Dingell, Debbie RSS Articles

Dingell, Colleagues Urge Trump to Recognize Importance of the U.S.-Canada Relationship

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 04:00:00 GMT

U.S. Representative Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06) and 87 of her House colleagues are urging President Trump to change his administration’s diplomatic approach with Canada and recognize the importance of the U.S.-Canada relationship. The effort follows further fraying in the two country’s relations amid President Trump’s escalating and chaotic use of trade barriers against Canada. In a letter to President Trump, the lawmakers specifically highlighted the risk to America’s economy should the president continue to use demeaning rhetoric and implement damaging policies against Canada.

“Your Administration’s escalating and chaotic use of trade barriers against Canada is putting this relationship at serious risk. Recent tariffs, continued threats of additional trade restrictions, and increasingly adversarial rhetoric are creating uncertainty for businesses, workers, farmers, and consumers on both sides of the border. American exports to Canada declined in 2025, while Canadian exports to the United States also fell substantially following the implementation of U.S. tariffs. Additionally, Canadian businesses are increasingly looking to diversify their supply chains and markets, which should concern your Administration,” the lawmakers wrote.

The lawmakers went on to describe the shared economic interests between the U.S. and Canada and the risks a worsening relationship would have on the American people.

“Our economic relationship is too important to put at risk. Our manufacturers, farmers, producers, small businesses, and consumers depend upon Canada, as Canadian businesses and workers depend upon access to the United States. Materials, parts, and components routinely cross the border as part of shared North American supply chains. Disrupting these relationships increases costs for American businesses and consumers, undermines our competitiveness, and puts good-paying American jobs at risk. For example, the North American automotive industry relies on a highly integrated supply chain in which parts and materials can cross the U.S.-Canada border multiple times before a vehicle reaches a customer. Similar integration exists across energy, agriculture, steel, aluminum, critical minerals, and manufacturing,” the lawmakers continued.

A copy of the letter can be found HERE and text is below:

Dear Mr. President:

This letter is to urge your Administration to change its diplomatic approach with our closest ally, Canada, and recognize the importance of the United States-Canada relationship.

Canada is not an adversary. Canada is a close friend, neighbor, ally, and economic partner whose security and prosperity is deeply intertwined with the United States. As you know, our countries share the longest international border in the world, generations of family and cultural ties, and deeply integrated economies and supply chains. We have stood together through war and peace and decades of cooperation. Our relationship is one of the world’s most enduring partnerships, built by generations of Americans and Canadians who work together, raise families, conduct business, travel, and share communities and culture.

Your Administration’s escalating and chaotic use of trade barriers against Canada is putting this relationship at serious risk. Recent tariffs, continued threats of additional trade restrictions, and increasingly adversarial rhetoric are creating uncertainty for businesses, workers, farmers, and consumers on both sides of the border. American exports to Canada declined in 2025, while Canadian exports to the United States also fell substantially following the implementation of U.S. tariffs Additionally, Canadian businesses are increasingly looking to diversify their supply chains and markets, which should concern your Administration.

Our economic relationship is too important to put at risk. Our manufacturers, farmers, producers, small businesses, and consumers depend upon Canada, as Canadian businesses and workers depend upon access to the United States. Materials, parts, and components routinely cross the border as part of shared North American supply chains. Disrupting these relationships increases costs for American businesses and consumers, undermines our competitiveness, and puts good-paying American jobs at risk. For example, the North American automotive industry relies on a highly integrated supply chain in which parts and materials can cross the U.S.-Canada border multiple times before a vehicle reaches a customer. Similar integration exists across energy, agriculture, steel, aluminum, critical minerals, and manufacturing.

To strengthen production and supply chains across North America, we must work with our American and Canadian partners. If our shared goal is to reduce dependence on China and other bad actors, treating Canada increasingly like an adversary is both counterproductive and dangerous. We should instead deepen economic cooperation with allies like Canada to increase domestic production and ensure critical goods and resources come from trusted partners.

We support fair and reciprocal trade and addressing legitimate trade barriers that disadvantage American workers and businesses. However, disagreements between close allies should be resolved through good-faith negotiations and established trade mechanisms, not through erratic trade policy, threats, and public disputes. Canada has already taken steps toward retaliation, demonstrating the real risk that continued escalation will harm American workers, businesses, farmers, and consumers and weaken the broader North American economy.

