url,title,date,year,month,party,chamber,state,member_name,bioguide_id,domain,scraper,source,date_source,text,has_text,collected_at,updated_at http://huizenga.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401221,"Huizenga Celebrates Completion of $6.6 Million Great Lakes Restoration Project in Muskegon, $2.9 Million Project in Detroit",2020-12-29,2020,2020-12,Republican,Senate,MI,Bill Huizenga,H001058,huizenga.house.gov,,,legacy,"Today, Congressman Bill Huizenga, Co-Chair of the House Great Lakes Task Force, released the following statement after the EPA announced the completion of a $6.6 million Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) Project in Muskegon as well as the completion of a $2.9 million project on the Detroit Riverwalk. The Ryerson Creek Outfall is a 12-acre site located on the shores of Muskegon Lake that has been contaminated with petroleum, metals, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. This GLRI funded project successfully dredged 10,600 cubic yards of contaminated sediment, removed over 2,000 tons of mill debris, and covered a two-acre area with clean sand.Along the Detroit River, EPA dredged approximately 13,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment just downstream of the MacArthur Bridge that leads to Belle Isle. The EPA then isolated and stabilized the contaminated sediment with a cap made of clean material. The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative continues to successfully rehabilitate areas impacted by legacy pollution, said Congressman Bill Huizenga, Co-Chair of the House Great Lakes Task Force. Today's announcement by the EPA marks another critical step forward in the efforts to restore Muskegon Lake and the Detroit riverfront. The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative has played a leading role in strengthening the ecology as well as the economy of communities across Michigan. The continued recovery of Muskegon Lake and the Detroit Riverwalk is not only great news for Muskegon and Detroit, it is great news for Michigan and the entire Great Lakes Region. This is another great example of how effective this agency has been following the priorities of this Administration the completion of these Great Lakes Legacy Act projects demonstrate that when federal, state, local, and industry partners work together collaboratively, we can solve complex environmental problems and get the job done, said Region 5 Administrator and Great Lakes National Program Manager Kurt Thiede. These cleanups in the Muskegon Lake and Detroit River AOCs will significantly advance our efforts to restore water quality in these two important waterways. In August, Grand Valley State University released new research detailing how efforts to restore Muskegon Lake through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative have led to $27.9 million in additional recreational spending per year, increased property values by $7.9 million, and increased the total number of visits to Muskegon Lake by 11%. Overall, the GVSU study found that restoring Muskegon Lake has led to a 4% increase in recreational spending in Muskegon County. This study was conducted prior to the successful clean up at the Ryerson Creek Outfall. In addition to the Grand Valley State University Study, a 2018 study by the University of Michigan found that every $1 invested from the GLRI between 2010 and 2016 will generate $3.35 in additional economic activity through 2036. In cities such as Detroit and Buffalo that investment will yield a return of over $4 for every $1 invested according to the U of M Study. The EPA provided $4.3 million through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) provided $1.2 million in cash and in-kind contributions for the cleanup of Muskegon Lake. This successful cleanup of legacy pollution utilizing the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative follows the removal of 50,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment in 2018 from the former Zephyr Oil Refinery in Muskegon Township. The $2.9 million Detroit Riverwalk cleanup was funded through the GLRI's cost-sharing partnership with the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy (DRFC). DRFC covered the sediment cap with stone rip rap, which stabilized an aging seawall and provided geophysical support for the future Detroit Riverwalk extension, which will connect Mt. Elliott and Gabriel Richards parks. EPA also collaborated with the U.S Army Corps of Engineers, EGLE, and the City of Detroit to complete this project.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://huizenga.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401220,"Huizenga Discusses Supporting Troops, American Families, and Fiscal Responsibility",2020-12-28,2020,2020-12,Republican,Senate,MI,Bill Huizenga,H001058,huizenga.house.gov,,,legacy,"Huizenga Discussing Supporting Troops, American Families, and Fiscal Responsibility Tonight, Congressman Bill Huizenga spoke in a Facebook Live conversation with constituents across West Michigan to explain his support for our men and women in uniform. In the live video, Congressman Huizenga also explains why he did not support an additional $464 billion in COVID relief because he believes those dollars should be offset by reductions in federal spending. The video is embedded below.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://huizenga.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401219,"Huizenga, Kildee Lead Bipartisan Letter in Support of Michigan Blueberry Growers and Fair Trade",2020-12-22,2020,2020-12,Republican,Senate,MI,Bill Huizenga,H001058,huizenga.house.gov,,,legacy,"Yesterday, Congressman Bill Huizenga (MI-02) and Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-05) sent a bipartisan letter to the International Trade Commission (ITC) Chairman Jason Kearns on behalf of hardworking Michigan blueberry growers and their families. Currently, the ITC is conducting a section 201 investigation regarding the importation of blueberries into the United States. If the ITC concludes that increased imports are causing serious injury to domestic growers, the President can then take actions to prioritize American blueberry growers. Over the last five years, blueberry imports from foreign countries have soared by an astonishing 62%. As these imports have increased, the price of blueberries has fallen to devastating lows and caused economic harm to growers, processors, and family farms across Michigan. Congressman Huizenga has been a leading voice in the fight to level the playing field for Michigan specialty crop growers, farmers, and agricultural producers. Joining Reps. Huizenga and Kildee in support of Michigan blueberry growers are U.S. Representatives Fred Upton, Debbie Dingell, John Moolenaar, Brenda Lawrence, Tim Walberg, and Jack Bergman. A PDF copy of the letter to the ITC is available here. The text of the letter is available below. Dear Chairman Kearns: We write today, as representatives of a leading blueberry producing state, in support of the Commission's ongoing Section 201 investigation regarding fresh, chilled, and frozen blueberries. The Michigan blueberry industry has a long history of being an international leader in blueberry production and quality, supporting hundreds of family farms and having a substantial impact on the state's economy. Unfortunately, local growers and processors are facing devastating consequences as a result of the surge in blueberry imports, strategically timed and priced to devastate and disrupt the domestic market. Michigan produces nearly 100 million pounds of blueberries annually on more than 20,000 acres. Whether they are shipped to the fresh market, frozen, pureed, or concentered, the industry contributes nearly $130 million to our state's economy. However, it has become clear that family farms are facing undue hardship as a result of the recent influx of imports. Recent data shows that U.S. imports of blueberries have increased significantly over the last 15 years. Over the last five years alone, blueberry imports have surged by over 62 percent from 423 million pounds in 2015 to 684 million pounds in 2019. The value of these imports has more than doubled since 2014, with five countries accounting for more than 98 percent of total imports over that time period. Since 2014, value of these imports from Peru have increased by over 3,500 percent and imports from Mexico have increased by nearly 300 percent. Imports from Canada and Chile also increased in value during this time. Considering the significant quantities of blueberry imports from multiple countries; a global safeguard investigation is a logical step to analyze the effect of imports from all countries and to gain a complete understanding of this global situation. As these imports have increased, the price of blueberries has fallen to devastating lows and caused economic harm to growers, processors, and businesses in Michigan. Workers have been laid off and grower profits have declined or vanished as prices have plummeted and blueberries have been left on bushes because it is uneconomic to harvest. This hardship is threatening the livelihoods of Michigan family farmers, causing economic harm to providers of packing and freezing services, and damaging our economy at a community driven level. It is evident to us that the massive amounts of blueberries surging into the U.S. are crippling the domestic industry. Thank you for your efforts to investigate these increased imports and the serious injury that they have caused farmers in Michigan. We urge you to consider duly all relevant information as you make your determination regarding the effects of increased blueberry imports on American families, growers, and processors, and provide relief to the domestic blueberry industry.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://huizenga.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401218,"Huizenga Backs COVID-19 Relief Package for West Michigan, Calls for Speaker Pelosi to be held Accountable for Pandemic Politicking",2020-12-21,2020,2020-12,Republican,Senate,MI,Bill Huizenga,H001058,huizenga.house.gov,,,legacy,"Tonight, Congressman Bill Huizenga (MI-02) released the following statement after voting in favor of the bipartisan coronavirus relief package to help West Michigan families and small businesses. Tonight's long-awaited agreement provides critical aid to working families and small businesses here in West Michigan and across the nation. Specifically, this agreement extends the Paycheck Protection Program, delivers additional help for restaurants, and provides relief to small concert venues that have been devastated by shutdowns. Additionally, this bipartisan agreement delivers stimulus checks to hard hit families, money for vaccines, and funding to help schools resume in-person learning. While this relief package will provide a lifeline to struggling small businesses, how many small businesses were forced to shut their doors for good while waiting for Washington to act? Speaker Pelosi's decision to play politics with pandemic relief - only to agree to an aid package that is roughly half of what was offered earlier this year - should not be glossed over. This decision to let the livelihood of struggling Americans be ruined should not only be a part of her legacy, it should cost her the speakership in the next Congress.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401695,Upton: Help is on the way this Christmas,2020-12-21,2020,2020-12,Republican,Senate,MI,Fred Upton,U000031,upton.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, today voted for and the U.S. House passed bipartisan legislation aimed at delivering COVID-19 relief to millions of Americans in need. Upton and the House Problem Solvers Caucus which Upton serves as a vice-chair of worked with a bipartisan group of Senators to design this bipartisan, bicameral package that is expected to also pass the U.S. Senate and be signed by President Donald Trump. The package was split into two votes and both were passed by the House with overwhelming bipartisan majorities. COVID-19 has caused suffering in this country like we haven't seen before. Families, small businesses, health care workers, schools they're all struggling, and this bipartisan package throws them a lifeline. Help is on the way this Christmas, Upton said. I've heard from countless doctors and nurses, mom-and-pop small businesses owners, teachers, and community leaders who begged Congress to stop acting like the Grinch and provide much-needed help. This package isn't perfect but it's a good compromise and delivers real help. With the new vaccine, there is light at the end of an extremely long tunnel, but to ensure folks can make it until then, we need this package. Bottom line? I joined our bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus' call that we could not leave D.C. for home without seeing an agreement enacted to help folks across the country and that's what this deal does. The $908 billion package provides additional resources for the Paycheck Protection Program, emergency food assistance, emergency rental assistance, health care workers and hospitals, testing, tracing, vaccine development and distribution, schools, and broadband. The legislation also extends unemployment assistance for 16 weeks and provides for direct stimulus payments. Below is a more detailed breakdown of the funding allocation in the Bipartisan Emergency COVID Relief Act of 2020: Direct stimulus payments of $600 per person Extension of all unemployment assistance for 16 weeks, with supplemental $300 per week $300B for Small Business Administration Second Round of PPP for Small Business, inclusion of 501c6, restaurants, and live venues Loan forgiveness process is simplified for borrowers with PPP loans of $150,000 or less. $13B for emergency food assistance: Increased SNAP assistance and funding for food banks and food pantries $13B to provide funding to address COVID-related impacts on farmers, ranchers, growers, and fisheries $25B for emergency rental assistance and extension of eviction moratorium through January 31 Extension of student loan forbearance through April 1, 2021 $35B for Healthcare Provider Relief Fund Including $7B for rural providers $16B for Testing, Tracing and Vaccine Development & Distribution $12B in CDFI / MDI targeted emergency investments to help low-income and minority communities withstand the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and respond to this unprecedented economic downturn $5B in emergency funding for substance abuse prevention and treatment and mental health $82B of education funding, including $54 billion dedicated to K-12, $20 billion dedicated to higher education, and $7.5 billion for the Governor's Fund Includes targeted aid for private and parochial schools, minority-serving institutions, territories, and the Bureau of Indian Education $10B to support child care providers struggling due to the COVID 19 pandemic $10B for broadband $45B in emergency funding for transportation sector Eliminates repayment requirement for $10B U.S. Postal Service loan included in CARES Act The House also voted to pass an omnibus spending bill for fiscal year 2021, which began October 1. A number of Upton's priorities were included as part of the legislative package, which is also expected to be passed by the U.S. Senate and signed by President Donald Trump. This arduous process resulted in a bipartisan agreement that includes support for our health care workers, veterans, the environment, seniors, taxpayers, and the economy, Upton said. Looking ahead to the beginning of the 117th Congress, I remain committed to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to deliver results for southwest Michigan families. Below is a detailed breakdown of highlights of the budget agreement for southwest Michigan: $330M for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, which addresses a wide range of problems including invasive species, non-point source pollution, and contaminated sediment. A $10M increase and a total of $435M for the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative within the National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Fully funds veterans' health care, including the MISSION Act's community care program and other critical programs. $43B for the National Institutes of Health, an increase of $1.25 billion above the enacted FY20 level. This funding include $3B for Alzheimer's disease and more than $6B for cancer research. $732M for rural broadband, the highest level in history, including $635M for the ReConnect broadband pilot for unserved and underserved areas as well as $60M for Distance Learning and Telemedicine grants. $1.7B for Community Health Centers Among priorities Upton fought to include as part of this legislative package include: Improving Pipeline Safety Upton supported and the House passed the bipartisan PIPES Act, reauthorizing the pipeline safety agency. In the last pipeline safety reauthorization in 2016, Upton successfully included mandatory annual inspections for certain pipeline crossings, such as Enbridge's Line 5, which crosses the Straits of Mackinac at a depth of more than 250 feet below the surface of the water.Under current law, the pipeline operator is also required to conduct underwater visual inspections and other surveys on a risk-based schedule. In April 2018, an anchor struck Line 5 and caused damage to the external coating of Line 5, but there was no major damage to the pipeline. The incident revealed the need to pipeline operators to update its procedures to prevent anchor strikes and visually inspect the pipeline more frequently. As part of this legislation package, Upton included an update to the 2016 regulations and now visual surveys and other technology to assess the integrity of the pipeline will be required at least once a year. The new language also requires the pipeline operator to implement special procedures to assess potential impacts by maritime vessels or equipment, including anchors. The safe operation of our nation's pipeline system is vital to our economy, our national security, and our energy security. Now more than ever with the COVID-19 pandemic, Americans depend on pipelines every day to deliver fuels for essential uses, such as electricity generation, heating, and cooking, and the PIPES Act will ensure our pipelines remain safe and secure.We are proud to have worked with our colleagues on a bicameral compromise to reauthorize the PIPES Act and are pleasedto push this across the finish line this year, Upton said. Reauthorizing School-Based Health Centers As part of the budget agreement, the House supported Upton's efforts to reauthorize the School-Based Health Centers program through 2024 and provide SBHCs with the federal support they need to continue delivering valuable, low-cost health care to students across the country. School-based health centers reach more than two million children and adolescents in over 2,000 SBHCs across the nation, including more than 120 in Michigan. SBHCs primarily operate in underserved communities and play a crucial role in the provision of primary care services to school children, which also includes dental screenings and mental health services. Ending Surprise Medical Billing Upton supported bicameral, bipartisan efforts to put together an agreement to end surprise medical billing and protect patients from unexpected medical costs without increasing premiums or interfering with state-level solutions. This plan establishes a fair payment dispute resolution process including: Holds patients harmless from surprise medical bills, including from air ambulance providers, by ensuring they are only responsible for their in-network cost-sharing amounts, including deductibles, in both emergency situations and certain non-emergency situations where patients do not have the ability to choose an in-network provider. Prohibits certain out-of-network providers from balance billing patients unless the provider gives the patient notice of their network status and an estimate of charges 72 hours prior to receiving out-of-network services and the patient provides consent to receive out-of-network care. Creates a framework that takes patients out of the middle, and allows health care providers and insurers to resolve payment disputes without involving the patient. Under the agreement, insurers will make a payment to the provider that is determined either through negotiation between the parties or an independent dispute resolution (IDR) process. There is no minimum payment threshold to enter IDR, and claims may be batched together to ease administrative burdens. If the parties choose to utilize the IDR process, both parties would each submit an offer to the independent arbiter. When choosing between the two offers the arbiter is required to consider the median in-network rate, information related to the training and experience of the provider, the market share of the parties, previous contracting history between the parties, complexity of the services provided, and any other information submitted by the parties. Following an IDR process, the party that initiated the dispute may not take the same party to arbitration for the same item or service for 90-days following a determination by the arbitrator. However, all claims that occur during the 90-day period are eligible for IDR after the 90-days. Provides additional consumer protections when insurance companies change networks, including a transition of care for people with complex care needs and appeal rights for consumers. Empowers consumers by providing a true and honest cost estimate that describes which providers will deliver their treatment, the cost of services, and provider network status. As part of the legislative agreement, the package includes a long-term extension of expiring public health programs, including: Community Health Centers, National Health Service Corps, Teaching Health Centers, and Special Diabetes Programs. Investing in Clean Energy Upton supported and the House passed a number of clean energy-related bills aimed at reducing carbon emissions. The bipartisan, comprehensive package of programs invests heavily in clean energy R&D and technologies, including energy storage, nuclear power, electric vehicles, and carbon capture.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://walberg.house.gov/media/in-the-news/jackson-cit-pat-reopen-schools-give-teachers-priority-vaccine-access,"Jackson Cit Pat: To reopen schools, give teachers priority vaccine access",2020-12-21,2020,2020-12,Republican,Senate,MI,Tim Walberg,W000798,walberg.house.gov,,,legacy,"By U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg The year 2020 has presented numerous challenges we could not have seen coming 12 months ago. A deadly virus has taken a tremendous toll on all aspects of life physically, emotionally, economically. As we look forward to 2021, we all dream of a return to normalcy and to eradicate COVID-19 once and for all. With the historic achievement of Operation Warp Speed, and the successes of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, these desires are becoming closer to reality. In fact, the eyes of the nation were on Michigan last weekend as trucks with the first doses departed the Pfizer facility near Kalamazoo. Thanks to these vaccine breakthroughs, health experts and local officials are developing plans for distribution in communities like Jackson and beyond. An overwhelming majority of Americans support priority vaccine access for vulnerable populations, like individuals with pre-existing conditions and nursing home residents, as well as our frontline workers. K-12 educators should be given priority as well. U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Rochester Hills, and I, both members of the House Education and Labor Committee, recently introduced a bipartisan resolution calling for COVID-19 vaccine distribution efforts to give teachers top-tier consideration. By doing so, we can take a critical step to keeping Jackson County students in school and parents at work. After months of remote schooling, we simply cannot ignore the long-term educational and emotional shortfalls stemming from virtual learning. The lack of face-to-face connection has created new barriers that have hampered children's social development that we often take for granted. This personal connection is even more critical for students with learning disabilities. Calculating the mental toll on our youth by being out of the classroom is nearly impossible, but health experts warn that social isolation creates the risk of anxiety and depression. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that nearly 20% of teens have seriously contemplated suicide during the pandemic. We know the achievement gap is widening through virtual learning, too. While some families have high-speed internet access and technology to properly handle the demands, many in both urban and rural areas lack the capability to participate in virtual classrooms. In many districts, enrollment is down and some students just aren't showing up. Recent studies have shown women, in particular, have been disproportionately hurt by this new educational arrangement. I have talked to many constituents who have had to leave the workforce to oversee their child's at-home school responsibilities or absorb additional childcare expenses on their monthly budget. It is a devastating economic decision that has been forced upon many parents. Withdrawal from the workforce then leads to further disruption in our local economy at a time when so many small businesses are fighting for survival. The evidence is mounting in favor of reopening our schools. Protecting teachers with a safe and effective vaccine will give them peace of mind and create a domino effect of positive impacts on our children, their parents, and our communities. A new year, and a new semester for Jackson County schools, is on the horizon. Let's prioritize our students and teachers and make it possible for a safe return to the classroom. This article originally appeared in the December 20 edition of the Jackson Citizen Patriot.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://huizenga.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401216,Huizenga Applauds Senate Passing Critical Legislation to Renew and Strengthen Great Lakes Restoration Efforts,2020-12-20,2020,2020-12,Republican,Senate,MI,Bill Huizenga,H001058,huizenga.house.gov,,,legacy,"Tonight, Congressman Bill Huizenga, Co-Chair of the House Great Lakes Task Force, released the following statement after the Senate unanimously passed legislation to reauthorize and strengthen the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act of 2019, which Congressman Huizenga helped champion through the House in February, will reauthorize the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), which is set to expire at the end of Fiscal Year 2021, for another five years. The bill also increases the current authorization level from $300 million to $375 million in Fiscal Year 2022 and increases funding by $25 million per year until it reaches $475 million in Fiscal Year 2026. This bipartisan Great Lakes legislation now heads to the President's Desk for his signature. The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative has a proven track record of success in West Michigan and throughout the Great Lakes region, said Congressman Bill Huizenga. This bipartisan initiative is critical to our efforts to protect drinking water, prevent the spread of invasive species, and accelerate the clean-up of legacy pollution. The economy and the ecology of the Great Lakes are directly tied together. The GLRI is a tremendous example of an effective and efficient use of taxpayer dollars that protects, preserves, and strengthens the Great Lakes today and for future generations. I hope the President signs this bipartisan win for the Great Lakes as soon as possible."" In August, Grand Valley State University released new research detailing how efforts to restore Muskegon Lake through the GLRI have led to $27.9 million in additional recreational spending per year, increased property values by $7.9 million, and increased the total number of visits to Muskegon Lake by 11%. Overall, the GVSU study found that restoring Muskegon Lake has led to a 4% increase in recreational spending in Muskegon County. In addition to the Grand Valley State University Study, a 2018 study by the University of Michigan found that every $1 invested from the GLRI between 2010 and 2016 will generate $3.35 in additional economic activity through 2036. In cities such as Detroit and Buffalo that investment will yield a return of over $4 for every $1 invested according to the U of M Study.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401694,"@MyKitchenTable - December 18, 2020",2020-12-18,2020,2020-12,Republican,Senate,MI,Fred Upton,U000031,upton.house.gov,,,legacy,"@MyKitchenTable: Friday, December 18, 2020 Dear Friend: There's an old saying, If not us, who?; if not now, when?No, it was not the Ghost Busters but certainly relevant now as we try and close the books on the 116th Congress. I was re-elected a Vice-Chair of the bipartisan Problem Solver's Caucus (PSC) by my fellow GOP's earlier in the week for the 117th Congress. We had roughly 50 Members of Congress equally divided between GOP's and Dem in the 116th with our group likely expanding to nearly 60 in the 117th. Elissa Slotkin and Debbie Dingell from Michigan's Democrat side and myself and likely - freshman GOP Peter Meijer (R-Grand Rapids) will serve in the PSC. You should know that our PSC initiated the framework dating back to last summer trying to show the leadership on both sides of the Capitol and on both sides of the aisle that there is support for a COVID package as this pandemic did not end as we would have all wished last Easter and will continue into 2021.Elissa Slotkin and I discussed the COVID package on NPR's Michigan Radio Stateside and PSC's role. You can listen to that interview HERE. There are endless disturbing stories across the country impacting families and businesses as we try to survive into the new year. As the goalposts continue to move, our PSC has met the challenge and we are so close to getting this COVID package across the goal line and signed by the president. The $900B elements of this package are these as of the end of the week: - $300B for the Paycheck Protection (PPP) for Small Businesses with provisions to count earlier PPP loans/grants as tax deductible vs taxable and loan forgiveness of PPP loans <$150K and includes live venue operators (movie theaters, museums, entertainers affected by stay-at-home orders). Funding allowed for a second forgivable PPP loan again administered by local lenders. - $180B for Unemployment Assistance which would extend all pandemic unemployment insurance for 16 weeks and provide $300 supplemental insurance during that period. - $16B for vaccine development and distribution and testing and contract tracing for states and localities. - $35B to support health Care Providers (would likely include pre-payments of Medicare dollars for hospitals as before). - $5B for addiction and mental health. - $45B for transportation funding for aviation workers' wages, salaries, and benefits...would also likely include funds for transit and bus lines. - $10B for Child Care Stabilization grantswould help with PPE and employee costs. - $13B for Agricultural Assistance and Fisheries. - $10B for Postal Service loan forgiveness. - $13B for Nutritionincreases SNAP by 15% for 4 months and food banks. - $25B for Rental Assistance to states and local governments and extends the CDC eviction moratorium until 1/31/21. - $4B for student loans for loan forbearance until 4/1/21 (extended from 1/31/21). - $10B for Broadband. - $82B for Education funding (K-12; $54B), Higher Ed ($20B). Much of the balance will be used for individual checks probably in the range of $600/person probably with lower income caps (was $75K last spring). Money for states/local communities was formally dropped from the package as no agreement could be reached providing gross liability protections for small businesses during the emergency period and discussions will be postponed on both into the next congress. So what's the holdup?Colleagues know this is the last train leaving the station heading for a presidential signature and trying to change provisions. In the meantime, the temporary funding resolution (Continuing Resolution or CR) expires Friday night and without a temporary extension, the federal government will shut down except for essential services.Late Friday night a 2-day CR passed the House allowing the COVID discussions to continue through the weekend without a government shutdown. It now goes to the Senate. It was such great news last week to see the great folks at Pfizer begin to see the delivery of vaccines across the country last Sunday.Some 1,911 successful deliveries were sent from the Portage facility with only 4 having difficulties (parcels actually got colder than the -94 degree required).The Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) is expected very shortly for the Moderna vaccine and those shipments can begin this weekend to supplement Pfizer's delivery. Astra-Zeneca and Johnson & Johnson are likely to also receive an EUA in early January. NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins has indicated that it is really phenomenal that we have a vaccine being delivered so quickly meeting all the safeguards needed for approval. You may have heard that Pfizer is still holding substantial doses (millions?) but that is because there has to be a second dose administered to reach the 95% efficacy rate after 21 days from receiving the first dose. I do believe that the vaccine is safe, but I will wait my turn before I roll up my sleeve allowing health care personnel and others to be rightly so at the front of the line.I know a number of them that had the vaccine earlier this week.In the meantime, I will continue to double-mask and social distance. I also continue to be tested. You can click HERE to learn more about the difference between Pfizer's and Moderna's vaccine. The restaurant industry is asking for the public's support as reported HERE by Pat Moody as they go through a challenging time, that's for certain. I hope you get a chance to support your local small business over these next few months. We learned this week that the inaugural committee will be limiting attendance at the presidential inauguration in January and most of the events will be virtual. Every inauguration Republican or Democrat our office is so proud to host constituents of the Sixth Congressional District. Normally we'd have a number of tickets to share with constituents, but sadly, it is limited this year because of COVID-19. You can learn more HERE. Today, the Governor announced that the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has updated its epidemic order to allow indoor activities where Michiganders can remain masked, including in-person learning at high schools and indoor entertainment venues. Casinos, bowling centers, and movie theatres will be allowed to reopen with total capacity capped at 100; food and drink concessions closed; and social distancing requirements in place. The new order is effective Monday, Dec. 21 and you can learn more HERE. We have learned more in the news about the terrible Russian cyber attack on U.S. government agencies. As the top GOP on the Energy Subcommittee, I've asked for briefings - classified and non - for the Administration to look at the damage and corrective steps we need to address. Stay tuned. I close with a real highlight. National Journal has been a staple of my weekly reading for decades providing unbiased reporting on many complex issues. Their most recent issue was titled Diversity in Advocacyhighlighting Black leaders in government affairs. Tiffany Moore was one of those highlighted who today serves as Senior VP for the Consumer Technology Association. You can see that story HERE.Tiffany once served for a number of years as my Legislative Director after graduating from WMU. All the best, Fred Upton",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://huizenga.