M Live - Congressman Dan Kildee Calls for Focus on Youth, Unemployment in State of District Speech

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By Sarah Schuch

Although he said there have been many successes during U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee's first year in Congress, Kildee said there is a still a lot of work to be done.

Speaking to a full room at Rotary Club of Flint members Friday, Feb. 21, the Flint Township Democrat talked about some victories over the past year, but also what he will continue to work on.

"The work that I do is sometimes overwhelming at times. There is a daunting number of subjects I'm required to have an opinion on. ... It's been an interesting first year," Kildee said, adding that he was elected as congressman after his uncle, Dale Kildee, retired after 36 years in Congress. "I hope that my service in some way gives honor to his legacy."

Even though his party is in the minority in the House and Kildee is a freshman, he hopes that he can help return Congress to what it was supposed to be. Legislators are meant to legislate, and unfortunately too often they use their roles as a soap box, Kildee said.

"The current environment in Washington is unfortunately pretty difficult," Kildee said.

Having politicians speak at Rotary is always a benefit, said Dawn Hibbard, Rotary Club of Flint president-elect.

With the room full of community leaders, it's a good opportunity for the members and guests to hear first hand from the congressman, Hibbard said. It also gives him a chance to get a pulse for the community, she said.

"I appreciate his candor. He's very astute and very good at analyzing the situation," said Hibbard, who is also the communications and public relations manager at the Flint & Genesee Chamber of Commerce. "I think he is genuine in his desire to be non partisan."

During his time in Congress there has been some victories, Kildee said:

Congress passed a bi-partisan budget agreement: "It was one in the right direction."

Raising the debt ceiling: "Too avoid defaulting on our obligations is a step in the right directions."

Passing the Farm Bill: Preserving local sugar production was a major success, Kildee said in previous interviews. Kildee said he lead the effort to protect American sugar growers by continuing to guarantee that 85 percent of domestic consumption come from American sugar growers.

In a recent interview, Kildee praised the farm bill and said he was happy it included legislation he introduced called the the Local Food for Healthy Families Act, which provides $100 million over five years for food incentive programs like Michigan's Double Up Food Bucks Program.

"They don't seem like big ideas ... but it was at least for me a sign of hope that the American people are speaking," Kildee said Friday.

The biggest victory, Kildee said was bringing $100 million in demolition funds to the state.

"That's tangible. That will make a difference in the lives of people," Kildee said. "By taking down 1,000 abandoned homes in Flint, we literally overnight change the lives of people."

Fred Hinz, a retired General Motors worker and a Rotary Club of Flint member, said he enjoyed what Kildee had to say Friday.

Hinz owns land in Tuscola County, where a family member grows beets, and he works at a food bank, so what Kildee had to say about the Farm Bill resonated with him, he said.

"We take food for granted in this country. But we can't take it for granted," Hinz said. "I'm a Kildee supporter."

Kildee talked about topics of focus moving forward:

A focus on the youth: A $6.325 billion package of bills that Kildee will carry to Congress is aimed to drive down crime in cities such as Flint with education, job skills and activities for young people after school.
"We want to get these youngsters to their 20th birthday without making a bad choice," Kildee said.

Unemployment benefits: It can take up to 37 weeks for some people to find new jobs after being unemployed, but unemployment benefits end after 20 weeks, Kildee said, adding that he wants to see an extension. "We have to get this done," Kildee said.
Other issues included, tax reform, trade policy, investing in infrastructure and college affordability.

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