The last two weeks have been intense. That is probably the best way to describe 100 degree heat, the nonstop global and domestic events, consideration of a federal budget with the potential of very serious consequences, working hard to protect programs that help the people of Michigan, the shooting and death of of the former Speaker of the House in Minnesota and her spouse, the shooting of two more, target lists found with other names from Minnesota, but also Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois other Midwest states, and U.S. airstrikes in Iran on three potential nuclear sites. Add two town halls, multiple round tables on several issues ranging from research at academic institutions, the impact of federal cuts on hospitals, meeting with fire chiefs, touring the air traffic control tower at Detroit metro, numerous Juneteenth events, meeting with farmers, and visiting the farmer markets, gun violence events, protecting Head Start, celebrating the 125th birthday of the UA and the list goes on. And it’s summer! Barbecues, picnics, festivals, gatherings everywhere and record setting heat. Add births, weddings, and too many funerals - yes, it’s life at high speed.
It’s been a long week, and I have thought about this a lot most of my career, but when you are on a list in a killer’s vehicle, or when you get used to people yelling at you, you think about it. And it’s incumbent on all of us to fix it. I did go on with my schedule at home last week during the district work period because I try not to cancel things. It's important not to be afraid or give in to terrorists (foreign or domestic) because fear is one of their main objectives. Terrorists try to create panic, disruption, and instill fear in the public as a way to achieve their goals. By carrying on, going about our normal business, we demonstrate resilience and solidarity, which undermines the terrorists' intended impact. It is important to be vigilant and informed, and report anything that seems off or unusual to the proper authorities, but to continue living without fear dictating our choices. We overcome fear and hatred when we do that.
I want to address the tone right now of civil discourse in this country and my deep concern that we are normalizing violence. We cannot normalize hate, and it is incumbent on all of us to stand up and be heard. We must respect differing viewpoints and as I often say, can disagree agreeably. We must work together to dial down divisive political rhetoric and prioritize meaningful discussions that bring us closer together rather than drive us further apart. Responsibility lies on everyone, and I believe it is essential for people in every community to approach conversations with understanding and the willingness to find common ground. I believe deeply we must work with each other to create, support, and foster a culture of respect, empathy, and compassion. When we do that, communities are stronger, inclusive, and united.
We also need to stand up to hate wherever and whenever we see it. We need to challenge it, try to de-escalate, help people understand the roots, and make it clear we won’t tolerate hate. Stand with people who are targets of hate, offer support, lend a listening ear, and be their advocate to protect them and their well-being. Engage in conversations with family, friends, colleagues, neighbors, and acquaintances about the impact of hate and the importance of promoting understanding and acceptance honestly. We all have different life experiences and perspectives - learn from them, don’t fear them. Let’s just work together. Social media, the bots, and the ability to be anonymous are hurting us. We are the ones who have to change what is happening.
I also want to thank the FBI, Michigan State Police and most importantly local law enforcement, the Ann Arbor Police, and the Washtenaw and Wayne County sheriff's office for keeping all of us safe in the middle of this, my town halls, public gatherings and me to be blunt.
So I hope you are keeping cool, I am back in DC, hard at work on a number of important issues. The following summarizes some of my work over the last couple of weeks. Make sure I know what you want me to know, what you care about, what’s on your mind, and where I should be. Stay safe and hope we cross paths soon.
Washington D.C. Update
Background Checks Press Conference
Participated in a press conference with Leader Jeffries and some of my other colleagues, emphasizing the importance of background checks for gun owners. Gun violence has devastated too many families in every corner of our country. Every day, we are faced with the question: When will the next shooting be? Universal background checks, safe storage laws, and extreme risk protection orders are all commonsense laws that literally save lives. Every American deserves to live safely from gun violence. We know the vast majority – 90% – of Americans support expanded background checks. They don’t infringe on anyone’s rights. I will keep fighting to make universal background checks the law.
