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GRAND RAPIDS, MI —Today, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-MI) and Congressman Fred Upton (R-MI) participated in a virtual conversation on civility and collegiality in politics and government. During the conversation, both representatives discussed how to heal the soul of the nation and emphasized the need for a renewed push of bipartisan cooperation in Congress. Video of the discussion can be found here. 

Dingell and Upton were joined in the conversation by Mike Ford, son of President Gerald R. Ford and Betty Ford, chair of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation; Bill Pink, president of Grand Rapids Community College; and Mike Jandernoa, policy chair of West Michigan Policy Forum.

“What makes a democracy thrive is vigorous debate and an understanding of the importance of coming together. But it also requires respect.  In recent years, that spirit has left our country and been replaced by vitriolic rhetoric,” said Dingell. “We are reaching a crisis point in this country. Name-calling, punching back, personal attacks and threats are what our nation has come to expect from Washington. We are being divided by fear and hatred, and the heart and soul of our country is being irreparably harmed. Our challenge is to remember there’s more that unites us than divides us.” 

“Too many in Washington look for a fight first and a solution second. That’s not my style. Coming together to solve problems that matter to the American people must be our top priority,” Upton said. “We’re tired of the vitriolic rhetoric and mean-spirited language used in our political discourse, and so are the American people. That’s why Debbie Dingell and I are proud to serve as vice chairs of the Problem Solvers Caucus, and why we do events like today’s - to show folks that civility and bipartisanship still work and should still be valued.” 

Today’s conversation continued Upton and Dingell’s civility tour. Since last year, they have participated in similar events in Ann Arbor, Mackinac Island, Detroit, and Washington, D.C. The event was co-sponsored by the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation, West Michigan Policy Forum, Grand Rapids Chamber, and Southwest Michigan First.

During the 116th Congress, Dingell and Upton have collaborated on 13 pieces of legislation and provisions.

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