Debbie's Blog
Dingell Update 10.21
Washington,
October 21, 2024
Dear Friend, October is always one of my favorite months of the year, but I must say this one is complicated. The leaves are turning, the colors so very vibrant but the weather is warmer than usual and I didn’t turn the heat on until this past week when it got into the 30s at night. I really haven’t worn a coat yet which is almost unheard of, I can actually remember snowflakes at October events. Though I did pull one this past Saturday for an early morning walk/run I do each year. There is no shortage of events, and you actually cannot get to them all if you are someone like me who wants to. Football weekends, intense highs and lows, homecomings at the local high schools as well as Eastern and Michigan. Farmers markets are loaded with beautiful fruits and vegetables, but most in the local area are coming to an end until the spring or will hold indoor markets for the winter. Hayrides, pumpkin patches, corn mazes and fall festivals abound. Trunk and Treat is being held in multiple locations and cities and towns. Halloween Costumes are out and just making you smile. Annual walks for breast cancer, Alzheimer, domestic violence, Chad Tough, FHSD, among others, which I never miss. Union hall meetings, veteran gatherings, school events, fire and police open hoses, minister gatherings, neighborhood community meetings and clean-up days, NAACP annual dinners, full picnics, mutual aid meetings, Chamber gatherings, medical societies, DCC, Western Wayne Mayors and Washtenaw Supervisor’s meetings is just a sampling of what is keeping my busy. I am working on many local issues with city and township leaders. Among them - radioactive waste, continuing work on the plume, environmental cleanups, landfills, sewers, lead out of pipes, economic development, supply chains, including not only for manufacturing but for local hospitals, housing, energy, public health, seniors, schools, just to list some. I am also working on issues that we still hope will be addressed this year and have begun the work to prepare for next year’s legislative agenda and the legislation I will be introducing. I will never stop working on a number of critical issues. I am hopeful to get some of them done in the lame duck and ready to keep up the work on others. In the midst of this, I have had two cataract eye surgeries a week apart, which is why you see me wearing sunglasses (it may be the only thing I am doing the doctor appreciates). I am listening to him, but I attended an event for a short period of time an hour after the second one and I will tell you it is a miracle how much more one can see after this surgery. The leaves are beautiful and I didn’t know what I wasn’t seeing until I could suddenly see again. Modern medicine has the potential to make so many lives better. There have also been too many funerals. Sudden unexpected losses, a twelve year old loved by all who had a tree fall upon him at a school outing. A Dearborn neighbor killed in Lebanon. A Rotary colleague who always, always reached out, cared, and made sure you weren’t lonely. A Dearborn policeman with three adolescent children, one of the kindest, caring people I have ever known. A decades long friend from the UAW, who was an elected Congressman for a few months and always there for John and me and several more. A matriarch who had eleven children, and always there with support and compassion for so many. And yes there are more. I know it’s the rhythm and pattern of life but honestly some days it’s hard. Below are some highlights of what I am doing. Lead and Copper Rule Improvements The Biden-Harris Administration announced their final Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) to require drinking water systems across the country to identify and replace lead pipes within 10 years. Clean and safe drinking water is a basic human right, and the science is clear – no amount of lead is safe. I’ve had parents come up to me with tears in their eyes, worried for the wellbeing of their children because of lead in the water at school. I thank the Biden-Harris Administration for their continued commitment to replacing every lead service line in our country to guarantee access to safe water for every community and finally give peace of mind to families. Earlier this year, I joined colleagues in writing to the Biden-Harris Administration urging them to strengthen their initial Lead and Copper Rule proposal, and to promptly issue a final rule. As a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, I championed the inclusion of $15 billion in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund to replace lead service lines and provide cleaner drinking water. I also led the Water Access Act that would direct $500 million to the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) for Fiscal Year 2024. LIHWAP provides critical funding for low-income households with their water and wastewater bills. In Michigan, we know the importance of clean, affordable water. Domestic Violence Awareness Month October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, an opportunity for us to come together in the critical work to ensure survivors and their families have the support and resources they need to escape dangerous situations, to recover, and to thrive. I reintroduced a resolution with my fellow Domestic Violence Task Force Co-Chair Rep. Moore recognizing the intersection of gun violence, misogyny, and violence against women. According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, more than 1 in 3 women have experienced some form of intimate partner violence, including sexual violence, physical violence, or stalking. Intimate partner violence is the leading cause of fatalities among women. Nearly half of all female homicide victims between 2003 and 2014 were killed by intimate partners, according to a 2017 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. This resolution calls for further legislation to prevent abusers from having access to guns and encourages further research into the intersection of gun violence, misogyny, and violence against women. People with a history of domestic violence shouldn’t have access to guns – period. The evidence is clear and convincing that the presence of a firearm in an abusive situation makes homicide five times more likely. Congress must act to close loopholes in the law that allow abusers to access guns and put women and families in danger. We must also confront the root causes of domestic violence, understanding the way individuals who exhibit misogynistic tendencies toward women often go on to commit violence against them. I have participated in a number of events at home to support survivors, raise awareness and resources, help local organizations, and educate the community.