Our relationship with Canada also extends far beyond trade. We share vital defense and national security interests, energy resources, the Great Lakes, environmental responsibilities, agricultural markets, tourism, and millions of personal and economic ties across our border. We work together every day to protect North America, respond to emergencies, manage shared resources, and keep our communities safe. At a time of serious global economic and security challenges, we should be strengthening this partnership and the ties that make both countries safer, more prosperous, and more competitive.

We urge your Administration to treat Canada as the close ally, friend, neighbor, and economic partner that it is, and to resolve our differences through diplomacy while preserving and strengthening the relationship generations of Americans and Canadians have built. Just as a strong and prosperous United States is in Canada’s interest, a strong and prosperous Canada is also in America’s interest.

Thank you.

Dingell, Colleagues Introduce Bill Prohibiting Any Administration from Renaming Great Lakes

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 04:00:00 GMT

U.S. Representatives Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06), Tim Kennedy (D-NY-26), and Joe Morelle (D-NY-25) introduced legislation to stop the Trump Administration from unilaterally renaming Lake Ontario and protect the official names of all five Great Lakes. The Hands Off Our Great Lakes Act was introduced in response to President Trump’s signing of an executive order seeking to change the name of Lake Ontario to Lake America.

The Hands Off Our Great Lakes Act would:

Prohibit the federal government from renaming Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Erie, or Lake Ontario;
Nullify Executive Order 14422, which renames Lake Ontario as “Lake America”; and
Block federal funds from being used to implement, administer, or otherwise give effect to the order or any substantially similar action.

“The Great Lakes are a shared treasure that generations of Americans and Canadians have worked together to protect. Canada is not our enemy. It is our neighbor, our ally, and one of Michigan’s most important economic partners. It is a friendship that no stroke of a pen should be able to erase,” said Congresswoman Dingell. “By preventing President Trump from trying to divide us with distracting public relations stunts, maybe then he will turn his attention to his reckless trade war that is raising costs and threatening American workers.”

“Americans are struggling to afford groceries, housing, and everyday essentials, and yet this President chooses to pick petty fights with our closest ally,” said Congressman Tim Kennedy. “This unserious, unacceptable attempt to rename the historic, shared Lake Ontario adds insult to injury as Trump’s tariffs drive up costs, making an already difficult situation worse. Our families, workers, and businesses need an administration focused on lowering costs and strengthening our economy, not distractions. Renaming a lake won’t put food on the table, lower anyone’s bills, or create a single job. It is a pathetic attempt to distract from an affordability crisis that this President has failed to fix.”

“Lake Ontario is Lake Ontario. President Trump can play games with a map all he wants, but I’m not going to stand by while he wastes the authority and resources of the federal government doing it,” said Congressman Joe Morelle. “This is ridiculous, it’s embarrassing, and it’s exactly the kind of unserious distraction Americans are tired of.”

Congresswoman Dingell is a fierce advocate for the Great Lakes and believes their names are part of our shared history, culture, and identity, and that they should not be used as a political pawn in the Trump Administration’s escalation of an unnecessary trade war. As co-chair of the Great Lakes Task Force in the U.S. House, a member of the House Committee on Natural Resources, and a member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Congresswoman Dingell has been at the forefront of legislative efforts to protect and preserve the Great Lakes.

In July 2026, Congresswoman Dingell, alongside the other three co-chairs of the bipartisan Congressional Great Lakes Task Force, urged the Trump Administration to lift the stop-work order and end the administrative review on the Brandon Road Lock and Dam complex. The critical project is designed to prevent invasive carp from reaching the Great Lakes and devastating the region’s $11 billion fishing and recreation industry, and work was abruptly halted on July 24, 2026, putting Great Lakes ecosystems and the regional economy at severe risk. Also in July 2026, the congresswoman requested the Trump Administration release delayed funding that supports critical efforts to stop the spread of invasive species across the Great Lakes. Congresswoman Dingell is also a champion of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), which is designed to protect and restore the Lakes, and she has consistently pushed for robust funding for it.

Bill text can be found HERE.

Dingell, Lawler Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Expand Sunscreen Access at National Parks

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 04:00:00 GMT

U.S. Representatives Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06) and Mike Lawler (R-NY-17) introduced the Sunscreen in Parks Findings Act (SPF) Act, bipartisan legislation that would direct the National Park Service (NPS) to study and report on ways to make sun protection more available in national parks at low or no cost.

