Issue Position: Caring for Community

Issue Position

As your state senator, I have been committed to being involved in our community, listening to area residents and helping to develop solutions to challenging problems. I am proud to have found various ways to resolve lingering issues that will allow our area to continue moving in a positive direction. Here are few issues where I was able to bring interested parties together and deliver results for the 34th senate district:

Authored law that allows the Muskegon Promise Zone to expand their scholarship offerings for students. (PA 210 of 2013)
Led legislative efforts to provide critical dredging funding and state regulatory relief to keep Michigan's ports and harbors accessible and navigable.
Secured $6 million state appropriation to remediate & environmentally restore former Zephyr Oil Refinery site in Muskegon Township.
Secured state funding to expand the Healthy Kids Dental program to Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana and Mason counties.
Secured over $2 million in state funding for two critical Muskegon County Road Commission projects.
Facilitating community meetings on broadband capabilities and investment opportunities.
Conducted a "technology tour" of school districts to learn how they're using innovative technology within the classroom and the resources they're using to enhance the learning environment to prepare students to compete in global environment.
Authored major nursing home reforms (PA 322 of 2012) that protects our most vulnerable Michigan residents and allows the state to fulfill their regulatory responsibilities in a more efficient and customer-friendly manner.
Secured commitment from Governor Snyder to submit a letter to the United States Department of Interior to begin the information-gathering phase of the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians gaming project in Fruitport Township.
Secured legislative planning authorization approval to allow Muskegon Community College to begin the first phase of their expansion project.
Convinced Fresenius Medical Care to invest in the installation of a transfer switch to accept a mobile generator at their dialysis center in Norton Shores. This was to protect against the loss of power and maintain critical dialysis treatment services.
Coordinating state approval for Medicaid-eligible mothers to receive lactation consultation services. Secured $2 million in state funding to expand the availability of breast pumps to Medicaid-eligible nursing mothers.
Secured remaining state funding for the Muskegon Farmers Market project that's become an important fixture in our community.
Created the "Hansen Hotspots" tour of key agri-tourism small businesses and recreational assets throughout this senate district.
Secured legislative approval for the restoration of funding for libraries located in Renaissance Zones in Michigan. Libraries located in my district that received this funding included: Fremont, Grant, Hart, Hackley, Muskegon Area Library, White Lake and Mason County.
Support efforts to promote the lakeshore's "Blue Economy" future port development opportunities.
Participate in and promote community dialogue of the diverse Muskegon Lake Watershed restoration and rehabilitation projects.
Secured state approval for the renaming of the new William Field Memorial Hart-Montague Trail State Park.
Secured state transportation funding to rehabilitate the Winston Road Bridge over U.S. 31.
Assisted in resolving state regulatory issues that allowed the Lakepointe Senior Housing project in Hart to begin.
Assisted in the restoration of the Pine Street Primary Street Center Garden in Fremont.
Supported a state funding request to re-purpose the former Fremont High School building with a senior housing development program.

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