The last week of summer. Too many signs it’s here. I wake up in the dark, and when I get home, it is dark. Visited the first cider mill of the season in Dexter last Friday and Parmenter Cider Mill on Saturday (had my first apple cider slush - delicious!) Multiple Back to School events throughout the district. Young ones excited and nervous, new backpacks, lunch boxes, and school clothes. Football players practicing. Meeting new teachers in full swing. Campus freshmen moved in this week. Upperclassmen are returning. The last summer parade in Chelsea. Vegetables and fruits abound at the farmer’s markets. Some small changes in color in leaves. But I am determined to enjoy one more week and get one more outing on the water, more barbecued food, maybe even a Tigers game before the first Michigan Football game on Saturday.
Got all around the district, held multiple town halls, spoke to chambers and rotaries, met with farmers and toured farms, spoke with utilities and their users, visited grocery stores and talked to customers, met with housing experts and many who are challenged by rents and affordable housing. Did rounds with Dr. Miller at the University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children's Hospital. Roundtables, visits, project meetings. I am using this month to stay in touch and solve problems.
To be honest, I am not looking forward to returning to Washington, DC next week. It is going to be a brutal fall. The budget expires on September 30th and we will see what happens. What I find frightening is that both the federal and the state government could be in shutdowns and that will impact many people’s lives. What is unforgivable to me right now, is that many schools start next week in Michigan and they don’t know their budgets. Michigan’s universal free school meals were extended through September 30, 2025 but the funding for the program beyond that date is currently unclear and at risk due to a delayed state budget. State lawmakers are in a budget stalemate and if a deal isn’t reached, free lunches will likely end October 1. A hungry child cannot learn. Children should not go hungry in America.
One other area I want to highlight is veterans. I have always supported the Agent Orange Walk in Canton since it began four years ago. Too many veterans have been exposed to burn pits, agent orange and other toxins over the years and were not getting the health care or the benefits they deserve and earned. In 2022, Congress finally passed The Honoring our PACT Act, which does just that. This law helps us provide generations of veterans - and their survivors - with care and benefits. The PACT Act is perhaps the largest health care and expansion in VA history and we need to make sure veterans know about it and are taking advantage of it. Call my office for more information at 313-278-2936. I was stunned by how many did not know about it at the race.
I will continue to get around this week and will have visited all 49 cities and townships in the district. As I write this, I am making new salads for the week from my bounty at the markets. Watermelon and feta cheese, baking a peach cobbler for friends, strawberry short cake for me, will have gazpacho soup everyday and making cherry tomato pasta as well. It’s one of the only times I can eat healthy and I for once I am trying to take advantage of it. I am also chasing frogs each day… I have many small ones at my house and with a four year old nephew fascinated by them, it becomes therapy to video and photograph them and zoom with him to watch them jump and hide.
Be safe. Savor the last few unofficial days of summer (officially we have almost another month). The following are highlights of last week...
Michigan Time
Town Hall Series
Continued to host a series of town halls in Northville, Novi, and Downriver with local state senators and representatives. The Downriver town hall was part of the ongoing environmental meetings with EPA and EGLE attending. Thank you to everyone who came, asked questions, shared their concerns, and made their opinions heard. These events and conversations are more important than ever. More are scheduled this week. My team is always here to help, please reach out to the office if you need help with something.
Cost of Living
Unfortunately, we continue to see objective data showing that health care, food, and energy costs continue to rise due to a number of factors, “the Big Beautiful (bad) Bill”, and tariffs. In my 6th Congressional district in Michigan, a study shows that 98.9% of the families will have less money to spend because of Trump’s economic policies. Billionaires are getting tax breaks and working men and women in my district pay more. This doesn’t seem right to me.
Northstar Clean Energy Breakfast
Joined NorthStar Clean Energy to update local businesses on the state of clean energy policy. (In 2025, over 90,000 jobs and $71 billion in investments are at risk because of Trump’s policies.) Michigan has long been a national leader in clean energy innovation, but it is facing significant challenges.
Repeal of energy tax credits and policies threaten to stall our progress, halting the momentum we’ve built as a technology and clean energy powerhouse. The reconciliation bill kills more than half of all new capacity scheduled to be added to the grid over the next 10 years. This administration is also cutting Solar for All which means fewer households can access affordable, renewable power – which will hinder our state’s overall energy resilience. We should be expanding clean energy sources and upgrading our grid, not making it more vulnerable.
