Greetings!
Spring has finally sprung, and the beautiful sunshine and blooming flowers are a refreshing contrast to the recent weeks and months of chaos coming from our nation’s Capitol. You can rest assured that I remain hard at work pushing back on bad policy and uplifting policy that supports children, seniors, workers and Michiganders as a whole.
I have partnered with our Attorney General and our U.S. Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib to ensure residents of House District 16 are well informed about what’s really happening in Washington D.C. and how we are aggressively responding.
This communication features some important information about what’s being done in Michigan and in Congress to push back against this nonsense. I will always continue to stay on top of what’s happening and communicate with you.
As always, please feel free to reach out to my office with any comments, compliments or suggestions by email at StephanieYoung@house.mi.gov or by phone at (517) 373-2576.
Blessings,
Rep. Steph
Stephanie A. Young
State Representative
House District 16
Standing Committees
Families and Veterans – Minority Vice Chair
Finance
Elected Leadership Positions
Democratic Caucus Chair
Detroit Caucus Chair
MI Legislative Black Caucus Chaplain
Love Is The Work!
Defending Freedoms and Democracy Together!
On April 6, I hosted a town hall with special guest Michigan’s Attorney General meeting to discuss the actions her office is taking regarding the harmful and oftentimes illegal executive orders coming out of D.C. One of the key pieces of legislation they’re challenging right now is the so-called Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act or the SAVE Act. “Safeguard” should be replaced with “Stop” American Voter Eligibility Act. This Act, which recently passed in D.C., mandates that individuals present proof of citizenship in person at election offices before being able to register to vote in federal elections. Acceptable documents include a birth certificate, a valid U.S. passport, a military ID with a record of service or a naturalization certificate. Notably, a driver’s license alone would not be acceptable. Used with a birth certificate, the name on the birth certificate would have to be an exact match with the name on the driver’s license. Thereby creating a “Pink Poll Tax” because many married women take their husband’s last names and therefore their state identification will not match their birth certificates. AG Nessel joined with other AGs across the U.S. to challenge this attempt at voter suppression. This legislation, if it becomes law, will disenfranchise 2.2 million women in Michigan; women whose birth certificates don’t match their current ID. Another case that’s being challenged by the AG is the $3 trillion in federal cuts to the budgets that help the states with resources for individuals and families like SNAP, Head Start, FEMA and Medicaid. These cuts are simply too deep and will hurt people who are already in a vulnerable position.
These are just a couple of the ways we’re fighting back in Michigan to help protect you. To keep up with what’s going on, you can follow the fight at the AG’s Federal Tracker Website: www.michigan.gov/ag/news/federal-actions-tracker
On April 10, I was excited to join my colleagues and special guest U.S. Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib as we hosted a virtual town hall meeting. We shared important updates at both the federal and state levels to best help us navigate through the challenges going on. Right now, U.S. Congresswoman Tlaib is fighting the proposed Congressional Republican Budget that will hurt Michiganders and others across the nation.
This budget could end up cutting $880 billion to Medicaid and at least $230 billion in cuts to food assistance to pay for tax breaks for billionaires, which is why our Congresswoman voted against Senate Amendment to House Concurrent Resolution 14 (the Republican’s proposed budget in the U.S. Congress).
Comparable to D.C., Michigan Republicans in March proposed similar cuts that would leave one in four Michiganders without any health care coverage and cuts to SNAP benefits would put food banks across the state in jeopardy if no additional budget bills pass. As we continue to fight back, we are all committed to keeping you informed with opportunities to engage. Information regarding U.S. Congresswoman Tlaib’s Neighborhood Service Centers can be found here: https://tlaib.house.gov/agencies.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month
I hold my monthly Community Conversations every second Monday on a rotating basis amongst my three communities. Last month, we had a great, informative conversation on child welfare with my guest, Laura LeFever from the Children’s Center. This month’s conversation will focus on Mental Health and will take place Monday, May 12, at 10 a.m. at The James E. Tate 8th Precinct Annex, 21511 W. McNichols Road, Detroit.
My special guests will be representatives from Harambee Care and the CLASS Agency. I will also be providing a legislative update on happenings in Lansing. You can join us in person or via Zoom or Facebook Live, where you can also watch anytime after the conversation at your own convenience.
Mothering Justice Advocacy Day
I was invited by Mothering Justice for their advocacy day for Black Maternal Health Week. Last year, I had legislation that was part of a 10-bill Maternal Health Equity Package, nine of which were signed into law. These policies require insurance companies to cover blood pressure monitors for mothers during pregnancy, postpartum mental health screenings at either their OBGYN visit or the baby’s well-check visit and ensure families get critical information on newborn insurance coverage.
Detroit Caucus members and WCCC Community District Members
As chair of the Detroit Caucus, one of my duties is to help facilitate meetings with various stakeholders from Detroit with members of the Caucus in both chambers. The Wayne County Community College leadership visited as part of their advocacy day for investments to continue educating the next generation of the workforce. Detroit Caucus Members present include state Reps. Regina Weiss, Helena Scott, Donavan McKinney and Kimberly Edwards (Senate colleagues were in session during the time of this photo).
The Newest Child Passenger Safety Laws
According to updated laws as of April 2025, children must be secured in a car seat that is appropriate for their weight and height as indicated by the car seat’s manufacturer.
Infant to two years: A child must be in a rear-facing car seat until they reach the maximum weight or height allowed by the car seat’s manufacturer or the child is 2-years-old.
Two to five years: The child can then move into a forward-facing car seat until they reach the maximum weight or height allowed by the car seat’s manufacturer or the child is 5-years-old.
Five to eight years: The child can then move to a belt-positioning booster seat using a lap and shoulder belt until they are 4’ 9” or 8-years-old.
All children under thirteen years: Children under the age of 13 must ride in the rear seat of a vehicle, if the vehicle has one available.
