Sen. Slotkin's Intel Briefing: May 23, 2025

Sen. Elissa Slotkin recently highlighted several significant issues impacting Michigan and the nation, stemming from a major bill passed in the House of Representatives and other administrative decisions. Referred to by some as the "big beautiful bill," it reportedly passed the House by a single vote after significant pressure and was advanced in the "dead of night".

A primary concernis the bill's impact on economic security, specifically through cuts to vital social programs like Medicaid and SNAP. Estimates suggest that potentially 300,000 Michigan residents could lose their primary health insurance due to Medicaid cuts. These cuts are also expected to significantly impact the financial viability of Michigan's hospitals, nursing homes, mental health infrastructure, and even school mental health services.

Similar cuts and bureaucratic increases are noted for SNAP, also known as food stamps. Currently, individuals on SNAP receive about $6 a day for food. This could be reduced to zero or three dollars. While federal work requirements already exist for able-bodied adults on SNAP, requiring them to prove they are working (and over 90% of beneficiaries already are), the new measures would demand this proof "over and over again and with more frequency".

This increased bureaucratic burden is expected to exhaust recipients and lead them to disengage from the program. The argument that states should simply pay their fair share to cover these programs is dismissed by Sen. Slotkin as inaccurate.

Sen. Slotkin also flagged a critical national security issue within the bill related to clean energy. The legislation reportedly eliminated tax credits supporting clean energy, electric vehicle battery manufacturing, and other areas intended to help America compete in future vehicle and energy technologies. The removal of these incentives is seen as making it harder for approximately 35,000 Michigan residents currently in jobs tied to these tax breaks to maintain their employment, leading to complaints from car and energy companies.

More broadly, Sen. Slotkin views this action as ceding leadership in future energy and vehicle technologies to China, which has become highly competitive in producing cheap electric vehicles and efficient clean energy solutions. Allowing China to become the world leader in these industries is considered a negative national security outcome, as opposed to fostering American competition and leadership.

Separately from the bill, another concern raised by Sen. Slotkin was the Trump administration's decision to roll back EPA standards for PFAS (forever chemicals) in drinking water. For many years, there had been bipartisan efforts to establish a federal standard for safe PFAS levels. A science-based federal standard was finally set within the past 1.5 years. However, the administration's rollback last week suggests a disregard for the amount of PFAS in water.

This issue is particularly critical for Michigan due to known PFAS contamination sites like Oscoda and Garing, and in Livingston County. Michigan's experience with the Flint water crisis also highlights the devastating impact of unsafe drinking water. Communities hoping for cleanup efforts, such as around Wormith Air Force Base, now face uncertainty. This rollback, after a decade of work to establish standards, is viewed by Sen. Slotkin as deeply concerning for public health.

In light of these federal issues, particularly as the "big beautiful bill" approaches consideration in the Senate, Sen. Slotkin urged citizens to contact their elected officials. Hearing from constituents through calls, emails, and letters is emphasized as crucial for informing senators' positions.