Care Can't Wait & Caring Across Generations Rally
Joined the Care Can't Wait & Caring Across Generations Rally to discuss the importance of Medicaid to millions of Americans, including seniors, kids, and people living with disabilities. Medicaid recipients can’t afford to have their care ripped away or benefits reduced. We all must keep fighting to defend Medicaid.
Bicameral Spotlight Hearing on Impact of Reconciliation on Women
Led a bicameral forum with Democratic Whip Katherine Clark and Senators Amy Klobuchar and Catherine Cortez Masto to spotlight how the Republicans’ budget bill harms women. The bill slashes Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act, food assistance, and imposes regressive tax policies—all while limiting and even blocking access to reproductive health care.
Thank you to everyone who attended, spoke, and especially to the witnesses who shared their stories. You can watch the forum here.
Protecting our Public Lands
The Senate version of the Republican reconciliation bill would make more than 250 million acres of America’s precious public lands available for sale to the highest bidder. This would likely be the largest sale of public lands in our nation’s history, all to fund tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans. Republicans have said the land would be sold to build more housing, but less than 2 percent of this land is ‘close enough to population centers to make sense for housing development,’ according to experts. Additionally, there are no safeguards in the proposal to ensure that buyers adhere to this housing stipulation. Instead, development would destroy critical habitats and further imperil already-endangered species and ecosystems.
2025 Gold Medal Summit Congressional Award Program
Congratulations to Rakshan Samynathan, MI-06’s very own Congressional Award Gold Medalist. This prestigious award honors students who dedicate more than two years to fulfilling goals in community service, personal development, physical fitness, and exploration, standards set by Congress when it created the program in 1979. As a board member, I was proud to give opening remarks at the ceremony honoring all Congressional Award winners.
Rakshan’s achievements are truly inspiring. He made his high school’s varsity swim team, learned to play the piano, formatted school textbooks and other materials into braille, and planned and completed a trip to multiple East Coast states. He also previously won the Congressional App Challenge.
Congratulations again, Rakshan! I look forward to seeing all you’ll continue to accomplish.
Children's Hospital of Michigan
I met James, a courageous 9-year-old patient from the Children’s Hospital of Michigan, and his parents, Kylie and Jimmy. Born with serious heart issues, James received a life-saving heart transplant. Children like James need highly specialized care. 70% of the families at Children’s Hospital depend on Medicaid. We must protect this vital support.
Energy & Commerce Hearing with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
As part of the Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee hearing, I questioned Human and Health Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. about recent cuts for critical research,
The University of Michigan is a national leader in biomedical research and technological advancements, but they’ve been stalled due to NIH cuts. I’m working to ensure UM continues to receive the federal funding that is crucial to their groundbreaking research.
During the Natural Resources legislative hearing, my bipartisan bill co-led with Rep. Wittman (VA-01), the Sport Fish Restoration, Recreational Boating Safety, and Wildlife Restoration Act of 2025 was included in the hearing. This bill reauthorizes the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund, which provides critical resources for conservation. The Trust Fund continues to safeguard our environmental heritage and improve access to the outdoors for all Americans. This is done by a decades-old “user pays-public benefits” approach, which has strengthened outdoor recreation opportunities for boaters and anglers. It has added 9,000 public access sites, maintained 320 fish hatcheries that stock nearly 1 billion fish annually, and created education programs that have introduced more than 850,000 people to fishing.
Natural Resources Hearing with Interior Secretary Burgum
As part of the Committee on Natural Resources oversight hearing to examine the President’s FY 2026 budget request for the Department of the Interior, I questioned Secretary Doug Burgum and raised concerns about the administration’s cuts to critical programs that protect the Great Lakes, as well as the ongoing underfunding of the National Wildlife Refuge System. I urged Secretary Burgum to prioritize and support these essential environmental programs moving forward.
Joined the Energy and Commerce Committee Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade for a hearing: "Winning Off the Field: Legislative Proposal to Stabilize NIL and College Athletics." As a representative of two schools of different environments and critical athletic programs, these issues matter. We must protect college athletes and ensure they’re supported, not exploited. Title IX must be central. College sports train Olympians, build leaders, and fuel our local economies. We’re at a crossroads, and we owe it to these athletes to get this right.