Remembering October 7 The Ann Arbor community remembered the one-year anniversary of October 7 and honored the more than 1,200 victims whose lives were taken by the brutal Hamas attack on Israel and in remembrance of those who are still being held hostage praying they will be released soon. I attended the vigil at the University of Michigan with many young people hurting and trying to understand what they are witnessing. The aftershock of October 7 is not only being felt in the impacted areas in the Middle East but throughout the world as well. We all watch with sadness, outrage and prayers for peace. These are very hard times and many people in many communities are deeply hurting. People are afraid, they fear for the future, hate frightens many. There is too much pain and loss and I am simply, at times, at a loss of words for everyone to find ways to bring people together. But I will continue to work for hope, resilience and peace. No more lives lost. We cannot give up and I am focused on how we work for peace to prevail for all. Urban Bird Treaty Act I introduced the Urban Bird Treaty Act to establish a federal grant to support conservation of birds and habitats in urban areas. Birds play an important role in our ecosystems and our everyday lives, and we all have an opportunity and a responsibility to make our communities safer places for birds and people to live together. Unfortunately, we have lost nearly 3 billion birds in the last 50 years, and we need to take serious action to address this crisis. The Urban Bird Treaty Act will provide federal funding to cities, community organizations, and other groups doing important work to restore bird habitat, and most importantly, educate communities about the small steps we can all take to protect bird populations for generations to come. The Urban Bird Treaty Act would make $1,000,000 available annually through a competitive grant program to eligible entities, including Tribal, State, or municipal agencies, nongovernmental organizations, community groups, and academic institutions, to promote urban bird conservation. Specifically, the grant program aims to:
Dozens of students and parents joined our office for an information session to learn about the many benefits of attending a service academy and how to apply. Military academies offer a world-class education, and an abundance of career and personal growth opportunities.
I had a great time at Oakland County Manufacturing Day, which gives students insight into careers in advanced manufacturing. In Michigan, we know how important manufacturing is to our economy and I’m glad to see young people excited about the opportunities a career in manufacturing offers.
Protecting the IV Supply Chain I have been working with local hospitals to address the shortage of IV bags caused by damage to suppliers because of Hurricane Helene. I have spoken with the White House and the Department of Health and Human Services urging the administration to take action to ensure health care providers have access to necessary medical supplies to address the ongoing shortage of IV fluid. Baxter International produces 60% of the national supply of IV solutions, and the hurricane’s impact on their manufacturing site in Marion, North Carolina, has sounded alarms for a potential shortage. We are closely monitoring this every day and looking to the future to reach policy solutions to avoid crises like this in our supply chains. TPS for Lebanon The Biden-Harris Administration granted a new Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation for Lebanon for 18 months. I have repeatedly called for TPS for Lebanon, most recently in July with a letter to the Department of State and Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Michigan is home to many Lebanese Americans who live in fear for their families as Lebanon faces a worsening humanitarian crisis, exacerbated by a growing regional conflict. We have a responsibility to provide refuge to those seeking shelter from catastrophe and conflict, and I have long fought for Temporary Protected Status to provide safety and security to those who need it most. Medicare Open Enrollment Medicare Open Enrollment has begun and will end on December 7. Every American has a right to quality healthcare. Plain and simple. John Dingell presided over the passage of Medicare and Medicaid 59 years ago- these programs have always been and will always be immensely important to me. The Medicare Open Enrollment period is a time when all people with Medicare can review the features of Medicare plans offered and make any needed changes to their Medicare coverage to ensure their plan best meets their needs. In 2022, Democrats passed the Inflation Reduction Act with Vice President Harris’s tie-breaking vote. This new law gives Medicare the power to negotiate lower prescription drug prices, and it reduces costs for seniors in several important ways. It is more important than ever to look at your drug coverage for 2025 during Medicare Open Enrollment and make sure you are enrolled in the Medicare Part D plan that is best for you. For more information about Medicare Open Enrollment, click here or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). Protecting Michiganders' Pensions I had the honor of welcoming Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su to Michigan to announce a plan to protect the pensions of hard-working Michiganders. Union members paid into their pensions over a lifetime of hard work, and I was proud to be a lead sponsor of the Butch Lewis Act to ensure they have the security to retire that they earned.
Foreign Connected Vehicle Technology I sent a letter to the Department of Commerce thanking them for their efforts to address the risks posed by connected vehicle technology from China and Russia, and urging them to finalize its rule prohibiting the sale and import of these vehicles without delay and provide a briefing to the relevant Congressional caucuses on the rulemaking status and implementation strategy. I also wrote to the Department of Commerce in August urging the Administration to take action to address the privacy and security risks and trade implications posed by connected vehicle technology manufactured and controlled by foreign adversaries, including China. As our vehicles become smarter and more connected, it is crucial that we address the national security risks posed by these components. I will continue to work with the Administration and my colleagues in Congress to protect Americans’ data and privacy. Recent Photos
  I am home for another three weeks and will be all around the district. If something is on your mind, want a meeting, a place I should be, please let me know. Be safe and Happy Halloween! 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:
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