STATE OF MICHIGAN
Journal of the Senate
100th Legislature
REGULAR SESSION OF 2020
Senate Chamber, Lansing, Wednesday, May 13,
2020.
10:00
a.m.
The
Senate was called to order by the President, Lieutenant Governor Garlin D.
Gilchrist II.
The roll was called by the
Secretary of the Senate, who announced that a quorum was present.
Alexander—present Horn—present Outman—present
Ananich—present Irwin—present Polehanki—present
Barrett—present Johnson—present Runestad—present
Bayer—present LaSata—present Santana—present
Bizon—present Lauwers—present Schmidt—present
Brinks—present Lucido—present Shirkey—present
Bullock—present MacDonald—excused Stamas—present
Bumstead—present MacGregor—present Theis—present
Chang—present McBroom—present VanderWall—present
Daley—present McCann—present Victory—present
Geiss—present McMorrow—present Wojno—present
Hertel—present Moss—present Zorn—present
Hollier—present Nesbitt—present
Senator John Bizon of the 19th District
offered the following invocation:
Dear Gracious, Heavenly Father,
we come to You today as a governmental body thanking You for the blessings You
have bestowed upon us. In our hearts, we pray that You establish our steps. Let
us not make wisdom based only upon what we know, but let us act based upon Your
wisdom. We place today’s session in your hands, and we place our hearts and our
minds in Your hands so that You may direct us. We ask You now for grace as we
deliberate on the important issues before us today. Please guide us in our
decision-making as we make laws that will impact our communities and our state
for generations to come.
In Jesus’ name we pray. And all
of God’s people said. Amen.
The
President, Lieutenant Governor Gilchrist, led the members of the Senate in
recital of the Pledge of Allegiance.
Motions and Communications
Senator Ananich entered the Senate
Chamber.
The motion prevailed.
Senator MacGregor moved that Senator
MacDonald be excused from today’s session.
The motion prevailed.
Senator Chang moved that Senator Geiss
be temporarily excused from today’s session.
The motion prevailed.
Senator Johnson entered the Senate
Chamber.
The motion prevailed, a majority of the members serving voting therefor.
The motion prevailed, a majority
of the members serving voting therefor.
House Bill No. 5709, entitled
A bill to amend 1976 PA 390,
entitled “Emergency management act,” by amending section 5 (MCL 30.405), as
amended by 2006 PA 545.
The motion prevailed, a majority of the members serving voting therefor,
and the bill was placed on the order of General Orders.
Senator MacGregor moved that the bill
be referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety.
The motion prevailed.
Senator Geiss entered the Senate Chamber.
By unanimous consent the Senate
proceeded to the order of
Introduction and Referral of Bills
A bill
to amend 1939 PA 280, entitled “The social welfare act,” (MCL 400.1 to
400.119b) by adding section 109n.
The
bill was read a first and second time by title and referred to the Committee on
Health Policy and Human Services.
Senator Bumstead introduced
A bill to make, supplement, and adjust appropriations
for various state departments and agencies for the fiscal year ending September
30, 2020; and to provide for the expenditure of the appropriations.
The bill was read a first and second time by title and
referred to the Committee on Appropriations.
Senator MacGregor introduced
A bill to amend 1978 PA 368, entitled “Public health code,”
(MCL 333.1101 to 333.25211) by adding section 17713; and to repeal acts and
parts of acts.
The bill was read a first and second time by title and
referred to the Committee on Health Policy and Human Services.
Senator McBroom introduced
A bill to amend 2001 PA 142, entitled “Michigan
memorial highway act,” (MCL 250.1001 to 250.2091) by adding section 8c.
The bill was read a first and second time by title and
referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Senator McBroom introduced
A bill to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled “Natural
resources and environmental protection act,” by amending section 82123 (MCL
324.82123), as added by 1995 PA 58.
The bill was read a first and second time by title and
referred to the Committee on Natural Resources.
Senator McBroom entered the Senate Chamber
Senator McBroom introduced
A bill to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled “Natural
resources and environmental protection act,” by amending section 81133 (MCL
324.81133), as amended by 2018 PA 206.
The bill was read a first and second time by title and
referred to the Committee on Natural Resources.
Recess
Senator MacGregor moved that the
Senate recess until 1:15 p.m.
The motion prevailed, the time
being 10:07 a.m.
During the recess, Senator Schmidt
entered the Senate Chamber.
By unanimous consent the Senate
returned to the order of
Motions and Communications
Senate
Bill No. 876
Senate
Bill No. 877
Senate
Bill No. 878
Senate
Bill No. 690
The motion prevailed, a majority of the members serving voting therefor.
Senator MacGregor moved that the
Senate recess subject to the call of the Chair.
The motion prevailed, the time
being 1:18 p.m.
The Senate was called to order by
the President, Lieutenant Governor Gilchrist.
By unanimous consent the Senate
proceeded to the order of
General Orders
The motion prevailed, and the
President, Lieutenant Governor Gilchrist, designated Senator Santana as
Chairperson.
