Dear Friends,

To better serve you, I am offering this e-newsletter on what’s happening in the 30th Senate District and across our state.

I encourage you to contact me with any state issues. You can call toll-free at 855-347-8030 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 Huizenga
State Senator

On Thursday, I implored the Senate to adopt my resolution in support of Israel, a long-standing U.S. ally, and to clearly condemn the terrorist attacks being carried out by Hamas against the Israeli people.

We need to call out evil whenever it makes itself known. Terrorists launched unprovoked, cowardly and deadly attacks against Israel during major holiday festivities. Since those attacks, we’ve learned even more about that evil and about the brutal and gut-wrenching atrocities committed by Hamas and their followers.

The United States has a strong history of standing in support of Israel, its people, and its democratic and cultural values — and this resolution is a chance for our state to reenforce that alliance and express our outrage at these disgusting acts of murder and terrorism.

There is no moral equivocation here. The brutality that has been reported, posted online, and celebrated by some, makes this abundantly clear. And yet, the Senate has not spoken with the unified voice to condemn these blatant acts of terrorism. As duly elected representatives of the people of this state, we must, at all turns and opportunities, condemn and reject terrorism and its evil, rotten core.

Senate Resolution 76 says that more than 2,500 Israelis live in Michigan, according to recent census data and that it is resolved by the Senate that “we stand with the people of Israel and fully support Israel’s sovereign right to defend itself with all power and all might and to seek justice against these and future terrorist threats.”

Click here or on the image below to see my comments on the Senate floor urging the chamber to take up my resolution.

Prior to Pulaski Days earlier this month, I had the privilege of visiting the beloved Lewandoski’s Market. For over 100 years, Lewandowski’s has been the go-to meat market for people across the state of Michigan. Lewandowski’s Market continues to be the place for quality meats, great customer service and unique Polish Charm.

Click here or on the image below to watch a video of my visit.

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

On Monday morning, I held an office hour at Dunkin’ Donuts in Alpine Township. Thank you to all the folks who came out to talk about the issues facing our community.

If you were unable to attend that office hour, I will be hosting two more on Friday, Oct. 27.

I will be available on Oct. 27 from 9 to 10 a.m. at Herman’s Boy, 220 Northland Drive NE in Rockford and from 10:15 to 11:15 a.m. at Mr. Burger, 5181 Northland Drive NE in Plainfield Township.

Office hours are open to all residents, and no appointment is necessary. Anyone who is unable to attend the office hours may contact my office.

One of the most important parts of being an effective senator is listening to the people you represent about the issues affecting our region and state and discussing possible solutions to the problems facing families in our community.

I mentioned this in the last e-newsletter, but I wanted to remind residents that I will host a town hall meeting on Oct. 26 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Wisner Center inside the Cascade branch of the Kent District Library. The address is 2870 Jacksmith Ave. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546.

I recently applauded the announcement that Falk Production will expand its manufacturing operations in Walker with support from a state grant.

This is great news for the people of Walker and the entire region. This facility is located in the North Ridge Industrial Park, which was built in 2016 during my time as mayor of the city of Walker. It is rewarding to see the hard work we put in to developing and opening the industrial park continue to pay dividends for the community and area workers.

The Michigan Strategic Fund awarded Falk Production a $270,000 Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant to expand its existing insulated panel manufacturing operation in Walker. The total project is anticipated to include $35 million in new investments and create an additional 45 jobs.

The Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy has confirmed two small populations of the aquatic invasive hydrilla plant in residential ponds in southwest Michigan.

The invasive hydrilla, considered one of the world's most invasive aquatic plants, was discovered during routine monitoring following treatment for another invasive plant, parrot feather. Both species are included in Michigan’s invasive species watch list.

While hydrilla can be treated with herbicide, the plant can be difficult to eradicate, making early detection very important. Michigan’s Invasive Species Program relies on reports from the public to help in early detection and response efforts.

To help identify hydrilla, look for long, slender stems floating near the water surface and check for these characteristics:

These days, we use the internet for everything from shopping to work and school to socializing, making it more important than ever to take steps to protect ourselves and our families online.

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month. It is the perfect time to review online safety procedures and be sure you are doing all you can to protect yourself against identity theft and other online threats. Michigan’s cybersecurity website is a great resource for Michigan residents, businesses, and students.

Learning to read is fundamental to every child’s education. It has been shown, time and again, that students who are not reading at grade level by the end of third grade will continue to struggle academically.

The fiscal year 2024 budget includes several early literacy grant opportunities for Michigan’s public schools to provide additional support for students struggling to learn to read.

The application period for both grants will remain open until 11:59 p.m. on Oct. 27. For applications, background information and information on other literacy grant opportunities, visit the MDE Early Literacy website.

All harvested deer must be reported within 72 hours or before transferring possession of the deer to another person, a processor or taxidermist. The easiest way to report a harvest is by downloading the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app.

A successful harvest can also be reported online. Visit Michigan.gov/DNRHarvestReport on a computer or mobile device to go directly to the reporting page, enter the kill tag license number and date of birth to begin the report.

For more information on harvest reporting, contact a local DNR customer service center or the main Wildlife Division line at 517-284-WILD (9453) during normal business hours, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Serving the people of West Michigan is very important to me and I encourage you to contact me with any state issues. You may contact me by calling toll-free 1-855-347-8030 or emailing [email protected].

I look forward to serving you, and I encourage you to contact me if I can assist you in any way or if you have an idea to help move our state forward.