Great News: NASW MI Introduces Student Loan Repayment Bills

We have amazing news!!! NASW-Michigan has worked with legislators in the Michigan House to introduce bi-partisan legislation for student loan repayment for social workers. We know how hard social workers work to empower people with the tools they need to lead healthy and productive lives - but are often saddled with tremendous debt themselves. HB 6137 and 6138, introduced by Representatives Chang (D-Detroit) and Rendon (R – Roscommon), would offer up to $15,000 per year for up to four years to social workers who commit to working in high need geographic areas of the state, high needs sectors of the profession, or have an income below 250% of poverty (2 of the 3 criteria must be met).

WE NEED YOUR HELP! To get this legislation passed, we need social workers to contact their legislators when we have action alerts or committee alerts about these bills. First, we need to lobby members of the Appropriations Committee to take the bill up for a hearing and pass the bill. NASW-Michigan’s policy staff is already scheduling meetings with legislators on the committee. We need constituents from those districts to join us at the Capitol to advocate for the passage of these bills.

Can you attend a meeting? Below is the list of legislators. If your representative is on the list, we need you! You can go here to check who your representative is: http://www.house.mi.gov/mhrpublic/frmFindaRep.aspx

If your legislator is not on this list, but you still want to get involved in helping to pass these bills, let us know by signing up at the link below.

To get involved in any capacity, especially if your legislator is on the list, sign up here: https://bit.ly/2MacBAZ

Please contact the Director of Public Policy, Allan Wachendorfer, at policy@nasw-michigan.org if you have questions. We are excited to be able to advocate for social workers in such a huge way and we appreciate your willingness to take the time to help us. Thank you for all that you do!

Appropriations

Laura Cox (R) Committee Chair, 19th District

Rob VerHeulen (R) Majority Vice-Chair, 74th District

Tim Kelly (R) 94th District

Dave Pagel (R) 78th District

Roger Victory (R) 88th District

Chris Afendoulis (R) 73rd District

John Bizon (R) 62nd District

Edward Canfield (R) 84th District

Larry Inman (R) 104th District

Aaron Miller (R) 59th District

Sue Allor (R) 106th District

Tommy Brann (R) 77th District

Shane Hernandez (R) 83rd District

Kim LaSata (R) 79th District

Steve Marino (R) 24th District

Scott VanSingel (R) 100th District

Mary Whiteford (R) 80th District

Jeff Yaroch (R) 33rd District

Fred Durhal (D) Minority Vice-Chair, 5th District

Tom Cochran (D) 67th District

Pam Faris (D) 48th District

Robert Kosowski (D) 16th District

Henry Yanez (D) 25th District

Jon Hoadley (D) 60th District

Kristy Pagan (D) 21st District

David LaGrand (D) 75th District

Ronnie Peterson (D) 54th District

Yousef Rabhi (D) 53rd District

Sylvia Santana (D) 9th District