Compiled by WKTV Staff
Rep. Huizenga backs President Trump on DACA, opposed debt increase for Hurricane Harvey funding
In response to President Donald Trump’s executive action to discontinue the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) — setting a deadline for ending the legal protections of the “Dreamer”, children of illegal immigrants — U.S. Rep Bill Huizenga (Mi.-02) on Sept. 5 released the following statement:
“The only way to achieve concrete and lasting immigration reform is for Congress to formulate and pass bipartisan legislation,” he said in a supplied statement. “It is my hope that both Republicans and Democrats will rise to the challenge and focus on crafting solutions that move us forward instead of engaging in rhetoric that is geared toward dividing our nation. No matter how well-intentioned, by choosing to act unilaterally President Obama exceeded his constitutional authority when he created and implemented DACA. The Constitution is clear; the power to make law resides with Congress, not the President.”
President Barak Obama took executive action to enact DACA due to inaction by the Congress to take action on immigration reform.
On Sept. 6, Rep. Huizenga also released the following statement after voting in support of Relief Funding for areas impacted by Hurricane Harvey. The measure passed the House by a vote of 419-3.
“In the wake of Hurricane Harvey, we have seen an incredible outpouring of support from communities across the nation, including right here in West Michigan,” he said in a supplied statement. “The federal government has a role in providing assistance to our fellow citizens when their community is struck by a natural disaster. The House has acted in an overwhelmingly bipartisan manner to provide immediate aid to those impacted by Hurricane Harvey. I hope the Senate will act quickly to pass this important relief package without tying it to other legislative items.”
But later in the week, on Friday, Sept, 8, Rep. Huizenga voted against legislation to increase the debt limit and extend the National Flood Insurance Program without reforms.
“If the goal is to deliver aid and resources to the communities impacted by Hurricane Harvey then the proper legislative response should have mirrored what the House passed, and I supported earlier this week,” he said. “By tying additional legislative items such as raising the debt ceiling without spending reforms, and extending the National Flood Insurance Program without reforms, I could not support this measure. Both of these issues require important discussions that need to be had individually and unfortunately this bill lumps them together while delaying the decisions that need to be made from September to December.
“Lastly, the short-term CR included in this bill makes it more difficult for our military to respond to the changing environment abroad and fails to provide the stability that facilitates strong capital market expansion here at home.”
Sen Stabenow continues discussion across state on workforce, Great Lakes protection
Throughout the month of August, U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) held a series of workforce discussions focused on how to better fill the demand for skilled workers in Michigan and provide professional career and training opportunities for students who don’t choose a four-year college path after high school or workers who want to be retrained for new jobs, according to a Sept. 4 statement from her office.
The six discussions with business and labor leaders, as well as parents, students, and educators, were held at the Detroit Electrical Industry Training Center in Warren, Mott Community College’s Regional Technology Center in Flint, the Michigan Laborer’s Training and Apprenticeship Institute in Perry, Kent Career Technical Center in Grand Rapids, Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City and Northern Michigan University in Marquette.
Stabenow also spent August highlighting Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) success stories across Michigan and the importance of federal funding to protect our lakes and waterways. Stabenow authored the GLRI in 2010 and is leading the bipartisan effort to stop proposals to eliminate funding for the Initiative next year. She highlighted the success of projects in Wayne, Kalamazoo, Traverse City, Frankenmuth, and Ishpeming.
Senators Peters, Stabenow announce investment in fire prevention for West Michigan
U.S. Senator Gary Peters (Mi.), along with Sen. Debbie Stabenow, on Sept. 1, announced E.S.C.A.P.E. Inc., a fire safety educational organization in Kalamazoo, will receive $23,334 from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) Program to purchase and install 10-year long-life battery sealed smoke alarms and provide fire safety education to West Michigan children and families.
“Providing communities with fire safety training and reliable smoke alarms will ensure that Michiganders are prepared in the event of a fire or other emergency,” Sen. Peters said in a supplied statement. “This funding will help E.S.C.A.P.E. Inc. provide West Michigan children and adults with lifesaving fire safety skills and long lasting smoke detectors that can save their lives in an emergency.”
E.S.C.A.P.E. Inc. provides fire and life safety training to children and adults of all ages in West Michigan. Since their founding in 1995, E.S.C.A.P.E Inc. has educated over 1,000,000 children and adults. According to E.S.C.A.P.E. Inc., at least 40 people who participated in the training program have used those skills to save their family from danger in an emergency.
The Assistance to Firefighters Grants program has positively affected public safety by providing nearly $7.3 billion since 2001 for infrared cameras, personal protective gear, hazmat detection devices, improved breathing apparatuses, and interoperable communications systems, according to the statement.
