Portage Lake District Library, Joan C.

Comments to Portage Lake District Library
(3/26/25 from Joan Chadde, retired educator)

Thank you for the opportunity to speak tonight.

Students, families, and communities gain numerous benefits from museums and libraries. Unfortunately, the Executive Branch has just cut federal funding for the Institute for Museum and Library Services that provides financial support to a wide array of cultural and educational institutions, including art, science and history museums, zoos, aquariums, botanical gardens and historic sites. Libraries of all types – public, academic, school and research – also benefit from the agency’s funding. Through grants, research and policy initiatives, the Institute helps these institutions better serve their communities.

For libraries, the Institute has funded technology upgrades, such as virtual reality learning stations, AI-assisted research aids or digitization of rare books. They also pay for community programs that take place in libraries, from early childhood reading initiatives to workshops on tax preparation.

We depend on Congress and the Executive Branch to make wise decisions on spending our tax dollars. I am very concerned about the random way that decisions are being made to cut federal spending on so many programs. It is very concerning that a private citizen has been appointed by the Executive Branch to make these cuts and fire thousands of federal employees without due process, in spite of his conflict of interest and lack of knowledge of what these agencies do. We have lost valuable programs that benefit US citizens.


Please communicate the many benefits provided by the Portage Lake District Library to our state and federal representatives. Your immediate attention to this very serious concern is greatly appreciated. A list of addresses is shown below.


REPRESENTATIVES IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
Senator: GARY PETERS (D) 1/2027*
724 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington D.C. 20510
(202) 224-6221 • U.P. Office: 906-226-4554                                          
E-Mail: peters.senate.gov
www.peters.senate.gov

Senator: ELISSA SLOTKIN (D) 1/2031*
SH-825B/C Hart Senate Office Building
Washington D.C. 20510
(202) 224-4822 • U.P. Office: not yet set
www.slotkin.senate.gov

Representative, 1st District - JACK BERGMAN (R) 1/2027*
566 Cannon House Office Building
Washington D.C. 20515
(202) 225-4735 • U.P. Office: 906-273-2227
E-Mail: [email protected]
www.bergman.house.gov
*Date Term Expires

REPRESENTATIVES IN LANSING
State Senator, 38th District:
ED MCBROOM (R) 1/2027*
201 Townsend St, Suite 6200 • PO Box 30036
Lansing, MI 48909
(855) 347-8038
Email: [email protected]

State Representative, 110th District:
GREG MARKKANEN (R) 1/2027*
S-1489 House Office Building • PO Box 30014
Lansing, MI 48909
(517) 373-0850
Email: [email protected]