Dear Advocates:
The KCASI February 20 membership meeting’s special invited guests were all of our state legislators and congressional delegation. In attendance were State Senator Sean McCann (D), 19th District, State Representative Christine Morse (D), 40th District, and State Representative Julie Rogers (D), 41st District. The legislators responded to the 2023 advocacy platform, which was approved earlier in the meeting. KCASI members were most pleased that these three legislators were supportive of the issues and provided good information to follow up on. We will follow up with State Senator Thomas Albert (R), District 18, State Representative Sarah Lightener (R) District 45, Senator Gary Peters, Sen. Debbie Stabenow, Congressman Bill Huizenga and Congressman Tim Walberg.
A special thanks to the KCASI Legislative Committee and Board who carefully discussed each potential advocacy issue and what priority to give it. The following issues were chosen, in order of priority: Direct Care Professionals, Home and Community Based Services, Support for Family and Informal Caregivers, Improvements to Auto No-Fault Law, Elder/Vulnerable Adult Abuse & Financial Exploitation Prevention, Prevention of Gun Violence, Repealing MI’s Retirement Tax. There are 4 other issues to be monitored for needed action: Long-Term Care Facility Quality Care Improvements, Kalamazoo County Senior Millage Impact and Renewal, Medicare and Social Security Sustainability, Affordable and Accessible Housing for Older Adults. The list with explanations is here.
Stay tuned for opportunities to contact your legislators as bills move through state and federal legislatures.
Warmly,
Judy Sivak, President
Danna Downing, Secretary
Sarah Cagney, Treasurer
Kellie Cody, At-Large
Ros Robbert, At-Large
Frank Cody, Legislative Chair
Joyce Stout, Past President