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401215,Huizenga Telephone Town Hall Audio on Election Integrity,2020-12-17,2020,2020-12,Republican,Senate,MI,Bill Huizenga,H001058,huizenga.house.gov,,,legacy,"Huizenga Telephone Town Hall Audio on Election Integrity Last night, Congressman Huizenga hosted a telephone town hall with thousands of constituents across West Michigan. The focus of the conversation was election integrity surrounding the results of the 2020 election and how West Michigan and our nation move forward. Joining Representative Huizenga on the call were Kent County Clerk Lisa Posthumus Lyons and Ottawa County Clerk Justin Roebuck. Audio of the town hall conversation is available here. If you would like to sign up to receive a phone call and participate in future telephone town hall events, you are able to do so here. In addition to participating by telephone, these town hall conversations are also streamed live at Huizenga.House.Gov/Live As mentioned during the town hall, earlier this week Congressman Huizenga joined Kent County Clerk Lisa Posthumus Lyons for a procedural audit and hand recount of a precinct in Wyoming. Wyoming is the largest city in the Second District. Following the audit, Congressman Huizenga did a Facebook Live video on election integrity and detailing the process. This video is embedded below. Lastly, during the town hall conversation, Congressman Huizenga encouraged residents to read the portion of the amicus brief pertaining to Michigan. Here is a link to the brief submitted to the U.S. Supreme Court.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://huizenga.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401213,Huizengas Effort Helps Open Over a $1 Million Export Market for Michigan Cherry Growers,2020-12-15,2020,2020-12,Republican,Senate,MI,Bill Huizenga,H001058,huizenga.house.gov,,,legacy,"Today, Congressman Bill Huizenga issued the following statement announcing the exemption of a 15% tariff on U.S. tart cherry juice exports to Taiwan. The removal of this 15% tax will create more opportunity and provide significantly greater market access for both Michigan cherry growers and processors. Michigan farmers and growers produce some of the highest quality fruits, vegetables, and specialty crops in the world, said Congressman Bill Huizenga. Estimates show that exporting tart cherry juice to Taiwan has the potential to reach over $1 million. This means more economic opportunity for growers, processors, and families across Michigan. When our farmers and growers are able to compete on a level playing field, Michigan families benefit. This announcement is great news for Michigan cherry growers and the agricultural community as a whole. The Cherry Marketing Institute (CMI) is a national research and promotion organization that works on behalf of Michigan, Utah, Wisconsin and Utah cherry growers. Michigan alone produces approximately 75% of the tart cherry supply in the United States, said Julie Gordon, President of the Cherry Marketing Institute. CMI is grateful for the help it received from Rep. Bill Huizenga's office and the FAS team in Taiwan to secure a CNS 2377 revision to include U.S. Montmorency Tart Cherry Juice and exempt it from the 15 percent tax. The U.S. tart cherry industry continues to battle for fair trade practices here in the United States and abroad. This tax reduction will open the door for the U.S. tart cherry industry to be more competitive in the Taiwan market. I was told by officials in Taiwan that this process takes ten years. With the great partnership of USDA and Rep. Bill Huizenga's team we were able to get the job done in record time. Working with the United States Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agriculture Service and the Cherry Marketing Institute, Congressman Huizenga's office played a key role in fostering conversations to level the playing field for American cherry growers and processors. The end result of this hard fought process was the elimination of a 15% tariff on imported cherry juice. The CMI estimates by eliminating this tax it will open more than $1 million to American growers and processors. According to CMI, 75% of the tart cherries grown in the United States are grown in Michigan.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401693,Upton and DeGette: Tomorrow will be a historic day,2020-12-12,2020,2020-12,Republican,Senate,MI,Fred Upton,U000031,upton.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C - U.S. Reps. Fred Upton (R-MI) and Diana DeGette (D-CO) authors of 21st Century Cures - issued the following statement, as tomorrow marks the four-year anniversary of 21st Century Cures becoming law, the same day Pfizer will ship their historic vaccine. Tomorrow marks the four-year anniversary of President Obama signing the 21st Century Cures Act into law. This landmark, bipartisan legislation, which we spearheaded, is one of our proudest achievements in Congress. We're glad to know that because of 21st Century Cures, we're on the cusp of finding treatments to some of the most tragic illnesses - including Sickle Cell and various forms of cancer - that have taken far too many lives. While we were working on passing this important legislation to accelerate the approval and deployment of cutting-edge, life-saving cures, treatments, and vaccines, our focus was entirely on renewing hope for patients and their families. Well, tomorrow, our hopes - and the hope of the whole world - will be renewed. Tomorrow, on the four-year anniversary of 21st Century Cures becoming law, the first COVID-19 vaccine will be shipped nationwide from Pfizer's global manufacturing facility in Portage. Coupled withan expected Moderna EUA by the end of the week, as many as 100 million Americans will be vaccinated by the end of March. That is real hope. When we first passed 21st Century Cures, we aimed to advance medical research, foster a new era of medical innovations, and help find cures to some of the world's cruelest diseases. We knew it would make an impact but never did we expect its importance to play such an outsized role so quickly. As we fight to end the worst public health crisis in a century, we are so grateful for all of the scientists, health care workers, and the good folks at Pfizer who have worked in record time to find this vaccine. The world is better off because of 21st Century Cures and Pfizer's incredible work. Tomorrow will be a historic day - one we will never forget and once again reminds us of what we can accomplish when we work together. To Pfizer, job well done, and to the world, there is truly a bright light at the end of this dark tunnel.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401692,Upton: The light at the end of the tunnel is now shining bright,2020-12-11,2020,2020-12,Republican,Senate,MI,Fred Upton,U000031,upton.house.gov,,,legacy,"U.S. Rep. Fred Upton (R-St. Joseph) issued the following statement after the FDA granted emergency use authorization for Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccine is now ready to ship. This vaccine is the pride and joy of Kalamazoo. It has been a labor of love, patriotic duty, and determination to restore our way of life and save the world, Upton said. I cannot reiterate enough how proud I am of southwest Michigan and all of the Michiganders part of Pfizer's team. This is a historic accomplishment, creating a safe, effective vaccine to help end this deadly pandemic. Because of the work we did on 21st Century Cures - which accelerated the development and discovery of medical cures and devices and helped bring treatments, cures, and vaccines to market faster and more efficiently Pfizer's vaccine is ready in record time and we can begin on our road to recovery. The light at the end of the tunnel is now shining bright on our community for mastering the challenge. Well done, our Pfizer faithful!",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://moolenaar.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/moolenaar-statement-amicus-brief-regarding-2020-election,Moolenaar Statement on Amicus Brief Regarding the 2020 Election,2020-12-11,2020,2020-12,Republican,Senate,MI,John Moolenaar,M001194,moolenaar.house.gov,,,legacy,"Yesterday, Congressman John Moolenaar and over 100 of his House colleagues signed an amicus brief in support of the Supreme Court case filed by the State of Texas regarding the 2020 presidential election. I believe it is of utmost importance to ensure the integrity of our election systems, Congressman Moolenaar stated. There have been several reports of election irregularities in Michigan and across the country. These reports should be taken seriously and investigated to the fullest degree. The amicus brief I signed onto affirms these concerns and they merit careful and timely review by the Supreme Court. It is my hope the court will swiftly review the case to bring confidence to the American people that the 2020 election upheld the Constitution and state laws. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://huizenga.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401211,Huizenga Joins Amicus Brief Regarding the 2020 Presidential Election,2020-12-10,2020,2020-12,Republican,Senate,MI,Bill Huizenga,H001058,huizenga.house.gov,,,legacy,"Huizenga Joins Amicus Brief Regarding the 2020 Presidential Election Today, Congressman Bill Huizenga joined over 100 members of the U.S. House of Representatives in signing an amicus brief in support of the lawsuit filed by the State of Texas over the 2020 presidential election. A copy of the brief is available on the U.S. Supreme Court website here. Following the submission, Congressman Huizenga discussed why he joined the amicus brief in a live video. The Facebook Live video is available below.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401689,Upton issues statement on Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine,2020-12-10,2020,2020-12,Republican,Senate,MI,Fred Upton,U000031,upton.house.gov,,,legacy,"Upton issues statement on Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine f t # e Washington, December 10, 2020 WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Rep. Fred Upton (R-St. Joseph) issued the following statement after the FDA Advisory Committee recommended Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine receive emergency use authorization: I am so proud of the role Pfizer's Portage location has played in making this day a reality. Southwest Michigan is literally helping to save the world, and we take tremendous pride in all of those Michiganders who have been and will continue to serve such a critical role in distributing this life-saving vaccine around the country and throughout the world, Upton said. This vaccine is essential to helping end the COVID-19 pandemic and restoring a sense of normalcy. While this is an exciting day, as folks await the vaccine, everyone should continue to follow the CDC guidelines and wear their masks, wash their hands, and avoid large crowds to help stop the spread. f t # e",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401691,"@MyKitchenTable - December 10, 2020",2020-12-10,2020,2020-12,Republican,Senate,MI,Fred Upton,U000031,upton.house.gov,,,legacy,"@MyKitchenTable: Thursday, December 10, 2020 Dear Friend: Billy Sunday once said, Stopping at third adds no more to the score than striking out. It doesn't matter how well you start if you fail to finish. We need to finish this year strong, getting another COVID deal done and a plan to fund the government. Today was an important day in the fight to end the COVID-19 pandemic. An advisory FDA panel voted to recommend granting Emergency Use Authorization for Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine. The panel reviewed the safety data and examined the evidence that Pfizer presented and deemed it was safe and effective enough to be cleared for emergency use. The 21st Century Cures Act Rep. Diana DeGette's (D-CO) and my historic, bipartisan legislation that became law almost four years ago to the day accelerated the development and discovery of medical cures and devices, helping to bring treatments, cures, and vaccines to market faster and more efficiently. Because of 21st Century Cures, we have a COVID-19 vaccine faster than ever thought to be possible. The U.S. will soon begin shipping millions of doses of the Pfizer vaccine, possibly as soon as tonight. And remember, the vaccine will be shipped from Pfizer's location here in southwest Michigan. Boxes with 1,000 doses each will be packed up with 50 pounds of dry ice and delivered across the nation. CBS reported 25M doses being sent before the end of the year. Southwest Michigan is literally helping to save the world, and we take tremendous pride in all of those Michiganders who have been and will continue to serve such a critical role in distributing this life-saving vaccine around the country and throughout the world. You can read more about Pfizer's vaccine and the role SW MI is playing to distribute it HERE. Michigan's state health department reported today that within two weeks of the vaccine being shipped to Michigan, all hospitals and health departments will get a shipment. In the meantime, the coronavirus continues to surge across the country. More than 289K Americans have died, and we set a single day record on Wednesday of more than 3,000 deaths.It's tragic, and we need to be mindful to wear our masks, wash our hands, and keep our distance not only for ourselves, but for the doctors, nurses, and hospital workers who are under tremendous stress and working under burdensome conditions. The FDA did issue authorization on the first direct-to-consumer COVID-19 test. LabCorp's Pixel COVID-19 Test Home Collection Kit allows individuals to self-collect a nasal swab sample at home and then send that sample to get tested at LabCorp. You can purchase the test online or in a store without a prescription. You can read more HERE. On Capitol Hill, our efforts to pass a bipartisan COVID-19 relief deal continue. I'm hopeful we can get something done but there are still a number of differences left to sort out. You'll remember last week our bipartisan House Problem Solver's Caucus (PSC) released a plan that had the support of both House members and Senators, and this week we released an outline with more detail that you can see HERE. I participated in a Zoom call with the broader bipartisan, bicameral group as we discussed next steps. One of the major developments is that the White House signaled support for a deal that would provide $600 stimulus checks for all Americans in exchange for removing the unemployment benefits from the package, which you can read HERE. The rubber hits the road next week. We hope to get a final COVID-19 relief deal done along with a longer-term package to fund the government (we passed a one-week extension of government funding yesterday). We should NOT be adjourning for the holidays without getting a deal done. Aid for small businesses (PPP), broadband, health care providers, educators, state/local funding (no money to bail out pension funds or past deficits...only itemized losses of tax revenuesales and gas taxeswould qualify), and liability protections remain central components of the bipartisan package we are discussing. One of the sticking points is over the liability protections, which will protect small businesses from coronavirus-related lawsuits, which you can read in Roll Call HERE. I would note that without liability protections, insurance will not provide for attorneys to defend cases for small businesses. This needs to be part of the package or it would become a massive burden on small businesses that are already struggling to stay afloat. Education groups have joined those in the business community in support of this provision. I'd also mention that the Detroit Chamber of Commerce sent a letter late Tuesday night urging the Congressional delegation to adopt another COVID-19 relief package. The chamber's President and my friend, Sandy Baruah, wrote: The situation is urgent and can't wait until the new Congress and administration are seated in 2021 as businesses in Michigan and across the country suffer while COVID cases spike. You can read that story HERE. I've heard from many families and small businesses across my district that they are going to need help Congress has to deliver. Let's get it done. Lastly, our photo of the day is from the Berrien County Sheriff's Department, where their K9's Blek, Maxx, and Mika received donations of bullet and stab protective vests from the non-profit, Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. We're grateful for their service! All the best, Fred Upton P.S. If you do not regularly receive @MyKitchenTable email updates and you would like to, please click here to sign up. If you would like to submit photos to share in these Kitchen Table updates of you social distancing, in your masks, working from home, and other photos of how you are keeping safe during the coronavirus pandemic, please click here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://moolenaar.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/moolenaar-dingell-introduce-national-dam-and-hydropower-safety,"Moolenaar, Dingell Introduce National Dam and Hydropower Safety Legislation",2020-12-10,2020,2020-12,Republican,Senate,MI,John Moolenaar,M001194,moolenaar.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-MI) and Congressman John Moolenaar (R-MI) today introduced bipartisan legislation that makes reforms and improvements to dam and hydropower safety operations and oversight. Dingell and Moolenaar pushed for the provisions after the breach of the Edenville Dam and Sanford Dam failures in Michigan caused extensive damage throughout the region's downstream communities, destroying homes, businesses, roads, and bridges. The lawmakers' legislation, the National Dam and Hydropower Safety Improvements Act of 2020, would enhance dam and hydropower safety operation requirements nationwide and aims to modernize existing infrastructure through the development of new best practices and improved communications between FERC and states. This legislation was written in response to the aftermath of the Edenville dam and Stanford dam failures in Michigan this year and would also require a FERC to provide a briefing and report to Congress on the tragic incident. In the midst of a global health pandemic and economic devastation, Michigan experienced a catastrophic, avoidable infrastructure collapse. The breach of the Edenville and Sanford dams caused extensive damage in Michigan and its downstream communities. It drowned homes, businesses, and whole cities, said Dingell. It is clear there are serious gaps in existing laws that need to be addressed and this could have been prevented. We can never let this happen again in any city in America with a high hazard dam. I look forward to continuing to advance this legislation next Congress and hope to enlist strong bipartisan support from my colleagues. I've been working hard to help our community recover, including securing approval for more than $100 million in federal assistance that has come to our community to rebuild homes, small businesses, and private wells, as well as roads and bridges, said Moolenaar. However, there's no doubt that the federal and state regulators failed our community when they were working with an uncooperative private dam owner. Those failures compounded over more than a decade into a devastating event that affected the lives of thousands of residents. This bipartisan legislation will address gaps in existing law and do more to ensure compliance with the safety regulations that are paramount to protecting the people of Michigan. The National Dam and Hydropower Safety Improvements Act of 2020 would specifically do the following: Require FERC to provide a briefing and a report to Congress on the findings of the independent forensic analysis of the Edenville Dam and Sanford Dam failures. Add a new requirement to section 10 of the Federal Power Act to mandate dam and project works meet the FERC's dam safety requirements and to require the licensee to manage, operate, and maintain the dam and project works consistent with dam safety requirements. Amend section 15 of the Federal Power Act to require FERC to issue a new license only if the Commission determines the dam and other project works meet the Commission's dam safety requirements and that the operating conditions of the license are consistent with those requirements. Require FERC to establish procedures for evaluating the financial health of prospective hydropower licensees. Require FERC to convene a technical conference with State representatives to examine best practices for Dam Safety. In May 2020, the Edenville dam and Stanford dam failed after heavy rains and flooded the Midland area communities. It's operator, Boyce Hydro, had a long history of dam safety and compliance problems that likely resulted in the failure.In response, Dingell and Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI) sent letters to FERC regarding its oversight and the state of Michigan to gather the facts on the dam breach, how the state evaluated the dam in the time since, and additional information on the regulatory and legal actions the state took following the revocation of the license. In June, the provisions of this bill were also included in the House-passed infrastructure package, and in September, they were including in the House-passed energy package. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://moolenaar.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/moolenaar-welcomes-5-million-grant-supporting-head-start-program,Moolenaar Welcomes $5 Million Grant Supporting Head Start Program in Greenville,2020-12-10,2020,2020-12,Republican,Senate,MI,John Moolenaar,M001194,moolenaar.house.gov,,,legacy,"The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has announced a $5 million grant for EightCAP, to support the Greenville community organization's Head Start program for young children. This grant will help provide education, transportation, and meals to children, said Congressman John Moolenaar. EightCAP does important work to help those in need, and I have voted for grant programs including Head Start, because they fund local organizations and allow them to best serve the children in our community. EightCAP is a community nonprofit that provides assistance and supports solutions to homelessness and housing issues, food and transportation gaps, and poverty, in addition to its early childhood education programs. The $5 million grant is part of the Head Start Projects program of the Department of Health and Human Services. More information about the grant is attached to this release. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://huizenga.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401210,"Huizenga Supported Legislation to Protect Great Lakes from Asian Carp, Address Erosion Passes House",2020-12-09,2020,2020-12,Republican,Senate,MI,Bill Huizenga,H001058,huizenga.house.gov,,,legacy,"Yesterday, the House passed the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). This bipartisan legislation prioritizes the health, ecology, and economy of the Great Lakes. WRDA includes the authorization for construction of the barrier at the Brandon Road Lock and Dam system to prevent Asian carp from entering the Great Lakes. Additionally this legislation takes steps to mitigate erosion and improve coastal resiliency. This bipartisan, bicameral agreement now heads to the Senate for final approval. The Co-Chairs of the House Great Lakes Task Force Representatives Bill Huizenga (MI-02), Debbie Dingell (MI-12), Dave Joyce (OH-14), and Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), released the following statements in support of this significant progress to protect and preserve the Great Lakes ecosystem. The Great Lakes are an indispensable resource, said Congressman Huizenga. Congress must continue to prioritize the Great Lakes from both an economic as well as an ecological perspective. WRDA achieves this goal by authorizing construction for the critical Brandon Road Lock and Dam System to prevent Asian carp from entering the Great Lakes and by addressing erosion mitigation, the impacts of high water, and coastal resiliency. This bipartisan bill demonstrates that Congress can take effective steps to protect and preserve the Great Lakes ecology while prioritizing and modernizing infrastructure. The Great Lakes are an unparalleled natural resource we are entrusted to protect for the health of our people, our environment, and our economy, said Congresswoman Dingell. By including critical provisions to protect our Great Lakes in the Water Resources Development Act, Congress has recognized that our most precious natural resources cannot survive without investments that protect our drinking water, strengthen invasive species management, and revitalize our coastlines. I commend our co-chairs and every member of the Great Lakes Task Force for their strong, bipartisan collaboration that helped us secured important authorizations for protecting these treasured waters from invasive species and putting a greater focus on coastal resiliency long-term. I was proud to work alongside my fellow Co-Chairs of the Great Lakes Task Force to include bipartisan provisions in this year's Water Resources Development Act to enhance both the environmental and economic health of the Great Lakes region, said Congressman Joyce. As someone who has long worked across the aisle to protect and preserve the Great Lakes, I know they are an invaluable natural resource and economic powerhouse and will continue working across the aisle to ensure Congress makes the necessary investments to treat them as such. The Water Resources Development Act enjoys broad bipartisan support because it pays close attention to the unique and particular needs of the different regions of our diverse nation, said Congresswoman Kaptur. The package includes provisions to protect 90% of North America's surface water on the Great Lakes. This includes a specific authorization of the invasive species control system at Brandon Road Lock and Dam, a project that serves a unique national role and once completed, will serve as a bull-work for preventing Asian Carp and other invasive species from threatening the fragile ecosystem of the Great Lakes. Today's authorization marks an important milestone for protecting the Great Lakes $7 billion recreational fishery. Our region has advocated to include this authorization for nearly a decade. Since 2010, when Congress authorized the Great Lakes Interbasin Study, our delegation searched for a long term and basin-wide solution to Asian Carp. I commend the committee for imbedding resiliency into the Corps planning processes, and for investing to rebuild and advance the nation's water infrastructure for the 21st century. Finally, the bill adds the words Great Lakes to the name of the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation. I look forward to working with my colleagues to shine a light on the Seaway's unique role in unleashing the economic potential of the region and the nation. I urge support for this bipartisan bill. In October, the Co-Chairs of the House Great Lakes Task Force led a bipartisan letter to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee urging the Committee to include support for the Great Lakes in this year's Water Resources Development Act. Specifically, the Great Lakes Task Force Members asked that the final package include provisions previously approved by the House of Representatives, including 80 percent federal cost share and full authorization for the Brandon Road project to prevent invasive Asian Carp from entering the Great Lakes, and expanded authorization for the Great Lakes Resiliency Study contained in Section 207 of the House-passed Water Resources Development Act (H.R. 7575). The letter was signed by 34 Members.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://moolenaar.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/house-passes-bill-authorizing-new-measures-stop-asian-carp,House Passes Bill Authorizing New Measures to Stop Asian Carp,2020-12-09,2020,2020-12,Republican,Senate,MI,John Moolenaar,M001194,moolenaar.house.gov,,,legacy,"Yesterday, the House of Representatives passed legislation authorizing the Army Corps of Engineers to construct additional obstacles at the Brandon Road Lock and Dam in Illinois that would prevent the spread of Asian carp. The legislation also increases the percentage of funding in the national Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund that must go towards the Great Lakes, from 10 percent to 13 percent. Every Michigan resident loves the Great Lakes and this legislation will help protect the Lakes for future generations with more funding for our harbors and progress in preventing Asian carp, said Congressman John Moolenaar. The legislation authorizes construction of additional barriers at the Brandon Road Lock and Dam as outlined in a report completed by the Army Corps of Engineers last year. The additional measures include an electric barrier, an engineered channel, a lock, andsound deterrents to the fish.More details are available here. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://walberg.house.gov/media/in-the-news/fox-47-walberg-pushes-add-teachers-covid-vaccine-priority-list,Fox 47: Walberg pushes to add teachers to COVID vaccine priority list,2020-12-09,2020,2020-12,Republican,Senate,MI,Tim Walberg,W000798,walberg.house.gov,,,legacy,The referenced media source is missing and needs to be re-embedded.,1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-06-28T00:42:23Z http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401685,"Upton announces FCC auction expanding broadband to 16,280 southwest Michigan rural homes and businesses",2020-12-08,2020,2020-12,Republican,Senate,MI,Fred Upton,U000031,upton.