In Alpena, the local democratic party has stepped up and is sending food donations to the Alpena Community College's Student Food Pantry. Local women in Traverse City collected food and donated it to the local high school. We have deer processors taking in deer to process for food banks. 

It is organizations like this that keep our communities moving through these turbulent times. And, we acknowledge the unsung heroes who work there and those that have stepped up to volunteer. When times get tough, the tough get going. Thank you to each and everyone of you. 

In addition to food access, our educational programs and childcare are taking a hit. The Gogebic-Ontonagon Head Start program has closed, and education advocates speculate that others may follow soon. The federal shutdown has resulted in a lack of funding for Head Start programs, which provide education, meals, and other services that children and their families rely on.

If you or anyone you know is experiencing difficulty, please call 211 or visit their website for assistance with food, housing, clothing, utilities, transportation, and more.

This is a moment where we need each other now more than ever, and while some play politics, we will focus on healing our communities.

Today marks the 250th birthday of the United States Marine Corps — Happy Birthday to every Marine out there - and to all the friends and family that love them. A birthday message this year from the Marine Corps is that "courage is a decision." In times like these, we are grateful for those choosing courage. I think of folks who are scared to knock doors, afraid of having a conversation, of showing up to a protest. But they do it anyway. We decide everyday who we are as Americans and as people. Choose courage. 

Tomorrow is Veterans Day when we honor the service and sacrifice of our brave men and women in uniform. Originally chosen to mark the end of WWI as Armistice Day - it was marked on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of 1918. It was changed to Veterans Day in 1954 to recognize veterans of all wars.

In this recognition, we honor veterans as diverse as America, willing to put their names on the line for something bigger than themselves - for us. That's what service is. We need more of it. 

My husband served 15 years in the Marine Corps and came home from Iraq and Afghanistan with injuries. We know firsthand the strength, courage, and sacrifice that service members and their families give to this country.

Today, we honor those who served acknowledging that for many veterans, the fight doesn’t end when they return home. Too often, they face a broken system — and leaders in Congress who fail to stand by them when it matters most.

That's why if elected, I will:

1. Fully fund the VA — we must expand access to mental healthcare, increase staffing, improve clinics, and grant TEF payouts.

2. Ensure that Veterans' pensions are secure (social security for all seniors) — we have an alarming number of Veterans on SNAP, and it is simply unacceptable.

3. Oppose the 2025 Veterans Choice Act, which would permit for-profit companies to charge veterans for initial claims assistance (opposed by the VFW and DAV), a service currently provided for free. Under federal law, it’s illegal to charge a fee for assistance with an initial filing for a disability claim. Jack Bergman has led the effort to pass the Veterans Choice Act, receiving $26,200 from a company that would profit from Veterans' claims.

4.  Fight for concurrent receipt of military retirement pay and VA disability benefits – these are two different benefits, and Veterans who qualify should receive both.

5. Push for the immediate naturalization of any service member who has served or will serve four years in the U.S. military honorably. We have veterans with Purple Hearts who are being deported.

Veteran's Day is an important reminder of what it means to be an American. When you honor those who have served for your freedom, remember they were Democrats, Republicans, Independents, apolitical - they were black, white, Asian, brown, gay, straight, women, men - they were diverse and they were us.

To honor service isn’t just to honor the service of someone who looks and thinks like you. It has always been that we are great because of our differences, not despite them.

I want to thank Jim Page, Paul Kratochwill, and Jeffery Rhodes for joining me on our Veteran press brief, where they emphasized the strength of a diverse fighting force: "Diversity was our strength because we pulled from what was our best" (see press brief below). 

I was also interviewed on a couple of podcasts - see my interviews with Hal and Tom LoBianco on the issues, the campaign we're running, and why now is the time (interviews attached).

This week, we’re celebrating our Field Captain, Abby Hamilton, from Otsego County. Abby is a Gaylord resident and previously ran the Guardian Gals organization, where she helped empower young women in her community.

We’re extremely fortunate to have such an amazing community-oriented person on our team! Since joining, Abby has helped connect us with volunteers and local leaders in the area. She is a testament to the importance of community organizing and has helped activate supporters in Gaylord.

Thank you, Abby, and keep up the good work!