Honored to be recognized as a champion for the National Mall. Our National Mall serves as a one-of-a-kind memorial to our nation’s history, and we must preserve and protect it.
Suicide Prevention Forum
Health care workers have some of the toughest and often most thankless jobs. Joined the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s Advocacy Forum to discuss the need for mental health resources and support for those who care for us every day.
Legislative Update
Shandra Eisenga Human Cell and Tissue Product Safety Act
This bipartisan bill I introduced with Rep. Moolenaar (MI-02) passed the House unanimously. The legislation requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to make reforms regarding the screening of tissue donation materials, conduct education campaigns, and impose penalties on tissue providers who fail to prevent tuberculosis outbreaks. It is in honor of Shandra Eisenga of Marion, Michigan, who passed away on August 10, 2023, due to a tuberculosis infection. Eisenga was one of 36 patients in seven states to contract TB after receiving a bone graft containing infected tissue donor material.
Charlotte Woodward Organ Transplant Discrimination Prevention Act
As a co-chair of the Bipartisan Disabilities Caucus, I am a proud co-lead the bipartisan Charlotte Woodward Organ Transplant Discrimination Prevention Act with Rep. Cammack (R-FL) , which passed the House this week. In Charlotte’s honor, this bill prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in the organ transplant system. It's unconscionable that people with disabilities can be passed over for life-saving organ transplants based on discriminatory and subjective judgments and assumptions about their quality of life.
Stabilize Medicaid and CHIP Coverage Act
Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06), Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and I reintroduced the Stabilize Medicaid and CHIP Coverage Act to provide 12 months of continuous coverage for individuals receiving health care through Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Currently, millions of Medicaid and CHIP beneficiaries are at risk for losing health coverage each year due to short-term changes in income as well as burdensome paperwork or administrative requirements. These bureaucratic burdens result in significant churn of individuals on and off Medicaid and CHIP and serve as a barrier to effective coordination of care and preventive health care.
Dingell-Johnson Fishing Act
Introduced the bipartisan Sport Fish Restoration, Recreational Boating Safety, and Wildlife Restoration Act of 2025, with Rob Wittman (R-VA). This bill would reauthorize the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund through 2030. Since its enactment in 1950, the Trust Fund, which is set to expire at the end of the fiscal year, has provided more than $40 billion in funding for state-based conservation programs, recreational boating access and safety, aquatic resources education, and fisheries management and restoration. The Trust Fund enables states and territories to make important investments in safeguarding our environmental heritage and improving access to the outdoors for all Americans.
Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Relief Act
Reintroduced the Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Relief Act, a bill that would provide much-needed support to state programs that fund home and community-based care services. Currently, staffing shortages of direct care providers have led to a reduction in HCBS availability and growing waitlists for eligible individuals. This bill would provide dedicated Medicaid funds to states for two years to stabilize their HCBS service delivery networks, recruit and retain HCBS direct care workers, and meet the long-term service and support needs of people eligible for Medicaid home and community-based services. Caregiving makes all other work possible - roads and bridges are infrastructure, and so is caregiving. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) introduced a companion bill.
Michigan Time
University of Michigan President's Medal of Excellence
It was a true honor to receive the President’s Medal of Excellence from the University of Michigan. This institution is more than a university; it’s a powerful force for progress in our region, building the next generation of leaders, keeping us at the forefront of innovation, and serving as a cornerstone of our community's culture. It meant so much to receive this recognition.
Trinity Health
Joined providers and staff at Trinity Health to hear from them about the impacts that proposed Republican cuts to Medicaid would have on our hospitals, patients, and communities, especially on maternal and postpartum care. One thing is clear: if this bill becomes law, people will die.
University of Michigan Researchers Roundtable
Joined researchers at the University of Michigan to hear firsthand how recent NIH funding freezes and cancellations of research grants are affecting their work and threatening the future of scientific progress. Research drives innovation, strengthens our communities, and improves lives. Critical work is being eliminated, and I’m trying to understand why and how to help. We are losing generations of research.
