Dear Friend,

I recently returned from more than two weeks in Michigan for April’s district work period.  As always it was great to be home and enjoy some of Michigan’s beautiful early spring weather.  After a very busy two weeks, I’d like to share with you some highlights of my time back home.

Early in the recess I was happy to witness the roll out of three new hybrid buses at Lake Erie Transit (LET).  Last year I helped secure the funding to purchase the buses, and it was great to see the investment come to fruition.  The hybrids will be a strong asset to LET and to the communities they service.  Not only will they significantly lower vehicle emissions fleet-wide, thereby contributing to better air quality and a cleaner environment; they will also improve the overall fuel economy of the bus system, enabling a leaner operation that benefits everyone.  These buses, combined with the transition to fleet-wide bio-diesel currently underway, will substantially improve cost and energy efficiency over the long term, making Lake Erie Transit a regional leader in sustainable mass transit.

I was lucky to be a part of a few other events bringing good news to communities throughout the work period.  A few days later I attended Governor Granholm’s funding announcement for the Ypsilanti Freight House.  Thanks to the passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Granholm was able to allocate $500,000 of federal monies to fund the rehabilitation of one of Ypsilanti’s most prized historical facilities.  The Freight House had been closed due to disrepair, but several community members refused to let go of the historic gem.  Its reopening exemplifies the great things that can happen through coordinated efforts at the federal, state and local levels.

Cooperation between government and business yields equally bright results, as was conveyed by the event celebrating Waste Management, Inc.’s generous donation of 358 acres of Gibraltar wetlands to the U.S. Fisheries and Wildlife Service (FWS).  Because Waste Management’s property bordered the Detroit International Wildlife Refuge, their donation enables FWS to expand the Refuge.  What is more, a greenway trail (constructed mainly with federal funds I secured) runs through the property, ensuring that everyone can enjoy this natural area at their leisure and traverse it to arrive at Humbug Marsh.

While in Monroe County, I met with some of my green-thumbed constituents for our annual Farm Bureau Spring Conversation.  I always appreciate this opportunity to catch up with the farmers before they head into the fields for the summer, because they offer such a unique and important perspective on current issues and legislation.

As with food protection and other issues pertinent to Southeast Michigan’s farmers, I am vigilant of all that impacts my constituents.  Senator Levin shares my vigilance, which is why he cosponsored an event I hosted to address an issue that puts everyone at risk.  The “Save your Savings” forum brought in a panel of national experts to give free financial advice and counseling to constituents on how to avoid fraud and scams, as well as what to do if you fall prey to such ugly cons.  During these difficult times we strive to make use of every resource at our disposal to empower vulnerable constituents with the tools and knowledge to steer clear of additional hardship.  In addition to events like the one I just described, the House recently passed the Helping Families Save Their Homes Act of 2009, and I am currently drafting legislation to address unfair and deceptive practices in consumer lending.  Likewise, federal agencies are coordinating efforts to protect citizens against loan modification fraud and foreclosure rescue scams.  Times are tough, but you can rest assured that your elected officials care and we are working hard to get you through this unscathed.

Another issue that has greatly impacted the men and women in the 15^th District is the loss of jobs in our region.  With unemployment at 12 percent and our auto industry downsizing, I am intent on doing everything in my power to ensure our displaced workforce is ready for opportunities on the horizon.  In order to increase the effectiveness of workforce retraining, I held a strategy session for all the major players involved to open lines of communication, establish goals, form the partnerships needed to best accomplish these goals, and find out what additional tools I can provide from Washington to facilitate the process.  The Governor is working hard to position Michigan for a big comeback.  With effective retraining and workforce development, our men and women will be well-prepared to fill new jobs when they arrive.

In the meantime, high unemployment is revealing more than ever the flaws of our current health care system.  The Obama administration and the Democratic majority in Congress know that health care reform cannot wait any longer, and I am working hard with my colleagues in Washington to put together strong legislation addressing the issue.  I discussed the issue in detail at an Organizing for America Town Hall Meeting and a few days later I held a District Health Care Reform Roundtable to update concerned citizens on the process.  I explained what components will likely be included in the reform bill: a public plan to provide healthy competition, balance and stability to the private insurance market, as well as an individual responsibility requirement with more affordable options.  I also used these discussions as an opportunity to gather input and ideas from the ground to take back to Washington. 

As the district work period drew to an end, I sponsored the U of M College Democrats’ 4^th Annual Pancake Breakfast fundraiser.  I am always impressed with these bright, young up-and-comers, whose continued leadership and involvement makes for a bright future for the Democratic Party, and in effect, for our country.