ISSUES | DenOtter for Congress

ON THE ISSUES

HEALTHCARE

Protect Rural Hospitals

In northern Michigan, healthcare isn’t a convenience, it’s a lifeline. Long drives, harsh winters, and aging populations mean rural communities need strong local hospitals, clinics, and emergency services. As your Congressman, Matthew Denotter will:

Ensure fair Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement for rural providers
Stop one-size-fits-all federal mandates that hurt small facilities
Expand flexibility for Critical Access Hospitals
Reduce administrative burdens so providers can focus on patients

If rural hospitals close, communities suffer.

Expand Telehealth — The Right Way

Telemedicine can bridge long distances across the U.P. and northern Michigan. As your Congressman, Matthew Denotter will:

Permanently expand telehealth access for rural patients
Ensure broadband expansion prioritizes underserved areas
Allow cross-state licensing flexibility to increase provider access
Technology should work for rural families — not against them.

Growing the Rural Care Network

Access means nothing without providers. It's time to:

Incentivize doctors and nurses to practice in rural communities
Expand loan repayment programs tied to rural service
Support rural residency and training partnerships
We need more healthcare providers living and working here, not just visiting.

Cutting Red Tape and Increase Transparency
Federal overregulation drives up costs and drives providers away. We've had years of Congressional representation that has done nothing to make the size and scope of Government smaller. It's time to:

Streamline billing and reporting requirements
Increase price transparency
Encourage competition and innovation
Less bureaucracy. More patient care.

Strengthen Emergency and EMS Services

In rural areas, minutes matter. Matthew Denotter will:

Support funding flexibility for rural EMS
Modernize equipment grants
Ensure air and ground transport systems remain reliable
Public safety includes emergency medical care.

INVESTING IN
MICHIGAN

Putting Michigan First- Always

Our roads are crumbling. Rural broadband is spotty or nonexistent. Small manufacturers and timber communities are fighting to survive. Northern Michigan deserves investment that strengthens our own economy first, not more blank checks shipped worldwide.

As a businessman who’s built companies and met payroll in Northern Michigan,Matt DenOtter knows what responsible investment looks like.

Jack Bergman has had years in Washington. The results here at home speak for themselves. Matt DenOtter will fight to Make Northern Michigan Great Again by:

Putting Michigan workers and infrastructure first
Expanding reliable rural broadband across the First District
Supporting timber, manufacturing, and small business growth
Demanding accountability for every tax dollar spent abroad

BROADBAND INTERNET

Building A More Connected Michigan

After years in Congress, Rep. Jack Bergman talks about broadband... but too many families across the U.P. and northern Michigan still struggle with slow, unreliable internet. Students sit in parking lots for Wi-Fi, while small businesses lose customers. Telehealth fails our seniors and veterans. As your Congressman, Matthew Denotter will:

Put Rural Michigan First, not Big Telecom
Prioritize rural co-ops and local providers
End sweetheart deals for monopoly ISPs
Require strict build-out deadlines, stipulating that i
f they don’t build, they don’t get paid.

Fiber First, Not Half-Measures
Northern Michigan doesn’t need more pilot programs.
It needs real infrastructure. It's time to ensure:
Fiber as the default standard
Wireless only where terrain demands

Satellite as last resort

Cutting Federal Red Tape
Short northern construction seasons make delays costly.
DenOtter’s reforms are simple. As your Congressman, Matt will ensure:

Fast-track permits for Northern MI Building Projects
One-stop federal approval
“Dig once” requirements on federal projects
Seasonal priority for northern states

Full Transparency for Taxpayers

Transparency is key to Matthew's plan to deliver results to Michigan's First District- this is why, as your Congressman, he'll get to work mandating:

Public address-level broadband maps
Independent audits
Clawbacks for missed deadlines
No duplicate funding
Connect every rural home
Empowering local providers
A swift end to Washington’s slow-motion rollout

IMMIGRATION

Securing Michigan’s First Congressional District

Michigan’s First District deserves leadership that puts American citizens first, protects our communities, and defends the rule of law. For too long, Washington politicians have ignored the border crisis, and Northern Michigan families have paid the price.

We believe in legal immigration, secure borders, and policies that protect American workers, taxpayers, and communities.

Secure the Border. Enforce the Law.
America is a nation of laws. Without borders, there is no country. As your Congressman, Matthew Denotter will:

Finish physical border barriers where needed
Fully fund the U.S. Border Patrol and ICE
Reinstate “Remain in Mexico”–style policies
End catch-and-release
Oppose taxpayer-funded benefits for illegal immigrants
Illegal immigration fuels drug trafficking, human smuggling, and fentanyl flowing into communities across Michigan, including rural counties in MI-01.

