For Immediate Release
Sept. 20, 2022
Contact:
Alex Rossman
arossman@mlpp.org
517-775-9053
Senate passage of Filter First bills continues bipartisan commitment to protecting kids from lead
Bills will require water filters or other steps to provide safe drinking water in schools and child care centers
LANSING—The Michigan League for Public Policy issued the following statement on the Michigan Senate’s bipartisan and nearly unanimous passage today of Senate Bills 184 and 185 to implement water filters and other safety measures in Michigan schools and child care centers. The statement can be attributed to League External Affairs Director Alex Rossman.
“The League and our Kids Count project know the significant risks lead exposure can pose to children’s health, development and future success, especially our youngest kids, and we continue to work on multiple policy fronts to address the many ways kids can become exposed to lead,” said Alex Rossman, External Affairs Director for the Michigan League for Public Policy. “We are extremely grateful for the hard work of a diverse coalition of environmental groups, health organizations and child advocates to develop the Filter First legislation, and are equally grateful to the Senate members from both sides of the aisle who responded to this pressing need and moved the bills one step closer to law today.”
BACKGROUND:
The Michigan League for Public Policy and its Kids Count in Michigan project continue to work on a variety of public policies to help prevent lead exposure for Michigan kids, including the Filter First bills and the budget funding to pay for them. The League has also supported efforts to improve and replace outdated and dangerous water infrastructure in Flint, Benton Harbor and around the state, which was also funded in part by the $5 billion Building Michigan Together Plan.
The League is also proud to be a part of the Michigan Alliance for Lead Safe Homes, and continues to advocate for their policy priorities to prevent lead exposure, identify affected children, and fund critical remediation work and access to supportive services. This includes universal lead testing for all kids at ages 1 and 2 (House Bills 4678 and 4679) and a broad bipartisan package of House bills to address lead remediation in a number of areas. These bills would mandate a lead risk inspection at the point of sale or transfer of any home built before 1978, update blood lead reference levels, further physician education about lead poisoning and treatment, more easily connect affected children to services they need, and enable the state to assume authority from the federal government to ensure that work done in older homes is done safely.
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The Michigan League for Public Policy, www.mlpp.org, is a nonprofit policy institute focused on opportunity for all. Its mission is to advance economic security, racial equity, health and well-being for all people in Michigan through policy change. 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.
