Dear Neighbor,

The 12th Congressional District is busy getting things done this week.

We are working hard to ensure we have clean air and a better quality of life in our neighborhoods. Thank you to all who attended the community meeting on the recent railroad merger. We now have a number of steps to take to protect our public health. Check out the amazing work at Snow Elementary with the SNAP education program and our Zeta Phi Beta Sorority celebrating Black History Month. Other updates below are on our legislation on ending youth homelessness, growing ceasefire movement, and welcoming the construction of a Fisher House for veterans and their families.

Our Neighborhood Service Centers are working for you! This week we helped one of our seniors complete their property exemption application and another family with an immigration issue that led to family reunification.

Here is a quote from one of our constituents: "I deeply appreciate your team and Congresswoman Tlaib’s advocacy on my behalf. This means a lot to me and my family, and we are grateful for the kindness, understanding, and support extended to us during this challenging time."

Thank you all for trusting my team and me in working for you and your family.

Yours in Service,
Rashida Tlaib
Member of Congress

Hard Work in the District

Protecting Our Air Quality: Truck Traffic in Our Neighborhoods
After the approval of a major merger between Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern railroads, neighborhoods became concerned about an increase in rail car and semi-truck traffic in Northwest Detroit neighborhoods at the intermodal freight terminal. I have been raising concerns with the City of Detroit for months about how to protect our communities from nearly 90 additional semi-trucks on our neighborhood streets every day, and have pushed for mitigations that will protect our air quality, decrease noise, pollution, and keep our streets safe.

We hosted a community meeting at the Grandmont Rosedale Development Corp. with the Michigan Environmental Council and the City of Detroit to educate residents about the forthcoming changes and to brainstorm mitigation ideas together. We had a very productive meeting and I look forward to working alongside our communities and the City of Detroit to protect the quality of life in Northwest Detroit from this expansion of polluting industries.

I also had the opportunity to speak at the City of Detroit Board of Zoning Appeals’ hearing on the Dino-Mite concrete crusher’s attempts to expand their dirty, polluting business and continue coating our Northwest Detroit neighbors with toxic, harmful dust and particulate matter. I encouraged the BZA to protect our residents from this corporate polluter that has shown flagrant disrespect for our laws and our residents, racking up more than 300 blight tickets in just two years! This is totally unacceptable. I will never let corporations treat our communities as dumping grounds.

Staying Connected to Residents: Congress, Coffee and Conversation
We hosted another coffee hour bringing together families in our community for an engaging dialogue on the issues that matter most to us. These gatherings are invaluable opportunities for me to hear directly from my constituents, learn about their concerns, and discuss how we can work together to create positive change. I am always inspired by the passion and dedication of the residents in our district, and I look forward to continuing these important conversations in the future. We talked about the need for affordable housing, holding corporate polluters accountable, and abolishing medical debt. Thank you to everyone who joined us!

Our next coffee hour is Monday, March 4th in Inkster. Stay tuned for more information!

Hands Off Our Water!
Advocating for affordable and clean water has been a top priority of mine. We have a crisis in our country and more must be done. Too many of our families can’t afford their water bills and many have contaminated water coming through their pipes.

My team and I are working with Freshwater Future to fight water privatization here and across the country. I am committed to working to protect our water systems and ensure clean water access for all. Instead of allowing private corporations and investment banks to run our water systems into the ground while raising your rates, we should be investing in our municipal water systems to ensure they can operate effectively for decades to come. I am fighting against the privatization of the utilities we rely on to live, and will fiercely oppose any efforts to privatize water systems in Michigan.

Youth Homelessness Guaranteed Income Pilot Program
I introduced the Youth Homelessness Guaranteed Income Pilot Program Act to provide direct cash assistance to emancipated minors and young adults under 30 experiencing homelessness, giving them $1,400 or the adjusted fair market rent for 36 months. It aims to study the effects on housing and health outcomes. This bill was crafted with input from young people with lived experience to meet their real needs. It's time to eradicate youth homelessness, and this bill brings us closer to that goal.

You can read the full press release here.

Veterans and Their Families Will Have a Home in Detroit: The John Dingell Fisher House
It was truly inspiring to attend the “topping out” ceremony to celebrate the construction progress that has been made on the Detroit Fisher House. This facility will serve as a home away from home for our veterans and their families during medical care, providing them with the support and comfort they deserve. The ceremony was a testament to the dedication of those involved in this project and the community’s commitment to our veterans. It was an honor to be part of such a meaningful event and to witness firsthand the impact it will have on the lives of our veterans and their families.

*Reps. Tlaib and Dingell at the The John Dingell Fisher House for Veterans*

Taking Back Our Power from Corporations
Our communities are sick and tired of DTE. We are tired of Consumer Energy. The costs keep going up while power outages increase. This is what happens when corporations are allowed to shield themselves from accountability. DTE Energy spends millions of dollars each year on campaign donations while delivering some of the worst, most unaffordable service in the country. I joined Michigan United and state and federal lawmakers for the launch of the Taking Back Our Power campaign, to advocate for legislation that puts the power back in the hands of the people and prevents monopolies and other powerful government contractors from using their money to drown out our voices.