After some time spent therein,
the Committee arose; and the President pro tempore, Senator Nesbitt, having
assumed the Chair, the Committee reported back to the Senate, favorably and
with a substitute therefor, the following bill:
Senate Bill No. 876, entitled
A bill to amend 1949 PA 300,
entitled “Michigan vehicle code,” by amending section 314 (MCL 257.314), as
amended by 2011 PA 159, and by adding section 314c.
Substitute (S-1)
Senate Bill No. 877, entitled
A bill to amend 1972 PA 222,
entitled “An act to provide for an official personal identification card; to
provide for its form, issuance and use; to regulate the use and disclosure of
information obtained from the card; to prescribe the powers and duties of the
secretary of state; to prescribe fees; to prescribe certain penalties for violations;
and to provide an appropriation for certain purposes,” by amending section 2
(MCL 28.292), as amended by 2018 PA 669, and by adding section 2a.
Substitute (S-1)
Senate Bill No. 878, entitled
A bill to amend 2008 PA 23,
entitled “Enhanced driver license and enhanced official state personal
identification card act,” by amending section 5 (MCL 28.305), as amended by
2018 PA 606, and by adding section 5a.
Substitute (S-1)
Senate Bill No. 690, entitled
A bill to make, supplement, and
adjust appropriations for various state departments and agencies for the fiscal
year ending September 30, 2020; and to provide for the expenditure of the
appropriations.
Substitute (S-2)
The following are
the amendments to the substitute recommended by the Committee of the Whole:
1. Amend
page 3, following line 20, by inserting:
“Summer school fund for credit recovery........................................................ 15,000,000”.
2. Amend
page 3, line 24, by striking out “135,000,000” and inserting “150,000,000” and
adjusting the subtotals, totals, and section 201 accordingly.
3. Amend
page 6, line 1, by striking out “first responder bonuses” and inserting “first
responder COVID‑19 pandemic bonuses”.
4. Amend
page 9, line 8, after “shall” by striking out the balance of the line through “and”
on line 9.
5. Amend
page 10, line 14, after “iReady,” by inserting “Smarter Balanced,”.
6. Amend
page 10, following line 21, by inserting:
“Sec.
403. From the funds appropriated in part 1 for summer school fund for credit
recovery, the department of education shall allocate funding statewide to
school districts to support summer school. The funding shall be allocated based
on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the communities in which the school
districts are located.”.
7. Amend
page 12, line 19, by striking out “first responder bonuses” and inserting “first
responder COVID-19 pandemic bonuses”.
8. Amend
page 12, line 21, by striking out “first responders” and inserting “first
responders who have dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic”.
By unanimous consent the Senate
returned to the order of
Messages from the Governor
The following message from the Governor
was received on May 13, 2020, and read:
EXECUTIVE ORDER
No. 2020-82
Temporary
enhancements to operational capacity
and efficiency of health care facilities
Rescission
of Executive Order 2020-49
The
novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is a respiratory disease that can result in
serious illness or death. It is caused by a new strain of coronavirus not
previously identified in humans and easily spread from person to person. There
is currently no approved vaccine or antiviral treatment for this disease.
On
March 10, 2020, the Department of Health and Human Services identified the
first two presumptive-positive cases of COVID-19 in Michigan. On that same day,
I issued Executive Order 2020-4. This order declared a state of emergency
across the state of Michigan under section 1 of article 5 of the Michigan
Constitution of 1963, the Emergency Management Act, 1976 PA 390, as amended,
MCL 30.401 et seq., and the Emergency
Powers of the Governor Act of 1945, 1945 PA 302, as amended, MCL 10.31 et seq.
Since
then, the virus spread across Michigan, bringing deaths in the thousands,
confirmed cases in the tens of thousands, and deep disruption to this state’s
economy, homes, and educational, civic, social, and religious institutions. On
April 1, 2020, in response to the widespread and severe health, economic, and
social harms posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, I issued Executive Order 2020-33.
This order expanded on Executive Order 2020-4 and declared both a state of
emergency and a state of disaster across the State of Michigan under section 1
of article 5 of the Michigan Constitution of 1963, the Emergency Management
Act, and the Emergency Powers of the Governor Act of 1945. And on April 30,
2020, finding that COVID-19 had created emergency and disaster conditions
across the State of Michigan, I issued Executive Order 2020-67 to continue the
emergency declaration under the Emergency Powers of the Governor Act, as well
as Executive Order 2020-68 to issue new emergency and disaster declarations
under the Emergency Management Act.
The
Emergency Management Act vests the governor with broad powers and duties to “cop[e]
with dangers to this state or the people of this state presented by a disaster
or emergency,” which the governor may implement through “executive orders,
proclamations, and directives having the force and effect of law.” MCL
30.403(1)–(2). Similarly, the Emergency Powers of the Governor Act of 1945
provides that, after declaring a state of emergency, “the governor may
promulgate reasonable orders, rules, and regulations as he or she considers
necessary to protect life and property or to bring the emergency situation
within the affected area under control.” MCL 10.31(1).
To
provide necessary protections against the dangers to this state posed by the
COVID-19 pandemic, the state must ensure that there is an adequate supply of
health care providers and facilities. To this end, it is reasonable and
necessary to provide limited and temporary relief from certain regulatory
requirements to enhance the operational capacity and efficiency of health care
facilities.
