STATE OF MICHIGAN
Journal of the Senate
102nd Legislature
REGULAR SESSION OF 2024
Senate Chamber, Lansing, Wednesday, February 7, 2024.
10:00 a.m.
The Senate was called to order by the Assistant President pro tempore, Senator Erika Geiss.
The roll was called by the Secretary of the Senate, who announced that a quorum was present.
Albert—present Hauck—present Moss—present
Anthony—present Hertel—present Nesbitt—present
Bayer—present Hoitenga—present Outman—present
Bellino—present Huizenga—present Polehanki—present
Brinks—present Irwin—present Runestad—present
Bumstead—present Johnson—present Santana—present
Camilleri—present Klinefelt—present Shink—present
Cavanagh—present Lauwers—present Singh—present
Chang—present Lindsey—present Theis—present
Cherry—present McBroom—present Victory—present
Daley—present McCann—present Webber—present
Damoose—present McDonald Rivet—present Wojno—present
Geiss—present McMorrow—present
Senator Edward W. McBroom of the 38th District offered the following invocation:
Dear Father, we ask that You be with us this morning—that You guide our discussions, our debates, and our deliberations. Father, we pray that You would guide us with wisdom, that You would give us discernment, and that You would give us patience. Father, we pray that the laws we make in this place would be righteous laws, laws that are in accord with Your good and perfect will for these people of the state of Michigan; ones that bless them, ones that help their prosperity, ones that protect us from evil and those who do evil against us. Father, I pray that You would help us to know what is true and that we would be servants of truth. Father, we pray for Your mercy on our sinfulness, on our wickedness, on the times where we hate each other or despise each other, use each other—be merciful to us. Forgive us for boasting, for thinking that the great blessings that we have come to us of our own merits instead of flowing from Your grace. Be merciful to us.
I pray this in the name of Your Son, Jesus. Amen.
The Assistant President pro tempore, Senator Geiss, led the members of the Senate in recital of the Pledge of Allegiance.
The President, Lieutenant Governor Gilchrist, assumed the Chair.
Motions and Communications
Senator Lauwers moved that Senator Johnson be temporarily excused from today’s session.
The motion prevailed.
Senator Singh moved that Senator Chang be temporarily excused from today’s session.
The motion prevailed.
The motion prevailed.
By unanimous consent the Senate proceeded to the order of
Introduction and Referral of Bills
Senator Chang entered the Senate Chamber.
Senators Santana and Shink introduced
A bill to amend 1956 PA 218, entitled “The insurance code of 1956,” by amending section 2120 (MCL 500.2120), as amended by 2019 PA 21.
The bill was read a first and second time by title.
The motion prevailed, a majority of the members serving voting therefor.
Senators Santana and Shink introduced
A bill to amend 1956 PA 218, entitled “The insurance code of 1956,” by amending section 2118 (MCL 500.2118), as amended by 2019 PA 21.
The bill was read a first and second time by title.
Senator Singh moved that rule 3.203 be suspended and that the bill be referred to the Committee of the Whole and placed on the order of General Orders.
The motion prevailed, a majority of the members serving voting therefor.
Senators Nesbitt and Theis introduced
A bill to establish a student opportunity scholarship program for eligible students; to provide for the certification of scholarship-granting organizations; to provide for student opportunity scholarship accounts; to prescribe conditions for use of the funds in the scholarship accounts; to provide for the administration of the student opportunity scholarship program; to prescribe certain powers and duties of certain state officers, agencies, and departments; and to allow certain tax credits and deductions.
The bill was read a first and second time by title and referred to the Committee on Education.
Senators Theis and Nesbitt introduced
A bill to amend 1967 PA 281, entitled “Income tax act of 1967,” by amending section 30 (MCL 206.30), as amended by 2023 PA 4, and by adding sections 279 and 679.
The bill was read a first and second time by title and referred to the Committee on Education.
Senator Huizenga introduced
A bill to amend 1976 PA 451, entitled “The revised school code,” by amending section 1280f (MCL 380.1280f), as amended by 2023 PA 224.
The bill was read a first and second time by title and referred to the Committee on Education.
Senator Hoitenga introduced
A bill to amend 1976 PA 451, entitled “The revised school code,” by amending section 1137 (MCL 380.1137), as added by 1995 PA 289.
The bill was read a first and second time by title and referred to the Committee on Education.
Senator Johnson introduced
A bill to amend 1979 PA 94, entitled “The state school aid act of 1979,” by amending section 23g (MCL 388.1623g), as added by 2023 PA 103.
The bill was read a first and second time by title and referred to the Committee on Education.
Senator Huizenga introduced
A bill to amend 1979 PA 94, entitled “The state school aid act of 1979,” by amending section 11 (MCL 388.1611), as amended by 2023 PA 320, and by adding section 97m.
The bill was read a first and second time by title and referred to the Committee on Education.
Senators Klinefelt, Shink and McBroom introduced
A bill to amend 1949 PA 300, entitled “Michigan vehicle code,” by amending sections 803a and 803b (MCL 257.803a and 257.803b), section 803a as amended by 1996 PA 404 and section 803b as amended by 2023 PA 129.
The bill was read a first and second time by title and referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Recess
Senator Singh moved that the Senate recess subject to the call of the Chair.
The motion prevailed, the time being 10:07 a.m.
The Senate was called to order by the President, Lieutenant Governor Gilchrist.
During the recess, Senator Johnson
entered the Senate Chamber.
By unanimous consent the Senate returned to the order of
Third Reading of Bills
Senator Singh moved that the Senate proceed to consideration of the following bill:
House Bill No. 4416
The motion prevailed.
