For Immediate Release
Feb. 4, 2020
Contact:
Alex Rossman
arossman@mlpp.org
517-487-5436
Bills will improve screenings and response, create safer, healthier homes
LANSING—The Michigan League for Public Policy issued the following statement on the “Healthy Homes, Healthy Families” legislation announced by Rep. Rachel Hood and her House colleagues. The bills, House Bill 5359-House Bill 5367 and House Bill 5406, will: require lead poisoning screening for minors; require those screenings to be a part of a minor’s immunization record; lower the lead action level; fund lead abatement by establishing a tax on architectural paint; establish a tax credit to offset certification fees for qualified lead professionals; require a lead-based paint inspection before the sale or transfer of property; require a lead-based paint inspection and abatement for rental units when a complaint is made; shift the burden of proof of lead-based paint hazards in rental housing from the tenant to the landlord; and better regulate imported cosmetics.
The statement can be attributed to Michigan League for Public Policy External Affairs Director Alex Rossman, who attended today’s announcement.
“The League is proud to stand alongside community members and lawmakers from Grand Rapids, Flint and Detroit to announce the Healthy Homes, Healthy Families legislation to better protect our kids and families from lead exposure. As Michigan’s Kids Count organization that tracks and evaluates child well-being through data analysis, we know all too well the threat lead poses to our kids and the damage it can do when it gets into their blood, whether it’s from the water they drink, the soil they play in, or the paint on the walls and windows of their room.
“These bills will improve lead testing and the data the League, elected officials, medical professionals and families depend on, as well as protect children from exposure to lead in the first place. We are particularly pleased with the efforts to address lead exposure through housing, especially rental housing, as that adversely impacts communities of color and families with lower incomes and all residents deserve a healthy home to live in.”
BACKGROUND:
County-level lead testing data is included as part of the League’s annual Kids Count in Michigan Data Book, and protecting Michigan kids from lead, PFAS and other environmental health threats has been a priority in both the League’s Owner’s Manual for Michigan policy agenda and its annual budget priorities—including the recommendations for the 2021 state budget.
Lead exposure and the lasting effects were also a focus of the League’s 2016 Cities in Crisis series that addressed the Flint water crisis, the decisions lawmakers made to get us there and what leaders needed to do address the damage they caused.
From the Cities in Crisis fact sheet, A poison all around us: The threat of lead in Michigan:
“Unfortunately, while the breadth of lead exposure and government’s responsibility are unique to Flint, lead poisoning is not. Michigan children around the state have been exposed to lead through old lead-based paint and lead dust in older homes as well as contaminated soil and old infrastructure with lead. Because of this, the problem persists predominantly among impoverished areas of Michigan and children of color.
“The effects of lead exposure at any level are irreversible and prevention is paramount. Lead poisoning occurs when lead builds up in a body. It interferes with functions of positive minerals in the body, such as, iron, calcium and zinc, which are vital to the healthy development of a person’s bones, organs, brain and nervous system. Toddlers are particularly vulnerable to lead poisoning due to their high levels of absorption, their rapid development and their hand-to-mouth behavior that results in them ingesting lead.”
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The Michigan League for Public Policy, www.mlpp.org, is a nonprofit policy institute focused on economic opportunity for all. It is the only state-level organization that addresses poverty in a comprehensive way.
Emily Jorgensen joined the Michigan League for Public Policy in July 2019. She deeply cares about the well-being of individuals and families and has a great love for Michigan. She is grateful that her position at the League enables her to combine these passions and work to help promote policies that will lead to better opportunities and security for all Michiganders.
Jacob Kaplan 
Mikell Frey is a communications professional with a passion for using the art of storytelling to positively impact lives. She strongly believes that positive social change can be inspired by the sharing of data-driven information coupled with the unique perspectives of people from all walks of life across Michigan, especially those who have faced extraordinary barriers. 
Rachel Richards rejoined the League in December 2020 as the Fiscal Policy Director working on state budget and tax policies. Prior to returning to the League, she served as the Director of Legislative Affairs for the Michigan Department of Treasury, the tax policy analyst and Legislative Director for the Michigan League for Public Policy, and a policy analyst and the Appropriations Coordinator for the Democratic Caucus of the Michigan House of Representatives. She brings with her over a decade of experience in policies focused on economic opportunity, including workforce issues, tax, and state budget.
Donald Stuckey 
Patrick Schaefer
Alexandra Stamm 
Amari Fuller
Renell Weathers, Michigan League for Public Policy (MLPP) Community Engagement Consultant. As community engagement consultant, Renell works with organizations throughout the state in connecting the impact of budget and tax policies to their communities. She is motivated by the belief that all children and adults deserve the opportunity to achieve their dreams regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or economic class.
Megan Farnsworth joined the League’s staff in December 2022 as Executive Assistant. Megan is driven by work that is personally fulfilling, and feels honored to help support the work of an organization that pushes for more robust programming and opportunities for the residents of our state. She’s excited and motivated to gain overarching knowledge of the policies and agendas that the League supports.
Yona Isaacs (she/hers) is an Early Childhood Data Analyst for the Kids Count project. After earning her Bachelor of Science in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience at the University of Michigan, she began her career as a research coordinator in pediatric psychiatry using data to understand the impacts of brain activity and genetics on children’s behavior and mental health symptoms. This work prompted an interest in exploring social determinants of health and the role of policy in promoting equitable opportunities for all children, families, and communities. She returned to the University of Michigan to complete her Masters in Social Work focused on Social Policy and Evaluation, during which she interned with the ACLU of Michigan’s policy and legislative team and assisted local nonprofit organizations in creating data and evaluation metrics. She currently serves as a coordinator for the Michigan Center for Youth Justice on a project aiming to increase placement options and enhance cultural competency within the juvenile justice system for LGBTQIA+ youth. Yona is eager to put her data skills to work at the League in support of data-driven policies that advocate for equitable access to healthcare, education, economic security, and opportunity for 0-5 year old children. In her free time, she enjoys tackling DIY house projects and trying new outdoor activities with her dog.
Amber Bellazaire joined the Michigan League for Public Policy as a policy analyst in June of 2019. Her work primarily focuses on state policy and budgets affecting Michigan’s Medicaid programs. Previously, Amber worked at the National Conference of State Legislatures tracking legislation and research related to injury and violence prevention, adolescent health, and maternal and child health. She also brings with her two years of Americorps service. As a full time volunteer, Amber had the opportunity to tutor high school students in Chelsea, Massachusetts and address issues of healthcare access and food insecurity through in-person outreach in Seattle, Washington.
Simon Marshall-Shah joined the Michigan League for Public Policy as a State Policy Fellow in August 2019. His work focuses on state policy as it relates to the budget, immigration, health care and other League policy priorities. Before joining the League, he worked in Washington, D.C. at the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP), providing federal policy and advocacy support to nonprofit, Medicaid health plans (Safety Net Health Plans) related to the ACA Marketplaces as well as Quality & Operations.
