U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Zeeland, has announced the introduction of H.R. 3191, the Made in America Motors Act.
This bill, introduced May 7, establishes a new federal tax deduction on auto loan interest for American-made cars.
The Made in America Motors Act is based on a major policy priority proposed by President Trump in the run-up to the 2024 election. Car ownership is essential for many American families, especially those living in rural or suburban areas.
The Made in America Motors Act directly lowers the cost of financing a vehicle — often a household’s second-biggest expense after housing. This tax deduction can save taxpayers hundreds of dollars each year, regardless of whether they use the standard deduction or itemize.
“The Made in America Motors Act is a win for American taxpayers, autoworkers, and Michigan,” Huizenga said. “Making interest on car loans tax deductible was a key campaign promise made by President Trump. The Made in America Motors Act delivers on this promise by giving individuals and families a financial incentive to buy American, which in turn supports good-paying automotive jobs in Michigan and across the nation.”
Specifically, the Made in America Motors Act would:
• Create a new above-the-line tax deduction of up to $2500 annually for interest paid on auto loans
• Make the deduction available to taxpayers, including those who take the standard deduction
• Apply only to vehicles with final assembly in the United States
Ford Motor Company has endorsed the Huizenga bill.
“As America’s top auto producer, we’re grateful to work with Congressman Huizenga on policies that grow the American auto industry. The Made in America Motors Act will help Americans purchase a car and gain the freedom to move, while supporting American auto workers,” a Ford spokesperson said.
The full text of the Made in America Motors Act can be found online at huizenga.house. gov/uploadedfiles/huizen_017_ xml.pdf.
This bill, introduced May 7, establishes a new federal tax deduction on auto loan interest for American-made cars.
The Made in America Motors Act is based on a major policy priority proposed by President Trump in the run-up to the 2024 election. Car ownership is essential for many American families, especially those living in rural or suburban areas.
The Made in America Motors Act directly lowers the cost of financing a vehicle — often a household’s second-biggest expense after housing. This tax deduction can save taxpayers hundreds of dollars each year, regardless of whether they use the standard deduction or itemize.
“The Made in America Motors Act is a win for American taxpayers, autoworkers, and Michigan,” Huizenga said. “Making interest on car loans tax deductible was a key campaign promise made by President Trump. The Made in America Motors Act delivers on this promise by giving individuals and families a financial incentive to buy American, which in turn supports good-paying automotive jobs in Michigan and across the nation.”
Specifically, the Made in America Motors Act would:
• Create a new above-the-line tax deduction of up to $2500 annually for interest paid on auto loans
• Make the deduction available to taxpayers, including those who take the standard deduction
• Apply only to vehicles with final assembly in the United States
Ford Motor Company has endorsed the Huizenga bill.
“As America’s top auto producer, we’re grateful to work with Congressman Huizenga on policies that grow the American auto industry. The Made in America Motors Act will help Americans purchase a car and gain the freedom to move, while supporting American auto workers,” a Ford spokesperson said.
The full text of the Made in America Motors Act can be found online at huizenga.house. gov/uploadedfiles/huizen_017_ xml.pdf.
Slagh Bill Banning Midseason DNR Rule Changes Passes House
The state House has approved legislation sponsored by state Rep. Brad Slagh, R-Zeeland, to ensure Michigan’s hunting and fishing rules cannot be changed midseason.
Slagh said the suggestion for the bill came from one of his constituents.
“Under current law, sportsmen can get caught in a sticky situation if they aren’t aware of a mid-season change in law and break it without even realizing it,” Slagh said.
Slagh’s House Bill 4029 would require that any Natural Resources Commission hunting and trapping orders be adopted by June 1 of that year to go into effect that same season and provides for publication of the orders in the annual hunting, fishing and trapping guide handbooks.
The representative said his plan is a commonsense solution to an avoidable problem and noted that the DNR is supportive of the legislation.
The bill was approved on a 107-0 vote with three representatives not voting. It now moves to the state Senate, where it has been referred to its Committee on Government Operations.
Slagh said the suggestion for the bill came from one of his constituents.
“Under current law, sportsmen can get caught in a sticky situation if they aren’t aware of a mid-season change in law and break it without even realizing it,” Slagh said.
Slagh’s House Bill 4029 would require that any Natural Resources Commission hunting and trapping orders be adopted by June 1 of that year to go into effect that same season and provides for publication of the orders in the annual hunting, fishing and trapping guide handbooks.
