Dear Friends,

To better serve you, I am offering this e-newsletter on what’s happening in the 28th Senate District and across our state.

We are returning to session this week after a legislative break and are already hard at work on your behalf.

Please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any questions about any of the content discussed in this e-newsletter or if I can be of assistance to you or your family. You may call toll-free at 1-855-347-8028 or email [email protected]. Also, please check out my Facebook page. Let me know if I can assist you in any way or if you have an idea to help move our state forward.

Working for you,

Mark Huizenga
State Senator

Families across the state are struggling to fill up their cars as gas prices continue to stay high. That is why I supported House Bill 5570, which would have suspended the state’s excise tax on gasoline and diesel fuel. Unfortunately, the governor vetoed the bill.

The measure would have saved Michiganders 27 cents per gallon at the pump, or $750 million over six months. Sadly, this is the second Senate Republican effort to provide relief to struggling families that the governor has vetoed in the past month. The governor recently vetoed a bipartisan plan to cut income taxes for everyone in Michigan, provide families with a $500 per child tax credit, and protect more income for our seniors.

Republicans and Democrats are finding ways to work together to help Michigan families. I hope the governor will join us in our efforts.

I am holding in-person office hours throughout the district on a regular basis, because hearing directly from the people about the issues they are facing is an important part of representing everyone in West Michigan. These meetings give local residents a chance to express their viewpoints about what needs to be done and offer help to people dealing with a variety of state issues.

The next three office hours opportunities are Saturday, April 16, from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. at New Beginnings, 4735 Lake Michigan Drive NW in Grand Rapids, Friday, April 22, from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. at Herman’s Boy, 220 Northland Drive NE in Rockford and Friday, April 29, from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. at Mr. Burger, 5181 Northland Drive NE in Plainfield.

Office hours are open to all residents and no appointment is necessary. Space is limited at some locations, and people are encouraged to take proper health safety precautions. Anyone who is unable to attend the office hours may contact my office.

I recently visited the Gerald R. Ford International Airport to see the ongoing construction on an $11 million expansion project to increase its capacity and improve the guest experience and its ability to compete.

The expansion is supported by the airport’s airline partners and will greatly benefit our entire region when it’s finished. I look forward to seeing the new options for area passengers and economic possibilities for our community. It is truly an exciting time to live in West Michigan!

Click here or on the image below to watch a video of my tour of the airport.

I had the honor last week of awarding a legislative tribute to Sarah Bydalek for her service as clerk of Walker. Over her 15 years as the Walker city clerk, Sarah served with judicious responsibility and was a tireless advocate for our community. Her knowledge, experiences, and attention to detail made her an effective public servant and cultivated new partnerships with clerks across West Michigan.

I had the opportunity to join Sen. Jon Bumstead in visiting the Department of Natural Resources’ walleye hatchery. Practicing good stewardship of our environment and wildlife is an important responsibility that we all must take seriously. I’m dedicated to ensuring that the next generations of Michiganders are also able to experience the many wonderful opportunities Pure Michigan has to offer.

Click here to see an article on the DNR’s efforts to collect 24 million walleye eggs below Croton Dam on the Muskegon River. The collected eggs will be sent to hatcheries to raise for future stocking in lakes and rivers throughout the Lower Peninsula.

I’ve been visited by several classes here in Lansing this week. One special guest was Walker Mayor Gary Carey, who joined his niece from St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School in Grand Rapids during their recent visit to the state Capitol. It is always great to see and meet our local students and talk to them about their lives and the future of our state.

I recently toured the PADNOS recycling center in Wyoming and learned more about how the company has been a leader in recycling and providing sustainable solutions for West Michigan.

Their focus is on sustainable innovations to reduce plastic in our streams, rivers, inland lakes and the Great Lakes.

PADNOS has been a recycling leader for decades, and recently announced plans to invest $6.6 million to create jobs and expand its Wyoming recycling facility.

Click here or on the image below to watch a video of my tour of the recycling center.

Your voice matters! As part of Public Act 87 of 2021, the Michigan Department of Education is required to offer teachers and other education professionals an opportunity to provide feedback on the professional development offered by the department, as well as insight on the department’s overall effectiveness in achieving goals within Michigan’s Top 10 Strategic Education Plan.

The survey is now open and will remain open until April 15. The results of the survey will be provided to the Legislature by June 1, 2022. To take the survey, please click here.

The Michigan Department of Education has announced three upcoming statewide job fairs. Each job fair is free of charge for traditional local school districts, intermediate school districts, public school academies, educator staffing agencies, as well as all job-seeking candidates.

The fairs will take place on:

For more information or to register, please visit the MDE Education Workforce Job Fairs website.

Each year, more than 5,000 volunteers join forces with DNR employees to protect and restore Michigan’s natural resources. Every spring, the DNR hosts events at state parks and recreation areas to clean up these areas after the long, harsh winter. Events continue each month with year-round opportunities to visit these sites and help conserve and protect Michigan’s natural and cultural resources.

A great way to get started is to sign up for one of the DNR volunteer stewardship workdays. Upcoming events include:

For more information, to register or to see a full calendar of events, visit the DNR’s Get Involved page.

April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month. This April marks the 12th anniversary of the passage of Michigan’s laws banning texting while driving.

Public Acts 58, 59 and 60 of 2010 prohibit any activity that distracts a driver while operating a vehicle. According to the Michigan State Police, distracting activities could include:

Drivers charged with distracted driving will be fined $100 for a first offense and $200 for subsequent offenses. Be safe and don’t drive distracted!

Serving the constituents of the 28th Senate district is very important to me and I encourage you to contact me with any state issues. You may contact me by calling toll-free 1-855-347-8028 or emailing [email protected] .

I look forward to serving you, and I encourage you to contact me if I can assist you in any way or if you have an idea to help move our state forward.