Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Welcome to the latest edition of my e-newsletter.

Below you’ll find an update on what’s happening in your state Capitol and some additional resources I hope you find helpful.

Thank you for allowing me to represent you in the Michigan Senate. I am grateful each and every day to work for the people of the 34th Senate District.

Sincerely,

Roger Hauck
State Senator
34th Senate District

The Senate Committee on Energy and Technology continued testimony on a package of bills aimed at overhauling Michigan’s energy policy with overreaching green energy mandates.

The plan being pushed by Lansing Democrats, modeled after the failed California-style Green New Deal, would leave Michigan residents with less reliable energy at a much higher cost. Their proposals are nothing more than government mandates that will raise the cost of doing business in Michigan — ultimately passing the increases on to the paying customers — who already pay the highest energy rates in the Midwest.

Rather than focusing on the resources we already have and how we can improve service and reliability, Lansing Democrats want to disregard years of investment and strategy and start from square one using unproven methods that have not been tested on a statewide scale.

We should instead develop an energy strategy that focuses on reliable, secure energy and storage. A strong and secure energy grid that is consistent in providing power for residents must be maintained over the long term and should be made up of various sources, including natural gas and propane.

As part of Public Act 166 of 2022, the Michigan Legislature appropriated $5 million to provide free well water testing for Michigan residents who rely on a household or private well for their drinking water.

The Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy will work with local water departments across the state to test private wells for the most common water quality concerns. Some of the most common water quality concerns for private wells include bacteria, nitrates, and harmful metals like arsenic.

Private well owners can contact their local health department or visit Michigan.gov/EGLEPrivateWells to request a sample kit. The website also contains information including contact information for local health departments, well records, and an interactive Water Well Viewer that displays the locations of various water wells across Michigan.

Once again, it is fall in Michigan. Mornings are chilly, the sun is setting a little earlier, and the trees are beginning to change color. Across the state, the leaves transform from green to red, orange and yellow — first slowly and quietly, then suddenly in a final explosion of color.

To find peak color throughout the state, check out the Pure Michigan fall color map. The Peak Color Report provides weekly updates as the vibrant colors of fall roll across the state, along with travel and activity ideas for exploring Michigan this fall.

September is College Savings Month! Michigan has many programs to help students and parents plan for the college years and to make college or professional certifications available to every student.

Michigan teachers invest in our students’ lives and often do not receive the recognition they deserve.

Each year, the Michigan Department of Education accepts nominations for Michigan Teacher of the Year and Regional Teachers of the Year to recognize teachers who have shown leadership and dedication to the teaching profession. The Michigan Teacher of the Year serves as a representative and advocate for Michigan's more than 80,000 teachers and works with the other nine fellow Regional Teachers of the Year to make up the Michigan Teacher Leadership Advisory Council. Regional Teachers of the Year, who are selected from across 10 regions of Michigan, meet regularly to provide their expertise and offer input on proposed state and department initiatives. The Michigan Teacher of the Year also attends the State Board of Education meetings as a non-voting member and serves as Michigan’s applicant for National Teacher of the Year.

Nominations for the 2024-25 Michigan Teacher of the Year are open from now until Oct. 24. For more information about the program or to nominate a teacher, visit the Michigan Department of Education’s Michigan Teacher of the Year page. Nominations can also be made using the online form.

Michigan’s Invasive Species Grant Program (MISGP) is accepting grant proposals from now through Nov. 1. Each year, $3.6 million is made available in grants ranging from $40,000 to $400,000 to help prevent, detect, and control invasive species.

The program is a joint effort between the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy and Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. Local, state, federal and tribal units of government, as well as nonprofit organizations and universities are encouraged to apply in support of their invasive species projects in Michigan. The 2023 grant program handbook outlines program priorities and application guidelines.

Since its inception in 2014, MISGP has had a tremendous impact on protecting Michigan’s water, trees, and land from invasive species. The program has awarded over $18 million to 112 projects resulting in management of invasive species, including phragmites, Japanese knotweed and oak wilt on more than 35,000 acres of land and water statewide. Learn more about ongoing MISGP projects and view the funding dashboard.