LANSING, Mich. — Sen. Mark Huizenga discussed issues facing West Michigan and the entire state with area residents during a town hall meeting Monday evening.
“I want to thank everyone who came out to the town hall meeting. It was great to meet with West Michigan families and job providers, give them an update on what’s happening in Lansing and answer their questions,” said Huizenga, R-Walker. “Events like this town hall are critical to being an effective public servant. During the forum, I was able to hear directly from residents about the issues facing their families and talk with them about possible solutions.
“The overall takeaways from the town hall are that people remain concerned about their children’s education, their family’s health, pocketbook issues and how their tax dollars are being used.”
During the town hall meeting held at the Cascade branch of the Kent District Library, Huizenga discussed the governor’s fiscal year 2025 budget recommendation and the community investments he supported in the current state budget.
Huizenga also outlined legislation he is working on in the Senate, including measures to opt in blood testing for PFAS, increase penalties for manufacturing and trafficking fentanyl, and expand apprenticeships for training cosmetologists.
“Education is vital to the future of our children and our state, and we discussed efforts to provide the best and most affordable education in the country,” Huizenga said. “These efforts include ensuring students from lower-income families have the resources to access additional assistance like tutoring and summer school, finding fiscally responsible ways to keep college affordable, and improving student reading outcomes.”
Participants asked Huizenga questions on a wide range of topics, including what is being done about PFAS, restrictions being proposed on homeschooling, plans to improve water affordability, a statewide septic code, ending daylight savings time, investing in biomedical research, Kent County being a sanctuary county and banning TikTok.
“I am here to serve the people of Kent and Ottawa counties and want them to know that their voices are heard,” Huizenga said.
Residents who were unable to attend the town hall meeting can contact Huizenga’s office at 855-347-8030 and [email protected] or attend an in-district office hour.
In March, Huizenga will be available to meet with constituents on March 18 from noon to 1 p.m. at Interurban Depot Cafe, 1580 Arch St. in Wright Township, on March 28 from 9 to 10 a.m. at Sandy’s Donuts, 2040 Leonard St. NW in Grand Rapids, and on March 28 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Haggerty’s, 1600 E. Beltline Ave. NE in Grand Rapids Township.
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