The following bill was read a third time:
House Bill No. 4416, entitled
A bill to amend 1998 PA 386, entitled “Estates and protected individuals code,” by amending sections 1103, 1106, 1210, 2519, 2806, 3605, 3916, 3917, 3918, 3959, 3981, 3982, 3983, 5102, 5301, 5303, 5304, 5305, 5306a, 5310, 5311, 5313, 5314, 5507, 7103, 7105, 7110, 7302, 7402, 7506, 7604, and 7820a (MCL 700.1103, 700.1106, 700.1210, 700.2519, 700.2806, 700.3605, 700.3916, 700.3917, 700.3918, 700.3959, 700.3981, 700.3982, 700.3983, 700.5102, 700.5301, 700.5303, 700.5304, 700.5305, 700.5306a, 700.5310, 700.5311, 700.5313, 700.5314, 700.5507, 700.7103, 700.7105, 700.7110, 700.7302, 700.7402, 700.7506, 700.7604, and 700.7820a), section 1103 as amended by 2013 PA 157, section 1106 as amended by 2018 PA 555, sections 1210, 7302, 7402, and 7506 as amended and sections 7110 and 7604 as added by 2009 PA 46, section 2519 as amended by 2023 PA 72, section 3917 as amended by 2004 PA 314, section 5301 as amended by 2005 PA 204, sections 5303 and 5305 as amended by 2017 PA 155, section 5306a as added by 2012 PA 173, section 5310 as amended by 2000 PA 54, section 5313 as amended by 2012 PA 545, section 5314 as amended by 2018 PA 594, section 5507 as amended by 2008 PA 41, sections 7103 and 7105 as amended by 2018 PA 664, and section 7820a as added by 2012 PA 483, and by adding sections 1215, 1216, 5301c, 7408, 7409, and 7409a; and to repeal acts and parts of acts.
The question being on the passage of the bill,
The bill was passed, a majority of the members serving voting therefor, as follows:
Roll Call No. 6 Yeas—38
Albert Daley Lauwers Polehanki
Anthony Damoose Lindsey Runestad
Bayer Geiss McBroom Santana
Bellino Hauck McCann Shink
Brinks Hertel McDonald Rivet Singh
Bumstead Hoitenga McMorrow Theis
Camilleri Huizenga Moss Victory
Cavanagh Irwin Nesbitt Webber
Chang Johnson Outman Wojno
Cherry Klinefelt
Nays—0
Excused—0
Not Voting—0
In The Chair: President
Senator Singh moved that the bill be given immediate effect.
The motion prevailed, 2/3 of the members serving voting therefor.
Pursuant to Joint Rule 20, the full title of the act shall be inserted to read as follows:
“An act to codify, revise, consolidate, and classify aspects of the law relating to wills and intestacy, relating to the administration and distribution of estates of certain individuals, relating to trusts, and relating to the affairs of certain individuals under legal incapacity; to provide for the powers and procedures of the court that has jurisdiction over these matters; to provide for the validity and effect of certain transfers, contracts, and deposits that relate to death; to provide procedures to facilitate enforcement of certain trusts; and to repeal acts and parts of acts,”
The Senate agreed to the full title.
The following bill was read a third time:
House Bill No. 4417, entitled
A bill to amend 1949 PA 300, entitled “Michigan vehicle code,” by amending section 236 (MCL 257.236), as amended by 2000 PA 64.
The question being on the passage of the bill,
The bill was passed, a majority of the members serving voting therefor, as follows:
Roll Call No. 7 Yeas—38
Albert Daley Lauwers Polehanki
Anthony Damoose Lindsey Runestad
Bayer Geiss McBroom Santana
Bellino Hauck McCann Shink
Brinks Hertel McDonald Rivet Singh
Bumstead Hoitenga McMorrow Theis
Camilleri Huizenga Moss Victory
Cavanagh Irwin Nesbitt Webber
Chang Johnson Outman Wojno
Cherry Klinefelt
Nays—0
Excused—0
Not Voting—0
In The Chair: President
Senator Singh moved that the bill be given immediate effect.
The motion prevailed, 2/3 of the members serving voting therefor.
Pursuant to Joint Rule 20, the full title of the act shall be inserted to read as follows:
“An act to provide for the registration, titling, sale, transfer, and regulation of certain vehicles operated upon the public highways of this state or any other place open to the general public or generally accessible to motor vehicles and distressed vehicles; to provide for the licensing of dealers; to provide for the examination, licensing, and control of operators and chauffeurs; to provide for the giving of proof of financial responsibility and security by owners and operators of vehicles; to provide for the imposition, levy, and collection of specific taxes on vehicles, and the levy and collection of sales and use taxes, license fees, and permit fees; to provide for the regulation and use of streets and highways; to create certain funds; to provide penalties and sanctions for a violation of this act; to provide for civil liability of manufacturers, the manufacturers of certain devices, the manufacturers of automated technology, upfitters, owners, and operators of vehicles and service of process on residents and nonresidents; to regulate the introduction and use of certain evidence; to regulate and certify the manufacturers of certain devices; to provide for approval and certification of installers and servicers of certain devices; to provide for the levy of certain assessments; to provide for the enforcement of this act; to provide for the creation of and to prescribe the powers and duties of certain state and local agencies; to impose liability upon the state or local agencies; to provide appropriations for certain purposes; to repeal all other acts or parts of acts inconsistent with this act or contrary to this act; and to repeal certain parts of this act on a specific date,”
The
Senate agreed to the full title.
The following bill was read a third time:
House Bill No. 4418, entitled
A bill to amend 1998 PA 433, entitled “Michigan uniform transfers to minors act,” by amending sections 10 and 11 (MCL 554.530 and 554.531).
The question being on the passage of the bill,
The bill was passed, a majority of the members serving voting therefor, as follows:
Roll Call No. 8 Yeas—38
Albert Daley Lauwers Polehanki
Anthony Damoose Lindsey Runestad
Bayer Geiss McBroom Santana
Bellino Hauck McCann Shink
Brinks Hertel McDonald Rivet Singh
Bumstead Hoitenga McMorrow Theis
Camilleri Huizenga Moss Victory
Cavanagh Irwin Nesbitt Webber
Chang Johnson Outman Wojno
Cherry Klinefelt
Nays—0
Excused—0
Not Voting—0
In The Chair: President
Senator Singh moved that the bill be given immediate effect.
The motion prevailed, 2/3 of the members serving voting therefor.
Pursuant to Joint Rule 20, the full title of the act shall be inserted to read as follows:
“An act to regulate certain transfers of property to minors; to make uniform the law regulating certain transfers to property to minors; and to repeal acts and parts of acts,”
The Senate agreed to the full title.
The following bill was read a third time:
House Bill No. 4419, entitled
A bill to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled “Natural resources and environmental protection act,” by amending section 80312 (MCL 324.80312), as amended by 2000 PA 65.
