Improve Health Care
As a practicing physical therapist at our local hospital, I have always advocated for my patients. I have seen firsthand the unnecessary suffering and pain caused when patients are forced to forego or stop care due to a lack of adequate insurance. That’s why I have championed reforms to the unfair legislation passed in 2019 that went into effect in 2021 cutting care for survivors of catastrophic auto crashes. Both survivors and providers have been seriously affected, which is why I have teamed up with legislators on both sides of the aisle to introduce legislation to fix these problems.
We can and should do better when it comes to taking care of each other. Everyone deserves access to affordable healthcare, including abortion. As a member of the Progressive Women’s Caucus, I will continue to fight for reproductive freedom for all people. Reproductive healthcare is essential for the safety and well-being of Michiganders, and I will keep fighting for these rights in our state.
I am also working to combat lead poisoning. I first learned about lead issues in Kalamazoo during my time as a county commissioner. When Flint’s water crisis broke, I was alarmed to see the high number of children testing positive for lead in Kalamazoo. When I drilled down to find the cause, I learned it was largely due to our lead paint in our older pre-1978 housing stock. Last summer, my team and I knocked on over 9,000 houses to distribute information and resources about preventing lead exposure. I will continue to champion policies that help prevent this devastating health issue.
Strengthen Our Infrastructure
I believe that Michigan is only as strong as its infrastructure. Environmental protection, public health, and commerce rely on well-built and managed infrastructure. Progressive government policy is required to construct, maintain, and repair our roads, bridges, dams, and water pipes. Since 2018, Michigan received a D+ grade for its current infrastructure and we need to ensure our state is a viable place to live, work and play.
While in office, I collaborated with colleagues in the State House and Senate to secure $3 million for the reconstruction of the US 131 business interchange. This year, I voted to support SB 565, a $4 billion infrastructure package to repair roads and dams, replace lead pipes, upgrade our state parks, and expand our internet capabilities. As your State Representative, I will continue to work to expand and protect our infrastructure to improve quality of life for all Michiganders.
Protect Our Environment
The climate crisis is unfolding with record flooding, extreme temperatures, and poor air quality. We must diversify our energy sources into more renewables and do all we can to protect our waterways. I also believe the right to clean water should be non-negotiable. Right here in our own backyard, the Kalamazoo River has been negatively impacted countless times over the last few decades, which is why I helped introduce legislation to strengthen the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy. We need leaders in Lansing who will hold polluters accountable and prevent ecological disasters from occurring again.
Create Inclusive Communities
Discrimination has no place in a healthy and safe society. Social justice is a priority for me in my personal and professional life. In fact, I’ve served on Ascension Borgess Hospital’s Diversity Council for over 10 years and have supported equitable policies in healthcare. I’ve also championed Kalamazoo County’s County ID program which specifically is targeted at assisting our vulnerable populations, including seniors, youth, LGBTQIA+, and domestic violence survivors.
I will always fight against the divisive policies that seek to weaken us. Whether it’s strengthening protections for every parent who wishes to adopt a child (regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity), ending over-policing in communities of color, prohibiting insurance companies from discriminating based on sexual orientation/gender identity and including protections for LGBTQIA+ Michiganders, or improving access to reproductive health care, I have introduced legislation on each of these topics to move Michigan forward. As your State Representative, I have demonstrated I will fight every day to make this state and our district more welcoming and equitable.