Dear Friend,
It has been a very busy couple of weeks, and since you know I do put a lot of work into these letters myself, I am a little behind. It is winter with, quite frankly, unpredictable weather. We have seen rain, snow, and ice with dramatic shifts from cold to warm, and it hangs over what I do while home. But I stay out there and try to get to as many places as I can, but the size of crowds is impacted. More people are engaged right now, as the first of several elections this year was yesterday. I am struck by two very different perspectives, which one hears very strongly as they’re out and about. People are angry about many subjects. The Middle East, government (even though in another state) taking away women’s health care decisions fueled by the Alabama IVF case, phone service, the environment, remaining clean up from floods from last August, and the list goes on at length. And then there are those that just don’t care. Honestly, I am often being yelled at, and while I don’t love it, it means people are engaged. Democracy thrives when people care.
There is much to discuss, here are some highlights. D2
Budget Deadline Looming
Later this week, we will reach the first of two government funding deadlines. This is the fourth time since September we are running up against a funding deadline. This is not the way we should be running our government. It’s inefficient, it’s ineffective, and it’s a failure to do the jobs we were elected to do. It’s a failure to govern.
I always remind people that when we talk about a government shutdown, we need to remember that people’s lives and livelihoods are at stake. Every shutdown hurts working families, our economy, small businesses, and our national security.
That’s why I will work with anyone, regardless of party, to arrive at a responsible proposal to keep the government open. But the key word is responsible. We cannot pass a budget that will slash funding for children, for veterans, and for seniors, as some of my colleagues have proposed. I will not vote for a budget that would gut our federal agencies that provide critical services. But I want to assure you that keeping the government open is my very first priority, and I will do everything in my power to make that happen.
If the government does shut down, we will make sure to communicate promptly with you and keep everyone up to date.
Secretary Mayorkas Impeachment
I found the two efforts to impeach the Homeland Security Secretary one of the lowest moments yet in my House career. We are using serious, official procedures against public servants for cheap political shots, discouraging good people from going into public office, and preventing the government from operating as it should. Homeland Security lawyers wrote, “The effort to impeach Secretary Mayorkas represents a dramatic departure from over two centuries of established understanding and precedent about the meaning of the Impeachment Clause of the Constitution and the proper exercise of that extraordinary tool.”
Secretary Mayorkas has worked hard to address tough problems that, by the way, Republicans and Democrats have tried and needed to address for decades. The Senate has already made very clear that they will not impeach him. I voted against this twice, but House Republicans united for the first time in a while to pass the impeachment inquiry in the House. The American people have had enough. I fear this time we might actually experience a shutdown, but I will continue doing everything possible to prevent this from happening and will keep you updated and have resources available.
House Energy and Commerce Committee Subcommittee on Health
The Energy and Commerce Committee Subcommittee on Health held a hearing on legislation to support patients and caregivers, an issue that matters deeply to me. I spoke about three of my bills: the Charlotte Woodward Organ Transplant Discrimination Prevention Act, the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Reauthorization Act, and the SIREN Reauthorization Act.
No one should be denied a life-saving procedure or transplant because of a disability. The Charlotte Woodward Organ Transplant Discrimination Prevention Act will prohibit discrimination against people with disabilities in the organ transplant system. The bill is named for Charlotte Woodward, an incredible woman who was born with Down syndrome. It’s fitting that the hearing for her namesake bill was held on Valentine's Day since Charlotte received a lifesaving heart transplant in 2012. She celebrated her 12th heartiversay last month and has dedicated her life to advocating for people with disabilities to receive equal access.
I also discussed the importance of reauthorizing the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act to reduce and prevent suicide, burnout, and mental and behavioral health conditions among health care professionals. Health care professionals dedicate their lives to serving their patients, often at the expense of their own physical and emotional wellbeing. We must work to support health care professionals and provide much-needed resources to address the mental and behavioral health conditions doctors and nurses face and continue reducing the stigma surrounding mental health care.