Quarterly Rounds with Dr. Miller at University of Michigan
Joined Dr. Miller for rounds at Michigan Medicine, meeting with patients and healthcare staff firsthand. Hearing their stories and witnessing the dedication of our medical professionals up close reminds me why it’s so critical to fight against Medicaid cuts. We must protect and expand access to quality care for everyone, especially those who rely on these vital services. There are many fears right now for children, seniors, and women.
MEMA Roundtable and Supplier Tour
Had an important discussion with auto suppliers on tariffs, supply chain pressure points, workforce development, EV competition, and transport reauthorization. Tariffs are having a very serious impact on the profitability and cash position of the 1,2,3, and 4 suppliers. I hope to work with the administration to address these issues, because it is impacting suppliers’ ability to survive. Thanks to MEMA for bringing us together. I also toured the Bosch Plymouth Facility and Yazaki Tech Center and discussed supply chains, tariffs, and the impact of economic instability on suppliers.
Federal Rollbacks of Clean Energy Programs and Increased Energy Costs
Joined Michigan League of Conservation Voters and other advocates to discuss the Trump Administration’s rollback of clean energy progress. These rollbacks are expected to increase household bills by more than $400 a year for millions of families while destroying jobs, reversing years of advancements, exacerbating the climate crisis, and making communities more vulnerable – all to give a tax break to oil and gas billionaires.
Protecting Our Lands
Public lands belong to the people, not corporations. I joined the Michigan League of Conservation Voters at the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge to remind everyone why these natural spaces are so important. Selling off our public lands is short-sighted, self-serving, and irreversible. Public lands enjoy widespread support and are engines of local economies, generating billions of dollars in revenue and supporting countless jobs in nearby communities. We must protect public lands and the rights of all Americans to access nature, breathe clean air, drink clean water, and celebrate their culture and history.
Canadian Wildfires
The experts are expecting more heat and dry conditions in Canada, which likely means more wildfires heading into September, which means smoke heading toward us again. Experts say this has been one of Canada’s worst wildfire seasons ever. I spent all August on steroids because of the smoke's impact on asthma. We need to address the wildfire problem. I don’t believe in criticizing Canada when our government says that climate change isn’t real. Our two countries need to work together. Click here for ways to protect yourself from wildfire smoke.
GLRI Habitat Restoration Boat Tour
Joined Friends of the Detroit River and other advocates for a habitat restoration tour led by Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI). GLRI is critical to protecting wetlands, restoring habitats, reducing harmful algae, and preserving the health of our Great Lakes. Year after year, the GLRI has consistently proven to be an economic and environmental success. Since its inception in 2010, more than $4.1 billion has been invested across 8,000 projects to combat the greatest threats to the Great Lakes. Much work has been done in our region.
Farm Tour
I toured farms around the district and held a roundtable with local farmers, Farm Bureau officials, Ag Labor representatives, other advocates for agriculture, as well as local state legislators. Farmers are hurting. We need to understand that. First, we stopped at HillTop Greenhouse & Farms in Lima Township, followed by Gateway Farm in Salem Township, then Alber Orchard & Cider Mill in Freedom Township.
I try to stay as close to my farmers as possible, and I learn from everyone I talk to. There are many issues at hand - from the Farm Bill, which still has to be reauthorized, to SNAP, to tariffs and labor. Too many people aren’t aware just how much farms matter. Or how they are under severe threat. Our heartland feeds the world. They sustain our communities and keep our store shelves full.
Flat Rock Dam
Met with Flat Rock Mayor Steve Beller to discuss the Flat Rock Dam. Dam removal is complicated and I am seriously studying the situation. I deeply value the community's input, email me here.
Van Buren ToxicWasteUpdate
Participated in a press conference encouring residents to engage in the public comment period for EGLE's proposed permit for Wayne Disposal Inc. in Belleville, which would expand hazardous waste storage and disposal volume.
One key issue is Michigan’s low tipping fee which is only 36 cents per ton, the lowest in the region, leading to 25% of our landfill waste coming from out of state, including Canada. Raising the tipping fee has been proposed to reduce out-of-state dumping and increase state revenue. As always, public safety and transparency remain my top priorities. I’ll continue monitoring this issue and sharing updates.
