Tonight, I asked my colleagues to join me in honoring Sam Woll with a moment of silence. She had a profound faith in humanity and a passion for interfaith relations – something that is more important than ever right now.
Today, I voted against a flawed supplemental spending bill for Israel security. My full statement:
While we face a potential government shutdown tonight – which means the closure and disruption of federal facilities and programs and the furlough of federal workers – my goal is to limit the impact it will have on my office’s ability to respond to #MI07’s needs. Both of my D.C. and Lansing offices *will remain open*, which means you’ll still be able to reach my constituent services teams for assistance, regardless of the shutdown’s duration. Unfortunately, though, many of the agencies with which we interact will be closed or impacted. We’ve been gathering information from federal agencies, and have compiled it all at the link below. We will continue to update this page as more information becomes available. If you have any questions, please give us a call at (517) 993-0510 or (202) 225-4872. 🔗: Slotkin.house.gov/shutdown
Amid new developments in the Middle East, we must remember that being a good partner means having tough conversations – I’ve been pushing the Department of Defense to provide Israel with lessons we’ve learned & urge them to think strategically about their upcoming operations in Gaza.
The crisis in the Middle East is hitting Michigan hard right now. People of all faiths are watching this conflict minute to minute, and it takes a toll on a state where we live together, go to school together, and grow up together.
Seeing reports of the first group of Palestinians and foreign nationals exit to Egypt is a relief, but we need to keep the pressure on all parties. My full statement above.
Israel has a right to respond to the perpetrators of Hamas’ terror attack. But being a good ally also means sharing the hard lessons from our own experiences from 20 years of war in Iraq and Afghanistan — particularly for those of us so saw those wars up close.
As a former intel officer, I’m concerned that the public discussion of classified intelligence in Congress this week may put the sources and methods that got us that intelligence at risk.
I spoke to @morningjoe this morning just as news broke of Alexei Navalny’s death. We need to demonstrate U.S. leadership in the world or we hand that leadership over to dictators like Putin.
Now that the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza has seen some limited movement of humanitarian aid into Gaza, we need the State Department to negotiate getting American citizens out safely. I’ve heard from many Michiganders who are frustrated and worried about those stuck there, and scores of aid workers from around the country looking to depart. These citizens need attention, support and timely information.
What’s at stake if we don’t help Ukraine: Food prices rising, refugees streaming across Europe, Vladimir Putin on NATO’s doorstep, and American leadership receding over the continent our grandparents fought to save.
As we mark the first anniversary of the shooting at Michigan State University, it was good to spend some time on campus today, checking in with students, faculty and staff, and talking about what the past year has been like for all of us. That includes my own fantastic district office interns, all of whom are MSU students, who joined me throughout the day.  There really isn’t a playbook for how to mark this kind of anniversary, so it was heartening to see so many people turn their emotions into action through the day of service activities offered at the Hannah Community Center and International Center. There were service projects to work on, art options, and even a squishmallow exchange to provide some extra comfort. These activities really showcased what it means to be Spartan Strong. One place that’s burned into my brain from that evening is sitting in the ops center at the East Lansing Police Department as the hours-long manhunt took place. It seemed fitting to go back and visit with them and city fire and other first responder leaders on duty that night, and thank them for their actions that evening, and in the grueling year since. We shouldn’t lose sight of the fact that there was only one group of leaders who were running toward the gunfire, not away from it. And that they, too, have had to process this tragedy.  I’m now back in Washington, even if my heart is still with East Lansing. It’s hard to explain how much a tragedy like this impacts all of us. The common theme I heard from students and staff today was the way a mass shooting forever changes the very DNA of a community. We are still climbing our way back. #SpartanStrong.
Food security is national security, so it’s important that we ensure adversaries like China can’t gain control over the land that feeds us. Today at @houseagdems, I asked U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack about how we can protect our farmland.
This morning, I had the chance to tour and then sit down with a group of Black farmers and local agriculture leaders at the We the People Opportunity Farm @w.t.p.o.f, which employs formerly incarcerated men and women and teaches them agricultural skills and techniques. As the only Michigander on the House Agriculture Committee, it’s important that I hear directly about the unique challenges faced by minority and small farmers, like access to water and ownership issues, so we can work towards addressing them through legislation like the Farm Bill. Many thanks to Grace Fellowship Church – House of Solutions’s Pastor Powell & @w.t.p.o.f founder Melvin for hosting me, as well as @michdeptofag Director Tim Boring, Julius from @growingthehope, TC from @willowrunacres, @fedupministries & all of our attendees for coming out.
This morning, I had the chance to tour and then sit down with a group of Black farmers and local agriculture leaders at the We the People Opportunity Farm @w.t.p.o.f, which employs formerly incarcerated men and women and teaches them agricultural skills and techniques. As the only Michigander on the House Agriculture Committee, it’s important that I hear directly about the unique challenges faced by minority and small farmers, like access to water and ownership issues, so we can work towards addressing them through legislation like the Farm Bill. Many thanks to Grace Fellowship Church – House of Solutions’s Pastor Powell & @w.t.p.o.f founder Melvin for hosting me, as well as @michdeptofag Director Tim Boring, Julius from @growingthehope, TC from @willowrunacres, @fedupministries & all of our attendees for coming out.
