Domestic Violence

Supporting victims of domestic violence is deeply personal to me. When I was a child, I remember the fear, the seeking help and no one responding because you didn’t acknowledge the problem or accept the reality of what happened behind closed doors. Much has changed since those days. We have broken down stigmas and more survivors are finding the courage to speak honestly, escape abusive situations and seek the support they need. Protecting and expanding critical domestic violence response and prevention programs has been a priority for me since coming to Congress.

In one 24-hour period in Michigan, domestic violence programs answered 408 hotline calls of people in immediate danger, and served 2,359 victims with emergency shelter, transitional housing, counseling, and legal advice. Again, all that happened in one day.

Victims and survivors need housing, childcare, legal assistance and counseling, food and financial assistance, and most importantly space and time to rest and recover. Fully funding these programs that assist victims of domestic violence is crucial for communities across Michigan.

For more than 25 years, the Violence Against Women Act is our nation’s strongest resource to respond to the crisis of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

In early 2019, the House of Representatives, we passed critical updates to the Violence Against Women Act, a major step to ensure victims receive the resources they need. The long-term updates reaffirm protections for all women, men, and children and include vital improvements to address gaps in current law that have been identified by victims, survivors, and advocates to keep our communities safe.

Included in these updates include two provisions I wrote:
• The bipartisan Zero Tolerance for Domestic Abusers Act closes loopholes that have made it possible for perpetrators of dating violence and those convicted of misdemeanor stalking to legally access guns.
• The expanded on the health titles in the bill to strengthen the healthcare system’s identification, assessment and response to domestic violence, sexual assault and dating violence survivors with an expanded focus on accessing behavioral health and safety resources across the lifespan.

Times are changing slowly. Me Too has caused many more women to speak up and seek help. Our domestic violence programs must respond too. There is no reason a survivor should face hurdles when trying to connect with the services they need to recover. I’ll never stop listening and speaking up to ensure we are best protecting women and serving survivors.

Health Care

Every American has a right to quality healthcare. Plain and simple. I feel very strongly that access to healthcare is a right in this country, and not a privilege. The Affordable Care Act was not perfect, but it was a step in the right direction in expanding coverage to millions of Americans who did not have access before. We should be building off the progress we made towards a Medicare for All universal healthcare system, rather than attacking protections for people with pre-existing conditions like the Trump Administration has chosen to do.

I’ve been proud to lead the fight for Medicare for All in Congress, and we’ve made incredible progress so far. In 1945, John Dingell, Sr. introduced the first universal healthcare bill. Every Congress, John Dingell, Jr. introduced one as well. The fight for universal healthcare saw significant victories with Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP and the Affordable Care Act. But millions of Americans are frightened about pre-existing conditions, escalating prescription drug costs, terrifying out-of-pocket costs, and what happens to their coverage if they lose their job. The time is now to ensure every American has quality healthcare. Under my leadership, we have had four hearings on the bill – the first hearings ever on Medicare for All. We’re working hard to make this vision a reality for the American people.

It is also essential that we take immediate action to lower the cost of prescription drugs. This is the top issue that I hear about from my constituents in Michigan. I will never forget the mother who came to me with her red inhaler – a device that will save her life if she needs it. But she is struggling to afford the costs of her inhaler, as they have skyrocketed to over $700. This is unacceptable. Nobody should have to choose between putting food on the table for their families and affording the medicines they need to live a safe and healthy life. That is why I am proud to support H.R. 3, the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act. This landmark legislation – which has passed the House – will give Medicare the power to negotiate directly with the drug companies to lower the cost of prescription drugs for Medicare beneficiaries and Michiganders with private insurance. Right now, drug prices in the US are nearly four times higher than the combined average of 11 other similar countries, and Americans pay as much as 67 times more than consumers in other nations for prescription drugs. Through allowing Medicare to directly negotiate the cost of prescription drugs, H.R. 3 will save patients and seniors $120 billion. This is the reform that American families have been waiting for.