EGLE has extended the public comment period for the proposed expansion permit at Wayne Disposal Inc. Individuals now have until October 31, 2025 at 5 p.m. to submit a comment via email, mail, or by attending the public meeting on September 18. See more information here. I encourage everyone who cares about this project to attend and make your voice heard.
Garrett's Space
Joined the Garrett’s Space annual fundraiser. Teenage suicide is increasing, too many young people feel isolated and don’t know who to reach out to or how. Garrett’s Space will work to address this crisis and help prevent more families from feeling this pain. I look forward to seeing the positive impact it will have on our community.
Agent Orange Awareness 5K
Joined the 4th Annual Agent Orange Awareness 5K. Proceeds support the VA Ann Arbor Fisher House, which gives families of veterans a place to stay while their loved one receives treatment.
Dexter Senior Center Ribbon Cutting
The Dexter Senior Center has long been a major priority for our community. Seniors deserve a space and opportunities to come together with their neighbors, and all residents will benefit from the activities and programming offered by the center. This project came about because the community worked together at all levels and no politics.
Ann Arbor Rotary
Joined my friends at Ann Arbor Rotary. Shared an honest Washington update and had a robust exchange.
Belleville Bridgewalk & Taste of Belleville
I love the Belleville Bridge Walk and Rubber Duck Race every year. Would never miss them. I also met the robotics team at the Taste of Belleville. Young people are the future. The food was excellent as well.
Brownstown Summerfest
Had a good time at the Brownstown SummerFest and car show. Always enjoy classic cars and summer fun.
UAW 600 Golf Fundraiser
Joined the UAW Local 600 Golf outing. It was a beautiful day outside, cruising the course and showing my support for UAW. Raising money for good causes while doing good (I am not a golfer).
India Day
Joined the India League of America for India Day. Grateful for a community that leads with heart, culture, and service.
Salem Cornfest
At Salem Cornfest at the Salem Bible Church with Salem Supervisor, Gary Whittaker. Salem is a small community with a big heart. Looking forward to the Cider Mill opening this weekend.
Farmers Markets
Stopped by farmers markets as I do every Saturday. Always great to talk to friends and support local producers. This year’s produce is beautiful and I’m taking advantage.
Plymouth Taste of Greece
Attended the Plymouth Taste of Greece and listened to live music and watched Greek dancing.
John Lawrence Jazz Series
Every Friday in August, Ypsilanti hosts a jazz series honoring John E. Lawrence. This year marks its 5th anniversary, and I’m so thankful I got to attend and listen to the incredible performances.
Vietnam Veterans of America Pig Roast in Saline
Attended the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter #310 22nd Annual Pig Roast Dinner and enjoyed a wonderful pork dinner while supporting a great cause. The event raised funds to care for our County Vietnam Veterans Memorial, organize special events for local hospitalized veterans, provide Thanksgiving dinners for Dawn Farm residents, and more. This group of veterans are very special people and good friends.
Plymouth Canton Back to School Bash
Back to school is in full swing! Stopped at the Plymouth Canton Community Schools Bash and talked with students, teachers, administrators, and Superintendent Dr. Monica Merritt. Looking forward to a great year.
Canton Parkridge
Joined Parkridge Summer Fest & Joe Dulin Day to connect with the community and support local families at our outreach table.
Grill with the Guard
Visited with many National Guard members at the Ypsilanti Township Grill With The Guard BBQ Bash. It was fun to see many kids having fun and meeting the children of other soldiers. The National Guard Bounce House and trial course was amazing. Thank you for what they do every day to keep us safe and talked about a lot of issues. Fascinating to me is that approximately 75% of the women guard have young children and still manage to train on weekends and balance it all. Thank you to every man and woman who serves in the National Guard.
In the News
WJR
Joined Paul W. Smith on WJR AM Detroit to discuss the White House Summit, Ukraine, and more.
Come join us for our Eastern Washtenaw Town Hall on Thursday, August 28. Ask questions and share your concerns on the issues that matter most to you. For more information and to RSVP click here.
Grocery Price Update
Milk is down twenty cents. Diet Coke is buy three for $15 or the usual $6.99 (obviously I save money and buy at least three at a time). And eggs remain at $4.39.