Lastly, as co-chair of the Emergency Medical Services Caucus, I discussed the SIREN Reauthorization Act. Housed within the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, SIREN grants support public and non-profit rural EMS agencies in their efforts to train and recruit staff, acquire EMS equipment, and develop new ways to educate EMS providers. I care deeply about our nation’s EMS workers. They’re often the first to arrive at the scene of an emergency, and they have to quickly evaluate the situation and determine the best course of action for a patient in their most vulnerable and critical state. Across America’s small towns, rural EMS agencies are a lifeline to the healthcare system.
House Natural Resources Committee Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries
The House Natural Resources Committee Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries held a hearing regarding the ESA Flexibility Act, legislation that would drastically change the core and original intent of the Endangered Species Act, which John Dingell authored many years ago. The ESA is a critical tool for preventing extinction and putting imperiled species on the road to recovery. It has been our most successful tool to protect America’s vulnerable wildlife, preventing the extinction of 99% of the species it covers, including America’s beloved animals like the bald eagle, grizzly bear, and Florida Manatee.
House Energy and Commerce Committee Subcommittee on Communications and Technology
The House Energy and Commerce Committee Subcommittee on Communications and Technology held a hearing on legislation aimed at addressing risks in our communication technology networks, and how we can work together to tackle these issues and thwart future threats.
From critical infrastructure to 5G to supply chains and emerging technologies in the automotive sector, addressing these concerns is necessary to foster competition, drive innovation, support our domestic industries, and safeguard our data. Congress must prioritize its responsibility to secure our networks to shield all Americans from both current and future threats.
Made in the USA Act
Last week I welcomed Rep. Ro Khanna to Michigan for the introduction of our Made in the USA Act to invigorate U.S. manufacturing, create good-paying jobs, and protect workers by incentivizing and rewarding consumers for buying American-made goods.
Investing in American manufacturing drives innovation, prosperity, and progress. I’m proud to introduce the Made in the USA Act to encourage consumers to support the family-owned small businesses here in our communities and to look to American products first. It was great to visit Motawi Tile Work and Leon Speakers last week to talk with their employees and see the great work they’re doing in Ann Arbor. We must continue to strengthen our domestic manufacturing and supply chain capabilities, bring home good-paying jobs, and invest in American workers, and that’s exactly what this bill does.
Funding for Great Lakes Restoration Initiative
I joined bipartisan colleagues in leading the bipartisan, bicameral introduction of legislation to extend the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and increase annual funding levels to stop the spread of carp and other invasive species, restore coastline and habitats connecting our streams and rivers, clean up environmentally damaged Areas of Concern, and prevent future contamination.
I also led the Congressional Great Lakes Task Force in writing a bipartisan letter urging the Biden-Harris Administration to provide $450 million for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) in the President’s Fiscal Year 2025 Budget.
The Great Lakes are not only an important natural resource, but a way of life that supports communities and jobs across our region and country. Since it was established, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative has been an environmental and economic success, and is fundamental to protecting, restoring, and maintaining the Great Lakes ecosystem and economy. Without consistently robust funding, in line with GIRL's current authorized levels, we risk reversing years of progress, dramatically reducing the GLRI’s impact, and jeopardizing the environmental and economic health of the region for generations to come.
Extending the Affordable Connectivity Program
If we’re going to bring our nation’s infrastructure into the 21st century, we need to continue to expand access to affordable, high-speed Internet. Even before the pandemic, far too many people in Michigan and communities across our country were disconnected and unable to participate in today’s digital age.
I joined the National Association of Counties to highlight the importance of the Affordable Connectivity Program. Now more than ever Americans depend on high-speed internet for everything from school to health care. ACP is recognized as one of the most successful initiatives for connecting households today. In just a few years since the program was launched, 23 million American families—an estimated 64 million people—are already utilizing the Affordable Connectivity Program to afford their internet service. In Michigan, one in five households depend on ACP.
We must continue funding the Affordable Connectivity Program, ensuring millions of Americans aren’t at risk of losing the connection and opportunity internet access brings. Of the 23 million families using the ACP, 19% are seniors, 26% live in rural areas, and 49% are military families. We must work to pass the bipartisan ACP Extension Act so that all Americans have access to the internet.