Protect Michigan Jobs and Wages
Illegal labor undercuts American workers, especially in manufacturing, construction, farming, and skilled trades. As your Congressman, Matthew Denotter will:

Require mandatory E-Verify nationwide
Penalize companies that knowingly hire illegal workers
Protect fair wages for Michigan workers
Prioritize American citizens for jobs and apprenticeships, because small business owners and workers in cities like Traverse City, Marquette, and Sault Ste. Marie should never be forced to compete against unlawful labor practices.

Stopping the Fentanyl Crisis

The open border has fueled a deadly fentanyl epidemic. As your Congressman, Matthew Denotter will:

Classify major cartels as terrorist organizations
Increase penalties for fentanyl trafficking
Strengthen northern border security with Canada
Support local law enforcement in rural Michigan

Protecting our families from deadly drugs is not a partisan issue... it’s just common sense.

End Sanctuary Policies
Federal law must be enforced, not ignored. As your Congressman, Matthew Denotter will:

Oppose sanctuary cities and counties
Ensure cooperation between local and federal law enforcement
Condition certain federal funding on compliance with immigration law

No community in Michigan should shield criminal illegal aliens.

Support Legal Immigration, the Right Way. America is strengthened by legal immigrants who follow the law and contribute to ourcommunities.

A merit-based legal immigration system
Faster processing for lawful applicants
Ending visa overstays
English language and civic assimilation requirements
Legal immigration works when it serves American interests first.

Protect Northern Michigan Communities
Michigan’s First District includes small towns, tribal communities, and rural counties thatdeserve safety, stability, and economic opportunity, not federal mismanagement of the border.

An America First immigration policy means:

Safe streets
Strong wages
Secure communities
Respect for the rule of law

Washington’s failure should not become Northern Michigan’s burden.

We will stand firm to protect our border, defend our workers, and restore law and order, because the federal government’s first responsibility is to its own citizens.

Secure the border. Protect Michigan. Put Americans first.

ON THE ISSUES

HEALTHCARE

Protect Rural Hospitals In northern Michigan, healthcare isn’t a convenience, it’s a lifeline. Long drives, harsh winters, and aging populations mean rural communities need strong local hospitals, clinics, and emergency services. As your Congressman, Matthew Denotter will:

Ensure fair Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement for rural providers

Stop one-size-fits-all federal mandates that hurt small facilities

Expand flexibility for Critical Access Hospitals

Reduce administrative burdens so providers can focus on patients

If rural hospitals close, communities suffer. Expand Telehealth — The Right Way Telemedicine can bridge long distances across the U.P. and northern Michigan. As your Congressman, Matthew Denotter will:

Permanently expand telehealth access for rural patients

Ensure broadband expansion prioritizes underserved areas

Allow cross-state licensing flexibility to increase provider access

Technology should work for rural families — not against them.

Growing the Rural Care Network Access means nothing without providers. It's time to:

Incentivize doctors and nurses to practice in rural communities

Expand loan repayment programs tied to rural service

Support rural residency and training partnerships

We need more healthcare providers living and working here, not just visiting.

Cutting Red Tape and Increase Transparency Federal overregulation drives up costs and drives providers away. We've had years of Congressional representation that has done nothing to make the size and scope of Government smaller. It's time to:

​​

Streamline billing and reporting requirements

Increase price transparency

Encourage competition and innovation

Less bureaucracy. More patient care.

Strengthen Emergency and EMS Services In rural areas, minutes matter. Matthew Denotter will:

Support funding flexibility for rural EMS

Modernize equipment grants

Ensure air and ground transport systems remain reliable

Public safety includes emergency medical care.

INVESTING IN MICHIGAN

Putting Michigan First- Always

Putting Michigan workers and infrastructure first

Expanding reliable rural broadband across the First District

Supporting timber, manufacturing, and small business growth

Demanding accountability for every tax dollar spent abroad

BROADBAND INTERNET

Put Rural Michigan First, not Big Telecom

Prioritize rural co-ops and local providers

End sweetheart deals for monopoly ISPs

Require strict build-out deadlines, stipulating that i

Fiber First, Not Half-Measures Northern Michigan doesn’t need more pilot programs. It needs real infrastructure. It's time to ensure: Fiber as the default standard Wireless only where terrain demands

Satellite as last resort Cutting Federal Red Tape Short northern construction seasons make delays costly. DenOtter’s reforms are simple. As your Congressman, Matt will ensure:

​

Fast-track permits for Northern MI Building Projects

One-stop federal approval

“Dig once” requirements on federal projects

Seasonal priority for northern states

Full Transparency for Taxpayers Transparency is key to Matthew's plan to deliver results to Michigan's First District- this is why, as your Congressman, he'll get to work mandating:

Public address-level broadband maps

Independent audits

Clawbacks for missed deadlines

No duplicate funding

Connect every rural home

Empowering local providers

A swift end to Washington’s slow-motion rollout