The question being on the passage of the bill,
The bill was passed, a majority of the members serving voting therefor, as follows:
Roll Call No. 9 Yeas—38
Albert Daley Lauwers Polehanki
Anthony Damoose Lindsey Runestad
Bayer Geiss McBroom Santana
Bellino Hauck McCann Shink
Brinks Hertel McDonald
Rivet Singh
Bumstead Hoitenga McMorrow Theis
Camilleri Huizenga Moss Victory
Cavanagh Irwin Nesbitt Webber
Chang Johnson Outman Wojno
Cherry Klinefelt
Nays—0
Excused—0
Not Voting—0
In The Chair: President
Senator Singh moved that the bill be given immediate effect.
The motion prevailed, 2/3 of the members serving voting therefor.
Pursuant to Joint Rule 20, the full title of the act shall be inserted to read as follows:
“An act to protect the environment and natural resources of the state; to codify, revise, consolidate, and classify laws relating to the environment and natural resources of the state; to regulate the discharge of certain substances into the environment; to regulate the use of certain lands, waters, and other natural resources of the state; to protect the people’s right to hunt and fish; to prescribe the powers and duties of certain state and local agencies and officials; to provide for certain charges, fees, assessments, and donations; to provide certain appropriations; to prescribe penalties and provide remedies; and to repeal acts and parts of acts,”
The Senate agreed to the full title.
By unanimous consent the Senate proceeded to the order of
Statements
The motion prevailed.
Senator Santana’s statement is as follows:
Today I rise to recognize an outstanding African American leader, medical professional, and a fellow Detroiter. Dr. Kaine Onwuzulike was a world-renowned adult and pediatric surgeon. He was an assistant professor of pediatric neurological surgery at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation since 2016. He was a man of great vision and talent who ascended to the top of his profession. He was one of a small number of African American neurosurgeons/pediatric neurosurgeons in the nation. But despite that, he made an indelible mark on this field.
In June 2019, he was part of the esteemed surgical team that conducted the first in-utero—while in the womb—fetal surgery in the region, successfully repairing a spinal cord defect in a 23-week-old fetus. This legendary case is just one of his many accolades and accomplishments in medicine. He was a hero both in the operating room and in the other halls of life. He was a dedicated physician, devoted husband, loving father, selfless son, doting sibling, proud uncle, and compassionate friend.
Originally from Detroit, Dr. Onwuzulike, his wife Sophia, and their daughters Zoe and Nya resided in Cleveland. In 2019, he was named to the prestigious Who’s Who of Black Clevelanders, committing his legacy and contributing to the community.
I would like to read some of the excerpts from a story that ran in Grand Valley Magazine written by Nate Hoekstra, highlighting the groundbreaking work the Grand Valley State alumnus was performing at the prestigious Cleveland Clinic:
Playing football may not exactly be brain surgery, but pediatric neurosurgeon Dr. Kaine Onwuzulike said the two have more in common than people may think. Onwuzulike is uniquely qualified to make the comparison. The 1998 graduate played football for the Lakers when Brian Kelly was the head coach, and was part of a surgical team that successfully completed the first in-utero correction for a spina bifida birth defect at the renowned Cleveland Clinic in northern Ohio. “My first love was football. I lived and breathed anything to do with football,” Onwuzulike said. “When I realized I wasn’t going to play professionally, I focused on medicine. That’s where I found unity, a team mentality, group preparation, and working toward a common goal. I find that there are many parallels in neurosurgery.”
Dr. Onwuzulike was a trailblazer in his field. He was recognized throughout the medical profession for his work and research. Unfortunately, Dr. Onwuzulike passed away in 2021 after a battle with cancer. This son of Detroit was a remarkable leader in his field and I would to leave you with a quote from the article I just read to you, “There are boundless things to be discovered, and looking for them is a part of who I am.” I am proud to recognize Dr. Kaine Onwuzulike during Black History Month for his groundbreaking work in pediatric neurosurgery.
Senator Theis’ statement is as follows:
I rise today in response to quotes in the media that voice support for a state registry of homeschool students. The rationale ostensibly was to identify, quote, missing children, end quote. There is an irony of course in the majority seeking greater regulation of homeschool families after having spent much of the last year watering down accountability standards for schools supported by tax dollars. This comes at a time when Michigan is near the bottom nationally for nearly every important educational measure—reading, math, graduation rates, SAT scores—but we are near the top for one statistic—chronic absenteeism in our public schools. The most recent data shows 66 percent—66 percent—of Detroit students are chronically absent and believe it or not, Mr. President, that was an improvement over the previous year when 77 percent were absent on a regular basis. Detroit is not alone. Fifty percent—fully half—of Kalamazoo students are chronically absent, 42 percent in Ann Arbor schools, and many of my colleagues may be interested in hearing that 1 out of every 4 students in Livonia schools are missing regularly.
Mr. President, we do have a problem with missing children, but the data shows our Education Committee needs to take a fuller look at what will actually fix the problem. Registering our homeschool students is not it.
Senator Anthony’s statement is as follows:
Following the lead of Senator Santana, I’d like to also uplift a Black history moment today for one of Michigan’s greatest artists. When we talk about Black history, we often look to the past but there is history being made right now.
There is a young woman. She’s a violinist named Melissa White. She was born and raised here in Lansing and she has had a rapid rise as a soloist that has captured the attention of orchestras and audiences around the globe. Many folks know her with her work with the Harlem Quartet. A first-prize laureate in the Sphinx Competition, she has performed with such leading U.S. ensembles as the Cleveland Orchestra, the Boston Pops, the Louisville Orchestra; and the Atlanta, Baltimore, Colorado, Detroit, and Pittsburgh symphony orchestras. Her film credits include a violin solo in the soundtrack of Jordan Peele’s 2019 psychological thriller, “Us,” and in addition to her numerous classical performances, she has also performed alongside artists such as Pharrell, Bruno Mars, Alicia Keys, and Lauryn Hill.