Executive
Order 2020-13 provided this limited and temporary relief. Executive Order
2020-49 clarified that relief and extended its duration. This order extends
that duration further, as it remains reasonable and necessary to suppress the
spread of COVID-19 and protect the public health and safety of this state and
its residents. With this order, Executive Order 2020-49 is rescinded.
Acting
under the Michigan Constitution of 1963 and Michigan law, I order the
following:
1. The Department of Health and Human Services (“DHHS”)
may issue an emergency certificate of need to an applicant and defer strict
compliance with the procedural requirements of section 22235 of the Public
Health Code, 1978 PA 368, as amended, MCL 333.22235, until the end of the
declared states of disaster and emergency.
2. The Department of Licensing and Regulatory
Affairs (“LARA”) may grant a waiver under section 21564 of the Public
Health Code, 1978 PA 368, as amended, MCL 333.21564, to any licensed hospital
in this state, regardless of number of beds or location, for the purpose of
providing care during the COVID-19 pandemic, to construct, acquire, or operate
a temporary or mobile facility for any health care purpose, regardless of where
the facility is located. A waiver issued under this section may be renewed by
LARA until the end of the declared states of disaster and emergency.
3. LARA may issue a temporary registration as a
certified nurse aide to an applicant, regardless of whether the applicant
demonstrates to LARA that they have successfully completed the examination
requirements of sections 21911 and 21913 of the Public Health Code, 1978 PA
368, as amended, MCL 333.21911 and MCL 333.21913. A temporary registration
issued under this section shall be valid for 28 days and may be renewed by LARA
until the end of the declared states of disaster and emergency.
4. LARA may renew a license to practice under Part
170, 172, 175, 177, or 187 of the Public Health Code, 1978 PA 368, as amended,
regardless of whether the licensee has satisfied the continuing education
requirement applicable to their license.
5. LARA may recognize hours worked responding to
the COVID-19 pandemic as hours toward continuing education courses or programs
required for licensure.
6. LARA may allow a non-nursing assistant such as
an activity coordinator, social worker, or volunteer to help feed or transport
a patient or resident in a manner consistent with the patient’s or resident’s
care plan.
7. This order is effective immediately and
continues through June 9, 2020 at 11:59 p.m.
8. Executive Order 2020-49 is rescinded.
Given
under my hand and the Great Seal of the State of Michigan.
Date:
May 12, 2020
Time:
10:45 p.m.
Gretchen
Whitmer
[SEAL] Governor
By
the Governor:
Jocelyn
Benson
Secretary
of State
The
executive order was referred to the Committee on Government Operations.
Recess
Senator MacGregor moved that the
Senate recess subject to the call of the Chair.
The motion prevailed, the time
being 2:52 p.m.
The Senate was called to order by
the President pro tempore, Senator Nesbitt.
Senator MacGregor moved that the rules be suspended and that
the following bill, now on the order of Third Reading of Bills, be placed on
its immediate passage:
Senate
Bill No. 690
The motion prevailed, a majority of the members serving
voting therefor.
By
unanimous consent the Senate proceeded to the order of
Third Reading of Bills
Senator
MacGregor moved that the Senate proceed to consideration of the following bill:
Senate Bill No. 690
The
motion prevailed.
The
following bill was read a third time:
Senate Bill No. 690, entitled
A bill to make, supplement, and adjust
appropriations for various state departments and agencies for the fiscal year
ending September 30, 2020; and to provide for the expenditure of the
appropriations.
The
question being on the passage of the bill,
Senator Hertel offered the following amendments:
1. Amend page 5,
following line 28, by inserting:
“Futures
for frontliners program..................................................................... 15,000,000”.
2. Amend
page 6, line 6 by striking out “172,500,000” and inserting “187,500,000” and
adjusting the subtotals, totals, and section 201 accordingly.
3. Amend page
17, following line 1, by inserting:
“Sec. 605.
(1) From the funds appropriated in part 1 for futures for frontliners program,
the department of treasury shall establish a futures for frontliners program to
provide Michigan residents without college degrees who meet the qualifications
outlined in subsection (2) and who have worked in the areas described in
subsection (3) with free tuition at community colleges and tuition support at a
four year public or non-profit university or college for those who have earned
an associate’s degree or have earned at least 60 hours of college credit prior
to entering the futures for frontliners program.
(2) Eligibility
for the futures for frontliners program shall be limited to individuals who
meet the following criteria:
(a) Must be at
least 18 years old
(b) Must possess
a high school diploma or equivalent
(c) Must have not
previously earned a bachelor’s or associate’s degree in college
(d) Must have
submitted a free application for federal student aid (FAFSA) form
(e) Must have
worked in a frontline job listed in subsection (3) at least 20 hours per week
for a minimum of 16 of the 20 weeks between March 10, 2020 and July 30, 2020.