The representative said his plan is a commonsense solution to an avoidable problem and noted that the DNR is supportive of the legislation.
The bill was approved on a 107-0 vote with three representatives not voting. It now moves to the state Senate, where it has been referred to its Committee on Government Operations.
Court Upholds State’s Process of Removing Dead Voters
Michigan’s efforts to cancel the voter registrations of people who have died have been upheld by a federal appeals court.
In a May 6 ruling, the Sixth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati upheld an earlier federal court dismissal of a lawsuit filed by the Public Interest Legal Foundation, stating in its ruling that “Michigan’s multi-layered efforts are more than reasonable.” The U.S. District Court of the Western District of Michigan in March 2024 dismissed the PILF suit, which the organization appealed.
In its ruling, the Sixth Circuit described how Michigan goes above and beyond the legal standard for maintaining the state’s voter file.
“A state that actively makes efforts to remove dead registrants based on state and federal death records is engaging in an inherently rational, sensible attempt at maintaining accurate voter registration lists. Michigan not only undertakes the kind of effort described . . . but it also adopts additional standards as well,” the court said.
Since 2019, state and local election officials have removed more than 1.4 million registrations from the state’s Qualified Voter File in compliance with the National Voter Registration Act, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said.
Clerks receive information daily from the Social Security Death Index and can use other information like obituaries or death notifications from the voter’s family to remove them from the voter file. Michigan also participates in the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC), a nonpartisan national tool that compares voter files across several states.
“I’m very grateful that a federal court has once again recognized our strong work keeping our voter file up to date,” Benson said. “Since 2020, our department has fought a record number of lawsuits based on false and meritless claims meant to undermine people’s faith in Michigan’s elections.”
In a May 6 ruling, the Sixth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati upheld an earlier federal court dismissal of a lawsuit filed by the Public Interest Legal Foundation, stating in its ruling that “Michigan’s multi-layered efforts are more than reasonable.” The U.S. District Court of the Western District of Michigan in March 2024 dismissed the PILF suit, which the organization appealed.
In its ruling, the Sixth Circuit described how Michigan goes above and beyond the legal standard for maintaining the state’s voter file.
“A state that actively makes efforts to remove dead registrants based on state and federal death records is engaging in an inherently rational, sensible attempt at maintaining accurate voter registration lists. Michigan not only undertakes the kind of effort described . . . but it also adopts additional standards as well,” the court said.
Since 2019, state and local election officials have removed more than 1.4 million registrations from the state’s Qualified Voter File in compliance with the National Voter Registration Act, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said.
Clerks receive information daily from the Social Security Death Index and can use other information like obituaries or death notifications from the voter’s family to remove them from the voter file. Michigan also participates in the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC), a nonpartisan national tool that compares voter files across several states.
“I’m very grateful that a federal court has once again recognized our strong work keeping our voter file up to date,” Benson said. “Since 2020, our department has fought a record number of lawsuits based on false and meritless claims meant to undermine people’s faith in Michigan’s elections.”
Michigan Dams to Get Safety Upgrades
Nineteen Michigan dams will receive grant funding to help reduce risks and protect residents. The funding is through the Dam Risk Reduction Grant Program (DRRGP) as authorized by the Michigan Legislature.
This grant program provides private owners with resources to manage existing dams and reduce the overall risk of dam failure in Michigan. Some $14.9 million is newly authorized for work ranging from dam removals to critical maintenance.
The Dam Safety Unit of the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) announced the following grant awards for the 2024-25 grant funding cycle:
• Ypsilanti: $2.5 million to the Washtenaw County Water Resources Commissioner for the removal of Tyler Dam and Beyer Dam on Willow Run Creek. Removing Tyler Dam is an urgent priority due to critical safety and environmental risks. The dam is connected to the Tyler Road bridge, which closed in August 2023 due to a significant washout and deterioration.
• Rose City: $2 million to Huron Pines to support the removal of Sanback Dam, a significant-hazard, unsatisfactory-condition dam on Houghton Creek. The former hydropower dam is nonfunctional, and the impoundment has been dewatered. This project will complete the construction phase of the dam removal, and stream restoration efforts will be made along with demolition.
