How do you describe the last ten days… other than chaotic, head-spinning, confusing, and alarming? I was home for a ten-day district work period and will say bluntly I have never worked so hard. People want to talk. They have questions and some are scared. Some simply don’t understand what is happening. And I did what I always do, hosted our regular EPA, EGLE Town Hall Downriver, celebrated federal dollars for a train grade separation badly needed in Trenton, gave chamber speeches and attended chamber meetings, met with and briefed veterans, visited union halls, attended the Dexter Forum, said goodbye to Dexter Ice Fest, celebrated Plymouth Ice fest, and met with researchers doing incredibly important work at U of M who are terrified about what is happening to their funding. I also met with the hospital to understand their challenges and toured U of M‘s almost-done Ypsilanti health clinic. I visited farmers markets, rotary clubs, school boards, medical society meetings, ribbon cuttings, and met with suppliers, autos, dealers, CEOs, United Way, police chiefs, fire chiefs, city officials, county officials, township officials, and my list goes on. It matters, I must listen, understand, strategize, be present, be calming, be effective, and deliver. So to put it simply - it isn’t dull.
I continue to battle my RSV cough and am now on week four and I recommend this to no one. If you are sick, call and listen to your doctor. I cannot stay home but am elbow-bumping everyone, taking another antibiotic, praying for sun and spring, and hoping the groundhog is right about early spring. Add four memorial services, three of which I spoke at, of good decent people, good friends and I miss them. What I wanted was the snow to fall, light my fireplace, and snuggle in. It didn’t happen.
Please stay close. Let me know what is on your mind, what I need to know, deliver me facts, and help yourself get facts - not misinformation.
I summarized some of my work over the last ten days below. Tell me what you want me to be doing. Invite me to a meeting, or to your business or nonprofit to understand what is going on. TeamDingellis here to help you so never hesitate to reach out.
Impacts of Office of Budget and Management Freeze
The White House Office of Budget and Management issued a memo blocking the disbursement of all federal grants and loans on January 27. It immediately impacted 2,600 federal programs including Meals on Wheels, Head Start, environmental cleanup, daycare, apprentice and job training programs, and scientific research grants, among many, and caused widespread chaos and confusion.
It was immediately challenged in the courts, stays were granted, and the memo was rescinded - but it is still very confusing.
I want you to know how much this matters, and how hard I am working to protect programs and my constituents. Over the past ten days, I had tons of meetings, town halls, and briefings. I want everyone to think about who federal government workers are, the VA hospitals, FAA, TSA, the EPA lab in Ann Arbor, Social Security, health care to those that most need it, protecting the Great Lakes, Coast Guard, FBI agents. So many people who we take for granted and whose roles in our communities make lives better.
As an example, I talked with Pittsfield’s Police and Fire Chief who are concerned about what freezes in Washington mean to them at home, like many people across the MI06. Watch the videohere.
Please share your storyhere. Your input is crucial in helping understand the impacts and to advocate and fight for the needs and priorities of my district.
Individuals' Data Being Captured by the Federal Government
One of the rights Americans should expect from the U.S. government is the protection of their privacy and personal information. This past week we have witnessed non-government personnel under the unofficial “DOGE,”, Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, gaining access to the federal government, including the Treasury’s sensitive payment data which includes social security numbers, addresses, and healthcare information of every American. They have also accessed Office of Personnel Management records that contain the information of every federal employee, and are trawling through medical records.
They accessed highly sensitive health information (do you want someone to know when you last had a colonoscopy), bank account information, insurance information, and private data. There is no community he has not accessed information on. This kind of control gives them unfettered access to millions of Americans’ information.
Lawsuits have been filed and Democrats have introduced legislation to stop this and prevent this dangerous and unconstitutional access to your data. The power and influence that Elon Musk is illegally exerting across the government is a crisis and we must stop it to protect individuals and our democracy. We are using every tool to stop this. Period.
DOT Secretary Comments on DOT Funding
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy signed a memo saying the Department of Transportation should prioritize communities for DOT grants with higher-than-average marriage and birth rates. These factors don’t reflect a community's actual transportation needs and will leave out urban areas and older communities, even if they need more infrastructure.
Using marriage and birth rates as criteria for road grants would be unfair to millions of Americans.
These rates are affected by social and economic factors like poverty and education, and prioritizing them could unfairly disadvantage already marginalized communities. We must continue to distribute federal funds to viable projects based on objective transportation and infrastructure needs.
Unlike, many I do believe tariffs are a tool in the toolbox to advance trade policies that strengthen our economy and manufacturing and support the auto industry, not reckless ones that will increase costs by as much as $1,200-$3,000 per household and raise the price of eggs, gas, and housing. But we need to understand that our domestic manufacturing is closely intertwined with the rest of North America, and I am concerned about the impacts of across-the-board tariffs on Canada and Mexico.
The immediate placement of these tariffs without time for companies to adjust could have unintended consequences that seriously harm American workers, consumers, and the competitiveness of our industry. Trade is an economic and national security issue, and across-the-board tariffs risk disrupting supply chains, raising costs for consumers, and hurting the workers we are trying to protect. Tariffs should be implemented in a targeted and effective way. Canada and Mexico should be treated as two separate countries, and we need to renegotiate USMCA immediately to ensure fair trade practices.
