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Dear Friend,
 
Happy to be headed back home to Michigan after wrapping up a very busy week in Washington! Met with many Michiganders to listen and discuss issues important to communities back home—including Michigan students, had lots of work in my Energy and Commerce and Natural Resources Committees—including a hearing on protecting Americans’ online data with social media company TikTok’s CEO, spoke at events to share updates on work in Congress on special education and fixing our nation’s broken long-term care system, and visited the White House for a Women’s History Month celebration.
  
Supporting the Local Economy
 
On Monday, I joined local business and government leaders for Ann Arbor SPARK’s first annual state legislative breakfast to discuss the local economy and how we can better support business development throughout the Ann Arbor region.
 
I am working with all our communities to grow this region and support families, students, and businesses so they can grow and thrive.
 
 
Addressing Power Outages

Monday night, the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) held a town hall for residents of Southeast Michigan in Dearborn to hear from residents about significant issues with our state’s utility companies following repeat power outages that left some Michiganders without power for over two weeks. These long outages are unacceptable. They threaten every resident’s health and safety, particularly those with health conditions requiring electricity for their treatments like oxygen or accommodations to move around their home.
 
I called on MPSC to work with government at all levels—local, state, and federal—as well as utility companies to strengthen our grid and make it more resilient to increasingly severe weather patterns we are seeing across the state. I heard from far too many of my constituents who were left in the cold and dark. I heard from a farmer with 150 sheep without power who couldn’t care for his livestock – his livelihood. I heard from a disabled veteran who was stuck on the first floor of his home because he couldn’t use his stair lift. People were scared. Lives were at risk. People died. The status quo is unacceptable!
 
One thing is clear: we cannot keep doing the same things and expect different results.
  
 
Hearing from the Community
 
 
On Monday, I joined Plymouth Mayor Nick Moroz and City Commissioner Linda Filipczak for the Plymouth City Commission’s last meeting of March. We heard a presentation from CSX regarding rail safety. Had many great conversations with residents and local elected leaders about the issues important to their community and discuss what more we can do to better support them.
 
 
Supporting New Businesses & Jobs
 

On Tuesday, I joined the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Regional Chamber for the ribbon cutting of a brand-new business in Ann Arbor that will give residents more healthy dining options, help support our local economy, and create jobs. With this new restaurant right in my neighborhood, Governor Whitmer said she’s hoping I’ll start eating more vegetables… We’ll see about that one.

 
Hearing from Students
 

On Wednesday, the House returned to Washington to continue work on a host of issues. Coming into a busy week, it was great to start the day visiting with students from Greenhills Middle School in Ann Arbor on a school trip to DC. The discussion was excellent—it showed their interest in serious public policy issues and their care for our future. I even got a little advice before my hearing with TikTok later in the week. These students may be young, but they are engaged, they are passionate, and they are determined.
 
 
Confronting the Academic Achievement Gap
 
Chronic underfunding has forced many communities to make cuts to critical special education programs and services for students with disabilities. In fact, studies have shown that students with disabilities perform, on average, more than three years below their non-disabled peers. The lack of special, individualized education is worsening this issue.
 
Later Wednesday morning, I joined the K-12 Alliance of Michigan for their Special Education Symposium to discuss what more we must do to confront and close the academic achievement gap and get students the resources they need to succeed.
 
 
Fixing Long-Term Care
 
I also joined, ANCOR and United Cerebral Palsy Wednesday to identify ways we can better support the direct care workforce, fix the broken long-term care system, & expand access to home and community-based care (HCBS) for seniors and people with disabilities. We have a moral obligation to get this done.

I’m fighting to expand HCBS so more Americans can get the care they need in the setting of their choice. My Better Care Better Jobs Act will address significant HCBS waitlists, make permanent Money Follows the Person program, improve wages and benefits for direct care workers, and much more.

I also introduced the HCBS Access Act which will ensure seniors & people with disabilities are given a real choice between home care & institutional care. This bill will eliminate HCBS waitlists while improving the quality of care and addressing direct care workforce shortages.
 