“This bipartisan legislation is about keeping people safe, expanding access to sunscreen, and decreasing rates of skin cancer. I am grateful for Congressman Lawler’s partnership as we work across the aisle to keep Americans safe as they enjoy the beauty and recreation our national parks have to offer,” said Congresswoman Dingell, Co-chair of the bipartisan House Cancer Caucus.

The legislation would require the NPS Director to submit a report to the House Committee on Natural Resources within one year after enactment, including:

The possible environmental effects of any sunscreen distributed in parks.

How usable the sunscreen would be for people with different skin tones.

A plan to increase visitor awareness about the importance of sun protection to help prevent skin damage and skin cancer.

“Protecting Americans from skin cancer starts with making basic sun protection readily accessible. Our national parks should be places where families can enjoy the outdoors while taking simple, commonsense steps to protect their health. I’m proud to lead this bipartisan effort to expand access to sunscreen and other sun-protective measures in our national parks,” said Congressman Lawler, Co-chair of the Extreme Heat Caucus and the Appalachian Trail Caucus.

A copy of the bill text can be found HERE.

The possible environmental effects of any sunscreen distributed in parks.

environmental effects of any sunscreen distributed in parks.

How usable the sunscreen would be for people with different skin tones.

A plan to increase visitor awareness about the importance of sun protection to help prevent skin damage and skin cancer.

The possible environmental effects of any sunscreen distributed in parks.

How usable the sunscreen would be for people with different skin tones.

A plan to increase visitor awareness about the importance of sun protection to help prevent skin damage and skin cancer.

Dingell Statement on Trump’s Attempt to Rename Lake Ontario

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 04:00:00 GMT

U.S. Representative Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06) released the following statement after President Trump signed an Executive Order attempting to rename Lake Ontario:

“The Great Lakes are a shared treasure that generations of Americans and Canadians have worked together to protect. Donald Trump can sign all the executive orders he wants, but it will always be Lake Ontario. Canada is not our enemy. It is our neighbor, our ally, and one of Michigan’s most important economic partners. It is a friendship that no stroke of a pen can erase,” said Congresswoman Dingell. “President Trump is trying to divide us and distract people from his reckless trade war that is raising costs and threatening American workers. When he is done doing arts and crafts in the Oval, I’d suggest he turn his attention to his failed economy that is raising costs, eliminating jobs, and leaving working men and women behind.”

Dingell Statement on U.S.-Canada Trade War

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 04:00:00 GMT

U.S. Representative Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06) released the following statement in the wake of a growing trade war between the United States and Canada:

“It is a dark moment for our country when the president is more comfortable cozying up to dictators and autocrats than working together to find common ground with our closest friend and ally. Canada and the United States share the longest international border in the world; we are bound together by generations of friendship, family, culture, and common democratic values, and yes, even Great Lakes,” said Congresswoman Dingell. “The values that unite us are stronger than any policy disagreement that divides us. We are intertwined not just in our values, but also in our economies. Canada is a critical market for American manufacturers, farmers, energy producers, and more. And Americans depend upon Canadian products, energy, and natural resources. The United States needs to start treating Canada like the close partner they are, and both countries need to come back to the negotiating table and work out a fair and comprehensive deal. A prolonged and growing trade war will only hurt working men and women on both sides of the border.”

Dingell Seeks Answers on Conditions Aboard USS Abraham Lincoln Following Concerning Reports

Mon, 17 Aug 2026 04:00:00 GMT

U.S. Representative Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06) requested immediate answers from Department of Defense (DoD) and Department of the Navy officials after receiving troubling reports from constituents regarding deteriorating living conditions and basic necessity shortages aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln.

“There have been reports of unreliable access to hot water and laundry, shortages of basic supplies, including food and hygiene goods, significant disruptions in the mail system, deteriorating mental health and increasing suicide attempts, and limited opportunities for sailors to communicate with their families. I have constituents on board the Lincoln and I have heard directly from parents in my District wo are worried about the living conditions their family members are being subjected to while they serve our country. They speak of care packages that remain undelivered after months, low quality and rationed food, cold showers when the showers are available, and dangerously low crew morale. These reports demand immediate attention,” said Congresswoman Dingell.

