We’re really getting into peak fall here in West Michigan, and we marked that occasion the best way I know how this week–with a Michigan Apple Month celebration and a train ride through the woods on West Michigan’s only historic tourist train–right here in Coopersville!! Check out more of what we were up to this week and more of what’s to come. |
We started off the week with my annual superintendents meeting, where I gather our superintendents throughout the district to talk about legislative updates from Washington and allow them to share what’s happening in their districts. It was an incredibly fruitful conversation and I’m giving our legislative team a big task list for October to help improve the lives of our students, teachers, and school staff! |
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We celebrated a HUGE announcement this week at Muskegon County Airport. Finally, we were able to secure a new air service provider to fulfill the needs of the Essential Air Service agreement. If you know anything about government bureaucracy, you’ll believe me when I say, it took a herculean effort to make this happen as quickly as we did. I was relentless in pushing through red tape to get this done. This new air service provider, combined with the $20 million investment I secured for updating the runway, is a game changer for MKG. The airport has been through some hard times, but make no mistake, this little airport is not on the way out, it’s on the way UP! |
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Fall is a time of transition, and while that can bring so much joy and fun (apple crisps and pumpkin patches), it can also be a time of stress for families with new routines, changing habits, etc. This week, we focused on the needs of families here in West Michigan with a visit to Pine Rest–the leading mental health provider in the state. According to their team, the fall is one of their BUSIEST times, because of the stress on families. We learned about their adult and family services and the new adolescent mental health unit, which will be open to new families in the Spring of 2026.
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I was also honored to join my counterparts at the state and county level to talk about family-oriented public policy. I shared about what we’re doing in Congress to support some of the main stressors on families and children–from housing to healthcare, to addictive and disruptive social media habits. We’ve got some incredible partners across the state, and it was a great discussion.
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On Wednesday, we had a visit from Congresswoman Haley Stevens–a good friend of mine from the delegation who represents Oakland County for the state of Michigan. She’s a true leader in all things related to manufacturing and engineering in our state. And, as a high-ranking member of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, I wanted to bring her here to West Michigan to see how much we’ve grown in this area, and how much we have to offer the state and the nation. |
I had the honor of visiting Special Olympics Michigan this week and presenting the athletes and the leadership team with a congressional proclamation, honoring their accomplishments. This is the largest inclusive sports facility in the WORLD! The SOMI facility offers an unprecedented range of services and opportunities for individuals with disabilities. We learned about their plans for the future including a state-of-the-art auditorium developed with the same engineers that created the Las Vegas Sphere. SOMI shows that an inclusive future is possible, and when we build spaces with people of all abilities in mind, we all benefit. This place and these athletes truly meet the definition of special. We made a plan that the next time I come back, I get to play in a basketball game! |
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As Michigan’s only member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I take my role as a champion of transport seriously–whether it’s land, sea, air, or rail. This week, we got to take a ride on West Michigan’s ONLY tourist train through Coopersville. It was such a special time to reflect on this unique rail service here, as well as rail safety!
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We celebrated Michigan's pple Month this week with a visit to the Rasche family’s Green Tree Orchard. We were marking their new partnership with McDonald’s to provide locally sourced produce for their apple and apple-based products. I gotta tell ya, I’m loving it! No one does apples like West Michigan! |
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I closed out the week with a very special visit from Congressman Jim Clyburn. He’s a living legend and one of our most active and vibrant links to the Civil Rights era in the House today. He’s an expert historian, a master orator, but most importantly–my friend and mentor. We gathered a group of pastors from the district and talked about the important work of continuing to protect voting rights as they come under renewed – and constant – attack. |
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Because we’re out of session, I’m so excited to have some of my DC staff with me here in the district for the month of October. As you see us around town, please say hi!
We also had a busy week of legislating, even out of session. I signed onto Rep. Dan Kildee and Rep. Bill Huizenga’s Bipartisan Michigan Delegation Letter urging the Biden administration to use all available trade options to respond to Canada's recently implemented Digital Services Tax. |
- Denver Air Connection will be taking to the skies from MKG next month. I’m thrilled to have helped usher in this welcome change. Read more here.
- My heart is so full after touring the brand-new Special Olympics facility. It was an honor to present a Congressional Proclamation recognizing SOMI’s inclusivity and innovation.
- The USDA announced a $1.7B investment from the Commodity Credit Corporation to connect domestic food producers with schools, emergency food providers, and childcare facilities. I joined Fox17 to discuss this incredible news and how these investments will impact local farmers. Check it out!
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It is the greatest honor of my life to serve you, West Michigan. |
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Hillary Scholten
Member of Congress
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