We have a moral responsibility to take care of our neighbors with disabilities, seniors, and our dedicated caseworkers, improve accessibility, and fight for a better long-term care system. 
 
Caregiving is the foundation of our economy. It makes ALL other work possible.
 
 
Combatting the Climate Crisis
 

Met with health experts and environmental justice leaders from Michigan Wednesday to discuss Solutions for Pollution and steps we must take to better protect public health as we continue working to confront the worsening Climate Crisis.
 
Across the country, Americans can see and feel the growing impacts of the Climate Crisis on our communities and our health. And though we have made historic progress with the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act, we have a lot more work to do to cut emissions and meet our ambitious goals.
 
This week, a new report from the United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) issued a stark warning—the world is on track to pass a critical threshold on the Climate Crisis within the next decade. The panel believes it is still possible to hold warming to safer levels, but this will require global cooperation and significant investments in clean energy and resiliency.
 
There is no time to waste—industrialized nations across the world must act now to reverse course before it’s too late. It’s time to put politics and personalities aside, listen to the experts, and act with the urgency this crisis demands.
 
 
Celebrating Women's History Month
 

Wednesday evening, I joined President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden at the White House with so many inspiring women for a Women’s History Month celebration.
 
Thanks to President Biden for capturing this great photo. Adding “great selfie taker” to my list of President Biden’s talents!
 
I’m so grateful for all these strong, powerful women, and the many who came before them, for their dedication to opening the doors wider for women and girls across the country.
 
 
Recognizing 13 Years of the ACA
 

On Thursday, we celebrated thirteen years since President Barak Obama signed the Affordable Care Act (ACA) into law—taking the first big step in lowering health care costs, protecting Americans with pre-existing conditions, expanding access to care, and advancing equity in health care.
 
Because of the Affordable Care Act,
·     35 MILLION Americans have gained health care coverage, including 21 MILLION through the expansion of Medicaid
·     9 out of 10 Americans can find significantly lower health care premiums through the ACA Marketplace
·     Women can no longer be charged more or denied health care coverage simply for being a woman
John Dingell sits by President Obama's side at Affordable Care Act signing
 

John Dingell fought tirelessly to pass the Affordable Care Act through Congress and to President Obama’s desk—building on his decades-long work to pass comprehensive and meaningful reforms to expand access to quality, affordable health care coverage. He was right by President Obama’s side when he signed the landmark law.
 
The Affordable Care Act initiated historic reforms to our nation’s broken health care system, and I will continue fighting to protect and build on the progress we’ve made over the last thirteen years.
 
 
On Toxic Waste Disposal
 

This week, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Environment (EGLE) announced they will reopen the window for public feedback regarding the renewal of the operating license for Republic Industrial and Energy Services (RIES), LLC’s hazardous waste disposal site in Romulus.
 
This is the right thing to do to be transparent, hear community concerns, and ensure that the residents who are most directly affected by the storage of hazardous waste in their neighborhoods have their voices heard. The transport and storage of toxic materials requires constant vigilance, and communities deserve to be fully informed and have the opportunity to express their concerns before a final decision is made. We are also holding a public forum with EGLE, EPA, and other stakeholders because recent events have demonstrated that there is an urgent need for further public discourse about how and where we dispose of toxic and hazardous waste. I will continue to work with our federal, state, and local officials to ensure these decisions are made transparently and with the input of our residents.
 
The public comment period will be open from April 01 – April 30. 
  
EGLE’s announcement comes after Representatives Rashida Tlaib, Shri Thanedar, and I called on EGLE to open the public comment period after determining the public was unable to properly provide input or properly express concerns with this site and the movement of hazardous waste into their communities. 
 
Michiganders deserve to have the opportunity to share their input or raise concerns before toxic chemicals are brought to their backyards. I will continue working to lift the voices of Southeast Michigan residents on these important issues.
   
On April 13, I will be hosting a public forum with Rep. Shri Thanedar (MI-13), EGLE, EPA, and other stakeholders to allow for a community discussion on hazardous waste disposal in Southeast Michigan. More details will be announced next week.
 