AT&T Outage
Last week, AT&T users experienced a nationwide network outage. The company has reported that the outage was caused by the application and execution of an incorrect process used while working to expand their network, not a cyber attack. AT&T says they will reach out to potentially impacted customers and credit them for the average cost of a full day of service. Many of us are still asking many questions and want better answers. It also reinforced our reliance on cell phones and raises the issues of when the satellite system fails, what does one do in the case of an emergency. It also has me asking questions again about the effort to eliminate landlines. This is a generational issue in many ways, but law enforcement, fire, and emergency responders were urging people to use land lines if they needed them, which is hard to do when the majority of people don’t have one. I am going to keep asking questions.
For more information, click here.
Cancer Prevention
As co-chair of the Bipartisan Cancer Prevention Caucus, I’ve worked with colleagues across the aisle to support education and awareness efforts, and advance policies that will bring us closer to a world where cancer is considered a preventable disease– providing hope to millions of Americans by focusing on ways we can stop cancer before it starts. I was glad to join Prevent Cancer to raise awareness for routine cancer screenings on Galentine’s Day. Prevent Cancer has resources of all kinds to help ensure you keep yourself and your galentines healthy.
Downriver Town Hall
During the Downriver Environmental Town Hall, community members voiced concerns over a range of Downriver environmental issues, including the cleanup efforts at Arkema, BASF's planning delays, and the milky white discharge observed at McLouth Steel, among other concerns. Representatives from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), led by Director Phil Roos, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), including Downriver Point Person Scott Ireland, were present to address these concerns. Specifically, regarding Arkema cleanup, the community emphasized the necessity of dredging and thorough assessment to prevent further contamination, with EPA overseeing the process while navigating delays and regulatory hurdles. We also discussed an onsite wastewater treatment plant to manage treated water before it is discharged back into the Detroit River, with ongoing collaboration between EPA, Arkema, and the community. We provided updates on BASF's progress, with a 60% design completion expected by early March 2024, a step forward in groundwater management strategies to prevent further contamination.
For the past year and a half, BASF and their consultant, Arcadis, have been completing a geophysical investigation of Point Hennepin on Grosse Ile. The investigation identified areas that are more likely to be discharging groundwater from the island into the river, and the next step is the sampling of mercury and ammonia, which is scheduled for this summer.
Community members also discussed the anticipated demolition of the old Trenton Channel power plant smoke stacks this week, which has since been postponed. We’ll be sure to keep you updated on next steps as we hear from DTE and regulators.
EGLE addressed the concerns surrounding McLouth Steel’s white discharge in Monguagon Creek, pledging to investigate the issue and collaborate with site owners and the local government to mitigate risks to public health and the environment. I highlighted the importance of securing federal and state resources to support cleanup efforts, advocating for polluters to bear the financial responsibility, and emphasizing the need for continued oversight to ensure real progress. Beyond specific site updates, community members were reassured about the safety of drinking water – that their water is not being sourced from the ground, but rather from the Detroit River, which is one of the best drinking water systems in the country and always beats federal clean water standards.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services’ hotline for reporting concerns about toxic waste is 1-800-MITOXICS. As the town hall came to an end people felt there had been a good exchange, EPA and EGLE were very engaged, and the discussions had been strong. We are going to keep these meetings going and will be hosting them quarterly to address the many ongoing issues.
Paczki Day
We celebrated Paczki Day – one of my favorite days of the year. Paczki Day is a Polish tradition before the fasting of Lent, and I delivered the traditional Polish donuts to friends in the press and community across Michigan’s 6th District. Delivering paczki in celebration of this day is a Dingell family tradition started by John many years ago when he served in Congress.
Rituals and traditions in our communities matter to me. They tie us together from generation to generation, keep us connected in many ways, and when you have lost someone you love, they are a way to keep happy memories going. The Dingell family immigrated to the United States from Poland, and Paczki Day is a Polish tradition and celebration of Fat Tuesday – the last chance to indulge before the fasting days of Lent. Celebrating this heritage on Paczki Day with friends each year is a reminder of our history and an opportunity to share our customs with our neighbors. For me, this day is also a reminder of the importance of respecting diverse cultures and backgrounds, and that we are stronger when we come together and when we focus on what unites us instead of what divides us.
