Last week Gov. Whitmer ordered the shutdown of Enbridge’s Line 5 pipeline – a decision that will negatively impact the delivery of 65 percent of the propane used for heating homes and businesses of families in the Upper Peninsula.

The administration’s recent actions sadly seem to be politically motivated and the fulfillment of promises made during the campaign. The governor continues to slow-walk the tunnel project while pushing to close the pipeline without a real alternative in place. Now she is trying to reassure us that the tunnel can proceed- for now- but offers no real assurances her administration and the Attorney General, made up of her own hires who oppose to the tunnel and all propane use, will promise to stop fighting its expedited construction.

I will not cave to this political pressure and despite the pushback, I will continue to fight for the continuation of the project, especially because of its importance to the U.P.

You can read the entire statement from all of the U.P. lawmakers on my website at https://www.senatoredmcbroom.com/upper-peninsula-lawmakers-respond-to-governors-latest-demand-to-shut-down-line-5/.

Our teachers and support staff have gone above and beyond this year to ensure Michigan students get the education they deserve while we continue to battle the COVID-19 pandemic. That’s why I supported the Teacher and Support Staff COVID-19 grant programs to support our school employees as they continue to navigate teaching during these challenging times.

Under the programs, eligible Michigan teachers who worked additional time and incurred additional costs during the 2019-2020 school year due to the COVID-19 pandemic can receive a grant of up to $500 and staff can receive up to $250.

The Teacher COVID-19 Grant Program recognizes the additional time and additional costs classroom teachers in a school district or nonprofit nonpublic school spent to ensure learning continued when in-person instruction was suspended in the spring.

The Support Staff COVID-19 Grant Program recognizes the additional time eligible K-12 support staff spent outside of normal working hours, hazardous conditions encountered, and additional costs incurred to provide services to students when in-person instruction was suspended in the spring.

Grant funding checks are anticipated to be sent directly from the state Department of Treasury to teachers and support staff in February 2021. For more information about the grant programs, visit www.michigan.gov/TSSC19Grants.

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.