I appreciate the governor’s call to work on a bipartisan basis.

My colleagues and I in the Legislature have been ready and waiting to work with the governor to address the COVID-19 pandemic and get our state back to work and back in school safely.

Bipartisan work is possible, but it is a two-way street. I call on the governor to immediately lift burdensome restrictions that her administration has placed on Michigan businesses and schools and to work with the Legislature going forward.

Businesses need to know if and when they can open their doors if they are to make countless investments in safety measures for employees and customers. I think they deserve a clear outlook of what the next few months will look like as we work to get things back on track.

While we are still facing many challenges from last year, I hope we are able to work together in 2021 to build a better future for Michigan.

To view my full response to the 2021 State of the State address, please click here.

I am pleased to announce my updated committee assignments for the new legislative session.

I previously served on the Committee on Education and Career Readiness but will be leaving that role and taking a new position as vice chairman on the Advice and Consent Committee.

I am also proud to have received another new leadership role as the chairman of the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules — a statutorily created, bipartisan legislative committee responsible for legislative oversight of administrative rules proposed or adopted by state agencies.

Along with my new role as chairman of JCAR, I will continue my current role as vice chair for the standing committees on Appropriations and Natural Resources as well as remain a member of the following standing committees: Finance; and Energy and Technology.

I look forward to further representing my constituents and our shared values with these new positions.

Both of these new positions are critical to the efficient function of state government. The advice and consent process is a critical part of ensuring the people’s voice is heard during the confirmation hearings for the executive appointments and maintaining an equal, balanced government. The Joint Committee on Administrative Rules allows the same representation when administrative agencies propose new rules or guidelines to the way they operate.

A full list of Senate committees and their memberships is available by clicking here.

I am disappointed in the decision to further restrict the lives of Michigan residents and hurt the financial future of local bar and restaurant owners.

I do not believe that reopening bars and restaurants would put our residents at an enhanced risk, especially as the state continues the rollout of the coronavirus vaccine. Between that and the heightened safety measures, it is time to reopen bars and restaurants.

Unfortunately, a one-size-fits-all approach is the current strategy for Michigan. While I may disagree with this approach, I plan to continue working with the governor and my colleagues in the Legislature to advocate for our local businesses still affected by state mandates.

You can read my full statement by clicking here.

I am pleased to announce that my office has brought in Diane Schindlbeck to assist with my district operations.

Diane, who now serves as my district representative, is from the Fremont area and brings years of experience working as a small business owner in West Michigan.

My staff and I are happy to welcome Diane to the team. Her experience as a small business owner will be a terrific asset as we continue working toward getting people safely back to work and rebuilding our economy.

Diane owns and operates a restaurant in Fremont as well as a nonprofit K-9 training and advocacy center that focuses primarily on educating and advocating the many uses and benefits of utilizing K-9 assistance in all areas of law enforcement, search and rescue and disaster work.

She brings with her an excellent knowledge of the importance of small businesses in our communities but also has firsthand experience of the damage these shutdowns are causing. She will offer a helpful perspective as the state continues to navigate statewide shutdowns because her business has faced significant burdens as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

I have always been committed to helping families navigate the often-complex system of state government. Hiring Diane furthers the commitment my staff and I have made to helping residents and families throughout the district.

I would like to congratulate the Montague Wildcats and the Mona Shores Sailors on winning the football state championship in their divisions.

Mona Shores, for the second straight year, has won the Division II state championship. They defeated Warren De La Salle, 25-19.

Montague won the Division VI state championship for the third time since 2008. They defeated Clinton, 40-14.

We are all very proud of each team’s hard work and success. Congratulations to both schools on this great accomplishment.

I was happy to participate in the Newaygo County Right to Life March. My district representative Diane Schindlbeck and I walked with others to give a voice to the unborn.

The Newaygo County Right to Life hosts a march every January. Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the National Right to Life March in Washington D.C. was canceled, so it was important to ensure our local march was successful.

Thank you to everyone who came out to support life and to the Newaygo County Right to Life for hosting such an important event.

The U.S. Small Business Association has announced a tiered opening for round two of the Paycheck Protection Program, which began on Jan. 11.

The Paycheck Protection Program is intended to help small businesses affected by COVID-19. While I would prefer that our local small businesses be able to open and operate safely, the latest round of program grants will be critical to help small business owners keep workers employed and keep their doors open.

To stay up to date on the latest information, I encourage you to visit the Small Business Association of Michigan’s website by clicking here.