A copy of the letter can be found HERE and below:

Dear Secretary Hegseth and Acting Secretary Cao:

This letter expresses increasing concern regarding the reported conditions on the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) and requests information regarding the well-being of support servicemembers and the habitability of the Lincoln. I am writing to add my voice because the parents of my constituents serving aboard the carrier have contacted me with their concerns for the well-being of these servicemembers.

The USS Abraham Lincoln has been deployed for over 250 days since departing from San Diego on November 21, 2025. The Lincoln was scheduled for a seven-month deployment in the South China Sea, instead, the carrier has not made a port call in over 200 days while supporting military operations against Iran. The deployment has been extended multiple times with no publicly announced return date.

There have been reports of unreliable access to hot water and laundry, shortages of basic supplies, including food and hygiene goods, significant disruptions in the mail system, deteriorating mental health and increasing suicide attempts, and limited opportunities for sailors to communicate with their families. I have constituents on board the Lincoln and I have heard directly from parents in my District who are worried about the living conditions their family members are being subjected to while they serve our country. They speak of care packages that remain undelivered after months, low quality and rationed food, cold showers when the showers are available, and dangerously low crew morale. These reports demand immediate attention.

The sailors on the Lincoln are maintaining and supporting some of the most sophisticated aircraft and weapons systems in the world, while under constant threat of attack from our enemies. They are working extraordinary hours aboard a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier while supporting military operations thousands of miles from their loved ones. These sailors deserve our full support, the least of which includes having their basic needs met.

Given these concerns, we would like to request your responses to the following questions no later than August 27, 2026:

As of August 13, 2026, did the USS Abraham Lincoln meet U.S. Navy habitability requirements?

Have habitability problems been identified? If so, what corrective action has been taken? If no action has been taken, what action will be taken?

Please list the supply shortages, including meals, and quality-of-life problems that have been identified aboard the Lincoln. What action has been taken to correct these problems? If no action has been taken, what action will be taken?

What is causing disruptions to mail delivery on the Lincoln and what action has been taken to ensure sailors will receive the packages their families send in a timely manner? If no action has been taken, what action will be taken?

What steps is the Navy taking to manage fatigue, morale, and quality of life during this extraordinarily demanding deployment for the Lincoln and other carriers, like the USS John Finn?

When will the crew of the USS Abraham Lincoln return home to the United States?

The sailors aboard the Lincoln continue to put their lives on the line to protect our country and it is our duty to ensure they are taken care of while they are serving. Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

Dingell, Bergman Co-Lead Letter Highlighting the Essential Role of Gift of Life Michigan

Fri, 14 Aug 2026 04:00:00 GMT

U.S. Representatives Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06) and Jack Bergman (R-MI-01), alongside nine of their Michigan colleagues in the U.S. House, co-led a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) highlighting the essential role of Gift of Life Michigan. Gift of Life Michigan is the federally designated non-profit Organ Procurement Organization (OPO) serving Michigan. As CMS undertakes this year’s OPO recertification process, the lawmakers are urging the administration to consider the essential role Gift of Life Michigan and its nearly 400 staff statewide play in serving their communities and sustaining the systems that make life-saving organ, eye, and tissue donation and transplantation possible.

"We are deeply grateful to Representatives Dingell and Bergman and other Members of the Michigan congressional delegation for recognizing the vital work of Gift of Life Michigan and our nearly 400 team members,” said Dorrie Dils, president and CEO of Gift of Life Michigan. “Their recognition underscores the importance of the programs and partnerships we have spent decades developing in communities across the state and the dedicated professionals who help ensure lifesaving organ, eye and tissue donation and transplantation are a reality for the more than 2,600 Michiganders and more than 100,000 people nationwide waiting for a lifesaving transplant.”

A copy of the letter can be found HERE and below:

Dear Secretary Kennedy and Administrator Oz:

We write as the congressional delegation representing Michigan to express our strong support for the recertification of Gift of Life Michigan, the federally designated non-profit Organ Procurement Organization (OPO) serving our state. As CMS undertakes this year’s OPO recertification process, we urge you to thoughtfully consider the essential role Gift of Life Michigan—and its nearly 400 staff statewide—play in serving our communities and sustaining the systems that make life-saving organ, eye, and tissue donation and transplantation possible.