DCA Plane Crash
Last week we were all shaken by the DCA American plane crash with a black hawk helicopter. It was devastating and our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. Thank you to the first responders for their swift response. Flying back into DC was very solemn.
The families and loved ones of those who lost their loved ones deserve actual answers from a transparent investigation, not blaming DEI or attacks on government workers.
What we need to understand is how do we keep this from happening again. Do we have enough air traffic controllers? Should we be offering buyouts when we have shortages? What is the impact of a government shutdown, hiring freezes, and staff shortages? We have to prevent this from happening again.
2025 Tax Filing Season Has Begun!
The 2025 Tax Filing Season is upon us! Taxpayers have until April 15 to file their taxes.
To get answers to tax questions, clickhereor use the IRS’sInteractive Tax Assistant (ITA), which provides answers to tax law questions specific to individual circumstances. For other online tools and resources, clickhere.
IRS Letter on Employee Retention Tax Credit
I sent a letter to Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Acting Commissioner Douglas O’Donnell requesting answers regarding the slow pace of authorizing, processing, and disbursing the Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERC). The letter comes in response to concerns from local businesses who are depending on the program to retain employees.
This week, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy ordered the rescission of the Biden Administration’s corporate average fuel economy standards. What the auto industry needs now more than anything, and what all manufacturing needs, is certainty. The auto companies cannot continue to be a political football, which they have been for too long. For the U.S. to remain a leader in the global market, we need market alignment. The global market wants EVs, and we need to continue making progress to ensure we don’t fall behind. We need to understand the domestic marketplace to ensure our policies reflect the needs of American consumers and workers. It’s important we bring all stakeholders to the table to reach consensus on how we support a strong, stable auto industry, support American auto workers, and keep the U.S. the leader in mobility, innovation, and advanced manufacturing.
State of the District
I gave my annual Downriver State of the District to the Southern Wayne Country Regional Chamber.
We have made progress on many important issues, and we must continue to work together to protect jobs, businesses, natural resources, and our local economy.
We continued our regular series of town hall meetings to provideupdates and answer questions about downriver environment issues and concerns with EPA and EGLE.
We will continue to focus on the cleanup of former industrial sites and pollution in our district, including McLouth and Arkema, keeping the Detroit River clean, and DTE developments. I’m working closely with the EPA, EGLE, and all officials involved on these issues, and it’s critical that the community keeps speaking up and your voices are heard.
We shared the next steps on the Trenton road grade separation to make Downriver safer for those who live, work, and visit by eliminating a rail crossing at a high-traffic intersection. People died while this crossing was blocked. We secured $73+ million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and I will work closely with the federal, state, and local partners on every step of this project.
The next steps include a preliminary engineering and environmental clearance process with input from the community to develop and consider all available options and determine the best solution for the location.
We are committed and I believe President Trump wants to ensure this project gets finished.
Joined the John D.DingellVA Benefits Fair to ensure veterans know about the benefits they have earned.
Veterans have fought to protect the freedoms and values of the United States and we need to honor our promise to take care of them and their families.
Tour of Ypsi Health Clinic
A very important investment by the University of Michigan in Ypsilanti will improve healthcare access in Washtenaw County. I toured UM Medicine’s new Ypsi Healthcare Center, which will allow them to expand their services and care. The good work being done here will make such a difference and the center should be open in Spring.
Trenton Rotary Meeting
I love Rotary and don’t get to attend enough. We pay happy dollars at weekly meetings to help charitable causes if we are happy about something. I paid happy dollars at Rotary this week just to be able to be at the meeting today with friends- caring, working, and listening.
Plymouth Chamber Kick-Off Breakfast
The Plymouth Chamber had its Kick-Off Breakfast for the Ice Festival. It was good to see many friends, check out the new space and restaurant, and kick off the ice festival!
REMINDER - Valentines for Vets
Don’t miss out - help show our veterans how much we love and appreciate them by making them a Valentine's Day Card to be hand-delivered to the Ann Arbor and Detroit VA.
Please drop off handmade Valentines at my office by February 10th or call us at (734) 481-1100 if they need to be picked up.
Lowering grocery prices is a target for all of us. Since coming to Congress, I regularly post the cost of milk, eggs, and diet cokes. Two dozen eggs at Kroger this week were $7.49. Just compare the cost before the election and what they are now. I didn’t buy eggs this week but I cannot do without Diet Coke.
Meet the Newest Member of TeamDingell
In the midst of crazy times, there is always hope and good news! We have a brand new member of TeamDingell. Meet Evangeline Koknar Babbitt. Congratulations to District Staff Assistant Emre who will be a great father. We are so happy for him and Alix!
International Holocaust Remembrance
It was important to join the community on International Holocaust Remembrance Day to mourn the six million Jewish people and countless others who were murdered in the Holocaust. As we reflect upon this dark chapter in history, we must reaffirm our fight against antisemitism and hatred in all forms.
Lunar New Year
Wishing a happy Lunar New Year to everyone celebrating in MI06, across the country, and around the world! May this new year bring happiness, prosperity, and good health for all. The 6th district has a strong Asian community and we celebrate them.
Michigan's 188th Birthday
Last week we celebrated Michigan’s 188th birthday. Michigan is the best state in the country to live in and be from. During Michigan’s birthday - we celebrated all the people, places, and passion that make Michigan great. Here's to many more years of innovation, beauty, and community.