For too long, the opioid crisis ravaged every corner of our country. I’ve lived all sides of the epidemic and I know the horrible pain, desperation, and frustration of living with a family member with addiction and the sadness of ultimately losing someone you love. But I also live with a man in intense pain who must use opioids because there are no other alternatives. We must ensure the pendulum does not swing too far in one direction. The Congress passed and the President signed, a strong bipartisan package to begin addressing the opioid epidemic, including three bills I introduced with Michigan Republicans: the Advancing Cutting-Edge (ACE) Research Act, Jessie’s Law and the Safe Disposal of Unused Medication Act. They will spur research into non-addictive pain medications, they will provide medical providers with the information they need to treat patients, and they will help prevent the diversion of unused prescription drugs. But much more must be done. Tackling the opioid epidemic needs a comprehensive approach that includes putting real dollars behind treatment and addressing mental health crisis in this country.

Finally, I have also worked in a bipartisan manner to address the long-term care crisis in this country. Seniors, families and caregivers are often desperate, stressed and don’t know where to turn. I’m proud that President Trump signed my bipartisan legislation into law that would extend two critical programs that help keep families in their homes, which is the preferred care setting for many, and also ensure that families don’t have to go bankrupt to get the care they need. The Sustaining Excellence in Medicaid Act, which President Trump signed into law on August 6, 2019, extends the critical Money Follows the Person program, as well as critical spousal impoverishment protections that are so essential to so many families. This is just one small piece of the puzzle towards fixing our broken long-term care system.

Labor & Pensions

Unions fought for all of us to have a forty hour work week, healthcare benefits, time off, safe work place and many more critical benefits. When unions are strong, all workers benefit. We must strengthen workers’ right to join a union and have a voice. Strong labor rights, including the ability of workers to collectively bargain for pay and benefits, as well as robust enforcement of federal labor law, are critical to building a middle class that provides workers with pay commensurate with the value of their labor. Unfortunately, many of these protections have been weakened in recent years, and as a result, income from middle-class Americans has remained stagnant. From 1980 to 2014, income for the bottom half of income earners grew by one percent. Addressing this issue is key for building an economy that works for all Americans.

I’m proud to be a cosponsor of H.R. 2474, the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act of 2019 – which passed the house in February 2020. This bold, comprehensive legislation strengthens unions and the American workforce by protecting union elections from employer interference, requiring employers to negotiate with newly elected unions, ensure employees can’t be misclassified as supervisors or independent contractors, invalidate state “right-to-work-for-less” laws, and stiffen penalties for violations of workers’ rights. This type of bold effort is exactly what we need to strengthen our labor laws for the 21st Century.

Protecting pensions that workers have earned is one of my top priorities of Congress. Pensions represent a promise to working Americans; if you work hard and play by the rules then you will be able to have a secure retirement. Unfortunately, this dream may soon be out of reach for many Americans unless Congress acts soon. We must continue to fight to protect the benefits that American workers have earned through a lifetime of labor and commitment. Pensions provide critical income security that allow workers to stay in their homes and afford medical care, and we cannot allow that to be jeopardized. American workers have done their part, now it’s time for Congress to act which is why I have championed the Butch Lewis Act in passing the House to help troubled pension plans get back on solid footing.

I’ve also been working to ensure we’re creating and keeping good paying jobs in Michigan. Too often Congress forgets the challenges working women and men are up against. We need to target the fundamental challenges working families deal with every day by raising wages, creating good-paying jobs, fighting back against outsourcing, lowering the cost of living, reducing the price of prescription drugs and giving working Americans the tools to succeed in the 21st Century.

The easiest way we can do this is by raising the minimum wage. Simply put, there is no place in America where a full-time worker can live on $7.25 an hour, let alone support a family. That is why I was a leader, sponsor and proud to vote in support of the Raise the Wage Act, landmark legislation that would gradually increase the federal minimum wage to $15 over six years. A study released by the Economic Policy Institute found that an increase to the minimum wage would affect over 104,300 people in Michigan’s 12th Congressional District. It has been over 10 years since there has been an increase in the federal minimum wage – the longest stretch in history. According to the Congressional Budget Office, the Raise the Wage Act would lift 1.3 million Americans out of poverty, including 600,000 children. The time to act is now.