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, today announced that access to high-speed broadband is expanding to 16,280 rural homes and businesses in southwest Michigan through the Federal Communications Commission's Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction. The auction allocated nearly $13 million to help close the digital divide in Upton's Congressional district. The COVID-19 pandemic has further expanded the digital divide in Michigan and across the country, exposing a larger rift between those who have access to broadband and those who don't, Upton said. Today's announcement marks an important day in our efforts to deliver broadband to every American. As folks continue to work, take classes, and utilize telehealth services from home, we need to continue to work together to expand high-speed internet to rural communities across southwest Michigan. This historic auction is great news for the residents of so many rural Michigan communities, who will get access to high-quality broadband service in areas that for too long have been on the wrong side of the digital divide, said FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. We structured this innovative and groundbreaking auction to prioritize bids for high-speed, low-latency services to deliver the best results for rural Americans, and the results show that this strategy worked. This auction was the Commission's single largest step ever taken toward delivering digital opportunity to every American and is another key success in our ongoing commitment to universal service. In total, the auction allocated $362,985,055.60 in support to expand broadband to 249,263 unserved Michigan homes and businesses over the next 10 years. Nearly all locations in Michigan that were eligible for the auction will be receiving access to broadband with speeds of at least 100/20 Mbps, with an overwhelming majority (80%) getting gigabit-speed broadband. A broad range of providers successfully competed in the Phase I auction, including cable operators, electric cooperatives, incumbent telephone companies, satellite companies, and fixed wireless providers. The Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction is part of a broader effort by the FCC to close the digital divide in rural America. In October 2020, the Commission adopted rules creating the 5G Fund for Rural America, which will distribute up to $9 billion over the next decade to bring 5G wireless broadband connectivity to rural America. More information on the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction is available at https://www.fcc.gov/auction/904, including complete auction results and a map of winning bids.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401688,"@MyKitchenTable - December 8, 2020",2020-12-08,2020,2020-12,Republican,Senate,MI,Fred Upton,U000031,upton.house.gov,,,legacy,"@MyKitchenTable: Tuesday, December 8, 2020 Dear Friend: Those of you that know me a little bit know my spirit for the Michigan Wolverines, and I've been often quoted that when they lose, I sleep in the basement at everyone in my family's bequest. Even John Kerry, when we both served on the Super Committee told me that he began to root for Michigan as I was in a much better mood on Monday, if they won. Last week, my quote was one that ""I would rather try and lose than lose without trying."" Though I certainly regret the reason why, I am overjoyed that Michigan will not lose at Columbus this Saturday - especially as a 30-point underdog, and my socks will not be thrown at the TV. Let's hope they all recover from this dreadful COVID pandemic. On the House floor yesterday (removed my mask only for speaking) We are in the throes of the lame duck session with lots of issues coming to a head. The 21 Fiscal Year began Oct. 1 and a Continuing Resolution (CR) was signed by the president preventing a shutdown and extending funding through Dec. 11. The Appropriations Committee has failed to produce an extension for the balance of the Fiscal Year and to prevent a shutdown, we will likely pass a 7-day extension on Wednesday which will require a 2/3 vote for passage (thus no amendments can be offered and will not require a simple majority for passage). Funding continues therefore without increases or decreases at FY 20 levels. Hopefully an agreement can be passed completing the funding for FY 21 next week. Likely coupled with that will be elements of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus (PSC) $908B initiative that we unveiled last week. Aid for small businesses (PPP), broadband, health care providers, unemployment funding, educators, state/local funding (no money to bail out pension funds or past deficits...only itemized losses of tax revenuesales and gas taxeswould qualify), and liability protections, are the main sections of our proposal, and we expect to release those individual sections within the next 24 hours or so. Our main sticking point is trying to write the liability provisions and have failed so far to come together with the proper language. Mitch McConnell announced last Spring that liability protections would need to be a part of the proposal to advance through the Senate. Without language there, it could well be that the funds to help our municipalities revenue losses would also drop out and therefore provide a force to ensure that both topics would gain traction in a Biden Administration to be addressed in February or March. I spoke on a conference call as a guest on the PPP Forgiveness Coalition with more than 150 industry stakeholder organizations for an update which included the US chamber, American Farm Bureau, Independent Community Bankers, Home Builders, Realtors, and NFIB. I let them know that I would be posting the sections on this website of the COVID package when available. One major element that the PSC had in our September COVID proposal that is not in the present one are individual stimulus checks. Bernie Sanders conceded yesterday that the democrats held up the COVID package in September as the Republicans would get credit prior to the election for the individual checks. CNN host Jake Tapper asked Sanders whether it was a mistake for Democrats to walk away from the White House's $1.8T, which included the individual payments when Speaker Pelosi was proposing a $2.2T. The bar was then lowered to <$1T and the individual stimulus checks do not fit within that window. Included in the PPP provisions are the tax-free consequences for small businesses that took advantage of the program last spring. I have heard from a good number of small businesses who have barely held on that wonder if they still can if they are then liable for perhaps a 30% tax on those loans/grants. CNN reported that as many as 10,000 restaurants are expected to close in the next 3 week with 17% (110,000) already permanently closed in 20. It is paramount that the signal is sent ASAP to all the PPP recipients as we close out 2020 that there will be no tax consequence. You can see that CNN story HERE. HHS has released a number of important dates this next week (ie: FDA Vaccine Advisory Board will meet 12/10 to discuss the Emergency Use AuthorizationEUAfor Pfizer's vaccine) which you can see HERE. Today I announced that the FCC spectrum auction expanded broadband to some 16,280 southwest Michigan rural homes and businesses allocating some $13M to help close the digital divide. FCC Chair Pai said, We structured this innovative and groundbreaking auction to prioritize bids for high-speed, low-latency service to deliver the best results for rural Americans....and the Commissions single largest step ever taken toward delivering digital opportunity to every American... You can read more HERE. We are nearly 4 years to the day of President Obama signing 21st Century Cures into law. I was then Chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee where Diana DeGette (D-CO) and I led the legislative path for this bipartisan legislation to be enacted. She and I zoomed today with the Milken Institute Health Summit on an update of the 21st Century Cures legislation that we hope to pass in the next Congress which we call Cures, 2.0. It was moderated by Politico, and we referenced that we truly expedited the approvals of drugs and devices keeping the important FDA safeguards and looking back, can probably claim that we shaved many months off what would have been the approval process for a COVID vaccine. You can see that 30-minute zoom call HERE. Lastly, last night I led a 30-minute Special Order on the House Floor (photo at the top) honoring my successor, Greg Walden (R-OR) as Chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, who is retiring with this Congress. Democrats and Republicans praised his bipartisan leadership on a host of issues impacting Americans with opioid, telecommunication, community health centers, and Children's Health among other pieces of important legislation. You can see that C-SPAN 30 minute broadcast HERE. All the best, Fred Upton",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://mitchell.house.gov/media/press-releases/mitchell-applauds-house-passage-ndaa,Mitchell Applauds House Passage of NDAA,2020-12-08,2020,2020-12,Republican,Senate,MI,Paul Mitchell,M001201,mitchell.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Rep. Paul Mitchell (MI-10), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, released the following statement after the House passed the final version of the Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act, commonly known as the NDAA: ""Today I was proud to vote for the NDAA, a bill that fulfills Congress' core duty of providing for the common defense and supports the men and women of our armed forces. Once this year's NDAA becomes law it will be the 60th straight year this has been accomplished. I'm particularly pleased this year's NDAA contains provisions based on my No Passport Fees for Heroes Family's Act, legislation I wrote that will make it easier for family members to visit injured servicemen and women overseas. The bill also contains provisions I offered that would address deficiencies in the Department of Defense's basing process for headquarters, units, and weapons systems such as the F-35 and measures that will help modernize our military by bringing innovative thinkers and companies into the Department of Defense via National Security Innovation Partnerships. Earlier this year I also worked with my colleagues across the aisle on a measure that will require all federal law enforcement personnel to display their name and identification on their uniforms, which adds necessary transparency whenever federal authorities are used. Finally, the NDAA contains many other important provisions, such as a pay raise for our troops, new tools to deter China and Russia, a prohibition on retiring A-10s,and protections for America's supply chain. Today's bipartisan vote affirms the importance of the NDAA for our military personnel and national security. I call on the Senate to pass this vital legislation as fast as possible and for President Trump to sign it into law. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://mitchell.house.gov/media/press-releases/mitchell-applauds-wrda-passage-and-brandon-road-authorization,Mitchell Applauds WRDA Passage and Brandon Road Authorization,2020-12-08,2020,2020-12,Republican,Senate,MI,Paul Mitchell,M001201,mitchell.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Rep. Paul Mitchell (MI-10), a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, released the following statement after the House passed the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2020: This year's WRDA continues important federal commitments to our nation's ports, harbors, and inland waterways that are key to growing our economy and protecting our communities. I am pleased it passed in the House and am especially proud it approves the critical Brandon Road Lock and Dam project, which is long overdue and something I have worked on since coming to Congress. Michiganders know the devastating impact Asian Carp would have on the Great Lakes and approval of the Brandon Road project is a huge win for Michigan and the entire region. I look forward to the swift consideration of this bill by my colleagues in the Senate so President Trump can sign this vital legislation into law. Background: WRDA 2020 (S. 1811)is bipartisan, bicameral legislation that includes projects of national, regional, and local significance. S. 1811 represents an agreement between House and Senate committees on final WRDA language, based in part on H.R. 7575, which passed the House by voice vote in July 2020. WRDA provides authority for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to carry out water resources development projects and studies, as well as reforms and policy direction to the Corps for implementation of its civil works missions. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://mitchell.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressional-caucus-education-innovation-and-opportunity-announces-rep,Congressional Caucus on Education Innovation and Opportunity Announces Rep. Moolenaar as the Next House Co-Chair,2020-12-07,2020,2020-12,Republican,Senate,MI,Paul Mitchell,M001201,mitchell.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. Rep. Paul Mitchell (MI-10) and Sen. Tim Scott (SC)released the following statement today after announcing Rep. John Moolenaar (MI-04) will be the House Co-Chair for the Congressional Caucus on Education Innovation and Opportunity in the 117th Congress: Congressman Moolenaar is a strong advocate for ensuring every child has access to a quality education that prepares them for future success. He understands the needs of children and their families are unique, and they should have access to schooling that is best suited to serve those individual needs. Parents should have the freedom to choose which educational model works best for their children, and I know Congressman Moolenaar will continue fighting to advance this mission said current caucus House Co-ChairRepresentative Mitchell. For the past decade, I have fought for School Choice legislation. I am a firm believer that a child's zip code should not dictate his or her access to quality education nor define the child's future,"" said Senator Tim Scott. I'm glad to welcome Congressman Moolenaar as co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Education Innovation and Opportunity. I look forward to working together to ensure that parents have the right to choose the best path for their children. Students and parents deserve the freedom to choose the educational opportunities that are best for them, especially so they can overcome the obstacles to education that were created by the pandemic. I look forward to working with Senator Scott in the next term to empower families as they face new challenges in education, said Representative Moolenaar. Congressman Mitchell was an outstanding leader on this issue and I am thankful for the work he has done as co-chair of the caucus. The Congressional Caucus on Education Innovation and Opportunity is made up of 30 House and Senate members and promotes the expansion of educational options in order to meet students' unique learning styles and expose them to diverse post-graduate opportunities. The Caucus was previously known as the Congressional School Choice Caucus. In July 2019, Rep. Mitchell announced he would not seek reelection and that at the end of the 116th Congress he would retire from Congress. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://huizenga.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401208,"Huizenga Backed Bill to Protect Great Lakes, Preserve Environmentally Sensitive Areas Passes House",2020-12-04,2020,2020-12,Republican,Senate,MI,Bill Huizenga,H001058,huizenga.house.gov,,,legacy,"Last night, the House unanimously passed S. 1342, the Great Lakes Environmental Sensitivity Index Act. This bipartisan legislation is designed to modernize the environmental sensitivity index maps for the Great Lakes region, which haven't been updated in over 20 years. These maps are critical to respond to a natural disaster, restore habitat, and protect infrastructure, homes, and public lands impacted by high water and erosion. The legislation was introduced by Congressman Dan Kildee in the House and by Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Sen. Todd Young (R-IN) in the Senate. While the Great Lakes hold over 20% of the world's freshwater, provide drinking water to more than 48 million people, support over 1.3 million jobs, and generate billions upon billions of dollars in economic activity, the environmental maps for the Great Lakes region have not been updated in more than 20 years, said Congressman Bill Huizenga. This bipartisan legislation would provide a critical update so we can better protect public infrastructure from erosion, properly plan in case of an emergency, and more effectively restore habitat for endangered species. Congressman Huizenga, who serves as Co-Chair of the Great Lakes Task Force, was the lead Republican in the House on this bipartisan effort and spoke in support of prioritizing the Great Lakes. Video of Congressman Huizenga's speech as well as a transcript of his remarks are available below. Congressman Bill Huizenga: In the midst of a divided Washington, it's important that Congress comes together to prioritize the protection of the Great Lakes. As co-chair of the Great Lakes task force, building bipartisan consensus that preserves the Great Lakes, strengthens their economy, and protects them for future generations has been one of my top priorities. While the Environmental Sensitivity Index maps may not be headline grabbing legislation, these maps are critical to communities across the Great Lakes. We must have accurate assessments of coastal resources that are at risk of severe damage from an emergency or a natural disaster. These environmental assessments include information on endangered and threatened species, vulnerable shorelines, and widely used community resources such as beaches, parks, and boat ramps. The maps are vital to disaster planning as well as recovery, research, and restoration efforts. It is essential that we have an accurate representation of vulnerable locations and areas in the Great Lakes that are need of protection in the event of an emergency. While maps for the east coast, west coast, and gulf coast have all been updated recently, maps for the Great Lakes have not been updated in over twenty years. To be clear - while the Great Lakes hold over 20% of the world's freshwater, provide drinking water to more than 48 million people, support over 1.3 million jobs, and generate billions upon billions of dollars in economic activity yet as I stated before, our region hasn't had a proper environmental map update in more than two decades. This legislation, which I am proud cosponsor, would solve this problem by modernizing and updating our maps of the Great Lakes. Along Lake Michigan and throughout the Great Lakes shoreline, the current state of erosion and high-water damage is at a crisis point. In my district, along the shores of Lake Michigan, the high-water levels are a threat to people's homes and public infrastructure, but the overall ecology and economy of the Great Lakes. Communities throughout the region have declared state of emergencies as roads, bridges, harbors, and wastewater treatment facilities, to name just a few, are in danger due to high-water levels. As we continue to see disasters and emergencies in the Great Lakes region, government at all levels must be prepared and have up to date information to act upon. This bipartisan bill would help accomplish that while demonstrating another way my Michigan colleagues and I are making sure the federal government prioritizes, protects, and preserves the Great Lakes. Whether it is responding to rapidly evolving events such as a natural disaster or planning long term projects such as habitat restoration, we need to have reliable and accurate information available. When it comes to protecting our lakes, habitats, and shorelines, these updated maps will allow us to better prepare to face natural disasters or emergencies. Having this updated information will help us analyze and assess the threats facing the Great Lakes and allows us to be more proactive instead 100% reactive. The Great Lakes are a way of life for many in West Michigan and throughout the Great Lakes system. These pristine resources help define who we are as a community. I will continue to work, support, and advocate for common sense reforms like today's legislation that will protect these incredible natural resources for generations to come. I do want to thank my fellow colleagues, Mr. Kildee of Michigan, Mr. Joyce from Ohio, and the Great Lakes Task Force. This has been a great bipartisan success story as we have looked at increasing funding to protect the Great Lakes through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) as well as through initiatives like this.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://moolenaar.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/moolenaar-welcomes-grant-support-rural-health-care,Moolenaar Welcomes Grant to Support Rural Health Care,2020-12-03,2020,2020-12,Republican,Senate,MI,John Moolenaar,M001194,moolenaar.house.gov,,,legacy,"Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced a new grant of $1,387,769for MidMichigan Health Services in Houghton Lake. This grant for MidMichigan Health will help it confront the health issues facing our rural communities, includingthe opioid crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic,"" said Congressman John Moolenaar.""While the pandemic has received a lot of attention, the opioid epidemic has alsobeen a seriouschallengeas residents have dealt with increased anxiety and social isolation.This funding for MidMichigan Health will help it serve all the needs of our rural communities and maintain access to quality health services for residents."" The grant is part of the Health Resources and Services Administration's (HRSA) Health Center Cluster Program at the Department of Health and Human Services.The program supports community health centers across the nation and additional information on the grant is attached to this press release. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://moolenaar.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/thursday-night-house-democrats-enjoy-high-times-while-michigan-small,Thursday Night in the House: Democrats Enjoy High Times While Michigan Small Businesses Struggle,2020-12-03,2020,2020-12,Republican,Senate,MI,John Moolenaar,M001194,moolenaar.house.gov,,,legacy,"Last night, House Democratsdefeated amotion on the floor ofthe House of Representatives that would haveallowed for the House toimmediately considerH.R. 8265. That bill would help small businesses access a new round of funding from the Paycheck Protection Program as theyfight tosurviveduring the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, Democrats opted to proceed to debate on a bill that would decriminalize marijuana. Congressman John Moolenaar is a co-sponsor of H.R. 8265 and he voted to bring the bill up forimmediate considerationbecause he understands the importance of helping Michigan small businesses as the country now enters the ninth month of thepandemic. H.R. 8265 would immediately re-open the Paycheck Protection Program for small businesses and allow them to access $138 billion in forgivable loans. The legislationalsoensures funding is specifically availablefor small businesses with fewer than 10 employees. ""While state shutdowns hurt locally-owned restaurants and their employees, House Democrats are wasting precious timeinstead of immediately re-opening thePaycheck Protection Program and helping Michigan families,"" said Congressman Moolenaar. The Paycheck Protection Program has already injected more than$15 billion into Michigan's economy and recent research by Bloomberg News found that PPP funding went to more than 7,000 small businesses in the Fourth District, supporting nearly 94 percent of the small business jobs in the 15-county area. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://moolenaar.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/house-democrats-watch-tiger-king-while-michigan-families-need-help,"House Democrats Watch ""Tiger King"" While Michigan Families Need Help",2020-12-02,2020,2020-12,Republican,Senate,MI,John Moolenaar,M001194,moolenaar.house.gov,,,legacy,"This week, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is planning for the House of Representatives to vote on legislation that will ban Americans from privately owning large cats lions, tigers, jaguars, etc The legislation is scheduled for a vote on Thursday and it is inspired by situations like the one covered in the Tiger King documentary. Meanwhile, families and small business owners across the country have been calling for Congress to pass additional COVID relief. Congressman John Moolenaar has been working to bring relief to suffering families and small business owners, especially those who need help because of the business closings imposed by state government. He supports H.R. 8265, a bill thatwould re-open the Paycheck Protection Program and allow businesses to receive asecond, forgivable loan. The legislationalsoensures specific funding is availablefor small businesses with fewer than 10 employees. Speaker Pelosi is watching Tiger King,' while Michigan families need help paying their bills and small businesses face permanent closure, said CongressmanMoolenaar. There is $138 billion in the Paycheck Protection Program that has already been approved by Congress, but Speaker Pelosi is blocking a vote that would re-open the program and let small businesses receive immediate relief. Let's vote on that bill and start getting help to those who need it most without the pork the Democrats want. The Paycheck Protection Program has already injected more than$15 billion into Michigan's economy and recent research by Bloomberg News found that PPP funding went to more than 7,000 small businesses in the Fourth District, supporting nearly 94 percent of the small business jobs in the 15-county area. Americans have consistently said the economy is their number one priority. At the same time,polls have found no indication that additional Congressional regulation of felines is a priority for the American people. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://mitchell.house.gov/media/press-releases/air-cargo-caucus-announces-rep-brian-mast-co-chair-117th-congress,Air Cargo Caucus Announces Rep. Brian Mast as Co-Chair for the 117th Congress,2020-12-01,2020,2020-12,Republican,Senate,MI,Paul Mitchell,M001201,mitchell.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Rep. Paul Mitchell (MI-10), Rep. Cheri Bustos (IL-17), Rep. Brian Mast (FL-18), and Gina Zuckerman of the Cargo Airline Association made the following statement announcing Rep. Mast will be the new Air Cargo Caucus Co-Chair in the 117th Congress: The air cargo industry is a vital part of the global economy, and without it 21st century commerce would not be what it is today. As a Member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I had the opportunity to work with many air cargo stakeholders and focus on related policy issues, said Air Cargo Caucus Co-Chair Representative Mitchell. That is why I co-founded the Air Cargo Caucus with Rep. Bustos. This caucus plays an important role in our work as Representatives, and while my time in Congress and as Co-Chair is coming to an end, I know the caucus is in good hands with Rep. Mast. I thank Co-Chair Bustos for being an excellent partner in this effort, as well as all the stakeholders and staff for lending their expertise. I thank Representative Mitchell for his bipartisan partnership and service as Co-Chair of the Air Cargo Caucus, said Air Cargo Caucus Co-Chair Representative Bustos. It has been a pleasure working with him to create a platform for our region's leaders to share best practices and connect with folks from across America to advance issues related to the industry. As we prepare for the next Congress, I look forward to serving alongside Representative Mast and welcome him to this new role. I am excited for what the future of this caucus can accomplish together. There's no doubt that the air cargo industry is a critical component of our local, state, and global economies. In Florida alone, the industry supports more than 625,000 jobs and creates over $4 billion in revenue. These numbers are only going to grow larger as our national and global economies expand, which is what makes the Air Cargo Caucus so important, Representative Mast said. Thank you to Representatives Mitchell and Bustos for entrusting me with the role of co-chair. There is a lot of work to be done, and I could not be more excited to get started! We are thankful for Representative Mitchell's leadership that enabled the Air Cargo Caucus to thrive since its formation in 2019 and look forward to working with Representative Mast as he assumes his new co-chair role, said Gina Zuckerman, Vice President of Legislative Policy for the Cargo Airline Association. The Air Cargo Caucus is proof that a bipartisan group of Members can coalesce in support of a shared topic, and we anticipate growing its ranks in the 117th Congress as the Caucus continues to highlight the impact that air cargo plays throughout the country. Background: The Air Cargo Caucus was launched in March 2019 by Rep. Mitchell and Rep. Bustos. The bipartisan House of Representatives caucus has 42 members and was formed to enhance relations with the all-cargo community, give Members the opportunity to specialize on issues impacting carriers, and allow collaboration on these issues with fellow Members of Congress. It helps educate Members and staff about the air cargo industry and the impact is has on regions, the nation, and the world. In July 2019, Rep. Mitchell announced he would not seek reelection and that at the end of the 116th Congress he would retire from Congress. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401684,"@MyKitchenTable - November 30, 2020",2020-11-30,2020,2020-11,Republican,Senate,MI,Fred Upton,U000031,upton.house.gov,,,legacy,"@MyKitchenTable: Monday, November 30, 2020 Dear Friend: I was elected by my GOP colleagues to represent my region on the Steering Committee as we select our GOP Ranking Members (top Republican on each of the Standing Committees and later to slot the new Members on the Committees. Newt Gingrich scrapped the old seniority system years ago and since then, aspiring Members compete for these positions and are re-evaluated every two years with a 6-year term limit. I was Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee for 6 years). Those presentations begin Tuesday and based on our recommendations will be ratified by the full GOP Conference on Thursday. There are 35 votes on the Steering Committee and thus the race to a majority (18) began some time ago. As I write this tonight, a lot is going on. A favorite quote I have used frequently is, I would rather try and fail rather than fail without trying. As we all see the statistics around the country and feel the anguish by so many Americans whether they be business owners, workers, families, and our cherished health care workers at every level, we know that this pandemic did not end last Easter and will not be over by Christmas or New Years. In the meantime, we as a Congress need to provide a lifeline to our nation until we can conquer this monster with a vaccine and proper testing. And, because of divided government, we all know the only equation that can work is one that is bipartisan. As you have followed the course of events since last spring, you should remember that the first number of COVID versions were all signed into law by the president and passed by overwhelming majorities in both the House and Senate. Trillions of dollars for small businesses with Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), stimulus checks, unemployment benefits, monies for states, schools, hospitals and health care workers, PPE (Personal Protection Equipment), monies to develop new testing devices and incentives to develop the vaccines under Operation Warp Speed, monies for the airlines, and the list goes on to try and save the economy. But then we hit a major speed bump as the pandemic lasted much longer than anyone wanted it. Partisan politics took over and everything was stalled...for months. The bipartisan Problem Solver's Caucus (PSC) stepped up over Labor Day and offered a path forward that could break the gridlock. Unfortunately, the votes were not there in the Senate to proceed and the November election was soon upon us. Now, as we try and extend the Continuing Resolution (CR) to prevent another government shutdown which expires Dec. 11, the PSC is at it again. And as I write this Monday night, I am hoping that our group will indeed embrace yet another proposal that passes the bipartisan litmus test that can provide the needed assistance to carry us into 2021 with real help for our small businesses coupled with liability relief, health care institutions and their hero workers, unemployed, airline and travel and hospitality industry, local units of government (no pension bailouts), educators, and better broadband deployment. Our PSC rules are that 75% of us on both sides of the aisle have to agree for us to move forward, and I am encouraged that we will get there with our discussions tonight with our group and a number of Senators who share our view. Stay tuned!! No time to waste for so many that our hurting and looking for help. Michigan's COVID-19 numbers were inching in the right direction but now appear to be back on the wrong track. The seven-day average positivity rate is now at 13%, up from 12.8% late last week. You can read more in MLIVE HERE. Michigan's total number of COVID-19 cases is north of 375K, and we are approaching 10K COVID-19 deaths, a truly tragic number. In fact, the 1,696 confirmed coronavirus deaths reported in Michigan since Nov. 1 made it the state's deadliest month in the pandemic since April, and you can see more in MLIVE HERE. Here in SW MI, the situation is grim. In Allegan, Berrien, Van Buren, and Cass counties, the positivity rate is above 16%. It is at 11% in Kalamazoo and 12% in St. Joe County, both slightly below the statewide averages. My team and I remain in constant contact with public health leaders, hospital staff, first responders, and community leaders as it is all hands on deck trying to get this outbreak under control. Their message is all the same - we need everyone to do their part. Wear your mask, avoid social gatherings, and be safe! Hospitals in our area are still pushing capacity with COVID cases and staffing may become an issue down the road if we don't flatten the curve. Folks should not put off seeing a doctor or going to the hospital if they think they need to. It is safe to go and hospital-acquired infections are low. There is good-news on the vaccine front. Moderna announced this morning they will apply today to the U.S. FDA for authorization of its COVID-19 vaccine. Their vaccine is reportedly 94.1% effective at preventing COVID-19 and 100% effective at preventing severe cases of the disease, which you can read more about HERE. Moderna is the second company to apply for the EUA after Pfizer applied for theirs on November 20. The FDA is scheduled to meet in December to review their applications. And lastly, today's photo of the day is from a constituent in Buchanan who shared this photo with us from a windy day in St. Joe last week. TY for sharing. If you'd like to share a photo of the day, please click HERE. I hope you had a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving. All the best,",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://moolenaar.