She is a founding member of the New York-based Harlem Quartet where since 2006, her passion and artistry has contributed to performances hailed as bringing a new attitude to classical music. Together with the Quartet, she has performed in some of the country’s most prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall, the White House, and Kennedy Center. On Sunday, many of us were watching the Grammys and folks were talking about Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, and SZA, but for those of us in mid-Michigan, we were celebrating Melissa White and the Harlem Quartet as they received a Grammy award that evening for Passion for Bach and Coltrane.
Again, one other Black history moment that we can celebrate this month, and really every day of the year, whether it’s in art, science, history, it’s all here. Melissa White, another amazing Lansing legend and a legend for our state.
Senator Geiss’ statement is as follows:
In maintaining these daily Black History Month statements and the African Americans and the Arts theme, I rise to give a brief history of Black women musical artists. I wish I could have also included Ms. White in this, but thank you for including her.
Black music is as old as the African
continent itself, but for the sounds and rhythms that we find familiar, I must
begin with soprano Elizabeth Taylor Greenfield when as early as 1851 she
challenged the music scene in and stereotypes in the States when she embarked
on a national tour that year, causing her to be known as the country’s first
Black pop star. On March 31, 1853, she sang at the Metropolitan Hall in New York
City, impressing the audience with her range and vocal power. She followed that
with a European tour where she became the first Black person to sing at
Buckingham Palace.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t uplift the godmother of rock and roll, Sister Rosetta Tharpe. Organic and virtuosic, her musicianship penetrated one’s soul. As a singer-songwriter of gospel, R&B, and rock and roll, she commanded the electric guitar like no other, influencing both Black and white male musicians, many of whom are household names. She was the daughter of musicians in their own right, but they never received the acclaim that she would, and the throughline of her musicianship and style can be traced through the sounds that exude from the vocal cords and pores of Mahalia Jackson, Etta James, Billie Holiday, the High Priestess of Soul Nina Simone, Sarah Vaughn, Patti LaBelle, Mary J. Blige, Tina Turner, Chaka Kahn, Sade, Tracey Chapman, Jill Scott, Erykah Badu and more across the R&B, soul, jazz, pop, and rock genres. If I listed all the muses of female Black American musicians, we’d be here all week, and I only have five minutes. Sister Rosetta Tharpe’s pioneering strains influenced the Motown Sound, mentioned yesterday, and her beats and chord progressions resonate still in musicians from the Pointer Sisters, to Sweet Honey in the Rock, to SWV, to Beyoncé.
These remarks would be incomplete without including opera. Caterina Jarboro was the first female Black opera singer to perform with a major company in the States when she played the title role of Verdi’s Aida at the New York Hippodrome on July 22, 1933. The first, but not the last, as contralto Marianne Anderson is probably most credited with breaking racial barriers in classical vocal music, performing with renowned orchestras in major venues throughout the States and Europe during the height of the Jim Crow Era. Anderson not only broke sound barriers but also social, institutional, and hierarchical ones. She gave access to the heights of classical music once denied Black people in America when, with assistance from First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and President Franklin D. Roosevelt, she performed on April 9, 1939, at the Lincoln Memorial. A few years later, in 1946, Camilla Williams made her debut as the title role in the New York City Opera’s performance of Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, becoming the first Black person to receive a regular contract with a major American opera company. Nearly a decade later, on January 7, 1955, it was Anderson who broke barriers again, becoming the first African American singer to perform at the Metropolitan Opera, unlocking and leaving ajar doors previously closed to Black singers at the ivory tower of opera itself.
While Jarboro, Anderson, and Williams unlocked those doors and left them ajar, Leontyne Price, whose 97th birthday is this coming Saturday, pushed it wide open. She was the first African American soprano to become a consistent leading performer with the Met. These phenomenal women showed audiences of the range, depth, and beauty of Black voices, paving the way for such divas—in the true meaning of the word—as Gloria Davys, Jessye Norman, Grace Brumby, and Angel Blue.
Make no mistake, regardless of genre, Black women musicians have inspired, taught, and entertained generations. We must honor and uplift their unmistakable influence.
Senator Nesbitt’s statement is as follows:
I wanted to take this opportunity to remind all my colleagues that a cease-fire was in place between Israel and Hamas on October 6, 2023. The brutal actions of these feckless Hamas terrorist thugs changed that on October 7, 2023, when they slaughtered over 1,200 innocent people. To date, 136 innocent men, women, and children are still being held hostage. Personally, I believe you can have your return to cease-fire when those innocent people get to go home.
By unanimous consent the Senate returned to the order of
Resolutions
Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 14
The motion prevailed, a majority of the members serving voting therefor.
Senators Damoose and McBroom offered the following concurrent resolution:
Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 14.
A concurrent resolution to vehemently oppose the transfer of mail processing operations from the Iron Mountain Processing and Distribution Center to the Green Bay Processing and Distribution Center in Wisconsin.