Since its founding in 1971, Gift of Life Michigan has built deep and enduring relationships with hospitals, health systems, medical examiners, transplant centers, and local community leaders across the state. They have also developed a profound understanding of Michigan’s population, the regional healthcare and governmental landscape, and the unique cultural contexts that shape effective donation work—expertise that cannot be quickly recreated or replaced without significant disruption and added taxpayer expense.

During the current certification cycle, Gift of Life Michigan has increased the number of organs available for transplant by 29% and expanded the Michigan Organ Donor Registry by 1.2 million people through sustained public education and community outreach12. The organization has also grown youth education efforts from 3,700 to more than 38,000 students, per internal data. Additionally, according to data from the Michigan Department of Treasury and Michigan Department of State, Gift of Life Michigan worked with state legislators and the Secretary of State to make Michigan the first state in the nation to include a Donor Registry question on state income tax forms—an initiative that has already produced 38,000 new donor registrations since 2024.

Given Gift of Life Michigan’s decades of experience, strong performance, deep community partnerships, and critical role in ensuring access to donation and transplantation services, we urge CMS to provide full and fair consideration of the organization’s longstanding service and effectiveness.

Maintaining continuity with a well-established, community-rooted OPO is essential to preserving public trust, supporting donor families, and ensuring patients across Michigan and the nation continue to receive timely, high-quality, life-saving donation and transplant services.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

Dingell Presses United States Postal Service on Mailing Disruptions

Fri, 14 Aug 2026 04:00:00 GMT

U.S. Representative Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06) is demanding answers from the United States Postal Service (USPS) following delays of time-sensitive mail deliveries across Southeast Michigan. In a letter to Postmaster General David Steiner, Congresswoman Dingell highlighted the responsibilities of the USPS to ensure deliveries are received in a timely fashion and the recent failures of the department to deliver voting materials during the Michigan primary elections. The mail was not returned, they sat in mailboxes, and they were not picked up.

“These delayed deliveries left many Ann Arbor residents without their scheduled absentee ballots and political mail, limiting their time to vote before the statutory deadline and possibly preventing them from casting their ballots and receiving important candidate information. USPS has a responsibility to deliver the mail reliably and on time, especially when those delays can directly affect Americans’ ability to participate in our democracy," said Congresswoman Dingell.

Congresswoman Dingell ended the letter with a series of questions, including a request for future actions the USPS has put in place to ensure that a similar situation does not recur.

This effort follows an April letter to the Trump Administration demanding answers for similar mail delivery disruptions

A copy of the letter can be found HERE and below:

Dear Postmaster General Steiner:

This letter is regarding mail service disruptions in my district, particularly the delay of absentee ballots and political mail. The United States Postal Service (USPS) has a responsibility to remain accessible to all communities and ensure the delivery of essential mail, including bills, medications, legal documents, and urgent communications. The reliable delivery of time-sensitive mail is of the utmost importance.

I was alarmed to hear that on August 1, 2026, five carrier routes in Ann Arbor, Michigan, were left without assigned letter carriers, resulting in mail going undelivered. Just as concerning, USPS management failed to contact available employees to seek additional assistance in covering these routes, allowing the mail to remain untouched. Although employees are not required to work based solely on management’s outreach, failing to make any effort to find volunteers is unacceptable, particularly given that the state’s primary election was held on Tuesday, August 4, 2026. These delayed deliveries left many Ann Arbor residents without their scheduled absentee ballots and political mail, limiting their time to vote before the statutory deadline and possibly preventing them from casting their ballots and receiving important candidate information. USPS has a responsibility to deliver the mail reliably and on time, especially when those delays can directly affect Americans’ ability to participate in our democracy.

This incident is increasingly troubling, as I had raised concerns about persistent mail delays in Southeast Michigan in April of this year. One would expect the Postal Service to take these concerns seriously and to ensure that sufficient staffing and management procedures are in place to prevent similar failures. USPS plays a critical role in facilitating participation in our democratic processes, and I will continue to work to ensure my constituents have the reliable service they deserve.

I request clarity regarding this issue in my district and would like written responses to the following questions:

Was USPS aware of the five carrier routes in Ann Arbor, Michigan not receiving mail on August 1, 2026?

What future actions has USPS put in place to ensure a similar situation does not recur?

What steps have been taken to receive proper coverage for these five carrier routes?

Why were city carrier assistants or other employees not contacted to alleviate the situation?

To what extent did overtime compensation and labor costs factor into the mail coverage decision?

