Dear Friends,

Welcome to the latest edition of my monthly e-newsletter. As always, I hope you find the news and information below helpful. Please feel free to share this newsletter with anyone you feel may be interested.

My staff and I are available should you have any thoughts or concerns about state government. Please feel free to contact my office at [email protected] or at 517-373-1777.

Sincerely,

Kevin Daley
State Senator
26th District

I recently had a very productive meeting with MDL Companies on the future of affordable housing in Michigan. Guaranteeing access to quality, affordable housing is vital for our communities. I’m dedicated to collaborating on innovative solutions that tackle this urgent issue and create more affordable opportunities for Michigan residents.

Last month, I was given an opportunity to speak to the farming community about the responsibility we must take at each level of government in our state. Michigan Farm Bureau Board of Directors member Doug Darling and I discussed the great impact agriculture has on Michigan’s economy. It is very important to have representation in the Legislature, both the House of Representatives and Senate. Agricultural needs have been a top concern of mine since I entered the Legislature and always will be.

Mike Smith, head coach of Lapeer High School’s Lightning football team, retired from the position at the end of November. He had been coaching for over 26 years. While he no longer will lead young men from the sideline, he will continue to lead and form them as he remains as dean of students at LHS. We thank you, Coach Smith, for your decades of service and profound impact on our community!

The Michigan Public Service Commission approved the permit for Enbridge to build an underground tunnel for the Line 5 pipeline, a critical energy source that currently runs underneath the Straits of Mackinac. The regulatory agency found there is both a public need for the energy products Line 5 carries and to protect the Great Lakes. The commission also recognized that alternatives were both costly and high-risk.

The Great Lakes Tunnel Project, originally scheduled to begin in 2021 and be operational in 2024, is critical to ensuring energy affordability and stability in Michigan. Final approval from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is still necessary before the project can begin.

Line 5 supplies more than half of the propane Michigan residents use to fuel their cars and heat their homes. The pipeline is also responsible for tens of thousands of jobs in downstream industries such as refineries, manufacturers, airports, and businesses, representing more than $464 million in labor income.

With colder temperatures setting in, residents may find themselves in need of help keeping the heat on this winter.

The state of Michigan offers several energy assistance programs to help eligible senior and low-income households keep utilities in service or have service restored. Immediate relief may be available through a network of nonprofit organizations and other financial assistance programs.

The month of December is a busy time for charitable giving as many of us consider our holiday or year-end giving. While there are many legitimate and worthy charities, it is important to be cautious and ask the right questions before making a donation. There are several tools available to help you make safe charitable donations and avoid scams this season:

State-designated trails are open to snowmobiles Dec. 1 through March 31. Snowmobile permits for the 2023-24 season are now available. The snowmobile program is 100% funded with your trail permit dollars. A $52 snowmobile trail permit is valid for one year and covers the cost of trail grooming, signage, bridges, culverts, grading, trailhead maintenance, and more.

Snowmobile permits can be purchased:

While riding this winter, keep the following safety tips in mind so you make it home to your family and friends. Always ride at a safe speed, on the right side of the trail and sober. Remember to anticipate and yield to trail groomers.

Michigan is home to more than 500 Christmas tree farms that supply nearly 2 million fresh Christmas trees to the national market annually.

With approximately 37,000 acres in commercial Christmas tree production, Michigan ranks third in the nation in the number of Christmas trees harvested, supplying approximately 2 million fresh Christmas trees to the national market each year. For every Christmas tree harvested, Michigan Christmas tree farmers plant three new trees for future harvests.

To find a Christmas tree farm or retail near you, visit the Michigan Christmas Tree Farm Directory.

My office is happy to offer legislative tributes in honor of noteworthy events such as retirement, anniversaries of businesses in our community, awards and public recognitions.

Michigan Senate website: www.senate.michigan.gov
Michigan House of Representatives website: www.house.michigan.gov
Michigan Legislature website: www.legislature.mi.gov
Michigan Citizen’s Guide: Citizen’s Guide to State Government, 102nd Legislature