FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT:
Tim Minotas
(248) 961-9610
tim.minotas@sierraclub.org
Whitmer Signals Commitment to Building Michigan Back Better with Budget
Lansing, MI - The Sierra Club Michigan Chapter today praised Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s 2022-2023 budget proposal, which prioritizes funding for clean water, the health of our Great Lakes and communities, and moving Michigan forward on climate. With over $150 million from the General Fund to address climate change and Michigan’s water issues, Governor Gretchen Whitmer has signaled to all Michigan residents that she is putting their health, and the health of our environment, first, while demonstrating the urgency of tackling these issues.
“Governor Whitmers budget is a reflection of the needs and priorities of the people of Michigan that will grow our economy and prepare our state for the future. Her commitment to investing in cleaning up legacy contamination, addressing the climate crisis, and upgrading our water infrastructure will not only help clean up our environment and protect public health, it will also spur job creation in Michigan,” said Tim Minotas, Legislative and Political Coordinator of the Sierra Club Michigan Chapter. “We at the Sierra Club urge the State Legislature to set aside partisan politics and join Governor Whitmer in putting the people of Michigan first and building our state back better by supporting her budget.”
Among her budget priorities, Governor Whitmer has called for over $290 million for water infrastructure. The budget recommendations also prioritizes the health our citizens and environment by allocating $5 million for the Health and Safety Fund to help low income residents with weatherization upgrades, $55 million for the Filter First Program, which will protect Michigan school children from lead exposure via school drinking water, another $10 million to fund the Lead Poisoning Prevention Fund, which will help low-to-moderate income Michigan homeowners and landlords secure financing to reduce or eliminate residential lead hazards, and $20 million for environmental contamination response.
Furthermore, addressing climate change and investments in our workers is a major priority for this administration, as the Executive Budget calls for $25 million in investment for electric vehicle infrastructure and workers to ensure they are prepared for the jobs needed as the auto sector transitions to a clean future, $40 million for local high water and climate resilience projects, and $10 million for clean energy investments.
The Sierra Club is encouraged by this budget. Now is the time to create policies that plant the seeds of economy to sustain us over the long term -- one that will create tens of thousands of good, family-sustaining jobs with a focus on disadvantaged communities. This is a time to be decisive in saving lives, and bold in charting a path to a genuinely healthier and more equitable future for all Michigan residents. We look forward to working with the Governor and Legislature in achieving this.
##
