Strengthening Cleanup Efforts with EPA Regional Administrator Vogel
Strengthening Cleanup Efforts with EPA Regional Administrator Vogel
On Monday, I welcomed Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) RegionalAdministrator Anne Vogel to Berrien County for a visit to a brownfield site in Stevensville and a stakeholder roundtable focused on Great Lakes priorities. We visited the former Anstey Foundry brownfield site in Stevensville, which was awarded a $733,250 grant in June, as part of the EPA's Brownfields Program to support cleanup, restoration, and community engagement efforts. We then traveled to the Village of Michiana to participate in a roundtable focused on Great Lakes priorities with other local leaders. During the roundtable, we discussed our shared commitment to protecting the Great Lakes and ensuring Michigan communities remain resilient and thriving for generations to come.
As a member of the Natural Resources Committee, I remain committed to advancing policies that help conserve the Great Lakes and all they have to offer. Last week, I led 7 of my colleagues in introducing the bipartisan, bicameral Regional Great Lakes Partnership Act to protect the Great Lakes for future generations of Michiganders. The legislation would strengthen federal support for Great Lakes research and conservation by designating the Great Lakes Commission as the official Regional Great Lakes Partnership within NOAA’s Regional Ocean Partnerships Program. This ensures fair funding for the region and supports coordinated research efforts so that we can better protect this vital resource.
Keeping Our Communities Safe
I recently had the opportunity to meet with Adrian Fire Chief AJ Armstrong and learn more about all the department does to keep our communities safe. I was also able to provide an update on federal funding I requested for the department. Each year, I partner with community leaders to identify local priorities and secure federal resources that strengthen our district as part of the federal appropriations process. This year, I requested federal funding to help construct a two-story fire training structure and purchase training equipment to support realistic emergency response training for firefighters, police officers, and other first responders. This funding was included in legislation advanced by the House Committee on Appropriations, and I look forward to advancing it to secure this funding for our community.
Strengthening Our Workforce
I enjoyed stopping by the Jackson Area Career Center to celebrate its 50th anniversary of serving Jackson County through transformative career and technical education and to present them with a tribute. Since opening its doors in 1976, the center has empowered thousands of students. To expand opportunities for students to thrive, I helped draft and implement innovative educational provisions in the Working Families Tax Cuts, which were signed into law last year, as the Chair of the Education and Workforce Committee. The legislation expanded Pell Grant eligibility to those who enroll in high-quality, short-term career and technical education programs, providing opportunities for students and workers to gain skills in high-demand fields.
Empowering Our Law Enforcement Officers
I was able to tour the Calhoun County Jail and had the chance to talk with Sheriff Steven Hinkley about the vital work our law enforcement officers do to vigilantly defend our communities. To assist with their needs, in 2024, I secured community project funding for the jail as part of the appropriations process to ensure effective and efficient operations and improved safety features. I've also voted for common-sense legislation like the Keeping Violent Offenders Off Our Streets Act and Cashless Bail Reporting Act to combat radical bail policies and provide our law enforcement officers with the support they need to keep our communities safe.
Supporting Our Students
I recently had the opportunity to sit down with the superintendents of school systems in Monroe County and discuss how we can support the next generation of leaders. For decades, federal control of education expanded, yet student outcomes declined. At the K-12 level, fewer than one-third of eighth graders can read or do math at grade level. As Chair of the Education and Workforce Committee, I was proud to usher through the Education and Workforce Committee a legislative package to transfer key statutory authorities to agencies better equipped to carry them out, ensuring that students, families, educators, and taxpayers are served by a government that puts results ahead of bureaucracy.