{"id":5989,"date":"2022-03-09T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-03-09T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/senatedemssandbox.com\/mccann\/2022\/03\/09\/senatedistrict20newslegislativeupdates-3\/"},"modified":"2022-03-09T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2022-03-09T00:00:00","slug":"senatedistrict20newslegislativeupdates-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dev.senatedems.com\/mccann\/2022\/03\/09\/senatedistrict20newslegislativeupdates-3\/","title":{"rendered":"Senate District 20 News & Legislative Updates"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Dear Friend, <\/p>

Thank you for reading my e-newsletter. In this edition, you will find updates on the sediment disaster in the Kalamazoo River, small business relief grants available from the State of Michigan, and the inspiring \u201cBloody Sunday\u201d anniversary voting rights march held in Kalamazoo this past Sunday. Please read on for more important information about these developments and, as always, please contact my office<\/a> to let me know your thoughts or if we can be of any service to you. <\/p>

Sincerely, <\/p>

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Sean McCann
<\/b>State Senator
<\/span>District 20 <\/p>

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BLOODY SUNDAY MARCH FOR VOTING RIGHTS <\/b><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div>

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On Sunday, March 6th, the Kalamazoo community marched in solidarity with activists around the United States to commemorate the 57th anniversary of the historic \u201cBloody Sunday\u201d march for civil rights in Selma, Alabama. The march ended with a rally for voting rights at the Douglass Community Association, where I was proud to make remarks about voter suppression efforts and what we can do to fight back. It is crucial that we protect voting rights currently under attack in Michigan and across the country, and I will continue to oppose any attempts at restricting access to the ballot. <\/p>

Many thanks to Dr. Michael T. Scott of Galilee Baptist Church, Metropolitan Kalamazoo Branch of the NAACP, Black Voters Matter, Douglass Community Association, Interfaith Strategies for Advocacy & Action in the Community (ISAAC), and all the organizers and community members who made this powerful event possible.<\/p>

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<\/a>\"Kalamazoo<\/a><\/div><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div>
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ATTORNEY GENERAL DANA NESSEL FILES LAWSUIT AGAINST MORROW DAM OPERATORS <\/b><\/p>

On March 1st, Attorney General Dana Nessel filed suit<\/a> on behalf of the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, & Energy (EGLE) and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) against the operators of Morrow Dam. <\/p>

For more than two years now, state environmental regulators from EGLE have attempted to negotiate with the responsible party to get their cooperation on essential cleanup activities. Unfortunately, these parties have taken little action to address their mess. That is why Rep. Julie Rogers and I introduced bills to strengthen EGLE\u2019s authority to protect Michigan\u2019s water and natural resources from damage by dam operators. Senate Bill 813<\/a> and House Bill 5661<\/a> would amend the Michigan Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act (NREPA) to give EGLE the authority to issue written emergency orders when inland lakes and streams are threatened with harm to \u201cpublic health, safety, welfare, property, or the natural resources or the public trust in those natural resources.\u201d SB 813 and HB 5661 have received initial hearings in their relevant Senate and House legislative committees\n, with no vote yet taken. <\/p>

The Attorney General\u2019s lawsuit, which is now available on the Department of Attorney General\u2019s website, asks for relief under NREPA and under common law to hold the companies accountable for the injuries they have caused the public and natural resources, and to vindicate the public\u2019s ability to safely recreate. I applaud the Attorney General for taking legal action to hold polluters of the Kalamazoo River accountable and will continue to pursue all avenues for cleanup of this sediment and prevention of future incidents.<\/p>

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\u201cGROWING MI BUSINESS\u201d RELIEF GRANTS AVAILABLE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES <\/b><\/p>

In December 2021, I was proud to vote for the passage of $409 million of state funding to launch a new grant program that will provide relief to Michigan small businesses who were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This month, the Michigan Department of Treasury launched the Growing MI Business Grant Program. <\/p>

Through this program, eligible businesses that were in operation on Oct. 1, 2019 may receive a grant equal to a percentage of their loss in total state sales during the pandemic. Eligible businesses that were not in operation on Oct. 1, 2019 but started before June 1, 2020 may receive a grant equal to 25% of specified costs representing their financial hardship. <\/p>

Depending on the number of businesses that apply, grants may be prorated to ensure that all eligible businesses can receive funding. <\/p>

The application is available as of March 1 at Michigan.gov\/abr<\/a>. <\/b><\/p>

Eligible businesses applying for a grant will be required to include financial and tax information and documentation to support their claims. <\/p>

Businesses must submit a completed online application to the Department of Treasury no later than 11:59 p.m. EDT Thursday, March 31<\/b>. Grant awardees will be notified in the spring, and grant awards will be distributed by July 1, 2022. <\/p>

To learn more about the Growing MI Business Grant Program, access instructional webinars, or read frequently asked questions, visit Michigan.gov\/abr<\/a>. Individuals with questions about this grant program should email Treas-abr@michigan.gov<\/a>. <\/p>


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Visiting Lansing?<\/b>\u202fIf you plan to visit Lansing for a conference or to advocate for an issue important to you, please\u202fcontact\u202fmy office so we can set up a time to meet you<\/a>.\u202f <\/p>

Paying tribute?<\/b>\u202fIt is my pleasure to produce official legislative tributes honoring Kalamazoo County residents for milestone birthdays, anniversaries, retirements, and special accomplishments. If you would like a tribute from state officials, please\u202flet me know\u202fand we would be glad to assist<\/a>.\u202f <\/p>


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HELPFUL LINKS\u202f <\/b><\/p>

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