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From Holding DTE Accountable to Shutting Down Line 5
Dear 12th District Neighbors,
I hope you are well and staying warm. Please be careful out there. I know the roads are still pretty bad in many communities.
Below, please see the number of issues I worked on this past week that I know are very important to many of you. Our team this week had some big wins for our residents through our work at the Neighborhood Service Centers that I wanted to share with you all:
- We were able to recover a delayed 2020 tax return for a family in the amount of $6,243 with $870 of that being interest!
- We also strongly advocated for a resident to get a refund of $659.60 from SSA due to them prematurely taking health care insurance premiums from her. She was so grateful. Every dollar is needed for many of our families.
- A seasoned citizen contacted our office in December regarding his utilities. He was without utilities since March of last year. We were able to escalate his case with Wayne Metro Community Action Agency. His services were restored and he received $1,085.00 toward his account.
Helping you and your family get through everyday challenges is a major priority for us. We want to change lives every day. Thank you to all who trust us to help.
Yours in Service,
Rashida Tlaib
Member of Congress
Bringing the District to D.C.
People Before Profits: DTE Must Do Better
It is clear that DTE cares more about their profits than delivering quality service to its customers. DTE has some of the highest rates in the nation, but provides some of the most unreliable service, all while spending millions on political contributions to avoid accountability. They also carry out hundreds of thousands of cruel utility shutoffs per year. During the recent extreme cold, over a hundred thousand DTE customers in Southeast Michigan were forced to go days without power and heat. This is unacceptable and we must hold DTE accountable. We need utilities that serve the people, not shareholders. This starts by always calling them out when they aren’t doing their part to invest in the grid that is critical in protecting our residents from power outages.
You can watch my speech on the House floor here.
Protect the Great Lakes: Shutdown Line 5
Protecting our water is so critical. This is why I am not backing down in shutting down Line 5 no matter if it’s Democrats or Republicans trying to advocate on behalf of a greedy so-called Canadian-based energy corporation. I appreciate all the advocates around the State of Michigan and the world for their strong advocacy. The Bay Mills and Bad River Band advocates met with my team and me to discuss how we can push the Biden Administration to do their part in protecting our Great Lakes.
Congresswoman Tlaib meeting with Bay Mills and Bad River Band advocates on Line 5.
Hands off Our Bodies
Here they go again. Now they want to target our daughters on college campuses. Instead of focusing on infant mortality, child care, fully funding our WIC programs and other critical services for mothers in our country, they want to control our bodies instead. If they truly cared, then they would ensure our children are not at risk of gun violence (the leading cause of death among children in our country), ensure that child poverty is being addressed and more. I will never remain silent when it comes to women and their right to access all forms of health care and this includes access to abortion care and reproductive freedom.
You can watch my speech on the House floor here.
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Founders’ Day
Happy Founder’s Day to my sisters of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. I was joined in celebration by my fellow Zeta colleague in Congress, Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager Dove. From educational initiatives to advocating for social justice, this sisterhood has fostered academic excellence and empowerment in our communities. May Zeta Phi Beta Sorority’s commitment to excellence and service continue to inspire us all.
You can watch my speech on the House floor here.
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Congresswoman Tlaib with Zeta Soror Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager Dove.
Working Hard at the People’s House
Labor Caucus: Delta Workers Have a Right to Form a Union
I joined the Congressional Labor Caucus to hear from Delta workers with the Machinists Union, Teamsters, and Delta Association of Flight Attendants as well as AFA President Sara Nelson about their ongoing union organizing efforts to give workers a voice on the job. Unfortunately, Delta has engaged in disgusting union-busting including interference, retaliation, and suspension of their employees who are leading these efforts. Every worker deserves a union and the power of a collective voice. I will continue to work to protect our workers.
 
Congresswoman Tlaib at the Congressional Labor Caucus meeting with Delta workers.
No More Endless Wars: Ceasefire Now
You may have seen that the U.S. has begun bombing Yemen, and is risking escalating this crisis into a regional war. Prior to the Israeli government’s assault on Gaza, Yemen was facing the worst humanitarian crisis on Earth, with much of the population living on the brink of starvation. President Biden was legally required to seek authorization from Congress prior to launching these strikes and his failure to do so violates the Constitution. Many of my colleagues, both Democrats and Republicans, have correctly called out the White House for bypassing Congress. The American people do not want to be dragged into yet another endless war.
You can watch my speech on the House floor on Yemen here.
Congresswoman Cori Bush and I also held a vigil at the Capitol for all of the journalists who have been targeted and killed by the Israeli government in Gaza in the past three months to honor their lives and their work. Gaza is the deadliest place in the world for journalists and their families, according to the UN and over a hundred journalists have been killed. The Israeli government must be held accountable for these war crimes.
 
Congresswoman Tlaib at the Vigil for Journalists in Gaza.
Protecting Our Migrant Neighbors
Congress must face the fact that we haven’t made real changes to our immigration laws in 28 years. It's clear that our immigration system is broken. Immigrants are not bargaining chips, and I’ve been disgusted by how elected officials in Washington are willing to sacrifice people fleeing poverty and violence and seeking a better life for their families for petty political gains. We need real changes and solutions that are promoting humane and fair immigration laws. I will continue to fight for legal immigration pathways that uphold our responsibilities under international human rights law.
You can watch my speech on the House floor protecting the rights of migrants and asylum seekers here.
You can also watch my remarks on immigration in the Oversight and Accountability Committee here.
We Must Invest in Our Communities, Not War
Why is it that year after year, our government spends billions of dollars on weapons and war? Every year, my colleagues and powerful people in Washington tell me that there’s no money for lifesaving programs to address hunger or poverty, only to turn around and pass another record-breaking military budget, giving $886 billion of our tax dollars to fund bombs, weapons, and war crimes—no questions asked. Our out-of-control military spending means the needs of working families in our districts are neglected. The GOP has made it clear that they want to cut funding for Social Security, Medicare, TANF, SNAP, and WIC. The American people deserve better. I attended a press conference to advocate for better allocations of our federal budget, to ensure that the needs of everyday families at home are prioritized.
 
