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Here is an update for July 10th. 
 
Thought of the day: “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” — Dr. Seuss
 
Yesterday, Michigan reported 446 new confirmed cases and nine additional deaths. This is better than the day before but Governor Whitmer reiterated she may put in pace stricter mask laws given the continued trend of increased cases. There’s still a lot of people not taking the proper precautions seriously. Unfortunately, too many of us are witnessing it first-hand. The next two weeks, following the Fourth of July weekend, will tell a story of how many people became infected.
 
Right after I posted on Facebook this morning, I received a scam email from a fake Amazon email account. It told me there had been a problem with my credit card on file and that I had to re-input my credit card information. I knew right away this was a scam email because the email address did not have an @amazon.com handle. Always double check if the email you receive from a company is correct and fits the companies email formula. In fact, one of the Committee’s I sit on in the House had a hearing on this exact topic and is an issue we’re working on at the Federal, state, and local level. If you’d like to report a scam, believe you’ve been subject of a scam, or get additional information on best practices to keep yourself safe, you are encouraged to contact the Michigan Consumer Protection team through the online compliant form found here or call 517-335-7599.
 
Earlier this week, I was able to visit the International Wildlife Refuge Center and get a sneak peak of the visitor center before it happens. The visitor center opening is one of the many things that was delayed because of COVID-19. The refuge is a reminder of protecting our natural resources and as John Dingell would tell us, “We don’t inherit the earth from past generations, we borrow it from future generations.” If you want to watch the Facebook Live of the tour, follow the link here. 

Yesterday, I led over 100 members of Congress in opposition to the Trump Administration’s changes to the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) that would mean students taking a full online course load cannot remain in the United States. This rule from the White House would put international students at risk. Credits don’t always transfer, leases are already signed, & tuition is already paid for thousands of international students in this country. An update will be provided when we learn more on what comes next. 
 
The White House and the VA launched a national public health campaign aimed at empowering all Americans to help prevent suicide. The campaign will help change the conversation around suicide by urging people and veterans to recognize their own risk and protective factors — as well as the risk and protective factors of their loved ones. Our country has 132 suicides each day. No one should ever feel they have nowhere else to turn. If you want to take the preventive pledge to help reduce suicide, and be part of the solution, visit wearewithinreach.net/. 

We will be back on Monday with another daily update. Hope you have a calm, relaxing, and enjoyable weekend. 

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.

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