Grand Rapids Reporter

Congresswoman Hillary Scholten, who represents Michigan’s 3rd district in the U.S. Congress, recently highlighted her involvement in local infrastructure and environmental protection efforts through a series of social media posts.

On August 15, 2025, Scholten posted about her visit to local wastewater facilities, stating: "Managing our community’s sewer authorities is a deeply important job. Thanks to our partners at North Kent Sewer Authority and Plainfield Township for a great tour of the North Kent facilities, and a great chat about the important work to keep contaminants — including PFAS — out". The post referenced the ongoing challenges of managing contaminants such as PFAS—chemicals that have raised health and environmental concerns nationwide.

Later that day, she addressed road infrastructure improvements in West Michigan. In her August 15 post, Scholten wrote: "Investing in modernizing our road infrastructure is crucial to moving West Michigan forward. As a @TransportDems member, I’m committed to supporting projects like the US-131 improvements in Byron Township. So excited to see all the progress that’s being made up close! I can’t".

The following day, on August 16, Scholten reiterated her focus on combating PFAS contamination. She posted: "We’ve seen how devastating PFAS and other forever chemicals are to humans, animals, and our environment. It’s time to eradicate PFAS once and for all—it starts with containment. I’m proud to lead a bipartisan effort to ensure our municipalities can target and eradicate PFAS".

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are often referred to as "forever chemicals" due to their persistence in the environment and potential risks to human health. Efforts at both state and federal levels have increased over recent years as more communities seek solutions for containment and remediation.

Scholten has represented Michigan’s 3rd District since 2023 after succeeding Peter Meijer. Born in Grand Rapids in 1982, she continues to reside there today. Scholten holds degrees from Gordon College (BA) and the University of Maryland, Baltimore (JD), reflecting an educational background grounded in both liberal arts and law.