Congresswoman Tlaib at a press conference to protect Social Security, Medicare, TANF, SNAP, and WIC.
Legislative Advocacy Update!
One of the key ways we advance good policy for our district is by cosponsoring bills and cosigning letters. Here’s an update on just a few of the bills and letters we have supported recently:
Legislation Cosponsored
• Prescription Drug Price Relief Act: This bill introduced by Rep. Khanna (CA) will lower sky-high prescription drug prices for Americans. The legislation will put an end to Big Pharma’s greed, reduce premiums, and save lives by requiring the Secretary of Health and Human services to identify excessively priced drugs and allow generic drug manufacturers to make cheaper versions of them.
• Protecting Benefits for Disabled Veterans Act: This bill introduced by Rep. Waters (CA) would make the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Individual Unemployability program – which compensates disabled veterans unable to maintain employment – permanent. Over 3.5 million veterans live with a service-connected disability, and we owe it to them to ensure they can live good lives here at home.
• Funding Early Childhood is the Right IDEA Act: This bill introduced by Rep. DeSaulnier (CA) would restore full funding for the IDEA Act, which provides early childhood services for young children with disabilities. Early childhood interventions are crucial for a child’s development, and every child, regardless of disability status, should have an equal opportunity to obtain high quality early childhood services.
• Expanding Access to Telehealth Act: This bill introduced by Rep. Sherrill (NJ) would permanently safeguard Medicare beneficiaries’ access to physical therapy services rendered via telehealth. Doing so will ensure and protect access to care, improving patient health outcomes and providing much-needed stability in the physical therapy field.
• We’re Addressing the Realities of Menopause Act: This bill introduced by Rep. Blunt Rochester (DE) would help women and health care providers get the menopause health information, treatment, and research they need to promote healthy aging. This bill would create a menopause public awareness program, and invest in medical education, research, and training.
• FAIR Act of 2023: This bill introduced by Rep. Walberg (MI) protects our civil liberties by restricting the use of civil asset forfeiture, a controversial practice of seizing individuals’ private property that has been abused by law enforcement and condemned by a bipartisan group of lawmakers and advocacy organizations. This bill is a significant step towards establishing clear regulations and limitations on civil asset forfeiture and promoting due process.
• Veterans Service Organization Modernization Act: This bill introduced by Rep. Waters (CA) would establish a facility renovation grant program for Veterans Service Organizations. These renovation and modernization grants would be issued to VSOs to help maintain and refurbish infrastructure and facilities that veterans rely on.
• DOULA for Veterans Affairs Act of 2023: This bill introduced by Rep. Davis (NC) would establish a pilot program within the VA to provide pregnant and post-partum veterans access to doula services to foster better child and maternal health outcomes.
• FAIR Act: This bill introduced by Rep. Connolly (VA) would provide a 7.4% pay raise for federal civilian employees in 2025. The federal government currently employs more than 2 million people in every state and territory, and these workers deserve a raise just like you all do.
Congressional Letters
• Letter Supporting a Ban on Stock Trading by Members of Congress: This letter led by Rep. Craig (MN) urges House Leadership to bring a bill to the floor for a vote to end stock trading by Members of Congress. The appearance that Members of Congress are benefiting financially from their positions is eroding faith in our democracy, and our residents deserve to know that their elected officials aren’t making decisions with their stock portfolios in mind.
• Letter Opposing Postal Rate Increases: This letter led by Rep. Cleaver (TX) to the United States Postal Service raises strong concerns about yet another impending postal rate increase, from 66 cents to 68 cents, the fourth increase in eighteen months. This letter asks the USPS to halt rate increases and complete a full assessment of how rate increases have impacted mail volume and threatened the long-term viability of the USPS.
• Letter Supporting Healthy Options for School Meals: This letter led by Rep. Brownley (CA) encourages the U.S. Department of Agriculture to add plant proteins to the USDA’s approved foods list for school lunches. By adding a greater variety of nutrient-dense protein options to school lunches, the USDA can improve school lunch nutrition, meet the dietary needs of students with allergies and other dietary restrictions, and support a diversified set of American farmers and producers.
• Letter Supporting Head Start Programs: This letter led by Rep. Schiff (CA) supports pay and benefit increases for Head Start employees and expanded mental health services for Head Start students, families, and employees. The letter also encourages the Biden Administration to ensure that Head Start programs have sufficient funding to support these new requirements without cutting services or programming.
• Letter Urging Appointment of Postal Board of Governors Members: This letter led by Rep. Raskin (MD) urges President Biden to swiftly nominate and confirm two qualified and dedicated Postal Board of Governors Board Members. Under Trump-appointed Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, postal rates have increased and service delivery performance has declined as his mismanagement continues to hurt the Postal Service. Nominating two new members to the Board will help provide checks on DeJoy’s power as we work to strengthen the Postal Service for decades to come. |