November Newsletter

Dear Neighbor,

From my family to yours, I would like to wish you a very happy Thanksgiving. As you head into the holiday, I wanted to send out some friendly reminders and provide some resources for you.

Road safety

Statistically, the night before Thanksgiving and the day itself rank as two of the most dangerous days in the year for car accidents. The chance of encountering a drunk driver on the road increases by around 55%, and crash fatalities involving alcohol increase by 10-12%.

Nobody wants their holiday ruined by hospital visits, wrecked cars, or even tragedy. Don’t drink and drive, and don’t let your friends drink and drive! Make sure you plan ahead and have a designated driver, or plan to call a ride share service. Even if you are not planning to drink this holiday, you should drive with extra caution as other road users are more likely to be impaired. Make sure you and your loved ones are strapped in, children are properly restrained, and drive without distraction.

Give back to those in need

While you are taking stock of the things in life that you are most thankful for, I encourage you to take a moment to think of those less fortunate. For some people in our community, Thanksgiving can be a difficult reminder of the hardships they are facing. Whether they are without a roof over their heads, or struggling to make ends meet and feed their families, community resources can make a world of difference for those in need. The organizations that provide this relief often rely on volunteers and donations to continue their charitable work. There is no better time to give back to those in need than the Holidays. You can visit the link here to find the homeless shelter, soup kitchen, food pantry or food bank nearest you to donate or volunteer.

Small Business Saturday

We all like getting a head start on our holiday shopping with Black Friday discount, but don’t forget about Small Business Saturday! Shopping at small, local businesses in Beech Grove, Cumberland, and the Far East Side of Indianapolis stimulates our local economy and allows our community to thrive. Supporting small businesses is an investment in the area as it creates jobs and eventually attracts other businesses. Additionally, shopping at local is more sustainable as it conserves resources in the form of fuel and packaging. Local shops are more likely to purchase locally and have more direct supply chains, eliminating carbon that is emitted while transporting goods long distances.

When you make your holiday shopping plans, make sure you don’t miss Small Business Saturday!

Congratulations UAW workers!

The United Auto Workers have reached a deal with the big three automakers after a historic strike to demand better treatment from their employers. The new contract secured higher wages, cost of living adjustments, and a faster track for new employees to reach top wages.

I proudly stood beside the hardworking men and women of the UAW earlier this year as they gathered in Kokomo to insist they receive a bigger piece of the pie. This is the year of the working family. Congratulations UAW on this unprecedented victory!

Indy Far East Magazine feature

This month, I got to talk to The Indy Far East Magazine about my role in the legislature and the challenges facing our community. From economic development, to road funding, to public safety, I shared my vision for the east side and how hopeful I am for our future. Just this past legislative session I helped secure critical road funding for my district in Senate Enrolled Act 283. Check out page 9 of the November issue for a familiar face.

IDEM seeking your feedback on air quality grant funding

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) is looking for feedback from Hoosiers on how to improve the air quality in Indiana. Last month, IDEM received grant funding from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop a climate action plan and conduct an inventory of greenhouse gas emissions. The submission of this climate plan may open up a larger pool of federal dollars for Indiana to reduce our emissions of greenhouse gases and other harmful air pollutants.

Following the announcement of the $3 million planning grant, IDEM conducted a series of community engagement public meetings to hear from Hoosiers in person. Now, IDEM is accepting online surveys to gather feedback from the public about specific priorities for methods to reduce air pollution.

Poor air quality and exposure to air pollutants can lead to a myriad of negative health effects such as asthma, respiratory infections, heart disease and lung cancer. Indiana is being given a chance to improve our air quality which can in turn improve our overall public health. Don’t miss out on this important opportunity to give your input into how you think IDEM should use this grant funding to help our community. Click here to access the survey now through Nov. 29, 2023. For more information on the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants Program, click here.

Enrollment period for Healthcare Marketplace now open

Enrollment for the Health Insurance Marketplace is now open! The open enrollment time period gives consumers the chance to renew, change or enroll in a health insurance plan. If you need marketplace coverage for 2024 or currently have marketplace coverage, you should take time to make sure you know all of the options for plans and preview prices by visiting healthcare.gov.

For customers who currently have coverage, please make sure that all of your information is correct. Any changes with your income or household can mean that there may be a different plan better equipped for your needs and you may qualify for different financial assistance. You can visit the Marketplace Insurance Program Map provided by the Indiana Department of Insurance to find what providers are in your county.

Friday, December 15, 2023 is the deadline to enroll in or change plans for coverage to start on January 1, 2024. For coverage to start February 1, 2024, the last day to enroll or change plans is January 15. After that, you can only enroll if you qualify for a special enrollment period.

If you have questions or need assistance, you can visit the Find a Navigator tool to connect with a certified Indiana navigator free of charge. Indiana Navigators can help you with the application process or contact an insurance agent.

Sincerely,