Whereas, The United States Postal Service has a long and venerable tradition of serving as a great equalizer between the people of our nation. Both the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution of the United States gave Congress the power to establish a system of post offices, and a Post Office Department was first established by the Second Continental Congress in 1775, with Benjamin Franklin appointed to serve as the Postmaster General. Throughout its 250-year history, the Post Office has chosen time and time again to prioritize service over profit, from President Washington’s support for the subsidization of stagecoaches in the 1780s, to the construction of money-losing postal routes to encourage settlement in the west during the mid-19th century, to the creation of the Pony Express to deliver the mail through extreme environments in 1860, to the elimination of price differences based on the distance a letter was to travel in 1863. While free home delivery began in cities in 1863, it was not initially offered in rural areas, though they paid the same rates. After initial experiments showed how happy rural customers were to be given the same attention as city-dwellers, rural free delivery became a permanent service in 1902. It is the mission of the United States Postal Service “to bind the Nation together through the personal, educational, literary, and business correspondence of the people”; and
Whereas, The Post Office is a service that we, as a society, have chosen to provide to our people. There is no constitutional mandate that the Post Office be run as a profitable business enterprise; to the contrary, our history shows that we have repeatedly used the Post Office to ensure that every American, no matter where they live, is connected through the post. The people can choose the level of postal service that they want the United States Postal Service to provide, and they can decide what costs they are willing to bear to provide that service; and
Whereas, Contrary to the desires of many that the United States Postal Service put service first, there are those who insist that it must be run like a business. The “Delivering for America” plan, published in March 2021, emphasizes the financial viability of the Postal Service, with a focus on raising enough revenue to cover their operating costs and fund new investments. The plan proudly proclaims that it will enable the United States Postal Service to operate with a positive net income, and the most recent report boasts that it has reduced projected ten-year losses from 160 billion dollars to 70 billion dollars. These publications read like a corporate marketing pitch, establishing goals such as a “more rational pricing approach,” a “stable and empowered workforce” and a “bold approach to growth, innovation and continued relevance.” What these profit-minded advocates seemingly fail to recognize is that lower-quality service and higher prices drive customers away, decreasing use of the postal service and thus decreasing revenue, while simultaneously undermining the Postal Service’s mission of binding the nation together; and
Whereas, The United States Postal Service’s focus on financial optimization has already had negative impacts on those living in rural areas, such as Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Local post offices have changed the time when mail is gathered for delivery from the afternoon to the early morning, meaning that a piece of mail dropped off during the day will remain at the post office for far longer before the shipping process begins. In practical effect, this adds one day to shipping times even while allowing the Postal Service to deny having done so for accounting purposes. Additionally, one-day Priority Mail Express shipping, which was available as recently as early January 2024, is no longer available from the UP to anywhere in Michigan; instead, citizens are being charged the same rate for two-day shipping. Combined with the change in collection time above, next-day shipping has essentially been transformed into three-day shipping. This is extremely problematic for businesses and health departments that need to collect samples of drinking water and have them delivered to a laboratory for bacterial testing within 24 hours of sampling. Delays in shipping also have negative consequences for patients who receive medications through the mail, for people who need to ensure their bills are paid on time, and for businesses delivering frozen foods such as the UP’s beloved pasties. Focusing too much on the postal network as a whole while ignoring the importance of timely local shipping is not modernization; it is regression. The people of the Upper Peninsula want what’s best for their communities, not what’s best for the pocketbooks of those in Washington; and
Whereas, In January 2024, the United States Postal Service announced plans to transfer some mail processing services, including outgoing mail operations, from the Iron Mountain Processing and Distribution Center in Kingsford, Michigan, to the Green Bay Processing and Distribution Center in Wisconsin. The Postal Service has justified this plan based on the fact that a majority of the mail and packages sent from the Iron Mountain area are destined for locations outside the local area. While this might make sense from the standpoint of the Postal Service as a nationwide business, it does not make sense for the people of the Upper Peninsula, for whom timely local delivery is essential. The notices that have been published about this plan assure that, while five craft employee positions will be eliminated, no management positions will be eliminated. But the notices also indicate that there will be reassignments, which means that some employees could be left without a job if they are unwilling to be reassigned to a post office far away. Furthermore, recent changes to the Iron Mountain facility may have led to inaccurate conclusions about the need for it, stacking the deck so that the evidence would support the conclusion the government was looking for. The capacity of the Green Bay facility to handle the mail from the Iron Mountain area is curiously left out of the government’s preliminary findings. When similar notices across the country all use identical, buzzword-riddled language about efficiency, cost-effectiveness, modern strategies, and “rightsizing” the postal workforce, it becomes difficult to trust that they have made a careful, informed decision about the proper level of services to provide at the Iron Mountain facility; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate (the House of
Representatives concurring), That we vehemently oppose the transfer of mail
processing operations from the Iron Mountain Processing and Distribution Center
to the Green Bay Processing and Distribution Center in Wisconsin; and be it
further
Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Governor of Michigan, the President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the members of the Michigan congressional delegation, and the United States Postmaster General.
The question being on the adoption of the concurrent resolution,
Senator McBroom offered the following amendment:
1. Amend page 2, line 26, after “2021,” by inserting “and particularly its ‘optimized collection plan’,”.
The Assistant President pro tempore, Senator Geiss, resumed the Chair.
The concurrent resolution as amended was adopted.
Senator Singh was named co-sponsor of the concurrent resolution.
The motion prevailed.
Senator McBroom’s statement, in which Senator Damoose concurred, is as follows:
Mr. President, Senator Damoose and I have been working on this resolution, and a Senate resolution to follow, because of a situation created by the United States government with our postal service. In a recent optimization plan that the postal service has been implementing since January, we’ve seen incredible reductions in service as they’ve discontinued pick-up routes and pick-up times across the Upper Peninsula.
Further, they’re discussing the closure of our outgoing mail from the Kingsford Processing Center that processes all the mail people send in the U.P., regardless of whether that mail continues in the Upper Peninsula or goes out to the world. This is a tremendous disservice to the people of the U.P., and I’ve already seen receipts from people who, before the implementation on this, paid a certain rate for next-day delivery and now pay that same rate and are lucky to get delivery in four or five days.
This is unacceptable and it’s hurting the people of the Upper Peninsula. It’s hurting the delivery of medicines. It’s hurting water sampling and testing for our communities where the state requires 24-hour delivery. It’s hurting the opportunity to deliver ballots in a timely fashion. It’s hurting the opportunity for our veterans who receive so much from our Iron Mountain VA facility. It’s hurting businesses that depend on receiving their goods, their parts.
Why is this happening? It’s because the postal system is busy trying to create optimization at the expense of service. It must be the one business in the world that somehow thinks when people are upset with service, the way to get more people to come back is to provide even worse service at a higher price. How many even know that the postal rates just went up again last week? Can’t even tell now because we have forever stamps, so you don’t know unless you are buying stamps, Yep the rates just went up again. Yet, we are going to get poorer service.
What is incredibly infuriating about this is that the press releases from the United States Postal Service gloss over all of this in rosy terms about how much better things are going to be because packages will be received from the Upper Peninsula to other places in the country or across the U.P. in the same time. So that’s great, right? Somehow we’re better off by making sure it takes just as long for a package to get from Iron Mountain to Marquette as it takes for a package to get from Iron Mountain to San Francisco. That’s government efficiency there for you, and they put that in their press release about how great this is now because we’re all going to have the same low standard. Thanks a lot to our government and their plans for greater efficiency.
One of the misunderstandings that seems to plague the postal service and some of those who write regulations for it is that somehow or other if the postal service isn’t making a profit, it’s doing something wrong. Yet, the obligation to have a postal system comes directly from the United States Constitution. It’s one of the few requirements our United States government has when it comes to running an organization—that and the army. And does the army make money for us either? No.