(3) Eligibility
for the futures for frontliners program shall include, but not be limited to,
individuals who worked during the COVID-19 pandemic in person in a public
facing job in the following sectors or roles:
(a) Hospital,
nursing home, urgent care, direct care, and contact tracing worker
(b) Sanitation
worker
(c) Bus driver,
truck driver, or delivery driver
(d) Individuals
providing child care for essential workers
(e) Grocery store
worker, curbside and home delivery worker, supply chain business worker, or
agriculture and food processing worker
(f) Police, fire,
EMT, and security worker
(g) Food, health
equipment, or PPE manufacturing worker
(h) Bank teller
or other financial services frontline worker.”.
The
question being on the adoption of the amendments,
Senator
Hertel withdrew the amendments.
Senator Hertel offered the following
amendments:
1. Amend
page 5, following line 12, by inserting:
“(3) ONE-TIME APPROPRIATIONS
MiOSHA COVID-19 response grants.................................................................. 15,000,000
GROSS APPROPRIATION............................................................................... 15,000,000
Appropriated from:
Federal
funds:
Coronavirus relief fund...................................................................................... 15,000,000
State general fund/general purpose...................................................................... 0”
and
adjusting the subtotals, totals, and section 201 accordingly.
2. Amend
page 12, following line 15, by inserting:
“Sec.
502. (1) From the funds appropriated in part 1 for MiOSHA COVID-19 response
grants, the department of labor and economic opportunity shall allocate funding
to support the following:
(a) Dollar
for dollar matching grants up to $10,000.00 for employers with 250 FTEs or
fewer company wide, who are under the jurisdiction of MiOSHA to purchase safety
and health related equipment for COVID-19 response including training, supplies
and materials for risk mitigation such as hygiene stations, and PPE including
masks, with applicants being required to conduct a site-specific evaluation
justifying the expenditure in relation to direct improvements.
(b) MiOSHA
surge capacity to add staff.
(c) A
MiOSHA workplace safety ombudsman phone center to answer worker and employer
questions on workplace safety to improve compliance outcomes.
(d) A
symptom tracking application to increase employer access control for sick
workers and provide visibility into existing COVID-19 hotspots.”.
The
question being on the adoption of the amendments,
Senator
Hertel withdrew the amendments.
Senator Irwin offered the following amendments:
1. Amend page 3,
line 19, by striking out all of line 19.
2. Amend
page 3, line 24 by striking out “135,000,000” and inserting “125,000,000” and
adjusting the subtotals, totals, and section 201 accordingly.
3. Amend
page 9, line 26, by striking out all of section 402.
The
amendments were not adopted, a majority of the members serving not voting
therefor.
Senator Hertel offered the following amendments:
1. Amend page 5,
following line 12, by inserting:
“(3) ONE-TIME APPROPRIATIONS
MiOSHA
COVID-19 response grants.................................................................. 100
GROSS
APPROPRIATION............................................................................... 100
Appropriated from:
Federal
funds:
Coronavirus
relief fund...................................................................................... 100
State
general fund/general purpose...................................................................... 0”
and adjusting the
subtotals, totals, and section 201 accordingly.
2. Amend page
12, following line 15, by inserting:
“Sec.
502. (1) From the funds appropriated in part 1 for MiOSHA COVID-19 response
grants, the department of labor and economic opportunity shall allocate funding
to support the following:
(a) Dollar
for dollar matching grants up to $10,000.00 for employers with 250 FTEs or
fewer company wide, who are under the jurisdiction of MiOSHA to purchase safety
and health related equipment for COVID-19 response including training, supplies
and materials for risk mitigation such as hygiene stations, and PPE including masks,
with applicants being required to conduct a site-specific evaluation justifying
the expenditure in relation to direct improvements.
(b) MiOSHA
surge capacity to add staff.
(c) A
MiOSHA workplace safety ombudsman phone center to answer worker and employer
questions on workplace safety to improve compliance outcomes.
(d) A
symptom tracking application to increase employer access control for sick
workers and provide visibility into existing COVID-19 hotspots.”.
The
amendments were adopted, a majority of the members serving voting therefor.
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.
145 Yeas—37
Alexander Geiss MacGregor Santana
Ananich Hertel McBroom Schmidt
Barrett Hollier McCann Shirkey
Bayer Horn McMorrow Stamas
Bizon Irwin Moss Theis
Brinks Johnson Nesbitt VanderWall
Bullock LaSata Outman Victory
Bumstead Lauwers Polehanki Wojno
Chang Lucido Runestad Zorn
Daley
Nays—0
Excused—1
MacDonald
Not
Voting—0
In The
Chair: Nesbitt
Senator
MacGregor moved that the bill be given immediate effect.
The motion prevailed, 2/3 of the members
serving voting therefor.
The
Senate agreed to the title of the bill.
The
motion prevailed.
Senator Irwin’s statement is as
follows:
There’s an old saying I once
heard that goes like this—you don’t fatten a hog by weighing it more often.
Now, I know that we’re all very concerned about learning loss and we’re all
very concerned about the quality of education that children are receiving
during this coronapocalypse, but I would submit to you that testing them is no
different than weighing the hog.