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/moolenaar-statement-death-former-state-senator-tom-casperson,Moolenaar Statement on the Death of Former State Senator Tom Casperson,2020-11-30,2020,2020-11,Republican,Senate,MI,John Moolenaar,M001194,moolenaar.house.gov,,,legacy,"On Sunday, former State Senator Tom Casperson passed away at age 61 due to lung cancer. Congressman John Moolenaar served with Casperson in the Michigan House from2003 through 2008 and theMichigan Senate from 2011 through 2014. He made the following statement on Casperson's passing: ""Tom was agreat friend, a courageous patriot, and a good and faithful servant for the people of Michigan. I alwaysenjoyed working with him in the state legislature,where hewas a tenacious advocate for the Upper Peninsula and its people. His work will benefit UP communities for decades to come andIjoin Tom's family and friends inmourning hispassing."" ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401683,"@MyKitchenTable - November 24, 2020",2020-11-24,2020,2020-11,Republican,Senate,MI,Fred Upton,U000031,upton.house.gov,,,legacy,"@MyKitchenTable: Tuesday, November 24, 2020 Dear Friend: Bill Keane said, Yesterday's the past, tomorrow's the future, but today is a gift. That's why it's called the present.Despite such a difficult year for the world, on Thanksgiving day, we should take time out to reflect on the glass half-full. I am certain it will be a different Thanksgiving for everyone.For sure, fewer family members around us for what many of us consider one of our favorite American holidays that truly is usually filled with family and friends.Whether it be a walk in the woods, some touch football, turkey with stuffing and twice-baked potatoes, or lending a hand at the local food bank or shelter with the less fortunate, this year is different and for sure more isolating. Most painful of all, for far too many families, because of COVID-19, there will be an empty seat at the table.And every day now we learn of more cases with our friends and neighbors.There is certainly a tough road ahead. Check out recommendations from the CDC on how to celebrate Thanksgiving safely this year HERE and HERE. Last week the WSJ reported nearly 300 small business that received Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds from the CARES package signed by President Trump last spring have filed for bankruptcy.You can see that story HERE. The Treasury Dept is insisting that all the PPP funds distributed are taxable despite the clear intent otherwise when Congress approved the legislation. As one can imagine, the fear is real among those businesses that have survived that their tax liability may in fact take them under too. Last week, a number of the Problem Solver's Caucus (PSC) met with several senatorsRepublican and Democrattrying to design a COVID aid package that could attain 60 votes in the Senate, a majority in the House, and a presidential signature.With the Senate's failure to pass any COVID legislation the last several months, it is definitely all hands-on deck time to try and fashion such a bill.Waiting until 2021 will be too late for too many trying to survive this pandemic. Pieces that we are considering including are funds for our health providers, testing (unbelievable that in some states folks have to wait 7-10 days for a result), schools, unemployment (not $600 bonus but help for the states that otherwise run out Dec. 31), broadband, monies for localities that can demonstrate real losses of revenue due to COVID (sales tax and gas tax losses as an example), and PPP for small business coupled with liability protections. I am pushing for a legislative fix on the PPP taxation question as well. Obviously, this is a skinnier package than what the PSC unveiled in September, but we were unable to force the issue when the Senate failed to move any legislation. One of our Michigan Senators is now on the record in support of such which you can read in the Roll Call report HERE and follows discussions between Speaker Pelosi and Leader Schumer with President-Elect Biden last Friday where Biden also pushed to get something, anything, done.The PSC is exploring different ways to force a vote before this Congress ends. It appears that COVID cases here in west Michigan are improving but let's face it, still devastating. You can see that county wide date HERE from MLIVE.Hearing firsthand from our health providers in recent days, I know the 5-alarm bells are soundingnot only for the facilities themselves but also for the staffing of those facilities. It is so important that we do all we can to be socially distant and wear masks as preventative measures to do our part. I would guess that all of us know folks that have died and suffered with COVID. We all saw the great news last week that the FDA will soon be determining what will likely be 3 different COVID vaccines with a projected 95% efficacy rate with 40 million doses manufactured before the end of the year.The next step of course is the distribution of those doses to the American public. HHS Secretary Azar outlined some of the procedures today before the press and reported HERE by Politico, indicating that the governors will have the final say. Operation Warp Speed is planning to start shipping the first doses within 24 hours of the FDA authorization.This is yet another reason why the Biden transition team needs to interact with the Trump administration to hopefully provide a seamless distribution void of disruptions. Congress returns for votes next Monday and in addition to hopeful COVID legislation, the Continuing Resolution (CR) expires Dec. 11. The House and Senate Appropriation's Committees have been working on a yet unseen series of bills that would extend the CR, but without enactment, another government shutdown would occur. Thankfully, no one is predicting such an impasse at this juncture but time is running short.It is probably likely that a short-term CR of perhaps only a few days will surface by the end of next week to prevent such a shutdown. Today's photo of the day is from a constituent in Edwardsburg. He took this photo from his backyard and wrote to me saying, The big bright star is Sadr which is part of the constellation in Cygnus. It is surrounded by glowing red nebula gas. TY for sharing. If you'd like to share a photo, please click HERE. Enjoy your Thanksgiving walk....and please stay safe!There is much we can be thankful for....for sure. All the best, Fred Upton",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401682,"@MyKitchenTable - November 18, 2020",2020-11-18,2020,2020-11,Republican,Senate,MI,Fred Upton,U000031,upton.house.gov,,,legacy,"Dear Friend: Today's inspirational quote is a good call to action for us today. From John Dickinson's The Liberty Song from 1768: Then join hand in hand, brave Americans all. By uniting we stand, by dividing we fall. The COVID-19 crisis facing west Michigan and our entire country is bad and getting worse. According to MLIVE, which you can see HERE, the number of COVID-19 deaths in Michigan just crossed 8,000. There have been more than 264,000 total cases in the state. In Berrien County, there is a positivity rate of more than 20% (we want it below 5%). The state's seven-day average positivity rate is 13.4%. Last week it was 9.5%. In the United States, we are averaging well north of 100,000 cases per day, the most ever. As a result, the Governor announced three weeks of new COVID-19 restrictions. I've been disappointed to see that there has been hardly any bipartisanship out of Lansing lately as the Legislature and the Governor's office remain at a stalemate. We have to be working together these days as we all aim to end the COVID-19 crisis. As part of the restrictions, theatres, bowling alleys, colleges, universities, casinos, and indoor-dining will all close. You can see the latest on the restrictions and what is open and not open HERE. There does appear to be light at the end of a very, very long tunnel. Over the past week, we have received two hopeful announcements on the vaccine front. Last Monday, Pfizer announced reported early data from its late-stage trials showing their vaccine candidate to be 90% effective at preventing COVID-19. And yesterday, Moderna announced its COVID-19 vaccine is also strongly effective, preventing COVID-19 among 94% of patients during their still ongoing study. Yesterday, Pfizer announced that it will begin to test its COVID-19 vaccine delivery program in four states Rhode Island, New Mexico, Texas, and Tennessee in order to straighten out any problems that might arise from distribution, which you can read about HERE. We are still hopeful that a vaccine will be approved by the end of this month and the distribution process can begin this year. The House is back in session all week long with much of the focus on leadership elections for the 117th Congress (Speaker Pelosi was re-elected by her caucus today and Kevin McCarthy re-elected by the GOP Conference for Minority Leader yesterday). Both McCarthy and Pelosi will then be nominated for Speaker of the House on January 5 and a roll call vote will be called. 218 votes must be cast for the winner (assuming 435 Members will be sworn in as all elections should be certified). I would note that over the past number of opening sessions, there have been as many as 12-15 members of Congress (MC) who have voted for someone other than their party's nominee. In fact, the Speaker does not have to be a MC and folks like Colin Powell have been voted for but obviously never got close to 218.At this point, not all the elections have been called and a wise guess would be that the Democrats would have 222 and the GOP's 213, so if only 5 Dems vote for someone other than Pelosi, she does not become Speaker and another vote is held... On the next COVID package front - a small number of the bipartisan Problem Solver's Caucus (PSC) met Tuesday with a few Senators about trying to find a proposal that can pass both the House and Senate and be signed by the president. I believe that we are close to finding common ground that can pass that test and would be considered shortly after Thanksgiving when Congress returns for the first two weeks to finish up the spending bills with a Continuing Resolution and resolve the expiring tax provisions. Without a COVID deal, the issue would not conclude until February or perhaps even March so I remain absolutely committed to finding the sweet spot and be able to help our small businesses with additional Paycheck Protection Program funding (PPP), schools, local governments (as it pertains to loss of revenue like sales and gas taxes), housing assistance, vaccine and testing funds for distribution, unemployment, broadband, and health providers. Private discussions continue this week and hopefully we can reach a consensus that will work. Lastly, we would like to still collect photos of folks wearing their masks! Today's photo is from Halloween when trick-or-treaters got dressed up with their masks! Thanks for sharing. If you'd like to submit a photo, please click HERE. All the best, Fred Upton",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://moolenaar.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/house-passes-bill-make-national-parks-free-disabled-veterans,House Passes Bill to Make National Parks Free for Disabled Veterans,2020-11-16,2020,2020-11,Republican,Senate,MI,John Moolenaar,M001194,moolenaar.house.gov,,,legacy,"Tonight, the House of Representatives unanimously passed the Wounded Veterans Recreation Act. The legislation allows free, lifetime entry into the National Parks and federal recreational lands for veterans who were wounded serving our country. Many of our veterans enjoy America's outdoor heritage and this legislation will help them visit our National Parks and recreation areas, said Congressman JohnMoolenaar. We are forever grateful for their service to our nation and the sacrifices they made to keep us safe. My office and I have helped veterans throughout the Fourth District this year, and I encourage any veteran who is having an issue with a federal agency to contact my office in Midland for assistance. The Wounded Veterans Recreation Act passed the Senate earlier this year and the legislation now goes to the president. Congressman Moolenaar's office regularly helps veterans who are experiencing issues with the VA, including disability claims. Veterans in need of assistance can call his office at 989-631-2552. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401681,Upton issues statement on presidential election,2020-11-07,2020,2020-11,Republican,Senate,MI,Fred Upton,U000031,upton.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, issued the following statement after the Associated Press called the presidential election: The votes have been counted, the American people have spoken, and they chose Joe Biden to serve as our next President. We have to find a way to come together, bridge divisions, and focus on solutions that help the millions who are struggling. I am raising my hand and committing to working with President-elect Biden and my colleagues on both sides of the aisle in Congress to do exactly that. As Frederick Douglass said, I would unite with anybody to do right and with nobody to do wrong. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401680,"@MyKitchenTable - October 31, 2020",2020-10-31,2020,2020-10,Republican,Senate,MI,Fred Upton,U000031,upton.house.gov,,,legacy,"Dear Friend: An appropriate quote for today...""Look before or you'll find yourself behind."" Sounds like Spring forward, fall behind, right?... Ben Franklin, the mastermind that initiated Daylight Savings Time wrote that and, Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn. A good lesson for all of us, everyday. Yes this is the weekend that we lose DST. As much as we may all prefer not to change our clocks twice a year (and we didn't in 1976 thanks to Jimmy Carter and the energy crisis), this couple week extension of DST beginning in November and reverting back come March was a successful bipartisan amendment that I passed as part of an energy bill years ago. We actually consulted the Naval Observatory for their wisdom on time relating to sunshine. The Department of Energy did a formal study showing that we as a nation do save energy (unless you sleep with the lights on) and the insurance industry shared with us data that we actually save lives and there are fewer auto accidents (most accidents occur at dusk, so by extending dusk another hour allows folks to get home from work in the light and thereby reduces accidents). And, yes, even crime stats are better as again, assaults, etc. are more likely to occur at night. By starting DST in March, the outdoor recreation industry (golf is a big one) and home garden folks have that extra hour of daylight to work outside in their yards, BBQ, or play golf. Thus, you can add an economic argument to the equation as well. And, when Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) and I wrote the successful amendment, we allowed for states to opt out/in if they chose. I heard from Indiana's Governor Mitch Daniels desperately wanting that option as they did not have DST, and I must say it was so confusing for those of us living in border counties with Indiana wondering if we were on Chicago time or Eastern time. I even remember my Northwest flight in South Bend being delayed as the pilots were confused and did not set their clocks correct for that6AMdeparture. The Naval Observatory actually recommended the 3rd week in October for the switch relating to sunlight, but because of Halloween with kids in every neighborhood darting on the streets with an hour less of sunlight really does prevent injuries and deaths. That's why it changes the first Sunday in November. Looking back, I wonder if we should have done it the first Saturday to allow our bodies to adjust better by Monday. So this weekend, we all get an extra hour of sleep but lose an hour of daylight at the end of the day. Funny story, and it is true. I have a letter to the editor from a person complaining that our amendment for extra DST allows more insects to attack their garden and trees. Last time I looked, insects do not wear watches or know how to change them. They were from Arkansas (apologies to my friends there). I cosponsored HR14 introduced today that spends $47B for COVID relief. The bill is titled the Commitment to Defeat the Virus and Keep America Healthy Act. $31B would go to vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics, surge capacity, and telehealth. The remaining $16B would go to additional testing and tracing. The legislation includes more than 50 bipartisan bills strengthening the Strategic National Stockpile, ensuring access to mental health/telehealth services, domestic supply chains, and doubles down on our efforts to fight the opioid epidemic and substances abuse disorder crises. You can see the section by section analysis HERE. News is still happening on positive prospects of a COVID package once Congress returnsNov. 16. Members on my Energy and Commerce Committee urged the Trump Administration to go after the hackers who are using ransom ware to attack the health care sector. Van Buren and Cass Counties in our district now have a 7-day positivity rate of more than 10% on COVID diagnostic tests. Michigan has reported 18,358 cases in the past 7 days compared to 11,771 the week before, a 36% increase and the positivity rate on COVID tests is now 6.5%, up from 4.9% a week ago. You can see those stats and the regional risk and county by county levels from MLIVE HERE. I continue to check in with our local hospitals and they confirm that the number of hospitalizations rose almost everywhere. Back in the Spring in my Kitchen Table reports, I quoted the president's chief economic advisor, Larry Kudlow, predicting that the GDP in the 3rd quarter would be positive. Larry's office was across the hall from my office when I worked in the Reagan White House, and therefore has been a friend for a long, long time. We chatted at length yesterday with news that I know he didn't expect last spring to be so large - a 33% increase in GDP.Largest ever and of course the good news that unemployment is now under 8%. We discussed the need for a stimulus package as the pandemic was not over by Easter and will last beyond Christmas. I relayed to him the real prospects of a FDA-approved vaccine now being manufactured at the Kalamazoo Pfizer facility and the hope that it may be available in the next couple weeks. He responded that the Administration is well on its way directing the military to distribute the vaccine and for those without insurance....for free. Today's picture was from yesterday when I joined a number of local officials with the Corps of Engineers looking at high lake levels and the impact on our Lake Michigan community including their water intake facility. Yes, we had 5 foot swells beyond the New Buffalo pier but were in good hands on the Coast Guard vessel. Nobody lost it. This week, I urged the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) to approve the forthcoming grant application from Midwest Energy and Communication Cooperative (MEC) to develop the Southwest Michigan Advanced Research and Technology (SMART) Park in Cassopolis. Remember, if this project is approved, it will create more than 1,000 jobs and bolster the local economy here in southwest Michigan. You can see that letter HERE. Lastly, today we announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services was awarding the Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency (KRESA) with a $3.1 million federal Office of Head Start grant. KRESA has receivedthis grant since 2013. This announcement will continue to help countless families, parents, and children across the Kalamazoo area. This program helps give children a head start and a leg up in their educational careers, setting them up for future success in school and post-graduate opportunities. I'm proud to continue to support our local schools and our educators. Have a good weekend,",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401678,Upton announces $3.1 million federal grant for KRESA Head Start,2020-10-30,2020,2020-10,Republican,Senate,MI,Fred Upton,U000031,upton.house.gov,,,legacy,"KALAMAZOO, Mich. U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, today announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is awarding the Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency (KRESA) with a $3.1 million federal Office of Head Start grant. KRESA has receivedthis grant since 2013. The Office of Head Start administers grants help provide services to more than a million children every year. Head Start programs promote school readiness for children ages birth to five from low-income families. Today's announcement will help countless families, parents, and children across the Kalamazoo area, Upton said. This program helps give children a head start and a leg up in their educational careers, setting them up for future success in school and post-graduate opportunities. I'm proud to continue to support our local schools and our educators. KRESA has been honored to be a grantee of the federal Head Start program since 2013. The program allows us to partner with families to provide comprehensive services that focuses on the whole child and whole family, Dave Campbell, Superintendent of Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency. Head Start through KRESA is offered at 14 locations around Kalamazoo county. According to KRESA, Head Start provides children with learning activities that focus on social/emotional, physical, and intellectual growth, as well as early math and literacy skills.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://huizenga.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401207,"Huizenga Introduces New Legislation to Block Tax Increase on Michigan Seniors, Pensioners, College Savers, First-Time Homebuyers, and Everyday Investors",2020-10-27,2020,2020-10,Republican,Senate,MI,Bill Huizenga,H001058,huizenga.house.gov,,,legacy,"Today, Congressman Bill Huizenga (MI-02), Republican leader of the Investor Protection, Entrepreneurship, and Capital Markets Subcommittee and Republican leader of the House Financial Services Committee Patrick McHenry (NC-10), Republican Leader of the House Financial Services Committee, introduced new legislation to protect middle class investors from Democrats' harmful tax proposals. TheProtecting Retirement Savers and Everyday Investors Actwould prohibit states from imposing a Financial Transaction Tax (FTT) on certain industry participants, which would be paid by out-of-state investors when the FTT is passed on to them. This includes Main Street investors saving for retirement, their first home, or their child's education. This legislation is supported by Americans for Tax Reform (ATR), the National Taxpayers Union (NTU), and the American Retirement Association. No government, whether it's federal or state, should be making it harder for Americans to save for the future, said Congressman Bill Huizenga. New Jersey is single handedly penalizing middle class families across America in an attempt to solve its own budget shortfall. New Jersey's misguided financial transaction tax penalizes those saving for retirement, saving for college, and saving for a down payment on a house. Michiganders and Americans across the nation who are investing and saving for their future should not be forced to pay New Jersey's transaction tax. The Protecting Retirement Savers and Everyday Investors Act stops this tax increase, promotes financial security, and protects middle class families across America. Democrats are ignoring the facts. We know the FTT will hurt retirement savers. We know the FTT has been proven unworkable in countries around the world. And we know that New Jersey Democrats' state-level FTT proposal will be a new tax on savers across the country. This bill will protect the everyday investors who would ultimately pay this additional tax on their hard-earned savingsincluding in their 401(k)s, pensions, and college-savings accounts. As Democrats continue to push their false claim that the FTT is only a tax on the wealthiest, Republicans will continue to fight for middle-class Americans saving for their future, said Congressman Patrick McHenry. Congressman McHenry and Huizenga should be applauded for their work fighting against the effort by blue states like New Jersey to impose new financial transaction taxes on American investors. FTTs have failed everywhere they have been tried and will harm American investors, savers, and businesses. Financial transaction taxes send the wrong incentive to market participants and Americans for Tax Reform applauds Republican members of the House Financial Services Committee who are working to halt this progressive effort,said Grover G. Norquist, President of Americans for Tax Reform. Read a letter from Americans for Tax Reform in support of the Protecting Retirement Savers and Everyday Investors Acthere. As radical state legislatures attempt to institute new taxes on trades made via financial exchanges, the introduction of this important legislation could not have come at a better time. Higher taxes on stock trades will only hurt consumers, businesses, taxpayers, the economic recovery, and American competitiveness. NTU is proud to support legislation that prohibits these particularly harmful state level financial transaction taxes. We look forward to working with Congress to ensure its timely passage into law,said Thomas Aiello, Policy and Government Affairs Manager for the National Taxpayers Union. A financial transaction tax is a tax on the retirement savings of hard working Americans. This bill will prevent this Main Street tax which would otherwise be passed on to middle income earnerstwo-thirds of 401(k) participants make less than $100,000 a year,said Brian H. Graff, CEO of the American Retirement Association. Background: What is the Financial Transaction Tax (FTT)? Simply put, the FTT is a tax on Americans' hard-earned retirement savings. The FTT is applied each time a financial transaction is conducted. This includes transactions of mutual funds, which 45.5% of U.S. households own, as well as transactions made by other retirement accounts, including pension plans. The FTT would be a new, additional tax on top of already-existing income taxes, capital gains taxes, and corporate taxes. Democrats' claims that the FTT would only impact the wealthiest investors are false. FTTs hurt all market participants, including Main Street investors saving for retirement or their child's education, as well as everyday Americans' pension funds and savings. What does the Protecting Retirement Savers and Everyday Investors Act do? The Protecting Retirement Savers and Everyday Investors Act would protect savers across the countryincluding everyday investors, retirees, and pensionerswhose savings would be harmed by the FTT. This bill would stop states and municipalities from imposing the FTT on securities industry participants such as exchanges and broker-dealers. While the bill prohibits states from imposing this tax on trades by citizensoutside of their own bordersby taxing the intermediaries those interstate citizens rely upon, it does not prohibit states and localities from imposing FTTs on their own citizens. Why is this bill needed right now? Currently, New Jersey state legislature Democrats are considering a bill that would impose an FTT on all stock trades that occur in New Jersey, which would be effectively paid for primarily by non-New Jersey investors and savers. This New Jersey tax would capture trades made on the major exchanges based in New York City (e.g., NYSE, NASDAQ) because their trade processing centers are physically located in New Jersey. In our technology-driven world where trading can be conducted in the blink of an eye, online, and by investors around the country, New Jersey Democrats are trying to skim off the top from Americans just because exchanges happened to previously set up servers in their state. The increased cost of trading at these exchanges will ultimately be passed on to the customersmeaning New Jersey would get tax dollars paid for by savers outside of New Jersey. Make no mistake, New Jersey Democrats' FTT proposal is a test-run for a federal FTT. Numerous Democrat Presidential candidates and Democrats in Congress have proposed the FTT, despite its proven failure across the globe, as a solution to cover their grab-bag of massive new government spending.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401676,Upton urges U.S. Economic Development Administration to approve grant for Cassopolis SMART Park,2020-10-27,2020,2020-10,Republican,Senate,MI,Fred Upton,U000031,upton.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, today urged the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) to approve the forthcoming grant application from Midwest Energy and Communication Cooperative (MEC) to develop the Southwest Michigan Advanced Research and Technology (SMART) Park in Cassopolis. If approved, this project will create more than 1,000 jobs and bolster the local economy in southwest Michigan. It's no secret that the ongoing pandemic has reduced economic growth and hurt American workers. The EDA has an opportunity to grow Southwest Michigan, increase development, and create good-paying jobs leading to more prosperity for the entire region, Upton wrote in a letter to the EDA on Tuesday. MEC's SMART Park will be a 450-acre state-of-the-art rail and fiber served business venture that will accommodate commercial and industrial projects with a number of energy options and amenities that address the needs of future tenants and community residents. In addition to Upton, both the Village of Cassopolis and the County of Cass have expressed support for the construction of the business park. This project will also lead to an increase in the tax base for the village and the county. The letter can be viewed here or below: Dear Mr. Gartzke: I am writing in favor of a forthcoming grant application from the Midwest Energy and Communication Cooperative's (MEC) grant request to the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) to develop the Southwest Michigan Advanced Research and Technology (SMART) Park. The MEC will be applying for the EDA Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance Program as well as the EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance Program. If approved, these vital funds will allow MEC to leverage other capital necessary to complete this project which will create more than 1,000 jobs and bolster the local economy. It's no secret that the ongoing pandemic has reduced economic growth and hurt American workers. The EDA has an opportunity to grow Southwest Michigan, increase development, and create good-paying jobs leading to more prosperity for the entire region. Several years ago, the leadership at MEC completed an in-depth market study and engineering analysis that lead to purchase nearly 500 acres of land which is now home to their new operations headquarters. During this analysis, the board and its leadership saw the benefit of developing the remaining parcel of land to create a business park that would spur the economic growth in Cassopolis, Cass County, and the entire southwest Michigan region. Additionally, both the Village of Cassopolis and the County of Cass have expressed support for the construction of the business park. This project will also lead to an increase in the tax base for the village and the county. Approval of this grant is key given MEC's status as a utility and regulatory restrictions limit their access to capital. As noted above, these resources will provide the leverage necessary to obtain additional investments to complete the SMART Park. I look forward to your support and would be happy to further discuss the project and grant request. Sincerely,",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://moolenaar.