The postal system has served for over 250 years as the great equalizer for communications in this country, charging people in the rural area and in the urban area the same. Free delivery systems for rural routes. These have been the virtues of this system for over 100 years, and we’re abandoning that and providing poorer service at higher costs. It’s a true dereliction of the duty of the United States government.
These two resolutions are worded to ask
the federal government, from the President to the Postmaster General to our
members of Congress, to reconsider what’s happening and not take away service,
not just from the Upper Peninsula but regions across the United States that are
suffering under this optimization plan, where they’re literally refusing to
pick-up our mail, making it sit and wait extra days, and removing workers from
our workforce. I ask for your support.
Senators Runestad, Daley, Hoitenga, Theis, Bellino, Hauck, McBroom, Damoose, Bumstead, Victory, Nesbitt, Outman, Lindsey and Johnson offered the following resolution:
Senate Resolution No. 91.
A resolution to support the actions of the Governor of Texas in furtherance of his constitutional right and responsibility to protect the citizens of his state and secure the border.
Whereas, The President of the United States has left Americans and the nation extremely vulnerable to the torrent of illegal immigrants pouring across the southern border. Instead of upholding the rule of law and securing the border, the Biden Administration has attacked and sued the state of Texas for stepping up to protect American citizens from the illegal immigrants, deadly drugs like fentanyl, and terrorists entering our country; and
Whereas, The United States is experiencing high levels of illegal immigration, and the rate at which migrants are attempting to unlawfully enter the country is accelerating. The total number of encounters between migrants and U.S. Customs and Border Protection increased from almost 2.3 million in 2021, to over 3 million in 2022, and 3.3 million in 2023. December 2023 was the worst month during this period, with 371,036 encounters. Extrapolating from this data, there may be as many as 11.5 million total encounters during President Biden’s first term; and
Whereas, These figures do not even include “gotaways,” unauthorized entrants who Border Patrol has ceased pursuing. There were at least 1.4 million known gotaways reported from January 2021 to April 2023, and it is estimated that there may be as many as 2.2 million gotaways across President Biden’s term in office; and
Whereas, Many of the migrants encountered at the border are released into the interior of the United States. The United States Secretary of Homeland Security publicly stated that he would not be surprised to hear that more than 70 percent of migrants crossing the border are released, and he privately admitted to Border Patrol agents that more than 85 percent of those encountered at the southern border are being released; and
Whereas, Some individuals who seek to unlawfully enter the United States are dangerous, both to U.S. citizens and to immigrants. Over the last few years, cartels have become increasingly involved in illegal immigration, such that they now make an estimated 13 billion dollars per year from human smuggling. In fiscal year 2023, there were 169 encounters with individuals on the terrorist watchlist on the southern border between ports of entry, and between fiscal years 2021 and 2023, U.S. Border Patrol apprehended 1,697 known gang members; and
Whereas, In case of invasion, states have a constitutional right to take action to defend their sovereignty. The United States is charged with a constitutional duty to protect the states from invasion under Article IV of the United States Constitution. However, when the federal government has abdicated its responsibility, the states are left to fight for themselves. Article I, Section 10, Clause 3 of the United States Constitution prohibits states from engaging in war “unless actually invaded, or in such imminent Danger as will not admit of delay.” The Governor of Texas has thus taken steps to defend its citizenry from the threats posed by border insecurity, authorizing enhanced border security measures; and
Whereas, It is not merely states located along the southwest border that should care about illegal immigration. According to a report published by the Federation for American Immigration Reform in 2023, an estimated 185,000 illegal aliens and their 63,000 U.S.-born children cost Michigan taxpayers 1.12 billion dollars annually. The governors of twenty-five other states have signed a joint statement in support of the Texas Governor’s actions on the border, in recognition of the crisis our nation now faces; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate, That we support the actions of the Governor of Texas in furtherance of his constitutional right and responsibility to protect the citizens of his state and secure the border; and be it further
Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.
Pursuant to rule 3.204, the resolution was referred to the Committee on Government Operations.
The following communication was received:
Office of Senator Dan Lauwers
February 7, 2024
I am submitting this request to be added as a co-sponsor of Senate Resolution 91.
Sincerely,
Dan Lauwers
State Senator, 25th District
The communication was referred to the
Secretary for record.
Senate Resolution No. 92
Senate Resolution No. 93
Senate Resolution No. 94
The motion prevailed, a majority of the members serving voting therefor.
Senators McBroom and Damoose offered the following resolution:
Senate Resolution No. 92.
A resolution to vehemently oppose the transfer of mail processing operations from the Iron Mountain Processing and Distribution Center to the Green Bay Processing and Distribution Center in Wisconsin.
Whereas, The United States Postal Service has a long and venerable tradition of serving as a great equalizer between the people of our nation. Both the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution of the United States gave Congress the power to establish a system of post offices, and a Post Office Department was first established by the Second Continental Congress in 1775, with Benjamin Franklin appointed to serve as the Postmaster General. Throughout its 250-year history, the Post Office has chosen time and time again to prioritize service over profit, from President Washington’s support for the subsidization of stagecoaches in the 1780s, to the construction of money-losing postal routes to encourage settlement in the west during the mid-19th century, to the creation of the Pony Express to deliver the mail through extreme environments in 1860, to the elimination of price differences based on the distance a letter was to travel in 1863. While free home delivery began in cities in 1863, it was not initially offered in rural areas, though they paid the same rates. After initial experiments showed how happy rural customers were to be given the same attention as city-dwellers, rural free delivery became a permanent service in 1902. It is the mission of the United States Postal Service “to bind the Nation together through the personal, educational, literary, and business correspondence of the people”; and
Whereas, The Post Office is a service that we, as a society, have chosen to provide to our people. There is no constitutional mandate that the Post Office be run as a profitable business enterprise; to the contrary, our history shows that we have repeatedly used the Post Office to ensure that every American, no matter where they live, is connected through the post. The people can choose the level of postal service that they want the United States Postal Service to provide, and they can decide what costs they are willing to bear to provide that service; and
Whereas, Contrary to the desires of many that the United States Postal Service put service first, there are those who insist that it must be run like a business. The “Delivering for America” plan, published in March 2021, emphasizes the financial viability of the Postal Service, with a focus on raising enough revenue to cover their operating costs and fund new investments. The plan proudly proclaims that it will enable the United States Postal Service to operate with a positive net income, and the most recent report boasts that it has reduced projected ten-year losses from 160 billion dollars to 70 billion dollars. These publications read like a corporate marketing pitch, establishing goals such as a “more rational pricing approach,” a “stable and empowered workforce” and a “bold approach to growth, innovation and continued relevance.” What these profit-minded advocates seemingly fail to recognize is that lower-quality service and higher prices drive customers away, decreasing use of the postal service and thus decreasing revenue, while simultaneously undermining the Postal Service’s mission of binding the nation together; and
Whereas, The United States Postal Service’s
focus on financial optimization has already had negative impacts on those
living in rural areas, such as Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Local post offices
have changed the time when mail is gathered for delivery from the afternoon to
the early morning, meaning that a piece of mail dropped off during the day will
remain at the post office for far longer before the shipping process begins. In
practical effect, this adds one day to shipping times even while allowing the
Postal Service to deny having done so for accounting purposes. Additionally,
one-day Priority Mail Express shipping, which was available as recently as
early January 2024, is no longer available from the UP to anywhere in Michigan;
instead, citizens are being charged the same rate for two-day shipping.