• Albion: $1.75 million to the city of Albion to support ongoing multiple dam removals. Included in the project is the significant-hazard, poor-condition Albion Dam. The dams impede fish passage, interfere with natural transport of sediment and river function, and are a hazard to human safety. Removing the dams would reconnect miles of river and streams and restore high-quality habitat.
• Elsie: $1,597,500 to Duplain Township for the removal of Elsie Dam on the Maple River, which breached on Aug. 18, 2023. The dam continues to fail, posing a critical safety hazard to the community. Dam removal will reconnect the river and return the Maple River to its natural state, improving the ecological health and restoring the natural ecosystem.
• Baldwin: $1.5 million to Conservation Resource Alliance (CRA) for the removal of the significant-hazard, unsatisfactory-condition Baldwin Fish Hatchery Dam on the Baldwin River. The dam no longer serves its purpose as a fish rearing station. Removal of the dam will reduce risk to the area and restore the river’s hydrologic functions, reconnect floodplains, and allow for the natural transport of aquatic organisms and sediment.
• Clare: $1.3 million to the city of Clare for rehabilitation of Lake Shamrock Dam, a high-hazard, poor-condition dam on the South Branch Tobacco River. The most notable concerns with the dam based on recent inspections include substantial deterioration of the concrete structure, a sagging pedestrian walkway across the spillway, seepage along the right embankment, and insufficient hydraulic capacity to comply with current regulations.
• Kalkaska: $1 million to CRA to support the removal of the high hazard Rugg Pond Dam. The dam is the only impoundment located on the Rapid River in the Elk River Chain of Lakes Watershed. The impoundment has accumulated excessive sediment, and habitat has diminished.
• Vicksburg: $900,000 to the Kalamazoo County Drain Commissioner for the replacement of the high-hazard, poor-condition Sunset Lake Dam. Inspection reports indicate that much of the concrete in the spillway, wingwalls, pool walls, and abutments is deteriorated, and the spillway lacks sufficient capacity. The proposed project involves demolishing and replacing the primary spillway.
• Ishpeming: $800,000 to Cleveland Cliffs to remove the high-hazard Lake Sally Dam. Lake Sally Dam was previously used to store water as a drinking water source for the city of Ishpeming. The dam no longer serves its intended purpose and is an aging concrete structure that shows signs of deterioration and vandalism.
• Reed City: $253,900 to the Muskegon River Watershed Assembly to complete the initial design and engineering for the removal of the Nartron Dam – the last remaining barrier on the Hersey River. The dam is in a state of neglect and continues to deteriorate. Removal would reduce risk to the surrounding area and provide a significant ecological benefit to the coldwater system.
• Newaygo: $250,000 to the Muskegon River Watershed Assembly for the daylighting of Penoyer Creek. The Rowe Manufacturing Plant impounds the confluence of Penoyer Creek with the Muskegon River. The abandoned plant left behind an impoundment and subterranean flow of water that is unnatural and progressively undermining the remnant foundation. The impoundment dam would be removed, and relocation of the stream would greatly slow the deterioration of the foundation as well as improve habitat and passage opportunities for migratory species.
• Alma: $236,100 to Healthy Pine River for a pre-engineering feasibility study to evaluate removal and long-term management options for the significant-hazard State Street Dam on the Pine River. Key components of the study include an engineering investigation, potential dam deconstruction and stream restoration schematic designs, reservoir sediment characterization, and pre-removal monitoring to assess sediment, hydrologic, and biological impacts.
• Beverly Hills: $180,000 to the village of Beverly Hills for a feasibility study to evaluate the poor-condition Erity Dam. The report will outline the benefits, risks, costs, and steps required to implement dam management alternatives, as well as conceptual designs to help the village better understand the scope of each potential alternative project.
• Somerset: $178,500 to the Hillsdale County Drain Commissioner for the repair of the significant-hazard, poor-condition Lake Somerset Dam. Observations of significant seepage and eroded embankment in addition to inoperable draw-down gates raise safety concerns. The repair project aims to address the seepage and repair the gate to enhance public safety and reduce failure risk.
• Liberty: $120,000 to Crist Investment Company for a dam removal feasibility study for the significant-hazard, unsatisfactory-condition Liberty Dam. The dam has experienced failure of the center concrete pier of the primary spillway and cannot effectively pass the design storm standard. The study will culminate in a comprehensive report outlining the potential benefits, risks, costs, and necessary steps for removing Liberty Dam.
