I was proud to speak on the House floor today in support of a higher education bill that will help Oakland County’s students get a great college education. I was especially proud because this bill included my Henry Ford Scholarship program. The program will provide $5,000 scholarships each year to eligible students who are studying emerging sectors careers - math, science, engineering, technology and/or health care.

There’s no question that the rising cost of college, paired with our struggling Michigan economy, is putting a squeeze on families throughout Oakland County and the country. I’m confident that these scholarships will help send more of our kids to college and help ensure that the next generation is well-prepared for the high-tech jobs of tomorrow.

You can learn more about the scholarship program here.

Today the House passed a bill that is important to all of us, because it will help protect our children and families. It’s something I strongly believe in and I was proud to support the bill.

No doubt you’ve been concerned, as I have been, about the safety of Chinese-made products. Whether its toys, pet food, or something else, we all want to be 100% sure products we buy are safe for our families. The Consumer Product Safety Commission is the federal agency in charge of making sure products we buy are safe. The bill passed today gives them better and stronger oversight to ensure the things we are buying are safe. It still needs to be passed by the Senate and signed by the President, but today marks a good day for families.

Summertime in Oakland County means our roads are filled with those orange barrels, signifying road construction. And there’s no doubt that our roads need the repairs. But to fix our roads, we need money. In fact, I cosponsored a bill that will ensure Michigan gets an additional $245 million for road repairs. I am pleased to say the House passed this bill earlier this week and now the Senate is considering it.

I will continue to fight for Michigan and Oakland County road funding. The health of our roads in southeast Michigan is critically important to economic growth. If roads are not in good condition, it is a hindrance toward retaining business and attracting new business.

The Summer Olympics are right around the corner and I know we will all be cheering our athletes. But I also want to take a moment to make note that this weekend the Special Olympics will celebrate its fortieth anniversary. This organization has changed the lives for thousands and helped families all around the world. This morning I spoke on the House floor about the Special Olympics and their impact in Oakland County. Please take a moment to read my speech.

“I rise today to commemorate an organization that has contributed to our community in a unique and inspiring way for 40 years. The Special Olympics is a beacon of opportunity and support for people with intellectual disabilities, providing training and athletic competition in over 180 countries.

Michigan’s 9th district is no exception – we have been blessed with a dedicated and vigilant local organization here that has established a successful program with amazing results. More than 400 athletes participated in this year’s Oakland County Spring Games this past May, including Charles Howard of Farmington and Jaime Bonneau of Clarkston, who have been selected to compete in the World Games in 2009. I extend to them my best wishes in their respective competitions.

On the 40th anniversary of this extraordinary organization, I wish to honor them for their efforts and their contributions to our community and our nation.

Thank you.”