I’ve also focused a lot of my time to thinking about how workers can continue to compete in the age of increasing automation. The future of work is more uncertain than ever, and we need to act now in order to preserve good-paying American jobs going forward. I was proud to join my colleagues Congressmen Mark Pocan, Mark DeSaulnier and Donald Norcross in drafting a report titled the Future of Work, Wages and Labor. Our labor policies simply must keep up with the rapid changes the 21st Century has brought. We travelled the country hearing directly from workers. They told us the decline in collective bargaining, worker representation and the ability to form unions doesn’t just hurt workers, it hurts our communities and our economy. Strong and updated labor laws are a necessity to fight income inequality, make the American dream accessible to anyone willing to work hard, and codify workers rights for the future. This is what the report is all about and I encourage you to read it here.

Gun Violence

Each Day, over ninety people in America are killed by guns. This unfortunate reality has hurt too many families across our country. Inaction is not an option, and solutions to protect Americans deserve thoughtful debate and consideration. Everyone should be able to live in their communities without fear.

That is why I am proud to support H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019. This landmark legislation would require a background check for every firearm purchase, closing loopholes that have allowed domestic abusers and severely mentally ill individuals to obtain dangerous, military-style weapons and use them to commit gun violence. This legislation will go a long way to ensuring that people who are prohibited by law from owning guns do not have access to them.

I’m also proud to lead the bipartisan Zero Tolerance for Domestic Abusers Act, which closes loopholes that make it easier for perpetrators of dating violence and those convicted of misdemeanor stalking to legally access guns. People with a history of domestic violence shouldn’t have access to guns, plain and simple. Seventy-six percent of women murdered by a current of former intimate partner experienced stalking in the year prior to their murder. Closing loopholes that allow stalkers to access guns will save lives. Period.

Along with my colleagues Susan Brooks, Ted Deutch and Fred Upton, I am proud to champion efforts to pass national red flag legislation to help reduce gun violence. The Jake Laird Act provides grants to encourage states to adopt laws that enable local law enforcement, with probable cause, to temporarily remove and retain firearms from individuals who are determined to be an imminent danger to themselves or others. When someone is a threat to themselves or others, family and law enforcement needs tools to act before warning signs escalate to tragedies, and the Jake Laird Act will help provide local law enforcement – who are on the frontlines of responding to these crises – with the resources necessary to keep communities safe, all while protecting due process.

Upon taking office, all of us in Congress took an oath to protect the American people. To honor that promise, we must do all in our power to keep our communities safe from the threat of gun violence.

Infrastructure & Transportation

Many of our nation’s roads and highways, bridges, railroads, water systems, and the electrical grid were built decades ago. And many are at or have exceeded their lifespans. We know this all too well in Michigan—from the potholes to the Flint water crisis. The health, safety, and prosperity of every American can be directly tied to the state of our nation’s transportation and infrastructure.

Each day we are falling further behind the rest of the world. The time is now for us all to come together—Republicans and Democrats—to make a massive investment across our and transportation sector. Not only will this investment pave the way for our collective future, but it will strengthen our economy and provide good paying, respected job opportunities all across this country. Failure to address our crumbling infrastructure is not an option. Our future generations are counting on all of us.

I joined House Democrats in releasing the Moving Forward Infrastructure framework to outline major upgrades and investments to rebuild our nation’s infrastructure, create good paying jobs, and address the climate crisis. The Moving Forward Infrastructure framework is estimated to create 10 million jobs by investing $760 billion over five years for infrastructure updates and rebuilding. The proposal includes strong “Buy American” protections to support US manufacturing and workers. The framework has a strong focus on reducing carbon pollution, strengthening energy efficiency, advancing renewable energy systems, and addressing the PFAS contamination crisis. Included in the Moving Forward proposal are a number of provisions I championed including supports for the development of an electric vehicle charging network and funding to local communities dealing with PFAS contamination.

Auto Industry

Michigan is the home of the global auto industry, and we have to make sure it stays that way. That is why I have been at the forefront of efforts to create jobs and ensure that the auto industry stays at the forefront of innovation and technology. 