Combined with the change in collection time above, next-day shipping has
essentially been transformed into three-day shipping. This is extremely
problematic for businesses and health departments that need to collect samples
of drinking water and have them delivered to a laboratory for bacterial testing
within 24 hours of sampling. Delays in shipping also have negative consequences
for patients who receive medications through the mail, for people who need to
ensure their bills are paid on time, and for businesses delivering frozen foods
such as the UP’s beloved pasties. Focusing too much on the postal network as a
whole while ignoring the importance of timely local shipping is not
modernization; it is regression. The people of the Upper Peninsula want what’s
best for their communities, not what’s best for the pocketbooks of those in
Washington; and
Whereas, In January 2024, the United States Postal Service announced plans to transfer some mail processing services, including outgoing mail operations, from the Iron Mountain Processing and Distribution Center in Kingsford, Michigan, to the Green Bay Processing and Distribution Center in Wisconsin. The Postal Service has justified this plan based on the fact that a majority of the mail and packages sent from the Iron Mountain area are destined for locations outside the local area. While this might make sense from the standpoint of the Postal Service as a nationwide business, it does not make sense for the people of the Upper Peninsula, for whom timely local delivery is essential. The notices that have been published about this plan assure that, while five craft employee positions will be eliminated, no management positions will be eliminated. But the notices also indicate that there will be reassignments, which means that some employees could be left without a job if they are unwilling to be reassigned to a post office far away. Furthermore, recent changes to the Iron Mountain facility may have led to inaccurate conclusions about the need for it, stacking the deck so that the evidence would support the conclusion the government was looking for. The capacity of the Green Bay facility to handle the mail from the Iron Mountain area is curiously left out of the government’s preliminary findings. When similar notices across the country all use identical, buzzword-riddled language about efficiency, cost-effectiveness, modern strategies, and “rightsizing” the postal workforce, it becomes difficult to trust that they have made a careful, informed decision about the proper level of services to provide at the Iron Mountain facility; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate, That we vehemently oppose the transfer of mail processing operations from the Iron Mountain Processing and Distribution Center to the Green Bay Processing and Distribution Center in Wisconsin; and be it further
Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Governor of Michigan, the President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the members of the Michigan congressional delegation, and the United States Postmaster General.
The question being on the adoption of the resolution,
Senator McBroom offered the following amendment:
1. Amend page 2, line 27, after “2021,” by inserting “and particularly its ‘optimized collection plan’,”.
The resolution as amended was adopted.
Senators Geiss and Singh were named co-sponsors of the resolution.
Senator Cherry offered the following resolution:
Senate Resolution No. 93.
A resolution to recognize February 11, 2024, as the United Auto Workers’ (UAW) White Shirt Day.
Whereas, We recognize Michigan’s members of the United Auto Workers as they gather to mark the 87th anniversary of their first contract with General Motors. This anniversary is a reflection of the extreme sacrifice, commitment, and determination of those first UAW members who paved the way for higher pay and improved benefits, creating a positive atmosphere for all of America’s working men and women. We remember those historic members on this anniversary; and
Whereas, On February 11, 2024, UAW members and retirees will wear white shirts to commemorate the anniversary of the end of the famous Flint sit-down strike in 1937. While the members of this distinguished organization celebrate this event, we offer our thanks for the outstanding contributions made to the Flint community, our state, and the nation; and
Whereas, The origin of UAW’s White Shirt Day can be traced back to 1948 when Bert Christensen, a UAW member of Local 598, first suggested it. His idea was to ask that workers wear the white shirts traditionally worn by managers to show the company that they were equally important to the business. The shirts represent equal respect and treatment for blue-collar workers and the unity and strength of UAW members; and
Whereas, With ceremonies to celebrate its history, the members and officers of the UAW will remember the vision of its founders and the commitment of its workers that have brought them to this point. Fittingly, as they look to the past, they will also be casting an eye to the future and the many ways in which the UAW will continue to serve the working men and women of this great country; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate, That the members
of this legislative body recognize February 11, 2024, as the United Auto
Workers’ (UAW) White Shirt Day. We commemorate the 87th anniversary of the
first United Auto Workers contract with
General Motors and everyone who has contributed to its success; and be it
further
Resolved, That we applaud their accomplishments and thank them for helping to strengthen and build Michigan’s communities, workforce, and economy.
The question being on the adoption of the resolution,
Senators Bayer, Brinks, Geiss, Polehanki and Singh were named co-sponsors of the resolution.
The motion prevailed.