Ann Arbor Juneteenth Celebration
Juneteenth is an important tradition I never miss. This is such a strong community that uplifts each other, understands its history, recognizes progress made, and the challenges that lie ahead. It was particularly important this year.. We must reflect on our past and continue to fight against hate.
John D. Dingell 250th Army Birthday Celebration
John Dingell VA celebrated the 250th Army birthday and 100th birthday of Army veteran Frederick Ankney Jr. Happy birthday U.S. Army and Frederick! John was a proud army veteran.
Washtenaw Community Town Hall
Thank you to everyone who attended our community town hall in Washtenaw. It’s more important than ever to hear your voices. I was joined by State Senators Jeff Irwin and Sue Shink, and State Representatives Jennifer Conlin, Carrie Rheingans, Jason Morgan, Morgan Foreman, and Jimmie Wilson Jr.
Washtenaw County Juneteenth Flag Raising
Joined the 5th Annual Washtenaw County Juneteenth Flag Raising — a day to honor progress, remember those who fought for freedom, celebrate Black contributions to our nation, and recommit to the ongoing fight for equality.
Western Wayne Community Town Hall
We answered questions, heard a wide range of concerns and hopes, and had many important conversations at our Western Wayne Community town hall. Thank you to everyone who came, please continue to stay engaged. And thank you to the local law enforcement who showed up and keep the community safe.
Plymouth Chamber Roundtable
Joined Plymouth Chamber Roundtable to receive updates from the business community and discuss how impending legislation would impact them.
University of Michigan Prayer Breakfast
Stopped by the University of Michigan’s Juneteenth Interfaith Prayer Breakfast. A moment of reflection and a reminder of the strength found in community.
Ronald McDonald in Ann Arbor
Visited the Ronald McDonald House in Ann Arbor and talked with staff about their mission to provide a home-away-from-home for families with hospitalized children. Their work plays a vital role in supporting families during some of their most challenging times.
Multi Chamber Event
Joined the Canton, Greater Farmington Area, Lakes Area, Livonia-Westland, Northville, Novi, Plymouth, and Redford Chambers at the USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth. Always important to talk with local leaders.
Sunset at the Zoo
Joined Sunset at the Zoo in Detroit, a meaningful event that supports conservation efforts for endangered chimpanzees and gorillas. We must continue to prioritize protections for at-risk species here in the U.S. and around the world.
DTW AirTraffic Control Tour
Toured Detroit Metro Airport to connect with local leadership, observe operations, and hear directly from the workforce that keeps our planes flying safely and on time.
Farmers Market
Enjoyed the Farmers Market this weekend, filled with fresh summer produce and talking with friends.
Washtenaw County Interfaith Ministry 10th Annual Prayer Breakfast
Joined the Washtenaw County Interfaith Ministry for its 10th Annual Prayer Breakfast, a morning of unity, reflection, and connection across faiths.
Ypsilanti Juneteenth
Had a great time celebrating Juneteenth in Ypsilanti. Always great to celebrate freedom and culture with this amazing community.
Ann Arbor Event on Main
Joined Michigan Medicine’s annual Event on Main in support of C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital. Met with Michigan Football Quarterback Jadyn Davis and Wide Receiver Channing Goodwin, and we got to talk about NIL and the importance of supporting college athletes.
In the News
MSNBC with Ali Vitali
Joined Ali Vitali on MSNBC to discuss the War Powers Act, the recent actions of Trump in Iraq, the urgent need for Congress to receive a briefing on those actions, and more.
Joined Audie N. Cornish on CNN This Morning to discuss the NYC mayoral race, the need for Congress to be briefed on the unilateral military actions taken in Iran, and more.
Are you a high school student Interested in applying to a U.S. military academy? Join my virtual info session on July 1st to learn more. For more information and to RSVP, click here.
Fall Internship Application Deadline Coming Soon!
Congressional interns play a vital role in keeping our office running. Join our team to get a firsthand look at our work to help MI06 residents & our communities across SE MI! Our fall internship applications close on July 17. For more information and to apply, click here.