• Mosherville: $120,000 to the Hillsdale County Drain Commissioner for a feasibility study for the Big Mosherville Dam. The dam was initially designed for recreation, primarily to help regulate water levels in Big Mosherville Lake. Over recent years, the dam has fallen into disrepair, leading to concerns about its structural integrity and functionality. The Drain Commissioner is evaluating options for the dam, including its replacement, retrofit, or removal.
• Three Rivers: $90,000 to the city of Three Rivers to support a feasibility study for the eventual removal of the high-hazard, poor-condition Portage Plant Dam on the Portage River. The dam is deteriorating, no longer serves a purpose, and poses significant risk to the downstream community.
• Marcellus: $65,800 to the Cass County Drain Commissioner for the engineering and permitting of the McMillan Dam Removal. The removal of the dam will restore natural stream flow, improve hydraulic conveyance, enhance aquatic and terrestrial habitats project and will reduce risks associated with dam failure, sediment buildup, and poor water quality.
• Coldwater: $58,200 to the Branch County Drain Commission to initiate a feasibility study for the poor-condition Blackhawk Dam on the Coldwater River. Blackhawk Dam experienced a breach in 2018, and the dam operator made emergency repairs. Subsequent inspections indicate seepage of the dam embankment and potential piping underneath the dam.
The Dam Safety Unit oversees the regulation of more than 1,000 structures under Part 307, Inland Lake Levels, and Part 315, Dam Safety, of The Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act.?The unit has grown to meet the needs of dam owners and operators, expanding to seven full-time engineers to offer statewide coverage.
For more on dams and dam management in Michigan, visit Michigan.gov/DamSafety.
This grant program provides private owners with resources to manage existing dams and reduce the overall risk of dam failure in Michigan. Some $14.9 million is newly authorized for work ranging from dam removals to critical maintenance.
The Dam Safety Unit of the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) announced the following grant awards for the 2024-25 grant funding cycle:
• Ypsilanti: $2.5 million to the Washtenaw County Water Resources Commissioner for the removal of Tyler Dam and Beyer Dam on Willow Run Creek. Removing Tyler Dam is an urgent priority due to critical safety and environmental risks. The dam is connected to the Tyler Road bridge, which closed in August 2023 due to a significant washout and deterioration.
• Rose City: $2 million to Huron Pines to support the removal of Sanback Dam, a significant-hazard, unsatisfactory-condition dam on Houghton Creek. The former hydropower dam is nonfunctional, and the impoundment has been dewatered. This project will complete the construction phase of the dam removal, and stream restoration efforts will be made along with demolition.
• Albion: $1.75 million to the city of Albion to support ongoing multiple dam removals. Included in the project is the significant-hazard, poor-condition Albion Dam. The dams impede fish passage, interfere with natural transport of sediment and river function, and are a hazard to human safety. Removing the dams would reconnect miles of river and streams and restore high-quality habitat.
• Elsie: $1,597,500 to Duplain Township for the removal of Elsie Dam on the Maple River, which breached on Aug. 18, 2023. The dam continues to fail, posing a critical safety hazard to the community. Dam removal will reconnect the river and return the Maple River to its natural state, improving the ecological health and restoring the natural ecosystem.
• Baldwin: $1.5 million to Conservation Resource Alliance (CRA) for the removal of the significant-hazard, unsatisfactory-condition Baldwin Fish Hatchery Dam on the Baldwin River. The dam no longer serves its purpose as a fish rearing station. Removal of the dam will reduce risk to the area and restore the river’s hydrologic functions, reconnect floodplains, and allow for the natural transport of aquatic organisms and sediment.
• Clare: $1.3 million to the city of Clare for rehabilitation of Lake Shamrock Dam, a high-hazard, poor-condition dam on the South Branch Tobacco River. The most notable concerns with the dam based on recent inspections include substantial deterioration of the concrete structure, a sagging pedestrian walkway across the spillway, seepage along the right embankment, and insufficient hydraulic capacity to comply with current regulations.
• Kalkaska: $1 million to CRA to support the removal of the high hazard Rugg Pond Dam. The dam is the only impoundment located on the Rapid River in the Elk River Chain of Lakes Watershed. The impoundment has accumulated excessive sediment, and habitat has diminished.
