Bill Text: MI SCR0014 | 2021-2022 | 101st Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: A concurrent resolution offered as a memorial for Mark C. Jansen, former member of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2021-04-27 - Referred To Secretary For Record [SCR0014 Detail]
Download: Michigan-2021-SCR0014-Introduced.html
senate concurrent resolution no. 14
Senator Shirkey offered the following concurrent resolution:
A concurrent resolution offered as a memorial for Mark C. Jansen, former member of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Whereas, It is with sincere sadness that the members of the Michigan Legislature learned of the passing of Mark Jansen. He will be remembered as a dedicated public servant with a strong commitment to his constituents in Kent County and the people of the state of Michigan; and
Whereas, Mark Jansen was a deeply religious man with a commitment to service. After attending Grand Rapids South Christian High School, Grand Valley State University, and Calvin College, he spent three years working as a missionary in Kentucky. He then returned home, where he served as the director of youth ministries at Covenant Christian Reformed Church in Gaines Township for seven years and was elected the township clerk in 1992; and
Whereas, Mark Jansen was first elected to represent the Seventy-second District in the House of Representatives in 1996, before being reelected in 1998 and 2000. During all three terms in the House, Representative Jansen served on the Appropriations Committee, including as chair of the Family Independence Agency and Retirement subcommittees. He also served as vice chair of the Appropriations subcommittees on Agriculture and Natural Resources and Environmental Quality, as well as sat on the subcommittees on Community Health, Transportation, and Higher Education. He dedicated himself to this work, becoming an expert on the subject matter and forming partnerships across the aisle and with the governor's administration to construct effective budgets. He also served as the Assistant Republican Whip and the Republican Policy Chair and was a member of the National Conference of State Legislatures' State Legislative Effectiveness and Fiscal, Oversight and Intergovernmental Affairs committees; and
Whereas, After leaving the House of Representatives in 2002, Mark Jansen continued to serve his community, becoming the director of special initiatives for Habitat for Humanity of Michigan. During this time, he also served on the Kent County Road Commission; and
Whereas, Mark Jansen returned to state government in 2007, following his election to represent the Twenty-eighth District in the Michigan Senate. During his Senate tenure, Senator Jansen played a critical role in the passage of most major legislation. As chair of the Families and Human Services and Reforms, Restructuring, and Reinventing committees, he was a leader in reforming the tax system, worker's compensation, state employee retirement benefits, and many other important issues. Additionally, he was vice chair of the Finance Committee and a member of the Campaign and Election Oversight and Infrastructure Modernization committees and the Legislative Council. He also served on the Appropriations Committee where he chaired the subcommittees on the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Retirement, and Economic Development; vice chaired the subcommittees on the Department of Human Services and General Government; and served on the subcommittees on Capital Outlay and Federal Stimulus Oversight. While Senator Jansen received numerous awards for his effective leadership throughout his career, in 2011, he was named MIRS News' first-ever Senator of the Year; and
Whereas, In addition to his legislative accomplishments, Mark Jansen was known for his ability to bring people together. As a freshman representative, he led the Republican Caucus' "House to Houses" project, where representatives constructed homes in three Michigan counties. During his time in the Senate, Mark Jansen helped navigate state government through a period of divided government, frequently negotiating on key issues with Governor Jennifer Granholm and the Democratic House majority; and
Whereas, After leaving the Legislature in 2014, Mark Jansen continued to serve the people of Michigan. He was the Michigan Director of Child Care Licensing from 2015 until his retirement in 2020. Even then, he did not rest. He was appointed Gaines Township Manager before being diagnosed with cancer; and
Whereas, Mark Jansen dedicated his life to serving those around him, including by being an active member of his community, serving on the Michigan Youth in Government Board of Directors, as Vice President of the Cutlerville Christian School Board, as a member of the Wedgwood Christian Services Advancement Advisory Council, on the Chairman's Leadership Forum Board of Directors, with the Bowhay Institute for Legislative Development, and as a member of the Steering Committee of the Midwestern Legislative Conference of the Council of State Governments. His commitment to his constituents and the people of Michigan is an example for those who follow him into public service. May his family and friends take solace in his legacy and our fond memory of him; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), That we offer this expression of our highest tribute to honor the memory of Mark C. Jansen, a member of the House of Representatives from 1997 to 2002 and the Senate from 2007 to 2014; and be it further
Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Jansen family as evidence of our lasting esteem for his memory.