Senator Cherry’s statement is as follows:
I rise in support of this resolution. This year on Sunday is the 87th anniversary of the end of the Flint sit-down strike, which ultimately resulted in the recognition of the United Auto Workers by GM. There were over 130,000 auto workers who participated in that strike across multiple factories. It started December 30, 1936, and ended on February 11, 1937. Ultimately, the end of the sit-down strike resulted in the workers being able to provide for their families, join the middle class, and give their children the opportunity to achieve their dreams. It meant they were able to have regular work hours and ultimately bargain for health care, job security, and things as simple as a paid vacation. More broadly, the recognition of the United Auto Workers resulted in setting off a chain of union recognition across our nation and it resulted in the expansion and strengthening of the middle class in the United States.
The celebration of White Shirt Day began in the 1940s and the tradition is for workers to wear white shirts when they go to work that day, the symbolism being that blue-collar workers deserve the same respect and dignity as their white-collar counterparts. I ask my colleagues to join me in adopting this resolution, and also, if you wish, to co-sponsor on the electronic system.
Senator Johnson offered the following resolution:
Senate Resolution No. 94.
A resolution to recognize February 2024 as American Heart Month and February 7, 2024, as “National Wear Red Day”.
Whereas, The American Heart Association celebrates February 2024 as American Heart Month by promoting cardiovascular education, awareness, and by encouraging citizens to learn the warning signs of a heart attack and stroke; and
Whereas, Cardiovascular disease affects men, women, and children of every age and race in the United States (U.S.); and
Whereas, Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women in the U.S., claiming the lives of more women than all forms of cancer combined. Only 44 percent of women recognize that cardiovascular disease is their greatest health threat; and
Whereas, Among females 20 years and older, nearly 45 percent are living with some form of cardiovascular disease and less than half of women entering pregnancy in the U.S. have optimal cardiovascular health; and
Whereas, Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of maternal death in the U.S., or more simply put, heart disease is the number one killer of new moms; and
Whereas, Overall, 10 to 20 percent of women will have a health issue during pregnancy. High blood pressure, preeclampsia, and gestational diabetes during pregnancy greatly increase a women’s risk for developing cardiovascular disease later in life; and
Whereas, Women, especially Black and Hispanic women, are disproportionally impacted by heart disease and stroke, and research shows heart attacks are on the rise in younger women; and
Whereas, Younger generations of women, also known as Gen Z and Millennials, are less aware of their greatest health threat, including knowing the warning signs of heart attacks and strokes; and
Whereas, Additionally, 90 percent of women have one or more risk factors for developing heart disease or stroke; and
Whereas, Most cardiac and stroke events can be prevented through education and lifestyle changes, such as moving more, eating smart, and managing blood pressure; and
Whereas, In 2020, stroke caused the deaths of 90,627 females, approximately 56.5 percent of total stroke deaths; and
Whereas, There are significant biological
differences between men and women, and clinical trials have not always
adequately enrolled women or analyzed sex-specific differences in the data. As
of 2020, only 38 precent of cardiovascular clinical research trial
participants are women; and
Whereas, Since 2004, the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women® movement has addressed the awareness and clinical care gaps of women’s greatest health threat, cardiovascular disease. On the cusp of the American Heart Association’s 100th anniversary, they continue to make bold moves to save lives and pioneer scientific discoveries; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate, That the members of this legislative body recognize February 2024 as American Heart Month and February 7, 2024, as “National Wear Red Day”.
The question being on the adoption of the resolution,
The motion prevailed.
Senator Johnson’s statement is as follows:
I rise in support of Senate Resolution No. 94, which would designate February 2024 as American Heart Month and today, February 7, 2024, as “National Wear Red Day” in the state of Michigan.
Unfortunately, each year in in our country, more women die from cardiovascular disease than all forms of cancer combined. Yet, in surveys, less than half of women recognize cardiovascular disease as our greatest health threat. Nearly 45 percent of women 20 years and older are living with some form of cardiovascular disease, while 90 percent of women have at least one risk factor for developing heart disease or stroke. Cardiovascular disease is also the leading cause of maternal deaths in the United States. That’s why each February the American Heart Association promotes its “Go Red for Women” campaign to raise awareness of this critical health issue and encourage women to learn more about their risk factors, as well as the warning signs of heart disease and stroke.
I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution. And I encourage my colleagues and all of those listening—both men and women—to take time this month to learn more about taking control of your own heart health, for themselves and for their loved ones.
Announcements of Printing and Enrollment
COMMITTEE ATTENDANCE REPORT
The Committee on Housing and Human Services submitted the following:
Meeting held on Tuesday, February 6, 2024, at 12:00 noon, Room 403, 4th Floor, Capitol Building
Present: Senators Irwin (C), Santana, Cavanagh, Chang, Cherry, Geiss, Lindsey, Hoitenga and Damoose
Excused: Senators Bayer and Shink
COMMITTEE ATTENDANCE REPORT
The Committee on Education submitted the following:
Meeting held on Tuesday, February 6, 2024, at 1:00 p.m., Room 1100, Binsfeld Office Building
Present: Senators Polehanki (C), Geiss, Chang, Camilleri, McDonald Rivet, Damoose and Johnson
COMMITTEE ATTENDANCE REPORT
The Committee on Local Government submitted the following:
Meeting held on Tuesday, February 6, 2024, at 1:00 p.m., Room 1200, Binsfeld Office Building
Present: Senators Klinefelt (C), Wojno, Moss, Shink, Hoitenga and Daley
Excused: Senator Bayer
COMMITTEE ATTENDANCE REPORT
The Committee on Natural Resources and Agriculture submitted the following:
Meeting held on Tuesday, February 6, 2024, at 3:00 p.m., Room 1300, Binsfeld Office Building
Present: Senators Shink (C), Cherry, Singh, Daley and Hoitenga
Excused: Senators Polehanki and Victory
COMMITTEE ATTENDANCE REPORT
The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure submitted the following:
Meeting held on Tuesday, February 6, 2024, at 3:00 p.m., Room 1200, Binsfeld Office Building
Present: Senators Geiss (C), Klinefelt, Wojno, Hertel, Chang, McCann, McBroom, Victory and Bumstead
Excused: Senator Bellino
Senator Singh moved that the Senate adjourn.
The motion prevailed, the time being 10:57 a.m.
In pursuance of the order previously made, the Assistant President pro tempore, Senator Geiss, declared the Senate adjourned until Tuesday, February 13, 2024, at 10:00 a.m.
DANIEL OBERLIN
Secretary of the Senate