This morning, I had the chance to tour and then sit down with a group of Black farmers and local agriculture leaders at the We the People Opportunity Farm @w.t.p.o.f, which employs formerly incarcerated men and women and teaches them agricultural skills and techniques. As the only Michigander on the House Agriculture Committee, it’s important that I hear directly about the unique challenges faced by minority and small farmers, like access to water and ownership issues, so we can work towards addressing them through legislation like the Farm Bill. Many thanks to Grace Fellowship Church – House of Solutions’s Pastor Powell & @w.t.p.o.f founder Melvin for hosting me, as well as @michdeptofag Director Tim Boring, Julius from @growingthehope, TC from @willowrunacres, @fedupministries & all of our attendees for coming out.
This morning, I had the chance to tour and then sit down with a group of Black farmers and local agriculture leaders at the We the People Opportunity Farm @w.t.p.o.f, which employs formerly incarcerated men and women and teaches them agricultural skills and techniques. As the only Michigander on the House Agriculture Committee, it’s important that I hear directly about the unique challenges faced by minority and small farmers, like access to water and ownership issues, so we can work towards addressing them through legislation like the Farm Bill. Many thanks to Grace Fellowship Church – House of Solutions’s Pastor Powell & @w.t.p.o.f founder Melvin for hosting me, as well as @michdeptofag Director Tim Boring, Julius from @growingthehope, TC from @willowrunacres, @fedupministries & all of our attendees for coming out.
Yesterday, I sat down with a delegation of Ukrainian parliamentarians – including my friend Sasha Ustinova – for a frank discussion on the way forward on Ukraine as conflict roils in the Middle East. The potential for a wider regional conflict that targets U.S. forces and resources is very real, so it’s important we start talking about the implications for Ukraine, particularly as we enter the third week with no Speaker of the House, and no way to bring bills to the floor. In addition, we discussed the impressive growth of defense manufacturing in Ukraine since the start of the war — and ways the US can help further that indigenous development. In need of faster production, Ukrainian engineers have been hard at work to secure a steady supply of the capabilities they need to continue fighting Russia.
Yesterday, I sat down with a delegation of Ukrainian parliamentarians – including my friend Sasha Ustinova – for a frank discussion on the way forward on Ukraine as conflict roils in the Middle East. The potential for a wider regional conflict that targets U.S. forces and resources is very real, so it’s important we start talking about the implications for Ukraine, particularly as we enter the third week with no Speaker of the House, and no way to bring bills to the floor. In addition, we discussed the impressive growth of defense manufacturing in Ukraine since the start of the war — and ways the US can help further that indigenous development. In need of faster production, Ukrainian engineers have been hard at work to secure a steady supply of the capabilities they need to continue fighting Russia.
Welcome to Washington @brightonhs_bulldogs! It was great to stop on my way to vote last week and see the group in Statuary Hall of the U.S. Capitol after they received a tour from a couple of my interns. Nothing is better than talking to students about everything from the week’s votes, to some of the strange rules of the House (no top hats and top coats on the floor!), to my office’s internship program.
Welcome to Washington @brightonhs_bulldogs! It was great to stop on my way to vote last week and see the group in Statuary Hall of the U.S. Capitol after they received a tour from a couple of my interns. Nothing is better than talking to students about everything from the week’s votes, to some of the strange rules of the House (no top hats and top coats on the floor!), to my office’s internship program.
I recently sat down for an important discussion with local stakeholders and advocates about how we can expand affordable and attainable housing in Livingston County. Since 2019, there have only been four houses on the market for less than $189,000, and almost one-bedroom rentals. And in an area that contains a variety of communities, from rural to suburban, it’s important to consider all kinds of solutions. That includes everything from supporting affordable housing construction – like the legislation I introduced last month would accomplish for workforce housing – to expanding access to mobile homes or addressing issues with local zoning. The housing crisis looks different in every community, and that means the solutions will be different as well.
I recently sat down for an important discussion with local stakeholders and advocates about how we can expand affordable and attainable housing in Livingston County. Since 2019, there have only been four houses on the market for less than $189,000, and almost one-bedroom rentals. And in an area that contains a variety of communities, from rural to suburban, it’s important to consider all kinds of solutions. That includes everything from supporting affordable housing construction – like the legislation I introduced last month would accomplish for workforce housing – to expanding access to mobile homes or addressing issues with local zoning. The housing crisis looks different in every community, and that means the solutions will be different as well.
I’ve gotten a ton of calls & texts about American citizens looking to get out of Israel & the Palestinian territories. Above is the latest info & resources from @travelgov. If you can’t get through on the numbers listed in the post, my team is ready to help: 517-993-0510.
