Dear Friend,
Another busy weekend in Michigan turned into a busy week in D.C. We held four town halls in four days, before returning to the Capitol for important committee work, and to introduce a new bipartisan bill that will expand access to care in the home. I’m excited about federal investments we announced last week in clean energy and infrastructure in our district, and a new funding opportunity from the EPA for zero-emission school buses.
Town Halls
It was great to hear from residents of Milan, Novi, Downriver, and Ann Arbor across four town halls in four days last weekend. We discussed a range of issues – from clean water and toxic chemicals in our environment, to bringing down everyday costs like food, energy, and medicine, and what we’re doing in D.C. to invest in manufacturing and jobs here at home. On Monday, our town hall focused on the new benefits available to veterans as a result of the PACT Act we passed last fall. So far, nearly 3 million veterans across the nation have completed their PACT Act screenings, moving them one step closer to accessing the care they need. If you’re a veteran or survivor, you can file claims now. And if you have any questions, my office stands ready to assist you, along with the VA.
Expanding Care in the Home Act
Last week, I introduced bipartisan legislation with my colleague Rep. Adrian Smith from Nebraska, to modernize Medicare reimbursement and increase patient access for home-based health services. The Expanding Care in the Home Act would remove barriers currently limiting patient access to care in the home, which is often the preferred site of care for patients, caregivers, and providers, and ensure home-based care is a viable option for patient care and scalable for providers. We know people often prefer to receive care in the comfort and security of their own homes, and the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of expanding access to health care beyond traditional doctor’s office or hospital settings. This legislation will help remove barriers to care and increase options for patients to receive critical care in the setting of their choice.
Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic
Last week, the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic held a hearing to investigate the impacts of school closures during the pandemic, with the president of the American Federation of Teachers, Randi Weingarten.
Teachers and schools faced immense challenges in late 2020 and early 2021, including lack of resources, chronic underinvestment in schools and education resulting in overcrowded classrooms, windows that didn’t open, and poor ventilation systems that were incompatible with COVID safety measures, to name just a few. In January 2021, when President Biden took office, roughly half of school districts were open. But thanks to the guidance of the CDC under the Biden Administration, that number rose to over 95% by the end of May.
We all care about our teachers, and we all wanted to reopen schools in a manner that was safe, both for educators and for children. We can not let vitriol and politically-charged rhetoric become more important than the facts.
Debt Limit Vote
On Wednesday, Republicans in the House passed their debt ceiling bill, which would cut funding for programs ranging from Medicaid to food assistance, and would hurt students, veterans, seniors, and first responders, among others. Raising the debt ceiling isn’t about spending, it’s about fulfilling our commitments and maintaining the full faith and credit of the United States. And it’s not a partisan issue - Since 1960, Congress has acted 78 separate times to permanently raise, temporarily extend, or revise the definition of the debt limit – 49 times under Republican presidents and 29 times under Democratic presidents. We must pass a clean debt ceiling bill, to meet obligations we have already made, and work on balancing the budget moving forward.
Willow Run Airport
I’m excited to announce that Willow Run Airport will receive $12,780,187 from the Department of Transportation to construct a new taxiway. Willow Run is a critical juncture for commerce, cargo, and general aviation and the strength and viability of the airport are critical for jobs and our regional economy. This funding will continue to expand airport operations, improve passenger experience, and keep our local economy and supply chains running.
Ann Arbor Geothermal
The City of Ann Arbor has been selected by the Department of Energy (DOE) to receive up to $588,000 to design a community geothermal heating and cooling system. The looped geothermal system, paired with efficiency improvements, rooftop solar, and battery storage, would cover at least 75% of the heating and cooling load and eliminate the energy burden for 262 low-income households, a local school, a community mental health service center, and the city’s public works facility. This project will bring us one step closer to the city’s A2Zero plan to achieve carbon neutrality in Ann Arbor, and I’m proud to see our city continue to lead the way in the fight against the climate crisis.
Clean School Buses
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the availability of $400M in grant funding for the Clean School Bus Program, which is transforming the nation’s fleet of dirty diesel buses with clean, electric school buses. Diesel exhaust from buses has a negative impact not only on our environment, but on the health of our children, teachers, bus drivers, and the surrounding communities. The Clean School Bus program takes diesel buses off the roads, reducing our carbon emissions and ensuring the air our children breathe on the way to school is cleaner and free from dangerous pollutants. Last year, Dearborn and Ypsilanti received more than $11 million to purchase 28 clean school buses. Visit the EPA’s website for more information and eligibility requirements.
Upcoming Events
Hazardous Waste Public Forum
On Thursday, May 4, at 7 PM, I will hold a hazardous waste forum with Reps. Rashida Tlaib and Shri Thanedar, to provide information and answer questions about the transportation and storage of hazardous wastes in our communities. The panelists at the forum will include U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Regional Administrator Debra Shore, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) Chief Deputy Director Aaron Keatley, Norfolk Southern Regional Vice President of Government Relations Herbert Smith, and Republic Industrial and Energy Solutions (RIES).
The forum will take place at the Wayne County Community College District Ted Scott Campus Auditorium (9555 Haggerty Rd., Belleville, MI 48111).