My amendment today would strike
$10 million—allowing that money to be used for other important priorities—to
remove the benchmark assessments because the practical result of this is just
more testing for our kids. I don’t know how many of you have kids in schools
now—I’ve got two—and I can tell you that they are tested a lot. Sometimes I
often wonder, is the computer lab really available for instruction a high
percentage of the time during the year. No, often it’s taken up with kids
testing, testing, testing. Often I ask their teachers, what do you use these
assessments for? How are these assessments used to calibrate your instruction
and improve them? What I find out is that these assessments—assessments ad
nauseum—are not being used. They’re not being used to inform instruction
because, of course, these teachers who spend every day with these kids—they
know the kids, they know the kids better than the test, and thank goodness they’re
applying their professional skills to educate them.
I ask you to support this
amendment because I would prefer that we spend our dollars actually educating
and instructing children rather than organizing more testing. I join you in
your concern for summer learning loss, but I ask you to support testing over
instruction. Once again, you don’t fatten the hog by weighing it more often.
Support my amendment and stand up for instruction over more assessment.
Senator Victory’s statement is as
follows:
I speak in support of Senate Bill
No. 690 which will send federal support money from the CARES Act to where it’s
truly needed most.
By every definition, food
processing is an essential service. But despite countless proclamations and
decrees from federal and state governments, agricultural processors across the
nation are being forced to shut down. They are lacking the labor force needed
to keep their doors open and to keep our constituents fed. Food processors—let
me say that clearly, food processors—are the hard-working men and women who
continue to work through COVID-19 to provide food for your families, and these
hard-working men and women are still not being treated as frontline workers or
prioritized by current spending plans.
We have seen the meat shortages
in our grocery stores. This is due entirely to the shutdowns and slowdowns in
the meat processing facilities. Thankfully, Michigan meat processors are
independently stepping up and doing an amazing job keeping Michigan-raised
pork, poultry, and beef production going.
But the current situation is
unsustainable. Michigan processors will have to take drastic measures if we do
not act now. This is especially true as more of our fresh produce becomes ready
for harvest. Even as I speak, new green shoots of growth of Michigan fresh
produce is blooming throughout the state. No one in this chamber wants to go
all summer without Michigan fresh asparagus, blueberries, apples, cherries,
pickles, and the list goes on.
Please, I urge you to vote “yes”
on Senate Bill No. 690. These funds will save hundreds of local farms and will
help keep food on your constituents’ tables.
Senator Hertel’s statement is as
follows:
I rise in support of this
legislation. I want to thank the chairman and sponsor of this legislation for
his bipartisan work on this bill. This is a good example, I believe—for the
entire Senate—of trying to balance the priorities of both sides of the aisle
and the Governor’s office and working together to solve this. The Governor
submitted many of these priorities to the Legislature. It is a good step in the
right direction for us all to be working together and trying to solve these
problems together. I commend the Appropriations Chair, I commend the Governor,
and I commend the leadership for working together to solve this and to provide
proper funding for the state moving forward during this crisis. I look forward
to working with all of you further in this bipartisan effort and I’m glad that
at least in this issue we are working together and moving in the same
direction.
By
unanimous consent the Senate proceeded to the order of
Statements
The
motion prevailed.
Senator Polehanki’s statement is as
follows:
Today I rise to ask for a moment
of silence for 11 Felician Sisters from Livonia who passed in April. Seven of
the Sisters had tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. The Felician Sisters
have lived and served at the Blessed Virgin Mary Convent since 1936. They have
made a tremendous impact in metro Detroit in the areas of education, childcare,
and end-of-life care. I wanted to mention each individually so that we can
fully appreciate their achievements.
Sister Mary Luiza was a primary
school teacher. Sister Celine Marie spent 55 years as an educator and
librarian. Sister Mary Estelle was a teacher, principal, and later supervised
the business office at St. Mary Hospital. Sister Thomas Marie was a teacher and
a library aid. Sister Mary Patricia spent 60 years in education working in 13
schools throughout her life. Sister Mary Clarence spent 48 years in education,
including early childhood teaching. Sister Rose Mary was a teacher, archivist,
and secretary for the Vatican Secretariat of State for eight years. Sister Mary
Janice was a teacher, a professor, and wrote the book documenting the history
of the Felician Sisters. Sister Mary Ann Alice spent 36 years as a teacher and
principal. Sister Mary Martinez was a teacher, principal, and professor. And Sister
Victoria Marie was a nurse and a nursing professor.
The passing of these wonderful
women in the month of April is a major loss to our community. I want to express
my condolences to the Felician Sisters and their family members.
A moment of silence was observed
in memory of the Felician Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary Convent of Livonia.
The
Assistant President pro tempore, Senator Theis, assumed the Chair.
Senator Chang’s statement is as
follows:
I wanted to take a moment to
acknowledge that May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and the annual
celebration at the Capitol was actually originally scheduled for last week, but
obviously did not happen.