Safeguarding American's Online Data
 
On Thursday, the Energy and Commerce Committee held a hearing on safeguarding American data privacy and protecting children online with social media company TikTok’s CEO Shou Chew. Yesterday’s hearing follows long-term concerns with TikTok’s collection and sale of detailed personal data—including precise location data and its Chinese parent company—ByteDance—history with surveillance issues, privacy issues, and connections to the Chinese Communist Party.
 
As screentime increases, so do the inherent risks. And with the proliferation and popularity of new social media platforms, so does the potential reach of dangerous, provocative, and often harmful content, and the abuse of collected data.
 
As a Representative from the State of Michigan, I can speak from experience on how social media has been used to target members of the Michigan delegation, including a plot to kidnap the Governor, and how it can be weaponized to perpetuate harms toward individuals and communities.
 
My colleagues and I raised many legitimate concerns we share about protecting kids online, the spread of misinformation on social media, and securing our data.
 
One important area of concern I have regarding data collection is precise GPS data, and how it can be abused. This subject has dangerous implications for survivors of domestic violence, people seeking medical care, and protecting children from potential predators.
 
Even if Congress were to ban TikTok from operating in the U.S., I’m concerned that China or others could still access sensitive data collected by TikTok by purchasing the information through brokers that sell data. With this concern in mind, I ask TikTok’s CEO if he would commit to not selling any of TikTok’s data to data brokers, now and in the future. Mr. Chew failed to clearly commit, making clear that big tech companies will not act on their own to protect users online.
 
I think in many ways, these myriad issues highlight the need for comprehensive data privacy legislation that would ensure the safety and integrity of every American’s data on every social media platform, and mitigate potential harms.
 
 
Voting This Week
 

On Friday, the House voted on legislation that’s been coined the “Politics Over Parents Act.” Parental involvement is critical for children’s success as is the partnership between parents and schools. Unfortunately, the Politics Over Parents bill divides schools and parents, it politicizes education, & uses students & teachers as political pawns.
 
All of us should be focused on the real issues we need to address. I remain focused on improving public education, addressing learning loss due to the pandemic, delivering the support and resources our students and teachers need, and making our schools safer. I want to work with every parent to ensure our children are getting the quality education they deserve, have access to health care, are not going hungry, and are learning in a safe and nurturing environment instead of a political battlefield.
 
Also on Friday, the full Energy and Commerce Committee considered many bills related to communications and technology and health care, including my bipartisan Block, Report, and Suspend Suspicious Shipments Act.
 
The opioid crisis has been a serious concern of mine as we’ve seen communities across the country damaged by pill dumping. Too many families have lost a loved one due to a drug overdose, including my own. In Michigan, eight people die of a drug overdose every day.
 
Pill dumping and other dodgy practices created this crisis and continues to upend communities and families across the nation. We have a moral obligation to do something about this crisis and the irreparable pain it inflict on our communities.
 
Thankful this bill was passed in committee and is headed for a full vote in the House.
 
 
Protecting the Environment
 
The Center for Effective Lawmaking named me the most effective House Democrat on environmental issues for my work to protect our environment and precious natural resources.
 
I have been working hard to bring everyone to the table and pass strong environmental and natural resource protection laws—including legislation to cut U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, invest in clean energy, jumpstart electrification of transportation through investments in electric vehicle manufacturing, stop the release of toxic PFAS chemicals into our environment and drinking water, and much more.
 
We’ve made historic progress over the past few years, and it’s critical to future generations we stay on this path.
 
 
Recognizing Ramadan
 
This week, Muslims across the world recognized the start of the Holy Month of Ramadan by starting their fasts and reciting their prayers.
 
Ramadan is a sacred time for the Muslim community. It’s a month of goodness, tranquility, and peace. It reminds us of the strength of our communities when we treat our neighbors with kindness, dignity, and respect.
 
Ramadan Mubarak to all those observing Ramadan in Michigan and across the world.