In order for our auto industry to continue to grow, we need to give our companies and our workers regulatory certainty and provide strong incentives for growth. That is why I have been leading the charge in Congress to ensure we have one national program for fuel economy standards that increase year over year and balances the twin goals of environmental protection and affordability. We need strong standards that keeps California at the table, not legal battles that will take years to resolve.
 

We also need to be looking towards the future and ensure that autonomous vehicles are researched and developed here in the United States. Self-driving cars are the future of the auto industry and they represent an opportunity and diversify our economy here in Michigan, while also improving safety. That is why I helped found the American Center for Mobility at Willow Run, a premiere center for the safe testing, demonstration and deployment of automated vehicle technology and helped secure a $7.5 million grant for AV testing in Michigan. I’ve also helped build a coalition in Congress to pass new rules for self-driving cars so that these technologies can be built right here at home, and so that we give regulators the tools they need to ensure these new technologies are safe. 

We are also need to ensure that we are supporting efforts that accelerates US development, production, manufacturing and distribution of electric vehicles and charging infrastructure. That is why I have introduced the USA Electrify Forward Act, which accelerates domestic manufacturing of batteries, power electronics, and other technologies in plug-in vehicles to make electric cars more efficient and match consumer expectations; makes low- or no-interest loans available to manufacturers to re-tool and adapt existing facilities to build electric vehicles and create good-paying jobs; and updates residential building codes to encourage electric vehicle charging facilities into new multi-family buildings so consumers can get a charge at home.

Finally, while we are waiting for self-driving cars to come we need to come together about solutions for stopping drunk driving. We’ve had too many tragedies in our communities and I’m committed to bringing people together to stop drunk driving once and for all. That’s why I’ve introduced legislation to get advanced alcohol-detection technologies on the road as soon as we can because it’s the least we can do to honor those we’ve lost, including our friends and neighbors the Abbas family.

Environment & Climate Change

The state of Michigan is home to breathtaking landscapes, treasured resources, miles of trails, campgrounds, and some of the best hunting and fishing. Our environment is cherished by all those who live here, as well as all who travel here from around the world—fighting to protect clean air, clean water, natural resources, and environmental justice is so important our future generations.

For decades, the science and our understanding of climate change has been growing, but it is clear, it is an urgent, existential threat we all face. Sea levels are rising, temperatures are warming, and extreme weather is intensifying and becoming more frequent. The time to act on climate change is now and strong US leadership on the world’s stage is needed. This begins by ensuring America honors its commitments under the Paris Agreement and followed up by taking bold actions to reduce man-made greenhouse gas emissions to zero—this includes shifting our economy to one run on renewable energy sources that is strong, competitive, and fair: investing in research and development to advance technology and new, clean industries; and explore all policy options that will empower states and local governments, strengthen communities, consider vulnerable populations, and supports the American worker.

That’s why I have introduced the 100% Clean Economy Act, which implements the UN recommendation that our nation transition to a net-zero carbon emissions economy by 2050. This is a critical part of our commitment to tackling climate change.

To get to a fully clean economy, we need comprehensive efforts to spur innovation in the economy, technology, and society. For those reasons, I have introduced the National Climate Bank of 2019. Establishing the bank will serve as an important implementation tool to achieve this goal by publicly financing and stimulating private investments in clean, renewable energy projects, clean transportation, and support communities most effected by climate change. The National Climate Bank Act builds on the successful Green Bank example in Michigan, and mobilizes investment directly into the greenhouse gas emissions reduction projects most in need of capital. The expansion of these projects will create good jobs, a strong future workforce, and deliver a clean economy that works for communities in Michigan and across the country.

The transportation sector accounts for 30 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, so any comprehensive solution to climate change must incorporate policies that speeds our transition to electric vehicles. I am proud to lead that charge in Congress by introducing the USA Electrify Forward Act. This critical legislation accelerates domestic manufacturing of batteries, power electronics, and other technologies in plug-in vehicles to make electric cars more efficient and match consumer expectations; makes low- or no-interest loans available to manufacturers to re-tool and adapt existing facilities to build electric vehicles and create good-paying jobs; and updates residential building codes to encourage electric vehicle charging facilities into new multi-family buildings so consumers can get a charge at home. We must ensure that we are supporting efforts that accelerates US development, production, manufacturing and distribution of electric vehicles and charging infrastructure.