Michigan is home to over 325,000
Asian Americans of over a dozen ethnic groups and across our great state from
Detroit to Sault Ste. Marie. Asian Americans are the fastest-growing population
in Michigan and an important one. From Chinese American immigrants who built
the first Detroit Chinatown with their laundries and restaurants, to Burmese,
Nepalese, and Bhutanese refugees in West Michigan and the Upper Peninsula,
and immigrants that arrived more recently, Asian Americans are a part of the
historical and current fabric of our communities. Also, Asian Americans are
health care professionals, providing care for COVID‑19 patients and
researchers who are working to develop vaccines. Over the weekend I’ve
participated in a virtual event hosted by Rising Voices of Asian American
Families in conjunction with Tsuru for Solidarity. During that event, my
daughter and I learned how to fold paper cranes and we learned that Tsuru is
Japanese for crane and that Tsuru stands for compassion, peace, and solidarity.
There is this really incredible
effort by Japanese Americans who were interned as children during World War II
with their families simply because of their ethnicity. These inspiring leaders
have been protesting the detention of asylum seekers and children at the border
and conditions in border patrol facilities. Last summer, they strung 20,000
paper cranes as a show of solidarity and protest outside Fort Sill, which was
formerly a Japanese American internment camp and at the time of the protest was
planned as a facility for unaccompanied minor children. Due to their efforts,
it actually did not become a facility for unaccompanied minor children.
This activity of folding paper
cranes holds more meaning to me now than just the folding of paper. Not only is
it a time for me to get my daughter off of the screen and do something with her
hands, but it’s also the importance of solidarity, which is extremely resonant
during Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and especially during the COVID-19
crisis.
Much of Asian American history,
and even the term Asian American, centers around solidarity. Multitudes of
different Asian ethnic groups who come from different countries who at times
were in conflict and at war with one another coming together in America due to
common issues, deciding to be called Asian Americans. But it has also meant
Asian American solidarity with other communities between Filipino and Latino
farmworkers in California, between former Japanese American internees and
Muslims when the Muslim ban was first announced, and with Asian American
leaders involved in the Black Power Movement like Yuri Kochiyama, in whose lap
Malcolm X died. Solidarity these days means being part of Asians for Black
Lives, recognizing that being black and going for a run should not mean you
might get killed.
This month, during this pandemic,
the solidarity and compassion represented by these paper cranes is something
that we all need to remember. We should always recognize that our struggles are
bound up with one another, whether it’s recognizing the disparate impact of
COVID-19 on black folks in our state, understanding that Latino and other
immigrants face critical barriers to health care, the fear the people in prison
have that they will contract COVID-19, or the worry that some Asian Americans
have that they will be the victim of a hate crime because of COVID-19
scapegoating. We to be in solidarity with one another and that starts with
empathy and recognizing during this challenging and uncertain time that our
futures are intertwined.
Japanese legend has it that if
you fold 1,000 paper cranes, you will be on a path out of sickness toward
health and recovery. I hope that our path out of this public health and
economic crisis will be one that’s based on compassion and solidarity. Thank
you and happy Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.
Senator VanderWall’s statement is as
follows:
I rise to share an unfortunate
and avoidable story of our battle against coronavirus.
Many of you take an opportunity
to come and visit my beautiful district, which is one of the prettiest
districts in the state. You’ll visit in the spring, you’ll visit in the summer,
you’ll visit in the fall to see the colors, and of course you’ll visit in the
winter to see the beautiful snow. And if you visited Leelanau County, you most
likely visited a small town known for the famous Cedar Polka Festival. But it’s
also a place that had a great restaurant called the Big Cat Brewing Company.
Yesterday this family-owned
business announced it would permanently close its doors after 14 years of
providing food, beer, memories, laughs, and jobs in Leelanau County. In their
announcement, the owners—Aaron and Nikki Ackley—quoted
After much consideration and deep soul
searching, we have come to the conclusion that we will not be able to reopen
and continue our business of 14 years. With now losing Memorial Day weekend and
no guarantee of being able to open at full capacity this summer, it has become
obvious to us that our business operations are no longer sustainable
Colleagues, Leelanau County has
had a total of nine COVID-19 cases. No deaths. Our Governor says she lets the
data guide her decisions, yet her one-size fits all approach treats Leelanau
County the same as our counties in the southeast section of the state. This
state is big. Toronto is closer to Detroit than Maple City. You can probably
get to Pittsburgh faster from Detroit than you can to the small town of Cedar.
But the Governor is treating these two places exactly the same. My heart goes
out to the Ackleys, their employees, their customers,
and all their Michigan families and friends that are suffering under this
COVID-19 virus and this failed approach. I ask that we take this opportunity to
start looking at what we can do to make sure that our small communities can
survive, can open their businesses, can feed families, take care of the
community, pay taxes to take care of the bills we just saw—and what we’re going
to lose in lost revenue—it’s time that we make change. And that change means
that we need to start looking at different ways of opening up this state at
different times.
Senator Santana’s statement is as
follows:
Ramadan Mubarak. On the evening
of April 23, the holy month of Ramadan began and will last until the evening of
May 23. Ramadan is the ninth and holiest month of the Islamic calendar.
According to tradition, the holy book of the Quran was revealed to the prophet
Muhammad during Ramadan. Muslims use this month of Ramadan to focus on their
connection to God, reflect on their lives, and spend quality time with their
friends and family.
