I will be holding office hours with constituents across the 31st District on Monday, March 22.

I will be available to answer questions and provide information and assistance, as well as take suggestions on issues affecting communities and businesses in the district. No appointment is necessary. Please join me for an opportunity to discuss issues important to you!

For more information visit my website SenatorKevinDaley.com or call my office at 517-373-1777.

The office hours meetings will take place on Monday, March 22 at the following times and locations:

8:30 to 9:30 a.m.
Deerfield Township Hall
30 E. Burnside Road
North Branch

11 a.m. to noon
Bangor Charter Township Hall
180 State Park Drive
Bay City

1 to 2 p.m.
Caro City Hall
317 S. State St.
Caro

Please note that masks and proper social distancing will be required inside of these municipal buildings.

Last week, the Senate approved over $4.2 billion in additional COVID-19 relief that prioritizes what Michigan needs most right now — ensuring our seniors get vaccines, providing funding to those who have lost their jobs and had their businesses closed, and making sure schools have the resources to return to in-person learning.

Over the last year, the Senate has dedicated over $4 billion to COVID-19 relief, including critical funds for testing, vaccines, front-line workers, schools and out-of-work Michiganders. Our latest relief plan dedicates another $4.2 billion to fighting the effects of the virus.

This latest spending plan is another installment of funds to support the health of our families, our communities, our economy and to help get our students back on track. This supplemental would provide $110 million more for vaccine distribution, $150 million to continue the increased pay for direct care workers, $2 billion in school funding to help tackle learning loss, $300 million to assist Michigan businesses facing financial hardships due to shutdown orders, $150 million to boost the state’s drained Unemployment Trust Fund and more.

I was proud to support this responsible spending plan. Unfortunately, Gov. Whitmer decided to veto hundreds of millions of dollars of this bipartisan funding.

The governor’s vetoes eliminate millions intended to help the businesses harmed by her shutdown orders, including $300 million in grants to help businesses keep their doors open; $150 million to ensure the state’s Unemployment Trust Fund remains solvent after record unemployment levels; and $50 million to reimburse Michigan businesses charged licensing and inspection fees even when they were closed through no fault of their own.

Gov. Whitmer’s actions speak louder than her words. She claims she wants to help businesses struggling to stay open, but then cruelly vetoes funding that would help them do just that.

I recently introduced a pair of bills that would allow pharmacists to dispense insulin under certain emergency circumstances.

If an individual ever finds themselves in a situation where they are running low on this necessary medication, but they can’t get ahold of their physician to have a refill of their prescription written, a pharmacist would be allowed to dispense a small supply to get them through until they can get in touch with their physician again.

Senate Bill 155 would allow pharmacists to dispense up to a 30-day supply of insulin to an individual if the individual has no current refills on file, but they have a preexisting relationship with that pharmacy, and the pharmacist cannot get hold of the original prescriber.

SB 156 would amend the Insurance Code so an emergency refill dispensed in this situation would be covered by an individual’s health insurance.

Individuals who rely on insulin should never find themselves in a situation where they are unable to access this necessary medication. These bills are meant to provide a safety net to those who rely on insulin in their day-to-day lives.

I want to thank Tammy and Jill, two dedicated advocates, for approaching me about this important issue. I look forward to advancing these bills through the legislative process.

Over the past month, I was proud to cosponsor two very important Senate Resolutions.

Senate Resolution 21 calls on the National Guard Bureau to immediately end the food contract for the 1,000 Michigan National Guard service members currently deployed to Washington, D.C., immediately provide a meal stipend for our soldiers and to back pay them for meals that they have purchased out of pocket.

For weeks, troops have reported deplorable and unacceptable food conditions, including raw meats, rotten fruits, and undercooked meals. Our military men and women deserve so much better than this.

Working with my colleagues, we will continue to do everything in our power to ensure they receive better care. I would also like to thank the governor for her commitment to bringing our troops back home to Michigan.

Senate Resolution 22 is a resolution to firmly support the preservation of the Second Amendment.

This resolution was adopted after the White House issued a statement calling for Congress to pass laws that expand background checks on the private transfer of guns, ban some semi-automatic firearms and high-capacity magazines, and eliminate immunity for gun manufacturers.

I am a firm supporter of our rights under the Second Amendment. Our nation's founders knew what they were doing when they outlined this constitutional right to keep and bear arms. It is a fundamental right that should not be infringed upon. I will continue to do what I can to protect the rights of law-abiding gun owners, not only in our local communities, but in Michigan as a whole.

The COVID-19 pandemic has further highlighted the necessity of universal broadband access. After schools were closed last spring and students transitioned to online learning, people saw firsthand how difficult it is for many Michiganders to access quality internet services.

That is why I voted in support of Senate Bill 46, sponsored by Sen. Aric Nesbitt, which will encourage broadband expansion by eliminating the personal property tax on broadband equipment. This bill would increase incentives and promote investment in broadband equipment with the hope of bringing more high-speed internet service to underserved areas of our state.

SB 46 was approved by the Senate and is now awaiting consideration in the House Committee on Communications and Technology.

The 31th state Senate District includes all of Bay, Lapeer, and Tuscola counties.