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/durand-receives-26-million-its-water-system,Durand Receives $2.6 Million For Its Water System,2020-10-27,2020,2020-10,Republican,Senate,MI,John Moolenaar,M001194,moolenaar.house.gov,,,legacy,"Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Office of Rural Development announced that the City of Durand will receive funding for improvements to its water system. This funding from the Department of Agriculture will allow the City of Durand to replace its outdated watermain and update its water system for residents, said Congressman John Moolenaar. I've supported federal funding forUSDA programsso Durand and Michigan's rural communities can receivesupportlike this to protect the health and safety of Michigan residents."" The $2,605,000 loan was made by the Department of Agriculture's Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program. The program provides funds to eligible rural areas to build or make improvements to drinking water systems, for sanitary sewage disposal, and for storm water drainage. More information about the Water and Waste Disposal Loan can be found here. To learn more about resources for rural communities in Michigan, contact the Michigan State Rural Development Office. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://huizenga.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401206,Huizenga Statement on Confirmation of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court,2020-10-26,2020,2020-10,Republican,Senate,MI,Bill Huizenga,H001058,huizenga.house.gov,,,legacy,"Huizenga Statement on Confirmation of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court Washington, October 26, 2020 Today, Congressman Bill Huizenga released the following statement after the United States Senate voted to confirm Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the United States Supreme Court: Congratulations to Amy Coney Barrett on being confirmed to the U.S. Supreme Court. Justice Barrett is a highly skilled jurist who understands it is not the role of a judge to make law. Justice Barrett will interpret the Constitution as written, respect the rule of law, and serve with distinction. It was disappointing to see both Senator Stabenow and Senator Peters tow the party line and vote against this highly qualified nominee.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://mitchell.house.gov/media/press-releases/mitchell-applauds-senate-confirmation-amy-coney-barrett,Mitchell Applauds Senate Confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett,2020-10-26,2020,2020-10,Republican,Senate,MI,Paul Mitchell,M001201,mitchell.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Rep. Paul Mitchell (MI-10) released the following statement after the Senate voted to confirm President Trump's Supreme Court nominee, Amy Coney Barrett: Judge Amy Coney Barrett is an extraordinarily qualified jurist who will serve our country well as our next Supreme Court Justice. She will faithfully uphold the constitution and interpret the law as written. I congratulate Judge Barrett on this momentous and well-deserved accomplishment. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://walberg.house.gov/media/in-the-news/lsj-general-motors-invest-100-million-delta-township-plant,LSJ: General Motors to invest $100 million into Delta Township plant,2020-10-25,2020,2020-10,Republican,Senate,MI,Tim Walberg,W000798,walberg.house.gov,,,legacy,"LANSING - General Motors said it will be investing $100 million into its Delta Township plant to produce the next generation of the GMC Acadia. The investment is a part of a $2 billion investment in GM plants across the country. The plant builds the Chevrolet Traverse and Buick Enclave. The Acadia was born in Delta Township in 2006, said Doneen McDowell, manufacturing executive director at GM. ""We are excited to welcome the next generation of this amazing product,"" McDowell said Tuesday at a press conference announcing the investments. ""This is an exciting day for plants and for the state of Michigan."" Delta Township's plant ended production of the GMC Acadia in 2016. Lansing Mayor Andy Schor said the return of the Acadia is a tremendous opportunity for the city and for the more than 4,500 employees who work at the Delta Township and Grand River plants. ""These are good-paying UAW jobs with the exciting responsibility of building some of the best vehicles this country has to offer,"" Schor said in a statement. ""I am proud of the strong partnership between the City of Lansing and General Motors and appreciate their consistent presence in our community."" Jeffrey Kosloski, UAW Local 602 chairman, said the announcement is ""much anticipated and well deserved news."" ""The real stars here are the employees who put the parts on the cars,"" Kosloski said. ""There's no better place to build a world class vehicle than at LDT assembly."" Delta Township plant Executive Director Satya Veerapaneni said he is looking forward to bringing the Acadia back to the assembly line. ""This $100 million investment shows a lot of confidence in the men and women (at the Delta Township plant),"" Veerapaneni said. Investments also include $32 million to the Flint plant, $17 million to Romulus, $3.5 million to Orion Assembly and $750,000 to Brownstown Township. Last week, GM called the Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly ""factory zero"" and said it will be the launchpad of the company's strategy in electric vehicles. Since 2009, GM has invested more than $600 million into Lansing Delta Township Assembly. It invested $36 million into the Delta Township plant in February 2019. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said she is proud to see continued investment in the state and plans to continue to work closely with GM and any other businesses that want to invest. ""This is good news for Michigan families and hardworking UAW workers, providing critical momentum to our economic recovery across the state,"" Whitmer said in a statement. State Rep. Angela Witwer, D-Delta Township, said in a statement she was excited about the investment. ""What a great day this is for the employees, suppliers, investors, and of course the community of Delta Township,"" Witwer said in the statement. ""I'm so proud to be a part of this win for our district, and as always, to be able to work alongside General Motors to ensure a continued partnership between them and the people of the 71st district. I look forward to continuing to work with them well into the future."" U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Tipton, said the investment is encouraging for both his district and Michigan. ""I am delighted that General Motors continues to make significant investments in its Delta Township plant and the dedicated men and women who work there,"" Walberg said in a statement. ""I was at the plant earlier this year when the 3 millionth vehicle rolled off the assembly line, and there is no doubt it is an impressive facility that employs some of the best workers in the country."" This article originally appeared in the October 25 edition of the Lansing State Journal.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://walberg.house.gov/media/in-the-news/monroe-news-officials-pointe-mouillee-success-story,Monroe News: Officials: Pointe Mouillee a success story,2020-10-24,2020,2020-10,Republican,Senate,MI,Tim Walberg,W000798,walberg.house.gov,,,legacy,"Pointe Mouillee State Game Area is in Berlin Township, tucked along the Lake Erie shoreline. If you have an interest in wildlife, hunting, birding or fishing in southeast Michigan, it's probably a site you've visited over the years. The reason: It's considered the largest fresh water marsh restoration project in North America, with about 5,200 acres dedicated to wildlife and water quality. This place is pretty spectacular, Gildo Tori, senior director of regional policy at Ducks Unlimited, said Friday morning. U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Tipton, was the guest of honor Friday at the site as Tori and other local wildlife officials and volunteers showed him some of the restoration and habitat improvements that have taken place in recent years. It's just incredible the continuity of care out here, the congressman said as the tour wrapped up. Three federal programs are considered important funding sources for Pointe Mouillee: The North American Wetlands Conservation Act, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and America's Conservation Enhancement Act. I applaud you for your efforts, Walberg said as the group concluded its reports and split up into a vehicle convoy for a driving tour. About a dozen people were part of the event, many of them representing Ducks Unlimited or the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Walberg has been a frequent visitor to Pointe Mouillee. For him, Friday was a chance to catch up on long term projects and also to see how things worked out this year under the Michigan Department of Natural Resources' staffing complications throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The consensus of those attending the meeting was that Pointe Mouillee's success relies, in a large part, on local wildlife and environment organizations pooling their respective financial and volunteer resources. That cooperation in the private sector allows state officials to leverage a significant local match when seeking federal funding. It takes a lot of money, a lot of resources to do this work, said Chris Sebastian, public affairs coordinator for Ducks Unlimited. Pointe Mouillee was once privately-owned hunting and agriculture property. The state acquired the property in 1945. Joseph Robinson, supervisor for South Eastern Lower Peninsula Region for Michigan Department of Natural Resources, said the site needed a lot of work to get back to its natural wetlands habitat. Those participating in the tour explained the ecological history: Parts of lower Michigan and northern Ohio were once part of the Great Black Swamp. As the Lake Erie water levels rose and fell over the years, so did the waters in the wetlands surrounding the lake. That cycle fed an environment diverse in plants, birds and other wildlife. The varied habitat is why southeast Michigan became part of bird migration paths. As people started to settle in specific areas, they drained water out to create agricultural fields and residential areas. One of the impacts of halting the natural cycle and keeping inland water levels stable for too long was the introduction of invasive species such as the phragmites, a tall reed plant that is commonly seen in the region. Manually changing the environment also throttles native plant growth, as some species will only emerge during certain conditions. But Sebastian said it's possible to restore the natural habitat by restoring the wet, dry cycle that once was seen in the wetlands. At Pointe Mouillee, that work has been primarily achieved through a series of artificial dikes, barriers and mechanical water pumps. The work also includes rebuilding of dikes and clearing downed trees where needed. One of the tour stops was at the Bad Creek unit site where Robinson explained the efforts had pushed a former soybean field back into wetlands. The Bad Creek restoration started in 2014, a portable pump now floods the 74-acre wetland as needed. Near that site is the Cripple Point Unit, a 28-acre wetland area that is in the last stages of restoration. As the visitors talked about the events of the past year, the conversations included the fact that much of the DNR staff was sidelined this spring under Michigan's stay home orders. In addition, the department was not able to hire summer staff. So when the full-time staff was allowed back in the field, they had a lot of seasonal repairs and cleanup to catch up on. In the meantime, Tori said, Michigan residents had a marked increase in participation in outdoor recreation activities. After all, it was something that they could do even under COVID-19 restrictions. People want to come out for their mental health and physical health, he added. For more than 70 years, the Pointe Mouille Waterfowl Festival had helped educate the public about the site and allowed wildlife organization members network to the extent that has been done. We're working together, said Joe Marra, a member of Ducks Unlimited and a festival committee member. It's kind of unique to this area. When Walberg asked how the cancellation of the 2020 festival might affect future local finances, the response was that they hoped to compensate for it in the long run. We need to get creative and keep expanding our partnerships, said Kali Rush, regional biologist with Ducks Unlimited. This article originally appeared in the October 24 edition of the Monroe News.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401674,"Upton, EPA Administrator Wheeler Announces $5.6 Million Grant to Remove Lead Service Lines in Benton Harbor",2020-10-23,2020,2020-10,Republican,Senate,MI,Fred Upton,U000031,upton.house.gov,,,legacy,"BENTON HARBOR, Mich. U.S. Rep. Fred Upton (MI-06), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Regional Administrator Kurt Thiede, and EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler announced today that the City of Benton Harbor was selected to receive a $5.6 million grant to remove lead service lines and support a study to optimize the city's lead corrosion control treatment to improve public health in Benton Harbor. In these unprecedented times with so much uncertainty, families should be able to be certain about this: their drinking water is safe for their children, friends, and loved ones, Upton said. Today's announcement takes an important step to ensuring just that. This is a critically serious issue, and we need to continue to come together to guarantee safe drinking water for southwest Michigan's communities. Today's announcement provides another example of the Trump Administration's leadership in helping to ensure that all American's have safe drinking water, said EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler. As part of the newly formed Water Subcabinet, EPA and its federal partners will continue projecting the nation's waters to benefit public health and the environment while creating jobs and spurring economic development. In advance of next week's National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, EPA is making the first-ever selections under the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act's Reduction in Lead Exposure via Drinking Water by announcing $39.9 million in grant funding for ten projects. The WIIN Act passed through the House Energy and Commerce Committee when Upton served as chairman. The legislation addresses, supports, and improves America's drinking water infrastructure.Included in the WIIN Act are three new drinking water grants that promote public health and the protection of the environment. EPA will award the City of Benton Harbor a grant in the amount of $5.6 million. The city will use the EPA grant funding to help replace as many residential lead service lines as possible. Service lines will be replaced with copper piping from the water main to the home's service connectionincluding both the public and private portions of the lead service line. Additionally, a study to optimize corrosion treatment, which helps reduce the levels of lead in drinking water where lead material is still present, will help ensure long term stability and reduction of lead throughout the drinking water system. In addition to announcing these WIIN Act grants, EPA is helping finance projects that remove sources of lead in drinking water through the new and innovative Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loan program and through the State Revolving Funds. Under the Water Infrastructure Fund Transfer Act (WIFTA), Michigan made a one-time transfer of $102 million from the state's Clean Water State Revolving Fund to its Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) for lead-related, DWSRF-eligible projects. Background The 2016Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act (WIIN Act)addresses, supports, and improves America's drinking water infrastructure.Included in the WIIN Act are three drinking water grants that promote public health and the protection of the environment. Since 2018, EPA has made available more than $69 million to support testing for lead in drinking water at schools and child care programs and $42.8 million to assist public water systems in underserved, small, and disadvantaged communities meet Safe Drinking Water Act requirements. For more information visit:https://www.epa.gov/safewater/grants",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401675,"@MyKitchenTable - October 23, 2020",2020-10-23,2020,2020-10,Republican,Senate,MI,Fred Upton,U000031,upton.house.gov,,,legacy,"@MyKitchenTable: Friday, October 23, 2020 Dear Friend: Very busy week. It's a slow process, but quitting won't speed it up."" An apt way to describe the COVID-19 relief deal we've been working on for several weeks now. We've ebbed and flowed between having momentum and not. As I've been writing, folks do need help. We got carry out the other night for dinner - the restaurantis struggling. If it closes, all those staff members lose jobs. It'd be tragic. It's stories like these that show why we need assistance still. The impacts of this pandemic will be felt even longer if we don't act now. The President last night, the Speaker, and the Treasury Secretary all appear to still be talking about a bipartisan deal. Earlier this week, the Problem Solvers Caucus sent the President and Congressional leaders a letter urging them to stay at the table. You can read that letter HERE.We're close, but I don't believe we'll get a deal before election day. Ideally it would be sooner, but if we don't get this done now we won't get a deal until at least the new year. Let's stay at the table. You can read more about the timeline for a deal in Roll Call HERE. Late Friday afternoon, NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins and Dr. Tony Fauci held a lengthy zoom call with a dozen or so of my colleagues regarding very troubling trends from CDC data indicating that among symptomatic outpatients with positive COVID-19, some 35% did not return to baseline health 2-3 weeks after testing. And, 19% of young adults (18-34) with no comorbidities also had not returned. Symptoms included fatigue, dyspnea, and memory loss. The virus in addition to attacking the lungs also binds to the lining of blood cells and damage those tissues, including the heart, and coordinated research to understand the consequences certainly demands urgent attention. Assessing the sequencing of the various strands of the virus could help to determine the severity, which is why the approvals of a vaccine and proper therapeutics must be a top priority. FDA's approval of remdesivir this week - which shortens the recovery time for patients as the first and only fully approved treatment - could be decisive in preventing further long-lasting damage. The term long-hauler is given to those COVID patients that fail to fully recover. Collins and Fauci promised to keep us informed so that we can make certain they have the appropriated resources to fully investigate these new findings. Meanwhile, here in Michigan and across the country, COVID-19 cases are increasing - especially in southwest Michigan. Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, and Berrien Counties are all approaching red territory, which means they are nearingaveraging more than 25 new cases per 100,000 people per day over the last week. You can read more HERE. Many experts attribute this to quarantine fatigue. As we approach the winter months, folks need to remain vigilant, wash their hands, and please, wear your mask. It can impact any of us. In fact, themain difference from the spring surge is that these patients are younger, which you can read more about HERE. I've remained in close contact and get regular updates from our hospitals here in southwest Michigan. Now, there is a little bit of good news. A new study is out showing a sharp drop in mortality among hospitalized COVID-19 patients. According to the study, the drop is seen in all groups, including older patients and those with underlying conditions, which seems to suggest we're getting better at helping patients survive the illness. You can read more from NPR HERE. Today, I was in Grand Rapids and Benton Harbor with the EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler to announce millions of dollars in federal grants to improve our water infrastructure and replace lead service lines in these communities. Look, with so much uncertainty in today's world, families should be able to be certain their drinking water is clean and safe. The money came from the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act'sReduction in Lead Exposure via Drinking Water. I helped pass the WIIN Act through the House Energy and Commerce Committee when I was chairman. Included was language that required the EPA when they learn of lead to inform the community and the governor within 48 hours to begin a plan to remedy the situation. You can learn more about the announcements HERE. On Wednesday, I was on a Zoom call with U.S.Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to announce a nearly $7 million projectto help provide high-speed broadband service in southwest Michigan.The funding will be used to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network to connect 3,203 people, 40 farms and 27 businesses to high-speed broadband internet in Van Buren, Kalamazoo and Allegan counties in Michigan.I was with MSU students in March when they heard their classes would go all virtual, and one of them turned to me and said that they don't have access to internet at home.Too many families especially in rural areas like here in southwest Michigan lack access to reliable, high-speed internet. Especially as many of us work, take classes, and utilize telehealth services from home, we need to ensure all families have access to broadband service. Wednesday's announcement is a huge step as we look to close the digital divide in southwest Michigan, and you can learn more HERE. This weekend Big Ten Football returns. Please stay safe and remain vigilant, and Go Blue! All the best,",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://huizenga.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401205,Huizenga Statement on the passing of Peter Secchia,2020-10-21,2020,2020-10,Republican,Senate,MI,Bill Huizenga,H001058,huizenga.house.gov,,,legacy,"Huizenga Statement on the passing of Peter Secchia Washington, October 21, 2020 Peter Secchia loved his family, his country, and his community. From his time in the Marine Corps to being our nation's Ambassador to Italy, Peter served our country with distinction. Here in West Michigan, his impact has been enormous. Peter turned a small business into a successful company, played a critical role in securing Michigan State's Medical School in Grand Rapids, and led the effort to restore and renew the natural beauty of West Michigan through the creation of Millennium Park and the Kent County Parks Foundation. Through it all, Peter will be remembered not only for his giving but his ability to encourage and help others give back to our community. His philanthropic endeavors and those he inspired have made West Michigan a better place to live, work, and raise a family. I will miss his smiley face notes and memos as well as the occasional I'm not happy frowny face. One thing is for sure, you always knew where you stood with Peter Secchia. Natalie and I join the countless number of people who hold Joan and the entire Secchia family in our prayers. May you have peace knowing Peter lived a life that made West Michigan an even greater place to call home.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401673,Upton announces nearly $7 million project for high-speed broadband in southwest Michigan,2020-10-21,2020,2020-10,Republican,Senate,MI,Fred Upton,U000031,upton.house.gov,,,legacy,"KALAMAZOO, Mich. U.S. Rep. Fred Upton (R-St. Joseph) and United States Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue today announced a $3.3 million federal grant to help provide high-speed broadband service in southwest Michigan. The funding is part of the ReConnect Program that Upton and Congress supported in 2018. The grants recipient - Southwest Michigan Communications, Inc. will also received a $3.3 million loan to help fund the $6.7 million project. The funding will be used to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network to connect 3,203 people, 40 farms and 27 businesses to high-speed broadband internet in Van Buren, Kalamazoo and Allegan counties in Michigan. I was with students in March when they heard their classes would go all virtual, and one of them turned to me and said that they don't have access to internet at home. It's 2020 that needs to change, Upton said. Too many families especially in rural areas like here in southwest Michigan lack access to reliable, high-speed internet. Especially as many of us work, take classes, and utilize telehealth services from home, we need to ensure all families have access to broadband service. Today's announcement is a huge step as we look to close the digital divide in southwest Michigan. The need for rural broadband has never been more apparent than it is now as our nation manages the coronavirus national emergency. Access to telehealth services, remote learning for school children, and remote business operations all require access to broadband, Perdue said. I am so proud of our rural communities who have been working day in and day out, just like they always do, producing the food and fiber America depends on. We need them more than ever during these trying times, and expanding access to this critical infrastructure will help ensure rural America prospers for years to come. In March 2018, Congress provided $600 million to USDA to expand broadband infrastructure and services in rural America. On Dec. 13, 2018, Secretary Perdue announced the rules of the program, called ReConnect, including how the loans and grants will be awarded to help build broadband infrastructure in rural America. On April 20, 2020, USDA announced the Department has received 172 applications for $1.57 billion in Round Two of the ReConnect Program. The second round will enable USDA to implement innovative new solutions to rural connectivity by leveraging financial options with our partners and continuing the success of the first round of funding. The application window for Round Two closed on April 15. In Round One of the ReConnect Program, USDA invested $698 million to bring high-speed broadband e-Connectivity to approximately 167,000 households, 17,000 rural small businesses and farms, and more than 500 health care centers, educational facilities and critical community facilities located in 33 states. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://moolenaar.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/moolenaar-welcomes-funding-fourth-district,Moolenaar Welcomes Funding for the Fourth District,2020-10-21,2020,2020-10,Republican,Senate,MI,John Moolenaar,M001194,moolenaar.house.gov,,,legacy,"Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Office of Rural Development announced that several rural communities inmid and northern Michiganwill receive financial support as part of $16.6 million in grants and loans announced by the department today. ""This funding forinfrastructure and emergency serviceswill upgrade roads,keep residents safe, support the economy, and create jobs, said Congressman John Moolenaar. In Congress, I have been an advocate for our rural communities and supported USDA funding that helps them provide essential services for Michigan residents."" Local governments applied for the funds throughthe USDA's Community Facilities Direct Loan Program and the Rural Business Development Grants program. A list of the grants and loans being made in the Fourth District is below. Clare County $545,000 loan to purchase and update a new building for Clare County Senior Services. City of Beaverton $1.6 million loan for the construction of a public works and law enforcement building. $425,000 loan to upgrade Glidden Street into an all-season, all-weather, Class A road. City of Gladwin $75,000 grant to complete a streetscape improvement project in the downtown area. City of Harrison $280,000 loan to purchase a new tanker truck for the fire department. $25,000 grant for a project that will improve the downtown streetscape. City of Midland $190,000 grant to improve infrastructure along Saginaw Road. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://moolenaar.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/statement-passing-former-ambassador-peter-secchia,Statement on the Passing of Former Ambassador Peter Secchia,2020-10-21,2020,2020-10,Republican,Senate,MI,John Moolenaar,M001194,moolenaar.house.gov,,,legacy,"Today, former Ambassador and Michigan philanthropist Peter Secchia passed away at the age of 83. Secchia, was the majority owner of Universal Forest Products, and a philanthropist in the Grand Rapids area and across the state. He served as America's ambassador to Italy and San Marino from 1989 to 1993. ""For decades, Peter Secchia was a leader in business, government, and caring about people. His endeavors have made a positive difference for the people of Michigan and he will be missed by all those who knew him, said Congressman John Moolenaar. I first met Peter in 1986. He had a larger-than-life personality and he was all-in with everythinghe did. Today, my prayers are with his wife Joan, his family, and his friends here in Michigan and around the world."" ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401671,"Upton, Problem Solvers Caucus encourage Trump, Congressional leaders to continue COVID-19 relief negotiations",2020-10-20,2020,2020-10,Republican,Senate,MI,Fred Upton,U000031,upton.house.gov,,,legacy,"ST. JOSEPH, Mich. U.S. Rep. Fred Upton (R-St. Joseph) and his Problem Solvers Caucus (PSC) colleagues sent a letter to President Donald Trump and Congressional leaders encouraging them to continue negotiating on a COVID-19 relief package that includes immediate assistance to support families, small businesses, and schools as well as a resolution for a national testing strategy. We are only 14 days away from the election, after which the prospect of moving stimulus legislation forward is very dim until early February, Upton and his PSC colleagues wrote.Every day that passes is another missed opportunity to deliver relief for American families and businesses who will continue to suffer needlessly as a result of Congress failing to do its job. Their letter includes three recommendations to help reach a bipartisan deal that could pass the House, Senate, and be signed by the President: The Administration should follow through on its public comments and formally resolve the issue of including a national testing strategy. The Senate should schedule a vote on a broader compromise proposal once produced that meets the urgent needs of the American people. Remaining disagreements about the negotiators are solvable, and PSC stands ready to help resolve final issues. Upton and the PSC have been repeatedly calling for Congressional leaders to reach and agreement to help those who are in the most need. On September 15, Upton joined PSC to unveil their March To Common Ground framework to help break the gridlock on the latest COVID-19 relief package and encourage negotiators to get back to the table.That framework can be seenhere. The Problem Solvers Caucus is a bipartisan group made up of 25 Republicans and 25 Democrats in the House. Upton is a vice-chair of PSC. Their full letter can be seen here or below. Dear President Trump, Speaker Pelosi, Leader McCarthy, Leader McConnell, and Leader Schumer: As this public health and economic crisis continues to disrupt our nation, it is critical Congress act immediately to pass bipartisan relief legislation that can be signed into law. The fact is time is running out for the American people. We are only 14 days away from the election, after which the prospect of moving stimulus legislation forward is very dim until early February. Every day that passes is another missed opportunity to deliver relief for American families and businesses who will continue to suffer needlessly as a result of Congress failing to do its job. We believe the following steps must be taken to push a bipartisan relief deal across the finish line: First, we urge the Administration to follow through on its public comments and formally resolve the issue of including a national testing strategy in a broader stimulus package as submitted by Speaker Pelosi. Second, while we appreciate Majority Leader McConnell's decision to schedule a vote on a ""skinny"" $500 billion COVID-19 relief package, it does not go nearly far enough. More must be done. Given the broad, bipartisan support in Congress, and in the Administration, for a compromise proposal, we respectfully request the Senate also schedule a vote on a broader compromise proposal once produced that meets the urgent needs of the American people. While the package may not be perfect, it is clear the compromise proposal will be comprehensive and will contain key provisions that address the greatest areas of need for the American people. Third, we know there may be remaining issues to be resolved between the negotiators, but it appears those issues are certainly solvable. We stand ready to help, if there is anything we can do to help close the gaps. We know if there is a will, there is a way to find common ground. The bottom line: our families, businesses, and local communities don't have the luxury of time so Washington can continue its partisan games. We must do our job and do it now. We stand ready to work with all of you, and are prepared to take any action to ensure we pass a bipartisan relief deal as soon as possible. Thank you for staying at the table. Sincerely,",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://moolenaar.