Ramadan is a time of spiritual
reflection, self-improvement, and heightened devotion and worship. Muslims are
expected to put more effort into following the teachings of Islam. As of the
2010 Census, Dearborn, which I am honored to represent, is the home to the
largest Muslim population in the United States.
To all the residents of the 3rd
District and the state of Michigan, have a blessed Ramadan.
Senator McBroom’s statement is as
follows:
Most of you know of my penchant
for oratory. I have given all lots; I like words. Sometimes I’m fiery,
sometimes funny—or at least I think so—sometimes serious or sentimental. But
today, I don’t know that I can say that I feel like I’ve made a speech that’s
nearly as critical or as difficult as this one.
I don’t think anybody here can
fairly accuse me of rushing to any judgements on the actions of the leadership
in this crisis. I have offered prayers and support both publicly and privately
for our Governor, here and at home. While there have been areas of disagreement
I have been very supportive, especially in the first half of this crisis and
continue, until recently, to be committed to the belief that all the actions
here are born out of a sincere desire to protect the people of Michigan. I
believe that might still be the motivation, but it’s clearer to me—day by day,
week by week—that the leadership in this crisis is floundering. The sad truth
is that a lack of leadership is driving our state to ruination and desolation.
Leadership is not simply the
execution of power. Leadership is not simply the act of getting one’s own way.
Leadership does not hide in a tower with a select group of advisors,
condescending to the subordinates periodically with new pronouncements and
determinations. Leadership—genuine leadership—watches for those with firsthand
knowledge of the ramifications of the decisions that it makes and where that
impact is most destructive or most helpful. Real leadership listens to
reasonable calls for mercy. It recognizes both friend and foe. It doesn’t
chance to ignore calls for reconsideration. Honest leadership is humble and
knows itself well enough to know its own weaknesses and its own ability to make
errors. Leadership serves those that it seeks to lead.
Despite my months of support, I
have been growing more and more concerned. Now, late to some but in my own
time, I have found myself feeling completely bereft of hope as I’ve observed
and contemplated the enormity of the destruction to the communities in the Upper
Peninsula due to the unrelenting direction of the executive that has
unilaterally taken our state. What’s birthed this recent despair for me? It
wasn’t another call from a business owner. It wasn’t another call from a
citizen upset about fishing. It was a call from a older veteran I got last week
who in the midst of the physical pain that he finds himself in and not able to
get the treatment that he expects, is contemplating suicide and is talking to
other veterans in that same boat.
This caused me to take time to
re-evaluate our current course, and the analysis for the Upper Peninsula is
that we are moving into desperate territory. The choices made here unilaterally
are decimating the future opportunities. For too long, many of us have allowed
this false juxtaposition that we’re choosing between life or the economy. But
the real truth is we’re destroying our communities. People aren’t going to be
able to stay. People aren’t going to have places to live. Hospitals and schools
are going to be closed.
We’re destroying the fabric that
binds us together. I have a 103-year-old farm and five generations and I don’t
know if I can keep it together. We have to move forward and get out of this
mess that we’ve put ourselves in and recognize this disease is here and our hospitals
are ready to manage it. The second wave will come tomorrow or come December; we’re
not going to hide from this, people. We have to get moving. Open us up. Give
freedom to the U.P.
Senator
Barrett’s statement is as follows:
Colleagues,
I really appreciated the sentiments from our last speaker. Senator, thank you
for those remarks.
You
know, I was moved to speak today on behalf of a barber in my district, Karl Manke. All of you have probably heard about his case and
the struggles he’s been through in Owosso these last few weeks. I don’t know Karl
personally. I’ve been in touch with folks who know him a lot better than I do.
I’ve spoken with his attorney and some friends of his, and I’ve offered my
prayers and support for him as he goes through this.
A few
days ago, our state, at the direction of our Governor, sent six State Police
troopers to a 77-year-old barber’s shop to serve him with a notice to stop what
he’s doing. He’s trying to earn a living. He’s trying to feed himself, put a
roof over his head, and get through this crisis like each and every one of us
here are as well. He doesn’t have the luxury of being insulated from this
crisis and the problems and the challenges that all of us are facing. Yet, six
State Police troopers showed up and tried to shut him down through the force of
law.
The
weight of the laws of our state, every single law that we create here says, “The
People of the State of Michigan enact.” That means that ten million people of
the state of Michigan are putting their force of law behind the decisions that
we create here in this body and across in the other chamber. And we are saying
to this 77-year-old barber that the ten million people of the state of Michigan
are going to shut you down because of this Governor and this Attorney General.
Thankfully,
the Judge in Shiawassee County did not agree to the restraining order to shut
down his business, so the state lost on that count. So, what did they do?
Instead of saying we’ll go through the court process, instead of saying we have
respect for the rule of law, instead of saying we will go through this as is
done throughout every other adjudication in the state of Michigan, they said,
you know what? We lost today, but we’re going to go behind your back, and we’re
going to revoke your license to operate as a barber with no hearing, with no
due process, and with no just cause whatsoever, simply because our Attorney
General lost in the court in Shiawassee County. If that is not an abuse of
power, I don’t know what is.
