine whether imminent threat of harm to the Great Lakes exists.
 
The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is asking the public to be on the lookout for spotted lanternfly, an invasive insect with the potential to seriously affect Michigan’s agriculture and natural resources. The insect could damage or kill more than 70 varieties of crops and plants including grapes, apples, hops and hardwood trees. The spotted lanternfly has not yet been detected in Michigan. As of now, infestations of lanternflys have been confirmed in Delaware, Virginia, New Jersey, Maryland and West Virginia. It’s important if we see one of them, we report it. A photo of what their eggs look like is available here, and a photo of what they look like fully grown is available here. If you see one, take one or more photos, make note of the date, time and location of the sighting, and report to the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, MDA-Info@Michigan.gov or phone the MDARD Customer Service Center, 800-292-3939

Team Dingell is here seven days a week and wants to listen and help. It isn’t as smooth as we want on some issues, but we will never stop fighting for you. Call our office at 313-278-2936 or contact us through Facebook or our webpage.
 
New information becomes available every day. Below is a list of resources and information that can be helpful during this time. Please share this information with your family, friends, and colleagues. Remember, stay home, stay safe, save lives.

Coronavirus information

File for unemployment

Small Businesses can apply for low-interest disaster loans

Navigating Social Security Benefits
 
School Based Food Service Interactive Map
 
Food Banks and Kitchens in Michigan's 12th Congressional District
 
Contact numbers for people looking for information are:
• Centers for Disease Control, cdc.gov/coronavirus, 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636).
• Michigan.gov/coronavirus, or 888-535-6136.