On Wednesday, the Michigan Senate approved more than $4.2 billion in additional COVID-19 relief to protect people from the virus, help Michigan students safely return to school and assist Michiganders struggling financially due to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s shutdowns.

This relief plan puts billions of dollars in federal COVID-19 funding toward responsibly and effectively meeting our state’s needs. The plan focuses on getting more people vaccines, increasing testing and supporting Michigan families and businesses.

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Some fellow Michigan lawmakers recently sent letters to Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and the U.S. Department of Justice, calling for a full investigation into Gov. Whitmer’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic and her nursing home policies.

Michigan, at the direction of Gov. Whitmer, was one of the only states that brought COVID-19-positive people into nursing homes as a matter of policy. To date, 36% of our state’s COVID-19 deaths have occurred among nursing home and long-term care facility populations.

The administration owes Michigan families answers about how this was allowed to happen. Why did the governor ignore health experts, like the Health Care Association of Michigan, who warned about her policies and why their public coronavirus reporting has not been transparent?

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The state Senate on Thursday approved Senate Bill 186, legislation I sponsored that would update Michigan’s hemp laws.

On Jan. 15, the USDA published a final rule regarding federal hemp laws. Michigan will need to amend the Michigan Hemp Growers Act to continue to comply with federal language.

The updates outlined in SB 186 would allow Michigan to continue its growing interest in the hemp industry.

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On Tuesday, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Department of Health and Human Services announced they are reducing the state’s COVID-19 restrictions but keeping limits on in-person dining at restaurants.

I applaud the governor’s response after my colleagues and I sent her and the Department of Health and Human Services director a letter urging them to fix the confusing restrictions on local governments and bodies and their ability to meet and serve their local communities.

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Republican state legislators in Michigan have Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in their sights as they call for investigations into the governor’s handling of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities during the coronavirus pandemic.

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Republican lawmakers demanding answers after revelations that the former director of the health department signed what they’re calling a secret deal after state health director Robert Gordon’s abrupt resignation from his post in January.

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2021 marks the centennial of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. To celebrate, they have come up with 100 ways to explore and enjoy natural and cultural resources that Michigan has to offer.

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Senate Republicans have joined with the Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association to implement their data-driven plan to open the doors of Michigan’s struggling restaurants and hospitality businesses.

The goal is to provide a metric-based and data-driven plan that supports the industry, is transparent, and provides certainty for the restaurant industry moving forward.

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