Black History Month
As February comes to a close, we must recommit to celebrating black history every month of the year. During the month, I have attended many celebrations, meetings, and religious services talking about issues and remembering history, while also talking about the future. Many powerful voices and stories of Black Americans have shaped our nation’s history. This month and every month, let us honor their place in and contributions to the shared story of America.
Fisher House Detroit Topping Off Ceremony
Fisher House is a home away from home and makes a difference for so many veterans and active duty personnel and their families when caring for a loved one in the hospital. I learned about them almost three decades ago and have been a strong champion since then. There were three Fisher Houses at that time, and last week, we did the Topping Off Ceremony for the 99th home.
It’s long been my dream to have a Fisher House at the Detroit VA, and we are one step closer to making that dream a reality. I was honored to join veterans, their families, workers from the VA, and many more friends for the Fisher House Topping Off Ceremony. This Fisher House is going to be life-changing for many who don’t have money for lodging, food, or transportation. We were able to open one in Ann Arbor several years ago, and hopefully this one will open in the fall.
Vigil Commemorating the Second Anniversary of the Russian Invasion of Ukraine
I joined the Ann Arbor branch of the Ukrainian National Women's League of America, Weiser Center for Europe and Eurasia, and the University of Michigan Ukrainian Student Club, for a meaningful vigil to commemorate the second anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. We honored the lives tragically lost to Russia’s war against Ukraine, and stood in solidarity with the common goal of defending freedom and democracy around the world.
The Ukrainian people need our support. Combatting Russian aggression and defending democracy should never be political. Unfortunately, many of my Republican colleagues have decided to play political games at a perilous moment in this conflict. Threats to freedom and democracy anywhere are threats to freedom and democracy everywhere and I remain committed to fighting in Washington for the funding and support necessary to protect Ukraine and its citizens.
Safe Streets and Roads for All Grant Program
President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law established the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) discretionary program with $5 billion in appropriated funds over 5 years, 2022-2026. The SS4A program funds regional, local, and Tribal initiatives through grants to prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries.
The fiscal year 2024 Notice of Funding Opportunity has opened with the following deadlines:
Planning and Demonstration Grant applicants:
#1 April 4, 2024, 5:00 PM (EDT)
#2 May 16, 2024, 5:00 PM (EDT)
#3 August 29, 2024, 5:00 PM (EDT)
Implementation Grant applications
May 16, 2024 5:00 PM (EDT)
Click here for more information.
FEMA Aid Available
If you or someone you know was impacted by last year’s storms, please check your eligibility to see if you apply for assistance through FEMA. Those who have already made repairs are still encouraged to apply.
In addition, renters in Michigan with uninsured or under insured losses from the August 24-26, 2023, severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding can apply for FEMA assistance. Renters may also qualify for a grant under FEMA’s Other Needs Assistance program for uninsured essential personal property losses and other disaster-related expenses. The deadline to apply for assistance is Monday, April 8, 2024.
Please be wary of scammers when applying for this aid. FEMA warns:
Disasters bring out criminals looking to prey on survivors who appear to be easy targets for their scams…Anyone who suspects fraud or scams should call the FEMA Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 (TTY call 711). The toll-free number is open 24 hours a day.
Common tactics used by scam artists include phone calls from people claiming to work for FEMA. The caller may ask for the survivor’s Social Security number, income or banking information.
Survivors should never trust someone claiming to be a disaster assistance employee asking for money. FEMA does not endorse any commercial business, product or service, and local and federal disaster assistance workers do not solicit or accept money.
For more information, click here.
Photos of the Week
The last few weekends have been very busy with Special Olympics and polar plunges, a visit to Mott Children’s Hospital, the opening of UM Health Specialty Pharmacy, a visit to the Saline Recreation Center, chili competitions, farmers markets, ice carving festivals, and lots of celebrations and community gatherings.
As always, I want to hear from you. What do you want me to know? What are you thinking about? Please contact me with any questions, ideas, and concerns. Share them with me at this link, or by calling one of my offices in Ann Arbor, Woodhaven, or DC:
Ann Arbor: (734) 481-1100
Woodhaven: (313) 278-2936
Washington, DC: (202) 225-4071
