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.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory through 11 p.m. on Thursday for Ottawa and Kent counties with total snow accumulations of 3 to 6 inches. Snow conditions will vary with the worst conditions expected in the southern areas. We are used to winter storms in West Michigan, but it is always good to remind people to stay safe by only heading out on the roads if necessary and taking precautions when clearing the snow afterward.

I encourage you to contact me with any state issues. 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 E. Huizenga
State Senator

An important part of representing everyone in West Michigan is hearing directly from the people about the issues they are facing. I plan on holding in-person office hours throughout the district on a regular basis. They 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.

This month, we are holding in-district office hours on Friday, Feb. 4 from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. at New Beginnings, 4735 Lake Michigan Drive NW in Grand Rapids; Friday, Feb. 11 from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. at Herman’s Boy, 220 Northland Drive NE in Rockford; and Saturday, Feb. 26 from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. at Tim Hortons, 3773 Plainfield Ave. 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.

On Wednesday, Jan. 26, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer gave her fourth State of the State address. This year’s address was given remotely from a Detroit manufacturing site.

During her speech, the governor said she was ready to work with lawmakers to reduce tax burdens on Michigan families. This is welcomed news. We have a divided government, yet the Michigan people expect us to overcome our differences and find common ground on the critical issues facing our state and that are affecting their lives.

I am proud that Republicans have led the way in helping Michigan families and preparing our state for a brighter future, and I am looking forward to having the governor join us in improving our state and people’s lives.

We’ve enacted historic auto insurance reform; provided record school funding to ensure our kids could return to their classrooms safely; and passed a $3.3 billion plan to clean up PFAS, improve our aging water infrastructure, and ensure families have access to clean drinking water.

While we have achieved much, we still have much to do to help our families and communities recover from the pandemic and help build a stronger Michigan.

I have been busy meeting with people across West Michigan. Over his decades of work with the Wyoming-Kentwood Chamber, Bob O’Callaghan supported countless businesses and individuals in growing our community. I was honored to award Bob a legislative tribute that acknowledges his important work and the many ways that he sacrificed during his career. Thank you, Bob, for all that you’ve done!

Recently, I was honored to have been bestowed the Christian Coalition’s Friend of the Family Award. Advocating for the least of these, along with family values, is fundamental to my work in Lansing. Thank you to the pastors and community members who could gather this morning and speak about matters of importance to our community.

The Michigan Strategic Fund (MSF) recently awarded West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. a $500,000 Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant to expand operations at its existing facility in Walker, where it will add machinery and equipment as well as make improvements to the building. The pro

This is exciting news for the people of West Michigan and our entire state. The $6 million project will create 110 good jobs for area workers, boost the local economy and enhance Michigan’s leadership in manufacturing. I applaud West Pharmaceutical Services for their commitment to Walker and thank the state and local officials for their work in making this opportunity a reality.

West Pharmaceutical Services is a global manufacturer in the design and production of technologically advanced containment and delivery services and solutions for injectable medicines and currently has 266 employees in Walker. Its customers include leading biologic, generic, pharmaceutical and medical device companies.

Michigan was chosen for the project over competing sites in other states.

Hours before the governor delivered her fourth State of the State address, the Senate Finance Committee considered a bill that would reduce the state’s personal and corporate income tax rates and provide a $500 per child tax credit for children 19 years and younger. The bill was passed by the committee despite “no” votes by every Democrat member.

Senate Bill 768 would reduce the individual income tax from 4.25% to 3.9%, reduce the corporate income tax from 6.0% to 3.9%. It now moves to the full Senate for consideration.

The Michigan Legislature adopted a resolution recognizing the week of Jan. 30 through Feb. 5 as Catholic Schools Week in Michigan.

Senate Resolution 103 recognizes the excellent work Michigan’s Catholic school administrators and teachers perform every day. The resolution commends Catholic schools for maintaining strict educational standards while also remaining dedicated to instilling core moral values that will help children develop into compassionate and responsible citizens.

The resolution also highlights the partnerships the schools form with students’ families to encourage increased parental involvement in the education of their children.

Students across Michigan are still recovering from a wide range of issues caused by the global pandemic. From learning loss to mental health issues, our children have paid a heavy price over the last few years. There is little doubt that the only hope for getting kids back on track is for them to be in the classroom.

In 2021, the Legislature passed a historic increase in funding to give every Michigan school the financial resources they need to operate safely. Millions of dollars have been allocated to help schools address the necessary health measures and teacher shortages.

Unfortunately, many of the biggest districts have returned to virtual learning. Students in those districts are once again facing an entire year of learning loss. We have provided our children, parents and teachers with the support they need to return to the classroom. There is no excuse for schools to keep their doors shut.

Financial Aid Awareness Month is an effort to provide information to students and families about access to federal, state, and institutional student aid. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is required to pay for school with need-based financial aid, such as scholarships, grants, work-study, and student loans. To be considered for the MI Competitive Scholarship or MI Tuition Grant, make sure you submit your FAFSA by March 1! For more information and a link to the FAFSA, visit the MI Student Aid website at www.michigan.gov/mistudentaid.

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

• Information on the COVID-19 vaccines: www.Michigan.gov/COVIDvaccine.
• General information, resources, testing locations and more: www.Michigan.gov/coronavirus.
• Coronavirus hotline for health-related questions: 1-888-535-6136 daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: 1-800-232-4636 or www.cdc.gov.
• Michigan PEER Warmline for mental health support and substance abuse challenges: 1-888-733-7753 every day from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m.
• National suicide prevention lifeline available 24/7: Call 1-800-273-8255, text TALK to 741741 or visit www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org.