Finally, we must also promote education programs focused on climate to improve the public’s understanding of changes. The Climate Change Education Act gives the next generation of leaders the knowledge and skills needed to address sever weather, rising sea levels, and droughts devastating our communities. Only 30 percent of middle school teachers and only 45 percent of high school science teachers understand the extent of the scientific consensus on climate change, according to Yale University Research.

The Trump Administration has rolled back more than 100 environmental regulations including protections for clean air, clean water, and wildlife protections. These rollbacks and dismantling of decades old laws could significantly increase greenhouse gas emissions and reduce air quality threatening public health. For fifty years, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) has been the bedrock of conservation law and preserved the environment, human health, and the people’s voice in policy decisions. NEPA’s directive is clear: the government must consider how a project will affect the environment, and communities and people affected by the projects must have a fair chance to weigh in on its merits. I led a resolution in Congress to oppose the NEPA rollbacks to protect people’s voice in policy decisions.

As a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Environment and Climate Change, this will be at the center of my work and a top, overarching priority for Michigan.

Jobs, Manufacturing and Trade

We know all too well that for too long, trade agreements like NAFTA have failed to level the playing field for the American worker. Here in Michigan – where the auto industry is the heart and soul of our economy – factories have shuttered, jobs have been lost, wages have been reduced and hardworking families have lost the opportunity to earn a decent living.

I’ve long said I would work with President Trump on issues that help Michigan, and that I will fight him if he threatens our values which make our nation great. When President Trump first proposed the new U.S.-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) trade deal, it did not earn the standard of my vote. But we worked very hard to make significant improvements to the deal and greatly improved the original deal because what the Trump Administration first proposed wasn’t sufficient. The final agreement earned my vote because of improvements Democrats fought for including strong labor and environmental standards, and tougher enforcement mechanisms that for the first time in the history of trade agreements could penalize companies that abuse workers.

But we have to be honest – this trade deal won’t undo the deep damage that NAFTA 1.0 did to American workers, American manufacturing and our environment. Today, factories sit empty in Michigan and across my district while workers are unable to compete with sub-par, non-union workers in other countries. USMCA will not uproot factories from overseas and bring them back home. While this trade deal is an improvement, our work is just beginning to strengthen American manufacturing, invest in workers and grow our economy.

As part of this effort to bring our economy into the 21st Century, I am proud to lead the Vehicle Innovation Act. This bipartisan legislation promotes investments in the research and development of clean vehicle and advanced safety technologies to increase fuel efficiency and reduce our nation’s dependence on foreign oil. This legislation builds on the progress made by investing in successful research programs that will help improve vehicle efficiency – saving consumers money at the pump, improving energy security, and keeping us on the cutting-edge of fuel efficiency technology. I’m proud to introduce this legislation that will support jobs and ensure the cars and trucks of the future continue to be built here in America and in Michigan.

Great Lakes and the Environment

As a lifelong Michigander, there is no more important natural treasure in our state than the Great Lakes, and we must continue our bipartisan work to protect them. I am proud to serve as a Co-Chair of the Great Lakes Task Force which is tasked with this important mission. For thousands of years and across generations of Americans, no other freshwater system in the world has inspired greater economic prosperity, quality of life, or binational unity than the waters of Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, Lake Huron, Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario.

These Great Lakes matter to so many. It is our responsibility to ensure these massive, treasured resource are protected for all time from pollution emerging contaminants, climate change, invasive species, harmful algae blooms, and threats wildlife and their habitats. Since 2010, the federal government and states all across the region have been working to accelerate efforts to protect and restore the Lakes through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI). Republicans and Democrats alike support GLRI and it is a critical program that deserves robust funding each year. I’m proud to report that this year we successfully obtained the first increase in GLRI funding in several years, bringing the total funding level up to $320 million.

We must also ensure that the Great Lakes remain free of nuclear waste. The Canadian government continues to push a flawed proposal to place a national repository for nuclear waste storage near the Great Lakes, which is completely unacceptable. Our bipartisan efforts to stop this effort continue and this mission is of critical importance – the future of our Great Lakes is at stake.