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/moolenaar-honors-emergency-workers-beaverton,Moolenaar Honors Emergency Workers in Beaverton,2020-10-20,2020,2020-10,Republican,Senate,MI,John Moolenaar,M001194,moolenaar.house.gov,,,legacy,"Today, Congressman John MoolenaarhonoredtwoGladwin County emergency workersat the Beaverton Activity Center for the work they did during the flooding earlier this year. At a ceremony this morning, Moolenaarpresented Certificates of Special Congressional Recognition to Gladwin County Sheriff Michael Shea and Beaverton resident Marty Govitz for the actions they took to protect residents during the flooding. ""You put the people of your community before yourself, and we are grateful for all that you did that night to keep people safe, said Congressman Moolenaar duringthe presentation to the two men. Sheriff Michael Shea (left) and Marty Govitz (right) receive Certificates of Special Congressional Recognition from Congressman John Moolenaar (center). During the flooding, Sheriff Shea evacuated residents living below the Wiggins Lake Dam and then stayed onsite for twelve more hours, shoveling dirt, and limiting damage to the dam. He was recommended for special recognition by Dave Pettersech, the manager of the Gladwin County Road Commission who said, From making sure everyone was evacuated, to shoveling sand for 12 hours during the middle of the night, I think what[Sheriff Shea] did for Gladwin County was heroic."" At the same time, Govitz was working to keep the Wildwood Road culvert from washing out. His efforts went on through the night, and after 5 AM he and his team succeeded in holding the road and saving the culvert. Petteresch estimates that Govitz's efforts likelysaved the Secord Dam from failing and prevented millions of dollars in damage to Wildwood Road and the community. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://walberg.house.gov/media/in-the-news/hillsdale-daily-news-walberg-celebrates-angels-adoption,Hillsdale Daily News: Walberg celebrates Angels in Adoption,2020-10-16,2020,2020-10,Republican,Senate,MI,Tim Walberg,W000798,walberg.house.gov,,,legacy,"HILLSDALE Congressman Tim Walberg recognized Tim and Michelle Haylett of Hillsdale this week as the 2020 Angels in Adoption from Michigan's 7th Congressional District. Angels in Adoption is a program of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI) that provides an opportunity for Members of Congress to honor constituents who have enriched the lives of foster children and orphans. The Hayletts exemplify what it means to be a loving neighbor that faithfully serves those around them, said Walberg. Over the past several years, Tim and Michelle have opened their home to numerous foster children and helped many more through their advocacy in the court system. It is an honor to recognize such an incredible couple and celebrate their deep compassion and commitment to children in need. Tim and Michelle Haylett knew for years that they wanted to be short-term, emergency foster parents for children facing challenging home situations. After their three sons were grown, Tim and Michelle carefully designed a place affectionately called Camp Haylett, which has served 35 foster children in the past three years. In addition to being foster parents, the Hayletts are part of Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Hillsdale, a non-profit organization that advocates for foster children in the court system. Tim serves as CASA's Board President, and Michelle is a volunteer. This article originally appeared in the October 16 edition of the Hillsdale Daily News.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://huizenga.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401202,Huizenga Statement Confirming Positive COVID-19 PCR Test,2020-10-15,2020,2020-10,Republican,Senate,MI,Bill Huizenga,H001058,huizenga.house.gov,,,legacy,"Huizenga Statement Confirming Positive COVID-19 PCR Test Washington, October 15, 2020 Today, Congressman Huizenga released the following statement confirming the results of his PCR test confirming that he is positive for the coronavirus. Quick update: I have received my results from the PCR test confirming that I am positive for COVID-19. I will continue... Posted by Rep. Bill Huizenga onThursday, October 15, 2020",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://huizenga.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401203,Huizenga announces positive COVID-19 result via rapid test,2020-10-14,2020,2020-10,Republican,Senate,MI,Bill Huizenga,H001058,huizenga.house.gov,,,legacy,"Huizenga announces positive COVID-19 result via rapid test Washington, October 14, 2020 Earlier today, Congressman Huizenga announced he was self-isolating after testing positive for COVID-19. Earlier today, I was expected to appear with the Vice President. While taking part in offsite testing protocols, I took a rapid test that came back positive for COVID-19. I am awaiting the results of a PCR test and I am self isolating until I have confirmed results. Rep. Bill Huizenga (@RepHuizenga) October 14, 2020",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401670,"@MyKitchenTable - October 14, 2020",2020-10-14,2020,2020-10,Republican,Senate,MI,Fred Upton,U000031,upton.house.gov,,,legacy,"@MyKitchenTable: Wednesday, October 14, 2020 Dear Friend: While the D.C. scene is dominated by the Senate Judiciary Committee SCOTUS hearings, the discussions continued on a COVID relief package that have been stalled for months. The former Chrysler CEO, Lee Iacocca, said, We are continually faced by great opportunities brilliantly disguised as insoluble problems. That is, in essence, the current state of affairs as discussions continue between the White House and Congressional leaders. We're close, but no cigar yet, for sure. Roll Call reported earlier today that talks were snagged over testing and liability issues, and more talks between Speaker Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Mnuchin are planned on Thursday, which you can read HERE. Yesterday, CNN's Wolf Bitzer and Speaker Pelosi sparred on a COVID package and asked her to respond to a tweet from a progressive democrat colleague who wrote, People in need can't wait until February!"" Our bipartisan Problem Solver's Caucus (PSC) was cited in the story as being vocal and instrumental urging the congressional leadership to move forward on a solution. You can see that story HERE. Last week the PSC membership heard from the United Airlines CEO who told us the state of the industry is now furloughing tens of thousands of workers and losing money in a major way. I am concerned that as they hemorrhage assets, their service to smaller regional airports like Kalamazoo and South Bend and even larger airports like Grand Rapids and Lansing seem to be at real risk. Along those lines, today Delta posted a $5.4B loss in the 3rd quarter and predicted that the industry would not recover until spring, which you can read HERE. Saturday, another PSC Vice-Chair, Tom Suozzi (D-NY) and I participated in NPR's All things considered and discussed the role of the PSC and our work to try and get something done for the American public. Whether it be another round of PPP for our small businesses, liability relief, additional stimulus checks, aid for our educators and health providers, or airline aid, it is really not acceptable to fail in passing a bipartisan proposal that the president can sign. You can hear that NPR segment HERE. Earlier in the week, Senate Majority Leader McConnell did indicate that the Senate would vote on a targeted COVID package next week that will include more aid for small businesses hit hard by the pandemic. Remember, under Senate rules, it will need 60 votes to proceed to debate and a vote, something that failed in the last attempt last month. You can read that story from The Hill HERE. The president's economic advisor, Larry Kudlow (he was OMB's Econ chief when I headed Congressional Affairs there in 1984 and our offices were across the hall), predicted on CNN Sunday that the Senate GOPs would Go along with the White House stimulus proposal. You can see The Hill story HERE. In July, I visited the Kalamazoo Pfizer facility where they intend to produce some 40M COVID-19 vaccine doses before the end of the year. Their FDA trial continues with the hopeful expectation that they will receive an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) that will then allow it to be dispensed across the country. It is my understanding that production has now started, and I learned then that the produced vaccine would have to be stored at an average of 100 degrees below zero. Roll Call wrote a story that there may be a shortage of dry ice and deep freezers to contain the vaccine. CEO Albert Bourla, as his counterparts have echoed, said that they will not cut corners on the safety approval process. You can read that Roll Call story HERE. The Detroit News reported a second COVID vaccine trial with a division of Johnson & Johnson and the University of Michigan hospital system. They will begin recruiting some 60K trial participants immediately through Operation Warp Speed and you can read that story HERE. Earlier today I participated in the Southwestern Michigan Association of Health Underwriters zoom. I predicted that we would see an extension of the Employer tax exclusion and Flexible Spending Accounts before the end of the year. COVID has clearly affected both businesses and individual's pocket books as the open season for participation opened months before COVID and many Americans have delayed non-essential medical procedures because of it. I also predicted that we will end surprise billings in a bipartisan way prior to the end of the year. I was questioned on the possibility of a Medicare for All option that would severely limit private insurance options for many Americans and reminded the audience that even Joe Biden has voiced his public opposition. In closing, I chuckled at another Lee Iacocca quote, We at Chrysler borrow money the old-fashioned way...We pay it back. Yes, I remember when that legislation moved through the Congress in the 70's and helped write the bipartisan auto rescue plan with John Dingell that saved them all initiated under President Bush and completed under President Obama. Yes, the money was paid back. Michigan never would have recovered without the help. Now the whole country is watching again and from my perspective, we cannot wait until next year for the help that is so desperately needed. Hopefully, we'll get the call that the Senate can pass something next week. God Bless, Fred Upton",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401663,"Upton pushes for Brandon Road Lock and Dam, other Great Lakes priorities",2020-10-09,2020,2020-10,Republican,Senate,MI,Fred Upton,U000031,upton.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, today joined a bipartisan group of lawmakers in sending a letter to Transportation and Infrastructure Committee leadership asking that they include the Brandon Road Lock and Dam construction be authorized at an 80 percent federal cost share among other Great Lakes priorities - in the final agreement on this year's Water Resources Development Act. The Brandon Road Lock and Dam is a critical chokepoint in the Chicago waterway system and serves a critically important role in helping prevent Asian Carp from entering the Great Lakes. This project, as proposed in Section 402 of the House WRDA bill, is of national significance and impacts the health and ecosystem of the entire Great Lakes basin, the lawmakers wrote. Asian carp pose a grave risk to the Great Lakes, from our world class $7 billion fishing industry, $16 billion recreational boating industry, and the hundreds of thousands of jobs that these and other industries support. The full letter can be viewed here or below. Dear Chair DeFazio, Chairwoman Napolitano, Ranking Member Graves, and Ranking Member Westerman: We write as the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee seeks a final agreement on this year's Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). Moving toward conference, we believe the House is in a strong negotiating position. Both WRDA and the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) were approved with overwhelming bipartisan support on the House floor. As you craft final legislation on a WRDA package, we ask the House to advocate for provisions intended to support the Great Lakes. We respectfully request that the final package include the 80 percent federal cost share and full authorization for the Brandon Road project, a full 5-year reauthorization and funding increase for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative as proposed by the GLRI Act (H.R. 4031), and the Great Lakes Resiliency Study contained in Section 207 of the House-passed WRDA bill. Great Lakes Restoration Initiative: Because of your support and leadership, earlier this year the House overwhelmingly passed H.R. 4031 with over two-thirds support. The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee has also considered the issue, as part of S. 3591, the America's Water Infrastructure Act, which it reported out in May. However, that legislation only included a 1-year reauthorization and funding increase. The successes and partnerships responsible for restoring and protecting our waters rely on the GLRI's multi-year authorization to provide funding certainty for years to come. Therefore, we ask that you advocate for the inclusion of the House-passed GLRI Act, H.R. 4031, because long-term projects critical to the remediation of toxic hotspots and the restoration of the Great Lakes ecosystem depend on sustained, reliable funding. Brandon Road: We also request that the House insist that the Brandon Road Lock and Dam construction be authorized at an 80 percent federal cost share. This project, as proposed in Section 402 of the House WRDA bill, is of national significance and impacts the health and ecosystem of the entire Great Lakes basin. Asian carp pose a grave risk to the Great Lakes, from our world class $7 billion fishing industry, $16 billion recreational boating industry, and the hundreds of thousands of jobs that these and other industries support. The project has now been favorably reported in the 2019 Chief's Report. With its favorable economic and environmental benefits, the project justifies a special cost share adjustment as proposed by the House. Coastal Resiliency: We also support expansion of the Coastal Resiliency Study. Section 207 of the House-passed WRDA bill contains critical provisions which would clarify the scope of the Great Lakes Coastal Resiliency Study. Resilience has become a growing concern due to the continued deterioration of conditions in the Great Lakes region. Rising temperatures, longer growing seasons, increased precipitation, and more extreme weather events are all contributing factors to the declining conditions throughout the Great Lakes region. Investing in the resilience of the Great Lakes is a worthwhile effort, as the National Institute of Building Science found that every $1 spent on resilience can save $6 on disaster and mitigation costs. The Great Lakes define our region's way of life, provide drinking water for 40 million Americans, and are at the heart of a binational economy that is the 3rd largest in the world. These Great Lakes priorities will help improve lives across Great Lakes communities. Tremendous progress is leading to a resurgence in water-based outdoor recreation as well as increased tourism, housing options, and home values. Additionally, progress is leading to an increasing number of young people staying in or relocating to Great Lakes communities. Once again, we urge the House to insist on inclusion of an 80% federal cost share for construction of the Brandon Road Lock and Dam, to include the Great Lakes Costal Resiliency Study language as approved by the House, and to ensure that the House-passed GLRI Act be included in any final WRDA package. These priorities represent bipartisan and bicameral priorities supported by our multi-state and bipartisan Great Lakes delegation. Sincerely,",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401667,Upton statement on COVID-19 outbreak at a west Michigan mink farm,2020-10-09,2020,2020-10,Republican,Senate,MI,Fred Upton,U000031,upton.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, today penned letters to U.S. Department of Agriculture Under Secretary Gregory Ibach and CDC Director Robert Redfield after learning about cases of minks infected with SARS-CoV-2 at a west Michigan farm. Upton is concerned about how the outbreak at the farm could impact the public health and safety as well as the impact it could have Michigan's agriculture community. Upton is requesting the CDC to deploy a CDC One Health field team to support Michigan's public health and animal health partners with an on-farm investigation into the people and animals infected or exposed to SARS-CoV-2. The CDC's One Health collaborative is uniquely positioned to help Michigan in mitigating the impact of this SARSCoV-2 outbreak, Upton wrote. Their assistance will be vital as we continue to asses and contain the infected wildlife population. Upton is also requesting additional information from the USDA. As we experience the worst public health crisis in a century, the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic necessitates our most serious obligation to protect the health of our citizens, Upton wrote. We have learned about potential cases of minks infected with SARS-CoV-2 at a Michigan farm. This must be addressed to ensure the safety of farmers, their workers, and the surrounding community. In the letter to USDA, Upton asks the agency for answers to five specific questions: According to the CDC the risk of animals spreading COVID-19 to people is considered to be low, however even one case of COVID-19 is one too many. Is there any evidence of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from mink to humans, or from mink to other animals? What is USDA doing to identify and contain the spread of at mink farms? What guidance is given once an infection is identified? i. Are infected animals quarantined or euthanized? How is this information transmitted to state agricultural agencies? How is USDA and APHIS coordinating with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to mitigate the spread of SARS-CoV-2 at mink farms? Given the fragile state of the agricultural economy, if an outbreak were to occur, what resources does USDA offer to assist farmers should they encounter a loss from SARS-CoV-2 infected minks?",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401669,"@MyKitchenTable - October 9, 2020",2020-10-09,2020,2020-10,Republican,Senate,MI,Fred Upton,U000031,upton.house.gov,,,legacy,"Dear Friend: Walt Disney said, Get a good idea and stay with it. Dog it, and work at it until it's done, and done right. One could certainly say that about our bipartisan Problem Solver's Caucus (PSC) efforts for a COVID relief package. We have not given up and after I filed my Kitchen Table report on Tuesday when the president told Secretary Mnuchin to back off on negotiations, I spent much of the night communicating with the White House and fellow colleagues on the need to still move forward. Citing the Federal Reserve's Chairman who said on Tuesday that the economy would be threatened with a recession without a stimulus package - we simply could not give up. As we close the week, I am encouraged that we may reach an agreement that the president will support, which will provide assistance to the most needy dealing with this pandemic. The President tweeted this morning, Covid Relief Negotiations are moving along. Go Big! which you can see HERE. The PSC co-chairs, Tom Reed (R-NY) and Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) released a statement saying, Just a few weeks back, the bipartisan framework that the Problem Solvers Caucus unveiled helped restart negotiations. Now that the negotiators are back at the table, let's get a bipartisan deal across the finish line. You can read their full statement HERE. You can read the latest CNN story on the negotiationsHERE. In fact, NPR has asked two of the PSC members to be on their national show Saturday at 5pm and I will join Tom Suozzi (D-NY) hosted by Michel Martin. Tom and I spent a lot of zoom hours the past month with our PSC working group to develop the proposal we were determined to inspire our respective leaders to embrace. Waiting to try and put humpty dumpy back together again a month from now following the election is just way too long to try and help those that need it most. My offices have been flooded with calls from constituents wondering if there will be another round of stimulus checks. I've been meeting with a number of small businesses about their needs (I participated on a zoom call yesterday with the Small Business Association of Michigan (SBAM) with perhaps thousands of Michigan small businesses across the state) and with restaurants, hotel and entertainment industry businesses wondering how they would survive. Again, I've zoomed with a number of local government officials who have additional COVID expenses and declining revenues and school superintendents who have additional expenses. There's been a failure to adopt liability relief. The list of challenges is growing. Some airlines are losing a staggering $70M/day with billions lost already this year. There have been some 30K layoffs in the last week and the fingers are really being pointed at smaller regional airports that serve us in SW Michigan. The list of impacts is long and serious -- and enough is enough. I do believe that our economy will recover but any delay in this next package will only further delay restoring the economy we all want. I am encouraged that we may see this proposal emerge publicly with hopefully swift action by the House and Senate. Other news. In consultation with my school superintendents, I initiated a letter to the Dept. of Education asking that they grant additional student assessment waivers for this school year. With so many schools doing distance learning, we want the information to be correct on the collection of data that otherwise may be skewed. I asked fellow Michigan colleagues to join with me. I joined with a bipartisan group of fellow Great Lakes colleagues requesting the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee include the Brandon Road Lock and Dam construction to be authorized at 80% federal share in the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). You may remember last year when Senator Stabenow and I led our Michigan delegation to this Illinois site where we hope this construction will prevent the Asian Carp from moving further north and into Lake Michigan. We hope to get this legislation to the president's desk before the year is out. The Corps of Engineers has been very supportive of our delegation's efforts. You can see that letter HERE. I joined with dozens of colleagues on a letter requesting that the SBA and Treasury issue guidance for the PPP (Paycheck Protection money for small businesses) for forgiveness for loans under $150K. The Administration submitted an interim final rule that allows for simplified forgiveness for loans, but it is viewed as still too burdensome for many. As noted in the letter, estimates range from $2,000-$4,000 to comply. The legislation I introduced several months ago (HR 7777) would provide simplified forgiveness for less than $150K and accounts for 87% of the more than 5M loans approved, which would save some $7B in compliance costs. You can see that letter HERE. Wednesday I was in Cass County meeting with local officials on an exciting new project. In fact, I suggested that it was the largest economic jobs package for Cass County in recent memory. Midwest Energy has proposed working with federal, state, local, and private firms on a new industrial park just east of Cassopolis on adjacent property. CN Railroad has signed off on breaking their track and installing a spur that could truly add as many as 1,000 decent paying jobs in the near future. Midwest Energy has been approached (vs the other way around) by 6-8 businesses that are looking to make decisions literally in the next couple months. I agreed to approach the EDA with my full support to try and make this a launch. Both State Senator Kim LaSata and State Rep. Aaron Miller joined with me in the presentation. I joined with colleagues all over the state in condemning the actions that threatened our Governor and her family. The cooperative work by our law enforcement at all levels was critical to prevent a true tragedy and praise goes to all that serve. Lost in the news this week was news of a mink farm here in west Michigan where hundreds of mink have died of COVID. I am working with the Governor's office and the Dept. of Agriculture to try and ensure the safety of the farm workers and the community as we learn more about the situation. Learn more HERE. Lastly, I joined a bipartisan group of three dozen lawmakers requesting that the Administration combat PFAS chemicals in educational and childcare facilities across the country. I will keep you posted on their response. Have a safe weekend and I look forward to reporting back to you next week! Fred Upton",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://moolenaar.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/new-grant-invests-stem-education-partnership-between-ferris-state-and,New Grant Invests in STEM Education Partnership Between Ferris State and Michigan High Schools,2020-10-09,2020,2020-10,Republican,Senate,MI,John Moolenaar,M001194,moolenaar.house.gov,,,legacy,"Today, theU.S. Department of Agriculture announced that Ferris State University has been awarded a grant for its STEM education partnership with Michigan high schools. The $669,216 grant will be used by Ferris State to equip 17 rural high schools and three career and technical education centers throughout Michigan with virtual reality programs. These virtual reality programs will promote Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM)courses in 11 counties across the state. Congressman John Moolenaar, through his work on the House Appropriations Committee, hasvoted for fundingDepartment of Agriculture's grant programs that invest in Michigan's rural communities. ""Michigan students will benefit from this outstanding partnership between Ferris State and their school. The new opportunities they will have in the classroom to use these virtual reality tools will help them learn vital lessons in STEM education and prepare them for good-paying jobs in the future, said Congressman Moolenaar.""I am a long-time supporter of STEM education and I am glad the Trump Administration and USDA are investing in Ferris State's partnership with ourschools and career education centers."" Schools and career education centersin Isabella,Mecosta, Missaukee, Montcalm, Osceola, and Wexford counties are expected to participate inthe program. More information regarding the grant can be found here. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://huizenga.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401204,Huizenga Statement on FBI Stopping A Plot to Kidnap Governor Whitmer,2020-10-08,2020,2020-10,Republican,Senate,MI,Bill Huizenga,H001058,huizenga.house.gov,,,legacy,"Huizenga Statement on FBI Stopping A Plot to Kidnap Governor Whitmer Washington, October 8, 2020 Today, Congressman Bill Huizenga released the following statement after it was announced federal agents had uncovered and foiled a plot to kidnap Governor Whitmer. Thank you to the men and women of the FBI who thwarted the alleged plot to kidnap Governor Whitmer. This is an... Posted by Rep. Bill Huizenga onThursday, October 8, 2020",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401661,Upton receives agriculture award for efforts to support southwest Michigan farmers and producer,2020-10-08,2020,2020-10,Republican,Senate,MI,Fred Upton,U000031,upton.house.gov,,,legacy,"KALAMAZOO, Mich. U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, today accepted the 2020 Friend of Farm Bureau award from the American Farm Bureau for his efforts to support southwest Michigan's agriculture community during the 116thCongress. Agriculture is the backbone of southwest Michigan, and I am so honored to receive the Friend of Farm Bureau recognition,Upton said.Our farmers, growers, and producers literally help feed the world. In these tough times with such uncertainty, we know we can certainly count on our ag community. They've got our backs and I'll always have theirs. Congressman Fred Upton has been a relentless champion for agriculture during his tenure in Washington, said Carl Bednarski, President of the Michigan Farm Bureau. He selflessly gives our farmer leaders his most valuable resourcetimetime spent at Farm Bureau meetings and on farms. And he understands and fights for the issues that matter most to farmers. From the issues of burdensome regulation to trade agreements, to labor shortages, Upton has stood by our farmers and worked tirelessly to make meaningful change. Upton has a long track record of supporting southwest Michigan's agriculture community. In this Congress, Upton was a leader in helping usher through the landmark new trade deal, the USMCA, which will helpAmerican dairy producers be more competitive. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Upton has worked with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to advocate for specialty crops and more flexibility for producers. He also advocated for more PPE for farm workers to bolster food safety and secure supply. Upton last year led the state's Congressional delegation in fighting for disaster relief after for the state's agriculture community following historic and damaging weather conditions. The Friend of Farm Bureau award is given at the end of each Congress to Members of the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate who were nominated by their respective state Farm Bureaus and approved by the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Board of Directors.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://moolenaar.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/new-well-be-built-secord-township,New Well to Be Built in Secord Township,2020-10-07,2020,2020-10,Republican,Senate,MI,John Moolenaar,M001194,moolenaar.house.gov,,,legacy,"Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Office of Rural Development announced a$19,300 grant for the Secord Township Fire Department to use for the construction of a new well. Because of the dam failures in May and the resulting lowered lake levels, the fire department is no longer able to use the lake water to fill its trucks. ""Our first responders did an incrediblejobwhen they safely evacuated 11,000 people without injury or loss of life when the dams failed earlier this year. This new funding will help the Secord Township Fire Department continue its work to protect the community and keep people safe, said Congressman John Moolenaar. Over the past few months, I have brought top officials from the federal government to meet with local leaders and those efforts have helpedour communityrebuild with millionsof dollarsin FEMA assistance and grantslikethe one we receivedtoday."" On August 11, Moolenaar welcomed Bette Brand, Deputy Undersecretary for Rural Development at USDA, to mid Michigan to meet with local leaders about the ways USDA could help communities rebuild. During her two days in the area, she met with community leadersincluding officials from Midland and Gladwin counties. Secord Township will spend $15,820 in addition to the grant from USDA to complete the project. Additional information regarding the grant can be found here. Congressman John Moolenaar (second from left) meets with Bette Brand, Deputy Undersecretary for Rural Development at USDA (far right), as well as Jason Allen, USDA State Director of Rural Development for Michigan (far left), and Bob North, Emergency Management Director of Gladwin County (second from right) on August 11 near Wixom Lake. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401660,"@MyKitchenTable - October 6, 2020",2020-10-06,2020,2020-10,Republican,Senate,MI,Fred Upton,U000031,upton.house.gov,,,legacy,"October 6, 2020 @MyKitchenTable: Tuesday, October 6, 2020 Dear Friend: My friend and fellow Energy and Commerce Committee member, Mike Doyle (D-PA), spoke at last week's congressional prayer breakfast in the Capitol. His scripture reading was 2 Corinthians 4:18. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen but on what is unseen. Since what is seen is temporary but what is unseen is eternal. Let's hope that some unseen work occurs in the next day or two to make sure that there is a lifeline for recovery from this pandemic that did not end at Easter. As I begin to write today's KT, it is wholly different from what I would have started writing this morning. This morning I was hopeful that we were beginning to close in on a bipartisan deal that would provide the necessary relief to so many that are hurting. PPP, stimulus checks, money for our schools due to their added expenses, help for our cities, counties, and townships based on real added expenses and losses of revenues with firewalls to make sure it didn't bail out non-Covid expenses (Illinois pension funds being the poster child), help for the airlines that otherwise will fail and may never recover, broadband, liability relief, testing resources. Many of these items were agreed to by the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus and formally presented in our March to Common Ground proposal released two weeks ago. Discussions continued through the weekend and hopes were that by the end of this week, a formal framework could be signed-off, and the legislative text could be written and perhaps ready to vote on by the end of next week. I was optimistic, and you can hear my optimism when I was on Michigan's Big Show with Michael Patrick Shiels yesterday morning, which you can listen to HERE. The rumors were good ones....until this afternoon. Speaker Pelosi tried Thursday night to pass another purely partisan bill but it did not include liability relief which is a bottom-line demand by the Senate majority as well as a good number of us in the House. It also included a number of poison pills. She muscled it through and ten Republican House Members were not there to vote, and it passed 214-207. No partisan bill narrowly passed will ever get the attention of the other body in such a situation. DOA...as this version was accurately defined. Still, the work went on through the weekend. One of the major airline's CEOs reached out to the House democrat leadership and indicated the tens of thousands of airline layoffs would be real. Let's face it, many observers would wonder if they would ever get their feet on the ground or their wings in the air if allowed to fail. Before I could board my plane back to Michigan, Pelosi sent the public word that she was prepared to bring a stand-alone bill that would provide the resources for the airlines. Late today, the president's tweet that negotiations would not resume until after the election could well mean no deal until next year. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said today that Congress should err on the side of overdoing it with the next economic relief bill, saying a conservative approach could imperil a rebound from the coronavirus recession. You can see that Politico story HERE or a CNN story HERE. Let's hope together that something unseen is happening behind the curtain and we can get back on track. There is some evidence that the door is not quite shut and locked. NIH Director Francis Collins posted a story worth reading: Rogue Antibodies and Gene Mutations explain some cases of severe COVID-19. This funded research explains why some infected individuals bounce back right away and some become critically ill. You can read that story HERE. Beginning 10/1, American hospitals can purchase Veklury (remdesivir) directly from the drug's distributor. Over the past five months, the U.S. government has overseen the allocation and distribution of Veklury due to the drug's limited supply to ensure fair and equitable distribution to COVID patients. The current supply exceeds market demand. Gilead anticipates producing sufficient quantities of Veklury to meet current needs and future demands from any waves of infections and hospitals will continue to pay no more than Gilead's wholesale acquisition price of approximately $3,200/treatment. You can read the full story HERE. Earlier today I participated in a zoom call with a number of school-community health alliance members and students across our district. They were ecstatic with the House passage last week of the Reauthorization of the school-based health center legislation. I was an original GOP leader in the effort that moved through the Energy and Commerce Committee a few weeks ago. The legislation provides greater access to health care particularly in the underserved population and provides real preventive health care services with cost-effective and substantial savings. Something unseen perhaps in the general community with real impact on the lives of the most vulnerable. All the best,",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://mitchell.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-mitchells-office-host-service-academy-day-1013,Congressman Mitchell's Office to Host Service Academy Day on 10/13,2020-10-06,2020,2020-10,Republican,Senate,MI,Paul Mitchell,M001201,mitchell.house.gov,,,legacy,"Shelby Township, Mich. On Tuesday, October 13th, the Office of Congressman Paul Mitchell is hosting a virtual Service Academy Day. This is an opportunity for students interested in the Service Academies to learn what each school has to offer and what is necessary to attend an academy. Representatives from each academy, as well as staff members from the office, will provide information about the admissions process as well as answer questions. Details: What: Service Academy Day When: Tuesday, October 13th, 6:00 p.m. Where: An RSVP is required to receive the Zoom call information. Please visit https://forms.gle/JzW78v3znzULai57A to RSVP. For more information on the service academy nomination process, click here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://moolenaar.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/moolenaar-statement-stimulus-negotiations,Moolenaar Statement on the Stimulus Negotiations,2020-10-06,2020,2020-10,Republican,Senate,MI,John Moolenaar,M001194,moolenaar.house.gov,,,legacy,"Today, discussions between Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi regarding rebuilding the American economy came to end with no agreement reached. ""Many Michigan families and small businesses are hurting. That's why I've been working to re-open the Paycheck Protection Program. There's $138 billion of relief in there that's already been approved by Congress, but Speaker Pelosi and House Democrats are blocking the bill that would re-opentheprogram andallowthe funding togoto small businessessothey canpay their employees and keep the lights on, said Congressman John Moolenaar. ""My constituents also tell me their biggest priority is relief for hardworking families and small businesses, followed by our schools and first responders. Speaker Pelosi is denying that relief, while insisting Michigan taxpayers pay for bailouts for California and New York which had major budget problems even before the pandemic. It's time for Speaker Pelosi to drop these demands and stop blocking legislation that would help Michigan workers and small businesses, added Moolenaar. A study by Bloomberg News foundthePaycheck Protection Programsupports more than 93 percent of the small businessjobs in Michigan's Fourth CongressionalDistrict. Source: Bloomberg News ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401659,Upton: Take action to protect drinking water in schools,2020-10-02,2020,2020-10,Republican,Senate,MI,Fred Upton,U000031,upton.house.gov,,,legacy,"Upton: Take action to protect drinking water in schools WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, today joined a bipartisan group of lawmakers in sending a letter to EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler, U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, and U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar urging them to take comprehensive and urgent measures to identify and remediate PFAS chemicals in the drinking water of schools and child care facilities across the country. The lawmakers provide eight specific steps the Administration should take. Based on available state data, at least 110 schools and child care facilities have tested positive for PFAS in their drinking water across the country. Current studies show that PFAS exposure may affect growth, learning and behavior of infants and older children and have been linked to cancer and damage to both reproductive and immune systems in adults. Exposure to PFAS can even reduce the effectiveness of vaccines. Reports indicating the close proximity of schools and child care facilities to PFAS contaminants is all the more alarming and calls for swift action to protect the health of American children, Upton and the lawmakers wrote. The letter is below and available here. Dear Administrator Wheeler, Secretary DeVos and Secretary Azar: We write to express our concerns regarding possible toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the drinking water of our nation's schools and child care facilities. We urge you to protect the health of our children, families and communities by taking comprehensive and urgent measures to identify and remediate PFAS chemicals in the drinking water of schools and child care facilities across the country. A recent analysis of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and state data shows at least 27 schools and child care facilities in 18 states, including Michigan, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, that are located within 5,000 feet of manufacturers that are known or suspected of producing or using PFAS. Based on available state data, at least 110 schools and child care facilities have tested positive for PFAS in their drinking water across the country. These toxic chemicals present a serious danger to children and adults. Current studies show that PFAS exposure may affect growth, learning and behavior of infants and older children and have been linked to cancer and damage to both reproductive and immune systems in adults. Exposure to PFAS can even reduce the effectiveness of vaccines. PFAS chemicals are not yet regulated contaminants under the Safe Drinking Water Act, meaning schools are not required by federal law to test for the presence of PFAS in tap water, nor are they required to filter it out. Our understanding of the severity and scope of PFAS exposure in educational facilities at this time is limited, with most research coming from states, including Michigan, New Hampshire, Ohio and Vermont, who have recently initiated efforts to test for PFAS in school tap water. Thus, reports indicating the close proximity of schools and child care facilities to PFAS contaminants is all the more alarming and calls for swift action to protect the health of American children. We request that the EPA and U.S. Department of Education work together to combat PFAS chemicals in educational facilities and their surrounding communities by: 1. Finalizing the determination of PFAS chemicals as regulated contaminants under the Safe Drinking Water Act. 2. Enacting urgently needed national drinking water standards for all measurable PFAS chemicals, including but not limited to PFOA, PFOS and GenX, ensuring standards apply to educational facilities. 3. Creating national standards under the Clean Water Act restricting industrial discharges of PFAS chemicals, including industrial dischargers near schools and child care facilities. 4. Providing schools and child care facilities resources to test and report results for PFAS in facility drinking water systems, including school and municipal systems that serve fewer than 10,000 people and additional tests for school and child care facilities that obtain drinking water from local community water systems. 5. Developing a publicly accessible database of schools and child care facilities where PFAS is detected and a national notification system to alert families, students and workers at these facilities about possible exposure. 6. Working with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as state and local governments to provide parents, family members, students and workers information on the health hazards of PFAS exposure and applicable resources to seek health care, including blood testing. 7. Conducting a nationwide study on PFAS exposure in school and child care facilities, identifying avenues for exposure including in drinking water, school infrastructure such as carpeting and food packaging where PFAS chemicals could be present. 8. Providing guidance to schools and child care facilities on ways to reduce exposures to PFAS in items like cookware, food packaging, floor and furniture wax, carpeting and upholstery. We look forward to working with you to protect American families from the dangers of PFAS. Sincerely, ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://moolenaar.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/moolenaar-statement-president-trump-s-positive-covid-19-test,Moolenaar Statement on President Trumps Positive COVID-19 Test,2020-10-02,2020,2020-10,Republican,Senate,MI,John Moolenaar,M001194,moolenaar.house.gov,,,legacy,"""Today, I send my prayers and best wishes to President Trump and the First Lady as they fight this illness. I hope they make a quick and full recovery, said Congressman John Moolenaar. While scientists have made incredible progress in the efforts to defeat COVID-19, it is still a challenge for our nation, and I encourage everyone to continue to follow public health guidelines to protect the health of themselves and their families."" ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401656,Upton: Get back to the table and find the bipartisan sweet spot,2020-10-01,2020,2020-10,Republican,Senate,MI,Fred Upton,U000031,upton.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, issued the following statement on the latest COVID-19 relief negotiations. Tonight's bill passed 214-207, with 18 Democrats voting no, and all Republicans voting against the partisan measure. Folks need help. I hear from so many across southwest Michigan that this pandemic has presented one challenge after another. As much as we all wanted this over by Easter, it wasn't, and we need to do everything we can to improve it by Thanksgiving and Christmas. That's why I've repeatedly called for a bipartisan COVID-19 relief deal and worked day and night with the Problem Solvers Caucus on a framework that could have worked. Unfortunately, today the House voted on a partisan deal that won't even be considered by the Senate or the be signed by the President. It's no secret a large majority of Americans think our country is on the wrong track we can't even agree to deliver help in the worst public health crisis in a century. I am calling on the White House, Senate leadership, and House leadership to continue talks. Let's get back to the table and find the bipartisan sweet spot that can navigate the legislative process and help the most vulnerable, schools, airlines, cities, townships, and small businesses. On September 15, Upton and the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus unveiled their March To Common Ground framework to help break the gridlock on the latest COVID-19 relief package and encourage negotiators to get back to the table.That framework can be seen here",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://huizenga.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401201,"Huizenga Stands in Support of West Michigan Law Enforcement, Against Efforts to Defund the Police",2020-09-30,2020,2020-09,Republican,Senate,MI,Bill Huizenga,H001058,huizenga.house.gov,,,legacy,"Today, Congressman Bill Huizenga spoke in support of law enforcement officials across West Michigan and thanked them for their professionalism, dedication, and commitment to keeping our communities safe. Congressman Bill Huizenga Every day members of law enforcement put on their uniform not knowing if they are going to come home. These are mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, sons, and daughters. In an era of heightened rhetoric, I stand here today to say Thank You to our women and men in uniform. Recently we have seen a rise in attacks against police officers across the country and even in West Michigan. This month, officers in Muskegon Heights responded to a domestic disturbance where two people were shot, one of them murdered. A police chase ensued when a deputy encountered the suspect driving the wrong way. When the deputy tried to apprehend the suspect while driving, he was fired upon. Multiple departments, working together were able to use a police cruiser to disable the suspect's vehicle. Unbeknownst to the officers, there was also a developmentally disabled woman in the back seat who was recused and brought to safety. This incredible story follows a weekend where 11 shootings took place in Grand Rapids. Despite all this, some of my colleagues still think that defunding the police is a good idea. I am here to tell you it is NOT. This will only hurt community policing initiatives for the very communities that need it the most. So, thank you to the incredible men and women who serve West Michigan. We stand with you and appreciate your professionalism, your courage, and your dedication to our community.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401657,"@MyKitchenTable - September 30, 2020",2020-09-30,2020,2020-09,Republican,Senate,MI,Fred Upton,U000031,upton.house.gov,,,legacy,"@MyKitchenTable: Wednesday, September 30, 2020 ""The individual who says it is not possible should move out of the way of those doing it. Tricia Cunningham Here's who's working on a COVID-19 relief deal - the Problem Solvers Caucus. We ALL wanted the COVID-19 crisis over by Easter -- but it wasn't, and we need to take action immediately so we're not facing the same dire challenges at Thanksgiving and Christmas. Today we're making progress on a deal to provide relief to families, schools, and small businesses. As of publication time, we heard there would not be a vote tonight on a package, but negotiations toward a bipartisan deal are continuing. Secretary Mnuchin and Speaker Pelosi are continuing their conversations, and we are hopeful that we can reach a bipartisan deal between the House, Senate, and the White House. A vote on a BIPARTISAN COVID-19 relief deal could come tomorrow or even Friday. The Problem Solvers Caucus framework we released two weeks ago served as the spark to restart these negotiations, as Secretary Mnuchin pointed out HERE. The two chairmen of PSC Tom Reed (R-NY) and Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) noted they're hopeful (which you can see HERE) so am I. We have to keep talking. We can get a deal done. We're not there yet but we're close. Stay tuned. At the same time, we're also working to avoid a government shutdown. Tonight, the U.S. Senate is voting on a bipartisan continuing resolution that passed the U.S. House last week. This will keep the government open through December 11, and you can see more in Roll Call HERE. An updated on rapid COVID-19 testing. The Trump Administration has detailed the national distribution plan for the Abbott BinaxNOW Ag Card rapid test. This test is the only FDA-authorized antigen rapid point-of-care test that does not require an instrument is easy to use, will produce COVID-19 test results in 15 minutes, and costs $5.You can read more about the Administration's distribution planHERE. Johnson & Johnson made big news for west Michigan, announcing a contract with Grand River Aseptic Manufacturing to help manufacture Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine candidate, and you can read more HERE. Lastly, here are my thoughts on the debate which I shared in a statement with reporters today. I thought there might be a shortage of sand at Home Depot after the sandbox fight last night. Good grief. Folks across the board wanted a discussion on the issues not the food fight that bloodied both sides. I also join every Americans in denouncing white supremacy, and President Trump missed an opportunity to declare such last night in a clear and convincing way. All the best, Fred Upton",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://moolenaar.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/moolenaar-encourages-students-apply-service-academy-nominations,Moolenaar Encourages Students to Apply For Service Academy Nominations,2020-09-30,2020,2020-09,Republican,Senate,MI,John Moolenaar,M001194,moolenaar.house.gov,,,legacy,"The office of Congressman John Moolenaar is acceptingapplications from high school seniors for nominations to the U.S. militaryservice academies. ""Many of our nation'sleaders, past andpresent, have attendedthe service academies,and I encourage allthose whoareinterestedto apply for this year's nominations, said Congressman Moolenaar. Members of Congress nominate candidates for appointments to the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, NY; the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD; the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO; and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, NY. Students and parents who are interested about the application process can find more information online atmoolenaar.house.gov. Applications should be submitted to CongressmanMoolenaar's office by U.S. mail: Congressman John Moolenaar 200 East Main Street Suite 230 Midland, MI 48640 The deadline for applications is November 13. Additional questions regarding nominations can be directed to the office in Midland at 989-631-2552. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://moolenaar.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/moolenaar-welcomes-grants-first-responders,Moolenaar Welcomes Grants for First Responders,2020-09-30,2020,2020-09,Republican,Senate,MI,John Moolenaar,M001194,moolenaar.house.gov,,,legacy,"Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Office of Rural Development announced grantsthat will be used to purchase new equipment forfirst responders in threeFourth District communities. The Village of Elsie and Richfield Township both received grants to purchase newlaw enforcement patrol vehicles and the Mid-Michigan Community Fire Board in St. Louis received funding to purchase a new radio system. I am proud to support Michigan's first responders and the work they do to keep our communities safe, said Congressman John Moolenaar. This funding from USDA will provide updated equipment that our law enforcement officers and firefighters need toserve andprotect Michigan residents. Congressman Moolenaar is Michigan's senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, and a member of the subcommittee which has oversight over the Department of Agriculture. As a member of the committee, he has supported rural development funding that helps local communities meet the needs of Michigan residents. Additionally, Congressman Moolenaar has supported legislation in Congress to provide resources for law enforcement and first responders. The Village of Elsie and Richfield Township were awarded $42,000 and $24,000 respectively, and the Mid-Michigan Community Fire Board was awarded $32,000. They will each contribute additional funding to complete the projects. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://mitchell.house.gov/media/press-releases/mitchell-statement-future-defense-taskforce-report,Mitchell Statement on Future of Defense Taskforce Report,2020-09-29,2020,2020-09,Republican,Senate,MI,Paul Mitchell,M001201,mitchell.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Rep. Paul Mitchell (MI-10), a member of the House Armed Services Committee Future of Defense Task Force, released the following statement upon the release of the task force's final report. The bipartisan Future of Defense Task Force was chartered to review U.S. defense assets and capabilities and assess the state of the national security innovation base to meet emerging threats: The United States faces a critical moment in adapting our defense capabilities for the 21st century. We must ensure we are best equipped for next-generation threats to our national security in order to properly deter adversaries, and our resources must be strategically allocated to meet the needs of the future. This requires long-term thinking about all aspects of our defense, and a whole-of-nation approach is essential for harnessing American ingenuity to maintain our strategic superiority. Over the past year, the Future of Defense Task Force thoroughly examined these issues and today we released our report that outlines what we've learned and makes several recommendations. I am proud to have been part of this task force whose work can serve as a roadmap for our national security community and the American people. It is critical Congress continue these types of bipartisan efforts to ensure American leadership into the next century. To read the report, click here. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://walberg.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-passes-bipartisan-walberg-bill-strengthen-america-s-energy-cybersecurity,House Passes Bipartisan Walberg Bill to Strengthen Americas Energy Cybersecurity,2020-09-29,2020,2020-09,Republican,Senate,MI,Tim Walberg,W000798,walberg.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C.Today, the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed bipartisan legislation co-authored by Congressman Tim Walberg (R-MI) to bolster our nation's cyber defense and emergency response capabilities in the energy sector. Introduced with Congressman Bobby Rush (D-IL), the Energy Emergency Leadership Act (H.R. 362) elevates the Department of Energy's energy security and emergency functions to an Assistant Secretary level in agency leadership that is reflective of its importance across the agency, the government, and to the nation. America's energy infrastructure is increasingly under attack from hackers that are becoming more sophisticated by the day, said Walberg. These evolving attacks pose a significant risk to our national and economic security, and we need to be taking every step possible to ensure the electric grid that powers our daily lives is secure and resilient. I am thankful to Chairman Rush for working with me to address this critical energy issue. Our bipartisan bill modernizes the Department of Energy's leadership structure for the 21st century, providing greater accountability and capability to mitigate threats that come with the digital age.""",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://huizenga.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401200,Huizenga Statement on the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett for the Supreme Court,2020-09-26,2020,2020-09,Republican,Senate,MI,Bill Huizenga,H001058,huizenga.house.gov,,,legacy,"Huizenga Statement on the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett for the Supreme Court Washington, September 26, 2020 President Trump has made an excellent decision in nominating Amy Coney Barrett for the Supreme Court. Judge Barrett is a... Posted by Rep. Bill Huizenga onSaturday, September 26, 2020",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401654,Upton named one of the most bipartisan elected officials in the country,2020-09-25,2020,2020-09,Republican,Senate,MI,Fred Upton,U000031,upton.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. The Common Ground Committee a national nonpartisan, citizen-led organization named U.S. Rep. Fred Upton (R-St. Joseph) a Common Ground Champion today for his commitment to working with both sides of the aisle to find solutions. Upton's Common Ground' score of 70 was the eleventh highest among elected officials nationwide, and was the highest among Michigan elected officials. The average score was 26. We can't hope to solve the issues facing our nation if we stand divided, said Erik Olsen, Co-Founderof Common Ground Committee. Lawmakers like CongressmanUpton are working together to make progress for theirconstituents. We hope that more lawmakers follow their lead and make a commitment to finding common ground. This isn't just about some score this about a real commitment to working with anyone to solve problems. If it's a good idea and will help solve problems, sign me up, Upton said. We need more lawmakers committed to coming together, solving problems, and finding common ground. If we paid more attention to governing than politics, we could do a lot more good for a lot more people. That's what I'm about. According to the Common Ground Committee, the scores were based on how elected officials embody the spirit and practice of a Common Grounder someone who seeks points of agreement and solutions on social and political issues through listening and productive conversation. For more information on the Common Ground Committee and this year's scores, click here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401655,Upton announces additional federal grant dollars for Western Michigan University,2020-09-25,2020,2020-09,Republican,Senate,MI,Fred Upton,U000031,upton.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, today announced that Western Michigan University is receiving a $249,460 federal grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The grant funding will be used for a project titled, Preparing Qualified Personnel from Two Master's Degree Programs. Once again Western Michigan University is recognized on the national stage as one of the premier research institutions in the country. WMU continues to make Kalamazoo and all of southwest Michigan proud, Upton said. This federal grant will be critical to helping advance study and research in the field of education. According to the WMU's program description, the research funding will be used to prepare 26 qualified scholars over two master's degree programs in adapted physical education (APE) and positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS. All 26 scholars will be prepared to earn a new combined graduate endorsement over APE and PBIS to serve children with disabilities. For additional information from the Department of Education, pleases click here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://mitchell.house.gov/media/press-releases/mitchell-and-slotkin-lead-delegation-letter-supporting-space-command,Mitchell and Slotkin Lead Delegation Letter Supporting Space Command Headquarters at Selfridge ANGB,2020-09-25,2020,2020-09,Republican,Senate,MI,Paul Mitchell,M001201,mitchell.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Rep. Paul Mitchell (MI-10) and Rep. Elissa Slotkin (MI-8) released the following statement after leading the Michigan delegation in a letter to the U.S. Air Force in support of locating a new United States Space Command (USSPACECOM) Headquarters at Selfridge Air National Guard Base: Selfridge is a steadfast community partner and a critical center for military readiness, making it is an excellent choice for the new USSPACECOM Headquarters, said Representative Mitchell. The road to military readiness starts in Michigan, and Selfridge is the optimal location that would best serve the mission of USSPACECOM and Air Force personnel. I urge the Air Force to select Selfridge as home to the new USSPACECOM Headquarters. Michigan has the workforce, capabilities, and community support that make Selfridge Air National Guard Base the perfect location for a U.S. Space Force headquarters, said Representative Slotkin. I'm glad to partner with Rep. Paul Mitchell and our colleagues in the Michigan congressional delegation in a bipartisan push to bring these jobs and opportunities here to Michigan. The full text of the letter is below and online by clicking here. September 25, 2020 The Honorable Barbara M. Barrett Secretary of the Air Force 1670 Air Force Pentagon Washington, D.C. 20330-1670 Dear Secretary Barrett, We write in strong support of the City of Sterling Heights, Michigan's application in partnership with Macomb County, the State of Michigan, and the Michigan Air National Guard to locate the new United States Space Command (USSPACECOM) headquarters at Selfridge Air National Guard Base (SANGB). Hosting the new USSPACCECOM headquarters enjoys wide and enthusiastic support across the State of Michigan. Our state is uniquely qualified to advance the critical mission of the U.S. Air Force's newest command due to its immense resources of manufacturing expertise and skilled technicians, engineers, and scientists. Michigan has a long history of supporting our military and national defense, and that tradition continues today. The state currently has 4,000 defense industry suppliers and 1,000 prime contractors that serve 17 military commands and installations a significant number of which are located in Sterling Heights on the Mound Road Defense Corridor, including BAE Systems, General Dynamics, and the nearby U.S. Army Detroit Arsenal. Additionally, Michigan is fast becoming one of the nation's leading space arsenals with its effective collaboration between the public and private sectors, led by the Michigan Aerospace Manufacturing Association and the state's Michigan Defense Center, with investments in direct support of space sensing, space cyber, and electronic warfare capabilities. As the largest Air Force base in the Reserve Component with all the amenities of an Active Component Installation, SANGB has the capacity required to host this new command. SANGB has identified three ready-to-build locations on the base, all of which would amply meet the security, data transmission, and space requirements for the approximately 1,400 military and civilian personnel working in the new headquarters. In addition, the base has over 111,000 square-feet readily available in four vacant buildings that could be used during an initial mission standup phase or as supplemental space when a new building is constructed. Macomb County, and Michigan more broadly, have the resources to support Space Force personnel and we highly recommend you consider the many benefits for service members' and their families' quality of life the area offers. For military families, SANGB has significant support facilities, including a base exchange and the 124-child Bryant Child Development Center as well as additional childcare through the Military Child Care in Your Neighborhood referral program. The area enjoys an abundance of affordable housing, access to excellent healthcare and schools, and the amenities of being located in a major metropolitan region, including connections to 170 destinations around the world served by the Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport; yet all of which are within easy distance to Michigan's innumerable lakes and pristine wilderness. We appreciate you evaluating SANGB for the new USSPACECOM headquarters. For the above reasons, we believe that the State of Michigan site is the optimal location that would best serve the mission of USSPACECOM while providing a high quality of life for U.S. Air Force personnel and their families. We look forward to hearing your decision and stand ready to answer any further questions the U.S. Air Force may have. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://moolenaar.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/big-rapids-elementary-school-honored-blue-ribbon-award,Big Rapids Elementary School Honored with Blue Ribbon Award,2020-09-25,2020,2020-09,Republican,Senate,MI,John Moolenaar,M001194,moolenaar.house.gov,,,legacy,"Today, the Department of Education announced that Riverview Elementary School in Big Rapids is one of the National Blue Ribbon Schools of 2020. Riverview Elementary School has earned the Blue Ribbon Award for Exemplary High Performing School, which means students at Riverview perform well on state assessments and national tests. ""Congratulations to the students, parents, and teachers of Riverview Elementary in Big Rapids on being named a Blue Ribbon School, said Congressman John Moolenaar. This is a special honor for the community and I encourage all involved to continue striving for success."" Additional information abouttoday's announcement can be found here. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://moolenaar.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/moolenaar-signs-discharge-petition-re-open-paycheck-protection-program,Moolenaar Signs Discharge Petition to Re-open the Paycheck Protection Program,2020-09-25,2020,2020-09,Republican,Senate,MI,John Moolenaar,M001194,moolenaar.house.gov,,,legacy,"Today, Congressman John Moolenaar signed a discharge petition to force a vote on legislation that would re-open the Paycheck Protection Program and allow smallbusinesses to apply for additional assistance. The Paycheck Protection Programcurrently has $138 billion in available fundingpreviously approved by Congress, but small businesses cannot apply for it because the deadline has passed. Congressman Moolenaar is a cosponsor of H.R. 8265, whichwould re-open the application process,allow small businesses to take out a second Paycheck Protection Program loan, andexpand expenses that are eligible for the loan. However, Speaker Nancy Pelosi is refusing to bring the bill up for a vote.So members of the House are signing a discharge petition that would allow the entire Houseto have the opportunity to vote on the legislation. The Paycheck Protection Program has been vital for small businesses and their employees. It helps small businesses pay their bills and puts paychecks in the pockets of Michigan workers, said Congressman Moolenaar. Right now, many small businesses are still hurting from the shutdowns and the public health crisis, and they need help. There's money Congress has already approved to help them, but Speaker Pelosi and many House Democrats won't let them apply for it. I am fighting to fix this with legislation that will re-open the Paycheck Protection Program and help Michigan small businesses receive more funding. I urge Speaker Pelosi to bring this legislation to the floor for a vote."" The Paycheck Protection Program, established as part of the CARES Act passed in March, gave forgivable loans to small businesses to cover payroll costs, rent, mortgage payments, and utilities. So far, the Paycheck Protection Program has injected more than $15 billion into Michigan's economy with support for more than 120,000 small businesses in the state. A recent analysis by Bloomberg News found that the Paycheck Protection Program supported 93 percent of the small business jobs in Michigan's Fourth Congressional District. Under the legislation supported by Congressman Moolenaar, small businesses are eligible for a second Paycheck Protection Program loan if they employ fewer than 300 employees and if they have had at least a 25 percent reduction in gross revenue. The text of the bill can be found here. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://moolenaar.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/moolenaar-welcomes-grant-mid-michigan-college,Moolenaar Welcomes Grant for Mid Michigan College,2020-09-25,2020,2020-09,Republican,Senate,MI,John Moolenaar,M001194,moolenaar.house.gov,,,legacy,"Today, it was announced by the U.S. Department of Education that Mid Michigan College has been awarded a $400,487 grant as part of the department's StrengtheningInstitutions Program. The grants help colleges improve their academic quality, offer more resources, andincrease their ability to serve low-income students. Education is vital to the success of our economy and I support improving access to quality higher education, said Congressman John Moolenaar. This funding will help Mid MichiganCollege with its mission of increasing access to higher education for students in rural communities."" More information regarding the program can be found here. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://huizenga.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401199,Huizenga Statement on Election Integrity,2020-09-24,2020,2020-09,Republican,Senate,MI,Bill Huizenga,H001058,huizenga.house.gov,,,legacy,"Huizenga Statement on Election Integrity Washington, September 24, 2020 Today, Congressman Bill Huizenga released the following statement regarding the integrity of the November election. ""Ifully expect a peaceful transition to take place when the Presidential Inauguration is held in January of 2021,""said Congressman Bill Huizenga. ""I think rhetoric coming from anyone regarding the results of the election on November 3rd not being accepted needs to be dialed back. We have seen challenges regarding election results in the past, most recently with the 2000 Presidential Election. We can address those challenges, IF they materialize. Our nation has a tradition of peaceful transitions that dates back to George Washington and I expect that to continue.""",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401653,"@MyKitchenTable - September 24, 2020",2020-09-24,2020,2020-09,Republican,Senate,MI,Fred Upton,U000031,upton.house.gov,,,legacy,"Dear Friend: So, they often say legislation is like sausage....you really don't always want to know how it is made. Over the years I have always valued the network of friendships, keeping your word, honesty, civility, hard work -- basic Boy Scout values. That's why the bipartisan Problem Solver's Caucus (PSC) has been such a breath of fresh air as we deal with traditional government dysfunction. At the end of August, our group of 50 came to the rapid conclusion that we simply could not wait for the election to come before we do the next round of COVID aid. For me, it was my many discussions with educators, small business folks, workers, and local governments that have experienced major costs and loss of revenue. Add to that, the failure to address liability issues truly put all our enterprises - whether they be non-profits, hospitals, small businesses, or educators - at real risk. That's why we spent much of Labor Day weekend on zoom calls with fellow Problem Solvers trying to find that magic sweet spot to help those in need. We just can't accept failure by not adopting a solution because folks want to go home and campaign. The Senate's failure to pass anything and now go home defies the real concern of so many impacted by this pandemic. USA Today headlines earlier this week reported that the failure to pass a bill could likely lead to a recession, which will only make 2020 even more miserable for all. Yes, I am an optimist and now share a story late tonight that the PSC effort to inspire our leadership on both sides now has legs. More info HERE. And this is not an effort to send a bill to the White House for them to veto as a political issue, but rather to realize that the country has to come ahead of brazen politics. I hope I will return to Washington next week and cast a vote for a product that can meet the test of true bipartisanship and help so many of my fellow Americans. Stay tuned.... Today's photo I wanted to share with you is from the Capitol, as they prepare the Lincoln catafalquefor Justice Ginsburg's casket in Statuary Hall. She will be the first woman to lie in state at the Capitol. All the best, Fred Upton",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401652,"@MyKitchenTable - September 23, 2020",2020-09-23,2020,2020-09,Republican,Senate,MI,Fred Upton,U000031,upton.house.gov,,,legacy,"Dear Friend: Writer and public speaker Claire Cook said: If plan A doesn't work, the alphabet has 25 more letters."" Plan A was to have the COVID-19 crisis over by Easter, but we all know that didn't happen. We must act now so folks won't still be hurting at Thanksgiving or Christmas. Leaving D.C. with the nation's work undone is simply not acceptable. On Tuesday, I joined a number of my colleagues in sending a bipartisan letter to Speaker Pelosi and GOP Leader McCarthy urging them to keep the House in session until we pass a COVID relief bill that delivers REAL help to American families, small businesses, schools, hospitals, and states and local governments. Democratic Leader Hoyer said today that the House should vote on a COVID relief bill next week, which you can seeHERE. We're anticipating we'll get details from that plan soon. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell agreed we need to get a COVID relief package done to help the economy continue its recovery from the COVID-19 crisis, which you can seeHERE. On Friday, I will sign a discharge petition that's being introduced by Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA) that would force a vote on the House floor to extend the lifeline Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).This is a little-used legislative procedure but would force immediate consideration should the Speaker not schedule the legislation on the Floor. After it is introduced, should the petition garner 218 signatures from Representatives, the House will then be compelled to vote on whether to bring to the floora bill to distribute the remaining $134 billion in current PPP reserves that are now sitting idle after the program's August 8 expiration. I expect most of my Republican colleagues and a number of Democrat members of the bipartisan Problem Solver's Caucus will consider signing. Stay tuned. News on the vaccine front the FDA submitted the proposed guidelines for authorizing emergency use of a Covid-19 vaccine to the White House and HHS for review, requiring any potential Covid-19 vaccine to meet rigorous, strict safety standards to gain a speedy clearance for use, and you can read more about thatHEREin the Wall Street Journal. Today, Dr. Fauci, CDC Director Robert Redfield, Assistant Secretary For Health Dr. Brett Giroir, and Dr. Stephen Hahn, the director of the Food and Drug Administration, testified on Capitol Hill. Redfield said that he believes we will have 700 million doses of the vaccine based on projection by late March or early April. Dr. Anthony Fauci agreed with him. You can read more about the hearingHERE. Dr. Giroir's testimony can be readHERE. Johnson & Johnson said Wednesday it has begun its phase three trial, testing its potential coronavirus vaccine. This is certainly good news. They join three other companies that are at late-stage testing of its vaccine, and you can read moreHERE. Earlier this week, the House passed unanimously the Strengthening America's Strategic National Stockpile Act. I was proud to cosponsor this bill which was introduced by my Problem Solver's Caucus colleague Elissa Slotkin (D-MI). If enacted, the legislation would reduce America's dependence on foreign sources of critical medical supplies the country needs to fight COVID-19 by making much-needed improvements and updates to America's Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) and boosting domestic manufacturing of those supplies here in America. We need to start producing more PPE and other medical equipment here so that our hospitals and first responders have what they need to protect themselves and others. This bill allows us to do that. Lastly, here's another PSA on getting your flu shot this year. A flu outbreak coupled with the challenges we're facing from COVID-19 could cause real problems to our health care system, which you can read more aboutHERE. I'd encourage you to get this year's flu shot. I got mine earlier this week. ClickHEREto see the nearest location to you. All the best, Fred Upton",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://moolenaar.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/moolenaar-welcomes-grants-montcalm-county,Moolenaar Welcomes Grants for Montcalm County,2020-09-23,2020,2020-09,Republican,Senate,MI,John Moolenaar,M001194,moolenaar.house.gov,,,legacy,"Funding for municipalwatersystem improvementshas been awarded to the City of Stanton and the Village of Sheridan. Using funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Michigan Strategic Fundhas awarded the City of Stanton $1.6 million dollars. These funds will be used to replace the city's watermain, as well as the sewage system. The city will also provide $563,191 of its own funding to complete the project. TheVillage of Sheridan received funding from theU.S. Department of Agriculture's Office of Rural Development today. Theloan of nearly $1.3 millionwill be used to improve the community's wastewater treatment facility. ""Ihave been working inCongress to make sure the federal government supports the needs of Michigan's rural communities, said Congressman John Moolenaar. This funding will allow for repairs and improvements to critical water infrastructure that will benefit the residents of Stanton and Sheridanfor years to come."" As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, Congressman Moolenaar has advocated for programs that support Michigan'srural communities, including those at the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Additional information on Stanton is available here and additional information on Sheridan is available here. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://moolenaar.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/moolenaar-welcomes-water-infrastructure-grant-cadillac,Moolenaar Welcomes Water Infrastructure Grant for Cadillac,2020-09-23,2020,2020-09,Republican,Senate,MI,John Moolenaar,M001194,moolenaar.house.gov,,,legacy,"TheLake Mitchell Sewer Authority hasreceived financial support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Office of Rural Development for water infrastructure improvements in Cadillac. The Lake Mitchell Sewer Authority was approved for a $9,388,000 Water and Waste Disposal loan from the USDA that will be used to improve the wastewater collection system. The project will add new pumps, repair or replace pump stations, and improve system technology. ""This funding will help prevent health hazards and pollution, while benefiting water quality in the area, said Congressman John Moolenaar. This support from USDA will help make sure that Cadillac residents have a reliable wastewater system and protect Lake Mitchell for future generations."" Congressman Moolenaar has supported efforts for rural development in Michigan. He is Michigan's only member of the House Appropriations subcommittee with oversight of the Department of Agriculture and the Office of Rural Development's grant programs. More details regarding the loan announcement can be found here. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401651,"Upton, bipartisan group sends letter to House leadership urging them to pass COVID relief before leaving Capitol Hill",2020-09-22,2020,2020-09,Republican,Senate,MI,Fred Upton,U000031,upton.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, today joined a bipartisan group of lawmakers in sending a letter to House leadership urging them to pass a COVID-19 relief package before recessing from Capitol Hill. In total, 34 members signed onto the letter. Last week, the bipartisan House Problem Solvers Caucus unveiled the March To Common Ground framework to help break the gridlock on the latest COVID-19 relief package and encourage negotiators to get back to the table.The package addresses key areas of need, including COVID-19 testing, unemployment insurance, direct stimulus, worker and liability protection, small business and non-profit support, food security, schools and child care, housing, election support, and state and local aid. The PSC framework can be seen HERE. It has been suggested by some that Members of Congress are anxious to return to their districts to campaign in advance of the November 3rd election, even if that means leaving Capitol Hill without passing another COVID-19 relief bill, the members wrote in their letter. We want to be very clear that we do not in any way agree with this position Our constituents' expectations in the midst of this crisis are that we not only rise to the occasion and stay at the table until we have delivered the relief they so desperately need, but also that we set aside electoral politics and place the needs of the country before any one region, faction, or political party. The full letter can be viewed below or HERE. Dear Speaker Pelosi and Leader McCarthy: We write to express our concerns about the status of ongoing negotiations for a relief package to confront the dual public health and economic crises Americans are facing as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. It has been suggested by some that Members of Congress are anxious to return to their districts to campaign in advance of the November 3rd election, even if that means leaving Capitol Hill without passing another COVID-19 relief bill. We want to be very clear that we do not in any way agree with this position. We strongly believe that until the House has successfully sent new,bipartisanCOVID-19 relief legislation to the Senate, our place of duty remains here in the People's House. We were elected to represent the best interests of our constituents and the country. Our constituents' expectations in the midst of this crisis are that we not only rise to the occasion and stay at the table until we have delivered the relief they so desperately need, but also that we set aside electoral politics and place the needs of the country before any one region, faction, or political party. Our constituents do not want us home campaigning while businesses continue to shutter, families struggle to pay the bills, food bank lines lengthen, schools struggle to reopen, pressures grow on hospital systems, and state and local budget shortfalls mean communities consider layoffs for first responders and teachers. These hardships are growing with every passing week. Staying at the table means keeping members of the House of Representatives in session and on Capitol Hilluntil a bipartisan deal is reached and passed in the House. We recognize that we cannot dictate the actions of the Senate, but we can, in the People's House, continue to work to deliver actual relief to the American people. This should be our number one priority in the coming days. It is our request that you keep the House in session as we work towards a necessary deal, and we stand ready to work with you to ensure that Americans can receive the urgent relief they need as quickly as possible.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://mitchell.house.gov/media/press-releases/mitchell-announces-usda-rural-development-loan-and-grant-lexington,Mitchell Announces USDA Rural Development Loan and Grant for Lexington,2020-09-22,2020,2020-09,Republican,Senate,MI,Paul Mitchell,M001201,mitchell.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Rep. Paul Mitchell (MI-10) released the following statement following the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Office of Rural Development's award of nearly $5 million in grants and loans for Lexington to perform water system improvements: Improving and upgrading infrastructure including water systems is critical to the well-being and growth of our communities. These funds help Lexington make much needed improvements to their drinking water and wastewater infrastructure. The USDA Office of Rural Development's announcement is welcomed news and I look forward to seeing the new infrastructure improvements it provides for our rural communities. Award Details: Village of Lexington Loans: $3,659,000.00 Grants: $1,335,000.00 Project Description: This Rural Development investment will be used to fund water system improvements for the Village of Lexington. The proposed project will add two filters at the water treatment plant, along with components, additional storage, upgrades to existing filters, demolition of the existing microfiltration system, construction of a 500,000 gallon ground storage tank, improvements to the raw water intake to eliminate intake freezing issue, replace existing water meters with remote read, construction of a booster pump station, and upgrade sections of old, undersized water mains. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401648,Upton announces federal public safety grants for Berrien County and Kalamazoo,2020-09-21,2020,2020-09,Republican,Senate,MI,Fred Upton,U000031,upton.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, today announced that Berrien County and the city of Kalamazoo are receiving federal grant resources to support a broad range of activities to prevent and control crime and to improve the justice system. The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program administered by the Department of Justice is providing $28,024 to the county of Berrien and $87,499 to the city of Kalamazoo. At a time when there's so much uncertainty in the world, our families should feel certain that their homes and communities are safe. These grants will help in that effort, Upton said. We'll keep working with our law enforcement, local governments, and community partners to build safer communities for everyone who calls southwest Michigan home. According to the Department of Justice, funded programs or initiatives may include multijurisdictional drug and gang task forces, crime prevention and domestic violence programs, courts, corrections, treatment, justice information sharing initiatives, or other programs aimed at reducing crime and/or enhancing safety. The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program is named after New York City Police Officer Edward Byrne. In the early morning hours of February 26, 1988, Officer Byrne was in his patrol car when two armed gunmen crept up to his car from both sides. Officer Byrne was shot five times in the head and died when he was only 22 years old.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401649,Upton announces state has released federal housing funds to Kalamazoo,2020-09-21,2020,2020-09,Republican,Senate,MI,Fred Upton,U000031,upton.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, today announced that the Michigan State Housing Development Authority is releasing more than $400,000 in federal grant funds to Housing Resources Inc. (HRI) in Kalamazoo. The announcement comes after Upton last week called on MSHDA to expedite the release of Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) relief funds to help folks in southwest Michigan facing homelessness. This welcome news will provide immediate help to the most vulnerable in our community, Upton said. When we heard there was a hold up with this federal funding, we went to work trying to expediate the process and get the funding into the hands of those who need it most, like HRI, which is working so hard to address the unique challenge of homelessness in our community during the COVID-19 crisis. HRI is delighted that the much-needed funds are on the way to Kalamazoo to help us fight homelessness during this Pandemic, said Michelle Davis, Executive Director of Housing Resources, Inc. We appreciate the efforts of our state MSHDA partners and the advocacy from our federal partners and elected officials. HRI raised the issue with Upton and U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson when Carson visited Kalamazoolast monththat they had yet to receive ESG funding from MSHDA. In March, Upton voted for and Congress passed the CARES Act, which included $4 billion for the ESG program. The state of Michigan has received in total more than $35 million, which was directed to MSHDA to help allocate to housing organizations. Upton last week sent a letter to MSHDA requesting the funding be distributed immediately. That letter can be seen here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://huizenga.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401198,Huizenga statement on the passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg,2020-09-18,2020,2020-09,Republican,Senate,MI,Bill Huizenga,H001058,huizenga.house.gov,,,legacy,"Huizenga statement on the passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Washington, September 18, 2020 Tonight, Congressman Bill Huizenga released the following statement after learning of the passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.My heart goes out to the family of Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg as well as her fellow Justices on the Supreme Court. Justice Ginsburg fought cancer with a toughness that inspired all while serving our nation with dignity until she was called home.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://moolenaar.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/moolenaar-statement-passing-justice-ginsburg,Moolenaar Statement on the Passing of Justice Ginsburg,2020-09-18,2020,2020-09,Republican,Senate,MI,John Moolenaar,M001194,moolenaar.house.gov,,,legacy,"Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, passed away today at the age of 87. ""Ruth Bader Ginsburg served our nation with distinction. She was strong andresilient, and her life has inspired people around the world. My prayers tonight are with her family and friends as the nation mourns her passing, said Congressman John Moolenaar. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://moolenaar.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/moolenaar-supports-bill-promote-awareness-alzheimer-s,Moolenaar Supports Bill to Promote Awareness of Alzheimers,2020-09-16,2020,2020-09,Republican,Senate,MI,John Moolenaar,M001194,moolenaar.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congressman John Moolenaar has signed on as a co-sponsor of the Promoting Alzheimer's Awareness to Prevent Elder Abuse Act. The legislation instructs the Department of Justice to create best practices for law enforcement, emergency responders and other members of the legal system and social services on how to handle situations in which they interact with someone with Alzheimer's or dementia. ""This legislation will raise awareness of Alzheimer's and help our incredible first responders be ready for any situation in which they might encounter someone suffering from this horrible disease, said Congressman Moolenaar. I have always worked to help Michigan seniors and their families. I believe this legislation will increase awareness of the challengesfamilies face with Alzheimer's."" The Alzheimer's Association predicts that 220,000 Michigan residents will have Alzheimer's in 2025. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://moolenaar.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/moolenaar-statement-signing-abraham-accords,Moolenaar Statement on the Signing of Abraham Accords,2020-09-15,2020,2020-09,Republican,Senate,MI,John Moolenaar,M001194,moolenaar.house.gov,,,legacy,"Today at the White House, President Donald Trump, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, Foreign MinisterSheikhAbdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the United Arab Emirates, and Foreign Minister Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayan of Bahrain signed the Abraham Accords. The Accords create full diplomatic relations between the UAE and Israel, as well as Bahrain and Israel. ""President Trump's leadership and strong alliance with Israel has made it clear that peace in the Middle East will only be possible when countries recognize Israel and its right to exist, said Congressman John Moolenaar. Today's historic agreements between Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain are the fruit of successful diplomacy led by President Trump and his administration."" ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://moolenaar.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/moolenaar-votes-against-democrats-partisan-postal-bill,Moolenaar Votes Against Democrats Partisan Postal Bill,2020-08-22,2020,2020-08,Republican,Senate,MI,John Moolenaar,M001194,moolenaar.house.gov,,,legacy,"Today, Congressman John Moolenaar voted against partisan legislation offered by House Democrats that would give theU.S. Postal Service $25 billion. The Postal Service already has billions of dollars on hand, andearlier this weekThe Washington Post reported the Postal Service has $15 billion in the bank, plus a $10 billion loan from an early round of coronavirus relief as a backstop. That's more cash on hand than it had at the start of the pandemic."" Also, before the vote on today's bill, House Republicans offered an amendment tothe billthat would have implemented penalties for any postal service employee who is caught tampering with ballots sent by mail. Congressman Moolenaar voted for that amendment, however, it failed afterDemocrats rejected it. ""The Postal Service is essential for seniors, veterans, and so many residents in Michigan, said Congressman Moolenaar. That's why I took action in March and voted for the CARES Act which provided USPS with access to$10 billionin funding to address challenges caused by the pandemic. This funding already provides USPS with the resources it needs to deliver the packages Americans depend on including medications, checks, ballots, and more. Today's vote by the Democrats was nothing more than political grandstanding that fails to address the problems at USPS. In the long-term, USPS will need to take additional steps to ensure service while addressing issues that have plagued postal operations for more than a decade."" Earlier in the week, the Postal Service posted on social media about its capacity to handle ballots during the upcoming election. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://moolenaar.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/moolenaar-welcomes-rural-development-grant-beaverton,Moolenaar Welcomes Rural Development Grant for Beaverton,2020-08-06,2020,2020-08,Republican,Senate,MI,John Moolenaar,M001194,moolenaar.house.gov,,,legacy,"This week, the United States Department of Agriculture's Office of Rural Development announced new financial support for the City of Beaverton and its efforts to upgrade the community's water infrastructure. USDA approved a $41,000 loan and a $125,000 grantto support the city's sewer pump station replacement project. The department also approved a $999,000 loan and a $726,000 grantfor the replacement of the water main, valves, and service lines on Saginaw Street. The current sewer main has, in the words of USDA, outlived its useful life, and there are increased E.coli levels in Ross Lake. Congressman John Moolenaar is Michigan's only member of the House Appropriations subcommittee with oversight of the Department of Agriculture and the Office of Rural Development. On the panel, he has supported rural development efforts that strengthen small communities in Michigan and across the nation. ""Michigan'sruralcommunities don't always have the financial resources of the larger cities and suburbs, so I work hard in Congress to make sure the federal government supports these communities and residents with critical infrastructure needs, said Congressman Moolenaar. This funding will help Beaverton be anevenbetter place for residents and their families."" Additional details on grants and loans is available here and here. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z