Immigrants Are Welcome Here: Freedom House Visit
We can all see that our immigration system needs comprehensive reform, but too often, elected officials resort to demonizing people who are coming to this country fleeing violence and persecution, people who are simply seeking a better life for their families. It was deeply moving to visit the incredible Freedom House Detroit and meet the courageous asylum seekers they work with. Freedom House provides legal services, transitional community housing, food, clothing, housing search assistance, access to medical care and mental health care, language classes, job skills training, and so much more. Metro Detroit is a rich melting pot of cultures, ethnicities, and faiths, and it’s an honor to work with organizations like Freedom House that are making our community a welcoming place for all.

Learn more about the critical organization here.

Having Fun at Snow Elementary: Show Me Nutrition Program
A huge thank you to Snow Elementary in Dearborn for allowing me to help with the graduation from the "Show Me" nutrition program. The students learned about food safety and nutrition with an instructor from MSU Extension’s community nutrition team. I got to see students in action. It is so important for our young people to learn these issues, and I commend them for their hard work and dedication to their health.

*Congresswoman Tlaib at Snow Elementary*

WIC is Critical: Helping Working Families Put Food on the Table
I had an insightful meeting with leaders of the Michigan Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) food assistance program. We discussed pending appropriations and the federal budget, as well as the proposed new food package for WIC. We also talked about the positive impact that the increased dollar amount for fresh fruits and vegetables has had on our population. I commend WIC for the important work they do to support families in our community. I will continue fighting the GOP’s disgusting attempts to slash funding for this critical lifeline for so many in 12th District Strong.

Every Month is Black History Month: Michigan LCV Celebration
Attending the Michigan LCV Black History Month Celebration was a wonderful experience filled with music, history, food, and fun. The special musical performance by “The Urban Violinist” Kym Brady was truly captivating, and the presentation by Detroit's historian Jamon Jordan was inspiring. Celebrating Black history and culture is crucial, especially in Detroit, the most beautiful and Blackest city in America. I am grateful to have been a part of such a powerful celebration this Black History Month.

*Congresswoman Tlaib at the LCV Black History Month Celebration*

Boys Hope Girls Hope: Detroit Festival of Hope
What an amazing group of young people! The energy and passion of the participants in the Boys Hope Girls Hope Detroit program was fuel for the soul. I truly enjoyed the Festival of Hope dinner and a talent showcase in honor of Black History Month. The event showcased the resilience, creativity, and talent in our community. Celebrating Black history and culture through fellowship and talent showcases is vital, as it allows us to recognize and uplift the contributions of Black Americans throughout history while empowering our young leaders. I am grateful to have been a part of such a meaningful event and look forward to continuing to celebrate and honor Black history all year-round.

Hey Sorors: Zeta’s Black History Month Event
I spent some time with my sisters in Blue and White, at our Black History Month event “Celebrating the Healthy Future” in Detroit. We talked about the Zeta’s focus on the multi-dimensional layers of health impacts, including mental health, reproductive health, Black maternal health, environmental health, and the impacts of COVID-19, as well as a discussion on Post-Slavery Traumatic Stress Disorder and spiritual health. It was inspiring to see Michigan’s Zeta Family come together for this event, reflecting on our history while looking towards a healthier future. I am grateful to have been a part of this important conversation and am excited to continue the dialogue around health and wellness in our communities. Former State Representative Leslie Love rocked the house and Mama Shu of Avalon Village inspired us all.

*Congresswoman Tlaib at the Zeta’s Black History Month Event*

Advocating for Our Residents Living with Diabetes: Juvenile Diabetes Research Meeting
It is always a pleasure to meet with the wonderful advocates from the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. We discussed our continuing efforts to increase funding for research on Type 1 diabetes in the face of Republican attempts to slash funding for health care in Washington. I will never stop fighting for the investments in public health that we all deserve.

Saving Lives, No Matter Faith or Ethnicity: Ceasefire Now
I continued my advocacy for peace and safety for all people and spoke at events with UAW Labor for Palestine, the National Labor Network for Ceasefire, and the Michigan Task Force for Palestine. More than 200 unions representing more than half of the unionized workforce in America - including the American Postal Workers Union (APWU), the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA-CWA), the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT), the National Education Association (NEA), National Nurses United (NNU), the United Auto Workers (UAW), and the United Electrical Workers (UE) - have formed the National Labor Network for Ceasefire to advocate for an end to death and devastation in the Gaza and for real investments in our communities. Every dollar spent on endless wars is a dollar that should have been spent on housing, health care, clean water, and job creation right here at home. I’m proud to stand alongside millions of union workers and countless Michiganders who are calling for investments in people, not war or defense contractors.

*Congresswoman Tlaib at the Unions for Ceasefire Press Conference*

ADA Accessibility Advocacy in Livonia
Alongside State Reps. Stephanie Young and Laurie Pohutsky, I met with Livonia Mayor Brosnan and city officials to discuss ways to increase accessibility in city government buildings and for city meetings and events. We brainstormed ways to improve physical and virtual accommodations as we work to ensure that everyone in Livonia is able to access the services they need and participate in government proceedings. I will continue to share updates as we make progress in Livonia.

Addressing Youth Homelessness & Fighting for Clean Air

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