Legislation I sponsored that would update the requirements for individuals to serve as mining inspectors in the state received Senate approval and was sent to the state House.

Senate Bill 119 would remove a requirement currently in state law that requires mining inspectors have at least 10 years’ experience in the profession in order to be elected in counties that currently have only abandoned or idled metallic mineral mines. The bills would also allow counties to form agreements to share mining inspectors.

With more than 800 abandoned mine sites in the U.P., it is an important safety issue for our local units to be aware of and be able to timely inspect these areas. When the Western U.P. counties shared that they were having difficulty finding eligible individuals to serve because of restrictions in the state law, it seemed appropriate to look at making necessary and reasonable updates.

The Senate this week approved nearly $2 billion in federal COVID-19 relief funding to protect people from the virus and help Michigan students safely return to school.

Senate Bill 114 includes funding to meet the goals of ensuring healthier families and communities, such as:

SB 29 includes $1.2 billion to help build a healthier future and includes:

These two bills now go to the House of Representatives for consideration.

The Senate is also continuing to work on House Bill 4047, which includes over $590 million in funding to help create a healthier economy, including funding to assist workers and businesses facing financial ruin due to the governor’s shutdown orders, repay the state’s Unemployment Trust Fund for fraudulent benefits paid out by the Unemployment Insurance Agency, help struggling businesses with unemployment taxes, and reimburse Michigan businesses that were charged licensing and inspection fees by the state even when their businesses were closed through no fault of their own.

The COVID-19 pandemic has adversely impacted every facet of life in our state and across the country. Perhaps no group of Michiganders has felt the negative impact of the pandemic more than our students. In an instant, their world has been turned upside down. Our students have been missing out on some of the most formative events in their lives, opportunities that often present themselves once and never again.

I was incredibly concerned when Gov. Whitmer announced high school athletics must stop competing immediately and wouldn’t be able to resume until at least Feb. 22. In these challenging times, it is imperative that our governor, lawmakers, school administrators, and organizations like the MHSAA are responsive to our students' needs.

In the wake of Gov. Whitmer’s announcement, I heard from dozens of concerned students, parents, and coaches. I was proud to support Senate Resolution 7, which urged the governor and MDHHS to allow high school sports to resume play immediately. This resolution passed with bipartisan support.

Your voices matter, and they were heard. This week Gov. Whitmer reversed her decision, allowing contact sports to resume on Monday, Feb. 8. I am glad her administration recognizes that winter sports are a safe, and needed, activity for our students. I wish all of our teams the best of luck this season.

After the recent snowfall in some parts of the state, trails are busy with riders. Please make sure you are familiar with snowmobiling rules and regulations and “ride right,” so you can get home safely to your family and friends.

Speed is the number one cause of serious snowmobile rider injury and death. Please stay on the right side of the trail, ride at a safe speed and ride sober.

Important Safety Tips:

An education beyond high school opens the door to many new opportunities. It’s never too late, and Michigan Reconnect can help you get there. Michigan Reconnect is a scholarship program that pays for eligible individuals to attend their local, in-district community college and offers a large tuition discount for those who attend an out-of-district community college.

Scholarships can be used to complete an associate degree or a skill certificate program. Eligible recipients must be at least 25 years old, have lived in Michigan for one year or more, have a high school diploma or equivalent, and have not yet completed a college degree. For more information or to apply, visit www.michigan.gov/reconnect/.

Below is a list of resources available to you if you need any type of assistance. Additionally, you can contact my office at any time for more information.