Dear Melvin,  

 

Thank you for contacting me regarding the recent actions of President Trump. It is always good to hear from members of our community, and I urge you to continue your efforts to inform policymaking in our state.  

 

I share your concerns and frustration. The hostility coming from the President toward many marginalized and vulnerable communities is harmful, there is no doubt.  

 

You are right to ask what we are doing to respond to these threats to our rights and to our democracy. 

 


We are ensuring Michigan’s laws, enacted to expressly protect people from discrimination, are followed. Michigan has several laws that provide important protections for individuals, including the

Elliot-Larsen Civil Rights Act, which was expanded in 2023 to include protections for LGBTQ+ Michiganders. The availability of federal funding, for example, does not exempt Michigan organizations (like hospitals) from their duty to follow our state’s laws,
 which prohibit a person from being discriminated against based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. 

We are remaining true to our values. If we can’t convince the Republican majority in the Michigan House of Representatives into passing laws that will stand up to these assaults on our democracy, we will at least ensure we make our own values clear. That’s
 why we are passing resolutions like Senate Resolution 9, which condemned the January 6 attacks and denounced Trump’s blanket pardon of those who were convicted of criminal activity on that day. 

And when state Republican leaders refuse to follow the Constitution, we are holding them accountable. I filed suit against Speaker of the House Matt Hall on February 3rd, because he has refused to abide by his responsibilities under our state’s Constitution
 and present bills passed by the legislature to the Governor for her signature. No public servant is above the law. Michigan’s leaders are similarly holding President Trump accountable. Attorney General Dana Nessel has been actively pushing back against the
 many illegal executive orders and policy changes that the President has enacted; she has joined other states in filing lawsuit after lawsuit to force a stop to the harmful executive orders signed by President Trump and concerning actions of Elon Musk.  

 

Certainly, none of this can erase the threats from President Trump, or mitigate all of the damage that his actions are causing. That’s why I’m also in frequent contact with our federal legislators. While I continue to represent you here in Lansing, and I am
 unable to exercise authority over matters at the federal level, I am raising my own concerns to our federal legislators. I encourage you to contact our federal legislators to share your concerns as well. Here is how you may reach their offices: 

 


U.S. Senator Gary Peters 


Email form: 
https://www.peters.senate.gov/contact/email-gary 

Washington D.C. Office: 


724 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20510 

Phone: (202) 224-6221 

Grand Rapids Office: 


Gerald R. Ford Federal Building 

110 Michigan Street NW, Suite 720, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 

Phone: (616) 233-9150 

Additionaloffice locations/phone numbers: 
https://www.peters.senate.gov/contact/office-locations 

U.S. Senator Elissa Slotkin 


Email form:Initial Page - Senator Elissa Slotkin 

Washington D.C. Office: 


SH-825B/C Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510 

Phone: (202) 224-4822 


Congresswoman Hillary Scholten 


Email form: 
https://scholten.house.gov/contact 

Washington D.C. Office: 


1317 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515 

Phone: (202) 225-3831 

Grand Rapids District Office: 


110 Michigan St NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 

Phone: (616) 451-8383 



 

Thank you once again for reaching out to share your thoughts on this important matter. I hope you will continue to stay involved in the legislative process and encourage you to reach out to me should I ever be of service to you in the future.  

 

Sincerely,   



Winnie Brinks  

Senate Majority Leader  

29th District