What were the delivery instructions for these routes and which level of management made the orders?

Was the mail eventually delivered to the five routes, and if so, when?

How will USPS ensure the statutory obligations and expectations of the Postal Service Reform Act of 2022 are met?

What plan of action does USPS have in place to ensure this issue is resolved by November of this year?

Was USPS aware of the five carrier routes in Ann Arbor, Michigan not receiving mail on August 1, 2026?

What future actions has USPS put in place to ensure a similar situation does not recur?

What steps have been taken to receive proper coverage for these five carrier routes?

Why were city carrier assistants or other employees not contacted to alleviate the situation?

To what extent did overtime compensation and labor costs factor into the mail coverage decision?

What were the delivery instructions for these routes and which level of management made the orders?

Was the mail eventually delivered to the five routes, and if so, when?

How will USPS ensure the statutory obligations and expectations of the Postal Service Reform Act of 2022 are met?

What plan of action does USPS have in place to ensure this issue is resolved by November of this year?

Was USPS aware of the five carrier routes in Ann Arbor, Michigan not receiving mail on August 1, 2026?

What future actions has USPS put in place to ensure a similar situation does not recur?

What steps have been taken to receive proper coverage for these five carrier routes?

Why were city carrier assistants or other employees not contacted to alleviate the situation?

To what extent did overtime compensation and labor costs factor into the mail coverage decision?

What were the delivery instructions for these routes and which level of management made the orders?

Was the mail eventually delivered to the five routes, and if so, when?

How will USPS ensure the statutory obligations and expectations of the Postal Service Reform Act of 2022 are met?

What plan of action does USPS have in place to ensure this issue is resolved by November of this year?

Dingell Calls on University of Michigan to Fully Address Residents’ Concerns About Los Alamos at Upcoming Town Hall

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 04:00:00 GMT

U.S. Representative Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06) is calling on University of Michigan leadership to fully address the long-standing concerns of Ypsilanti Township residents at its upcoming town hall after it was announced that the University had selected the community as the site for the controversial Los Alamos National Laboratory data center.

“Ypsilanti Township residents have not been given sufficient opportunity to ask direct questions, challenge assumptions, or receive clear, honest answers from decisionmakers in real time. Given the scale and long-term implications of this project, the local community deserves far more than a one-way briefing that leaves questions unanswered and creates even more questions. The community deserves real engagement, transparency, and accountability,” said Congresswoman Dingell.

In a statement following the University’s site-selection announcement, Congresswoman Dingell reiterated that the way the University has communicated with the community is unacceptable. For years, Congresswoman Dingell has joined residents and local leaders in raising serious concerns about this project and the lack of transparency from the University.

“Key concerns include water use, such as how much water the facility will require, where it would come from, and what safeguards are in place to protect long-term regional supply. They also include energy demand and infrastructure strain, particularly how the data center will impact the electrical grid, who would bear the costs, and how it aligns with renewable energy commitments,” Congresswoman Dingell continued.

In her latest letter to University leadership, the congresswoman called on them to use the upcoming town hall as a true public town hall on its proposed data center — one that goes beyond a controlled presentation or pre-scripted information session and instead allows for genuine, two-way community dialogue.

A copy of the letter can be found HERE and below:

Dear President Grasso:

This letter is regarding the University of Michigan’s announcement that it will hold a third public town hall on September 9, 2026, concerning the proposed data center in Ypsilanti Township.

The University must hold a true public town hall on its proposed data center — one that goes beyond a controlled presentation or pre-scripted information session and instead allows for genuine, two-way community dialogue. To date, the two events the University offered did not amount to a real town hall, and one was not even in the impacted community. Ypsilanti Township residents have not been given sufficient opportunity to ask direct questions, challenge assumptions, or receive clear, honest answers from decisionmakers in real time. Given the scale and long-term implications of this project, the local community deserves far more than a one-way briefing that leaves questions unanswered and creates even more questions. The community deserves real engagement, transparency, and accountability.

It is imperative that the University will use the September 9 event as an opportunity to meaningfully engage with the community and address the serious and unresolved questions surrounding this project.