It
disgusts me to stand here as an elected representative of this district to see
that type of state action taken against citizens of our state. There’s going to
be a lot of disagreements about how we go forward, but we shouldn’t have this
win at all costs mentality when it comes to the people and their livelihoods
and their ability to provide for themselves and their families. We have to
respect the process, we have to respect the rule of law, and we have to respect
the different branches of government. This was no different than that type of
abuse taking place. The headline today from the San Antonio Express said, “Michigan strikes back by suspending
elderly barber’s license.” Since when does our state strike back against the
citizens of our state? It should be an outrage to all of us.
The motion prevailed.
Announcements of Printing and Enrollment
The
Secretary announced that the following bills were printed and filed on Tuesday,
May 12, and are available on the Michigan Legislature website:
Senate
Bill Nos. 912 913 914 915 916 917
House
Bill No. 5767
Committee Reports
The Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure reported
Senate
Bill No. 876, entitled
A bill
to amend 1949 PA 300, entitled “Michigan vehicle code,” by amending section 314
(MCL 257.314), as amended by 2011 PA 159, and by adding section 314c.
With
the recommendation that the substitute (S-1) be adopted and that the bill then
pass.
The
committee further recommends that the bill be given immediate effect.
Tom
Barrett
Chairperson
To
Report Out:
Yeas:
Senators Barrett, LaSata, McBroom, Victory, Outman and Lauwers
Nays: Senators
Geiss, Bullock and Hollier
The
bill and the substitute recommended by the committee were referred to the
Committee of the Whole.
The
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure reported
Senate
Bill No. 877, entitled
A bill
to amend 1972 PA 222, entitled “An act to provide for an official personal
identification card; to provide for its form, issuance and use; to regulate the
use and disclosure of information obtained from the card; to prescribe the
powers and duties of the secretary of state; to prescribe fees; to prescribe
certain penalties for violations; and to provide an appropriation for certain
purposes,” by amending section 2 (MCL 28.292), as amended by 2018 PA 669, and
by adding section 2a.
With
the recommendation that the substitute (S-1) be adopted and that the bill then
pass.
The
committee further recommends that the bill be given immediate effect.
Tom
Barrett
Chairperson
To
Report Out:
Yeas:
Senators Barrett, LaSata, McBroom, Victory, Outman and Lauwers
Nays:
Senators Geiss, Bullock and Hollier
The
bill and the substitute recommended by the committee were referred to the
Committee of the Whole.
The
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure reported
Senate
Bill No. 878, entitled
A bill
to amend 2008 PA 23, entitled “Enhanced driver license and enhanced official
state personal identification card act,” by amending section 5 (MCL 28.305), as
amended by 2018 PA 606, and by adding section 5a.
With
the recommendation that the substitute (S-1) be adopted and that the bill then
pass.
The
committee further recommends that the bill be given immediate effect.
Tom
Barrett
Chairperson
To
Report Out:
Yeas:
Senators Barrett, LaSata, McBroom, Victory, Outman and Lauwers
Nays:
Senators Geiss, Bullock and Hollier
The bill
and the substitute recommended by the committee were referred to the Committee
of the Whole.
COMMITTEE
ATTENDANCE REPORT
The
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure submitted the following:
Meeting
held on Tuesday, May 12, 2020, at 12:30 p.m., Senate Hearing Room, Ground
Floor, Boji Tower
Present:
Senators Barrett (C), LaSata, McBroom, Victory, Outman, Lauwers, Geiss, Bullock
and Hollier
The
Committee on Appropriations reported
Senate
Bill No. 690, entitled
A bill
to make, supplement, and adjust appropriations for various state departments
and agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020; and to provide for
the expenditure of the appropriations.
With
the recommendation that the substitute (S-2) be adopted and that the bill then
pass.
The
committee further recommends that the bill be given immediate effect.
Jim
Stamas
Chairperson
To
Report Out:
Yeas:
Senators Stamas, Bumstead, Barrett, Bizon, LaSata, MacGregor, Nesbitt, Outman,
Runestad, Schmidt, Victory, Hertel, Bayer, Hollier, Irwin, McCann and Santana
Nays:
None
The
bill and the substitute recommended by the committee were referred to the
Committee of the Whole.
COMMITTEE
ATTENDANCE REPORT
The
Committee on Appropriations submitted the following:
Meeting
held on Wednesday, May 13, 2020, at 11:00 a.m., Senate Hearing Room, Ground
Floor, Boji Tower
Present:
Senators Stamas (C), Bumstead, Barrett, Bizon, LaSata, MacGregor, Nesbitt,
Outman, Runestad, Schmidt, Victory, Hertel, Bayer, Hollier, Irwin, McCann and
Santana
Excused:
Senator MacDonald
Senator
MacGregor moved that the Senate adjourn.
The
motion prevailed, the time being 3:55 p.m.
In
pursuance of the order previously made, the Assistant President pro tempore,
Senator Theis, declared the Senate adjourned until Tuesday, May 19, 2020, at
10:00 a.m.
MARGARET
O’BRIEN
Secretary
of the Senate