• Vicksburg: $900,000 to the Kalamazoo County Drain Commissioner for the replacement of the high-hazard, poor-condition Sunset Lake Dam. Inspection reports indicate that much of the concrete in the spillway, wingwalls, pool walls, and abutments is deteriorated, and the spillway lacks sufficient capacity. The proposed project involves demolishing and replacing the primary spillway.
• Ishpeming: $800,000 to Cleveland Cliffs to remove the high-hazard Lake Sally Dam. Lake Sally Dam was previously used to store water as a drinking water source for the city of Ishpeming. The dam no longer serves its intended purpose and is an aging concrete structure that shows signs of deterioration and vandalism.
• Reed City: $253,900 to the Muskegon River Watershed Assembly to complete the initial design and engineering for the removal of the Nartron Dam – the last remaining barrier on the Hersey River. The dam is in a state of neglect and continues to deteriorate. Removal would reduce risk to the surrounding area and provide a significant ecological benefit to the coldwater system.
• Newaygo: $250,000 to the Muskegon River Watershed Assembly for the daylighting of Penoyer Creek. The Rowe Manufacturing Plant impounds the confluence of Penoyer Creek with the Muskegon River. The abandoned plant left behind an impoundment and subterranean flow of water that is unnatural and progressively undermining the remnant foundation. The impoundment dam would be removed, and relocation of the stream would greatly slow the deterioration of the foundation as well as improve habitat and passage opportunities for migratory species.
• Alma: $236,100 to Healthy Pine River for a pre-engineering feasibility study to evaluate removal and long-term management options for the significant-hazard State Street Dam on the Pine River. Key components of the study include an engineering investigation, potential dam deconstruction and stream restoration schematic designs, reservoir sediment characterization, and pre-removal monitoring to assess sediment, hydrologic, and biological impacts.
• Beverly Hills: $180,000 to the village of Beverly Hills for a feasibility study to evaluate the poor-condition Erity Dam. The report will outline the benefits, risks, costs, and steps required to implement dam management alternatives, as well as conceptual designs to help the village better understand the scope of each potential alternative project.
• Somerset: $178,500 to the Hillsdale County Drain Commissioner for the repair of the significant-hazard, poor-condition Lake Somerset Dam. Observations of significant seepage and eroded embankment in addition to inoperable draw-down gates raise safety concerns. The repair project aims to address the seepage and repair the gate to enhance public safety and reduce failure risk.
• Liberty: $120,000 to Crist Investment Company for a dam removal feasibility study for the significant-hazard, unsatisfactory-condition Liberty Dam. The dam has experienced failure of the center concrete pier of the primary spillway and cannot effectively pass the design storm standard. The study will culminate in a comprehensive report outlining the potential benefits, risks, costs, and necessary steps for removing Liberty Dam.
• Mosherville: $120,000 to the Hillsdale County Drain Commissioner for a feasibility study for the Big Mosherville Dam. The dam was initially designed for recreation, primarily to help regulate water levels in Big Mosherville Lake. Over recent years, the dam has fallen into disrepair, leading to concerns about its structural integrity and functionality. The Drain Commissioner is evaluating options for the dam, including its replacement, retrofit, or removal.
• Three Rivers: $90,000 to the city of Three Rivers to support a feasibility study for the eventual removal of the high-hazard, poor-condition Portage Plant Dam on the Portage River. The dam is deteriorating, no longer serves a purpose, and poses significant risk to the downstream community.
• Marcellus: $65,800 to the Cass County Drain Commissioner for the engineering and permitting of the McMillan Dam Removal. The removal of the dam will restore natural stream flow, improve hydraulic conveyance, enhance aquatic and terrestrial habitats project and will reduce risks associated with dam failure, sediment buildup, and poor water quality.
• Coldwater: $58,200 to the Branch County Drain Commission to initiate a feasibility study for the poor-condition Blackhawk Dam on the Coldwater River. Blackhawk Dam experienced a breach in 2018, and the dam operator made emergency repairs. Subsequent inspections indicate seepage of the dam embankment and potential piping underneath the dam.
The Dam Safety Unit oversees the regulation of more than 1,000 structures under Part 307, Inland Lake Levels, and Part 315, Dam Safety, of The Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act.?The unit has grown to meet the needs of dam owners and operators, expanding to seven full-time engineers to offer statewide coverage.
For more on dams and dam management in Michigan, visit Michigan.gov/DamSafety.