Key concerns include water use, such as how much water the facility will require, where it would come from, and what safeguards are in place to protect long-term regional supply. They also include energy demand and infrastructure strain, particularly how the data center will impact the electrical grid, who would bear the costs, and how it aligns with renewable energy commitments. The Ypsilanti Township community is also concerned that this facility may be involved in the production of nuclear weapons and the study of defense capabilities. These are foundational public-interest issues that require open scrutiny, not limited disclosure. Equally important are the broader environmental impacts, including land use changes, emissions, heat generation, and potential effects on local ecosystems. The community deserves to understand not only the projected impacts, but also what mitigation strategies are being proposed, how effective they are expected to be, and what uncertainties remain.

There are also significant public safety and community impacts that must be addressed openly. These include construction-related disruption, long-term operational risks, traffic and infrastructure stress, and the cumulative effects on surrounding neighborhoods and public services. Questions also remain about how the project will affect local fire and law enforcement resources, given the University’s tax-exempt status and the potential demands this facility could place on local services. These concerns directly affect Ypsilanti Township and its residents’ quality of life, making public input essential rather than optional.

The town hall must be open to all members of the Ypsilanti Township community who wish to attend, without attendance restrictions, and provide residents a meaningful and real opportunity to raise their questions and receive answers. I have been calling on the University to hold a real town hall on this project and to meaningfully engage with the Ypsilanti Township community for years. The University cannot continue to disregard the community’s concerns and opposition simply because it disagrees with them, and the University needs to listen to why the community is opposed to this project.

I urge the University to treat the September 9, 2026, town hall as a true town hall and demonstrate through its actions a commitment to transparency, accountability, and meaningful community engagement. The University’s actions to date have contributed to the strong opposition of this project within the community, and my constituents deserve clear and substantive answers about how they will be impacted.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Dingell Statement on Los Alamos Project Site Selection

Wed, 12 Aug 2026 04:00:00 GMT

U.S. Representative Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06) released the following statement criticizing the University of Michigan’s selection of Ypsilanti Township as the site for the controversial Los Alamos National Laboratory data center:

“It is deeply disturbing that the University of Michigan has chosen this site for the Los Alamos data center project despite the clear opposition of Ypsilanti Township residents and local leaders, and the way the University has communicated with the community is unacceptable. For years, I have raised serious concerns about this project and the lack of communication and transparency from the University.

I have repeatedly urged the University to listen to the impacted community, be transparent, and answer basic questions about the impact of this project. Instead, they have rebuffed these concerns and are ignoring the pleas from residents that do not want this. To make matters worse, Ypsilanti Township would see little benefit from an institution that pays no property taxes.

You cannot claim to value community input and then ignore the community when you do not like what it has to say. I will continue demanding transparency, accountability, and answers.”

Dingell, Walberg to Host Washtenaw County Veterans Fair

Mon, 13 May 2019 14:00:00 GMT

U.S. Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-12) and U.S. Congressman Tim Walberg (MI-07) will co-host a Veterans Resource Fair in Washtenaw County on Monday, May 13 to provide veterans and their family members with access to resources earned through their service to our country. More than 20 veteran employment specialists, Veterans Affairs counselors, and veterans service organizations will participate. Constituents can call Congresswoman Dingell’s office at 313-278-2936 or Congressman Walberg’s office at 517-780-9075 for more information.

Veterans are encouraged to bring a copy of their DD214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty.

At the fair, veterans will be able to register for eBenefits, file or check the status of a VA claim, check their healthcare benefits or enrollment, find veteran peer support, find employment services, and connect with financial assistance if needed.

WHAT: Dingell, Walberg to hold Washtenaw County Veterans Resource Fair

WHEN: Monday, May 13 from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

WHERE: VFW Post 423, 3230 S. Wagner Rd. in Ann Arbor

PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS:

American Legion

Attorney General - Consumer Protection

Buddy-to-Buddy

Catholic Social Services of Washtenaw County

Concordia University

Department of Labor Disabled Veterans Outreach

Detroit VARO (Veterans Benefits Administration)

Eisenhower Center

Fischer House Michigan

Great Lakes National Cemetery

Habitat for Humanity Huron Valley

Michigan Works! Washtenaw

National Guard Family Assistance Center

State Senator Jeff Irwin

State Representative Donna Lasinski

State Representative Rebekah Warren

Tags and Tails

Talent Investment Agency, Veterans’ Employment Services

VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System

VA Loan Guaranty Division

VCAT Region 9 / Community Action Agency

Vietnam Veterans of America

Volunteers of America Michigan

Washtenaw County Veterans Affairs