State representative Jenn Hill (D-Marquette) was named to four committees for the Michigan House of Representatives in her first month as Alger County’s voice in Lansing. The 109th district representative was named to the Energy, Communications and Technology committee, the Local Government and Municipal Finance committee, the Higher Education committee and the Natural Resources, Environment, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation committee. Hill was named as the majority vice chair for the final committee.

“I am grateful to my colleagues in House leadership for appointing me to four policy committees with tremendous importance for the U.P.,” Hill said. “I’m eager to bring the voices of the 109th House District into those discussions.”

Hill held her first local press conference since being sworn in at the United Carpenters and Millwrights Skilled Training Center in Negaunee on Friday, Jan. 13. The event showcased numerous local democratic leaders as a number of statewide goals of the Michigan Democratic Party were shared with the crowd of roughly 60 people. Those items included repealing the retirement tax, reworking the working families tax credit, and restoring prevailing wage law while repealing right to work. Democrats have also looked at codifying expanded protections under the Elliot-Larsen Civil Rights Act and abortion access, which were expanded through Michigan State Supreme Court rulings and a statewide proposal, respectively, last year.

The rookie representative said providing a voice for the district was not a partisan issue.

“We are delivering on the issues people care about,” Hill said. “Democrats, independents and Republicans want to see our freedoms preserved, workers protected and taxes cut. These are the common- sense issues we will address this term.”

The 109th District includes all of Alger County plus parts of Marquette, Baraga and Dickinson Counties.