DEVELOPMENT & INFRASTRUCTURE

Everyone wants to be a part of something great, which is why we’ve watched our local communities grow and expand in recent years. However, responsible development is key to making growth acceptable to residents and sustainable for our communities. I work with our residents and local leadership to make their voices heard and to ensure that future development enriches our communities without overly taxing our infrastructure or destroying our environment and green spaces.

Being able to modernize our infrastructure will be vital to improving our quality of life and our ability to attract new businesses and jobs to our area.

I believe that investing in fixing our infrastructure the right way—instead of just putting endless Band-Aids on our crumbling roads and bridges—is the best strategy to make the most of our valuable tax dollars.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

I did an Infrastructure Listening Tour throughout the district to hear directly from residents about the water issues impacting them. Preventing contamination of our most vital resource and treating pollution immediately and effectively is an essential part of maintaining our district’s “lake life.”

IF WE WANT OUR FAMILIES TO HAVE FRESH AIR TO BREATHE, SAFE WATER TO DRINK, AND CLEAN LAKES TO PLAY IN, WE NEED TO MAKE SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES A PRIORITY. IT’S WORTH REPEATING: WE ONLY HAVE ONE ENVIRONMENT, AND WE NEED SYSTEMS IN PLACE TO PROTECT IT. MICHIGAN IS HOME TO 21% OF THE WORLD’S FRESHWATER, YET EXPERTS WARN US THAT WE ARE UNDERFUNDING OUR WATER SYSTEMS BY AS MUCH AS $284 MILLION EACH YEAR. 

In 2023, I voted to support a budget of $81.7 billion for the 2024 fiscal year, which allowed for $600 million for Michigan's water infrastructure including shoring up aging dams and replacing lead service lines. In 2024, I supported a budget of $82.5 billion for the 2025 fiscal year, which included $509.4 million for water infrastructure to fund lead service line replacement and water infrastructure, and climate change mitigation. Conservation and sustainability efforts will also be key to dampening the effects of climate change across our state and nation. That’s why I supported bills to allow private land-owners to lease out land for large scale solar and wind sites and co-sponsored a bill to prevent HOA's from putting restrictions on energy efficient appliances. 

Electric vehicles can also play an important role in helping us reduce pollution, and as a member of the Electric Vehicle Commission, I’m eager to explore the future of sustainable electric transportation in Michigan for commercial and personal use. I supported a budget that invests $1 million to start the state's fleet of electric vehicles and $21.3 million for clean energy and electric vehicle infrastructure. I will also back efforts to increase the amount of green space in our communities, protect our water and land from PFAS contamination, and pursue preventive measures and remedies to the ongoing impacts of climate change in Michigan.