On Tuesday, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed Senate Bills 370, 540, and 542. These bills will lower the cost of health care and child care for members of the Michigan National Guard and their families. These bipartisan bills will strengthen the support systems service members rely on and ensure they can focus on their missions knowing that their families are safe and cared for. Including today’s legislation, Governor Whitmer has signed a record 1,539 bipartisan bills into law since taking office.
“These bills reaffirm our commitment to fight for those who fight for us,” said Governor Whitmer. “We are lowering the cost of health care and child care for members of the Michigan National Guard, ensuring they can carry out their missions to keep us all safe and provide for their families too. I’m proud that legislators worked across the aisle to pass these commonsense bills, building on years of bipartisan progress we have made to help our National Guard balance their service and their daily lives. Let’s keep working together to make health care and child care more affordable for everyone and stay focused on getting things done that make a real difference in people’s lives."
Senate Bill 370, sponsored by state Senator Sam Singh (D-East Lansing), will require the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) to create and operate a Tricare premium reimbursement program, lowering the cost of health care for Michiganders who serve in the National Guard.
“Michigan National Guard members selflessly serve our state and nation, making sacrifices on a daily basis to keep our communities and loved ones safe. It’s incumbent upon us as elected officials to do all we can to protect them in return,” said Singh. “I’m proud to see this legislation signed into law, ensuring our guardsmen and women can access the health and dental care they need, when they need it, while improving troop readiness, recruitment, and retention along the way.”
Senate Bill 540, sponsored by state Senator Kevin Hertel (D-Saint Clair Shores), will create the Michigan National Guard Child Care Assistance Program?within the DMVA. The new program will help eligible Michigan National Guard members?pay for child care costs during weekend drills?or annual training.
“National Guard members have the same day-to-day responsibilities and costs anyone else does, including child care,” said Hertel. “When they take the selfless step to sign up for service, their actions deserve to be honored with our fullest support. This legislation helps us meet their needs by providing critical child care benefits to our guardsmen and women so they can serve our community with the peace of mind that their families are cared for.”
Senate Bill 542, sponsored by state Senator Veronica Klinefelt (D-Eastpointe), is tie-barred to SB 540 and will require the balance remaining in the Michigan National Guard Tuition Assistance Fund at the end of the fiscal year to be transferred to the Michigan National Guard Member Benefits Fund.
“Our National Guard members put their lives on hold to serve and protect our state,” said state Klinefelt. “Providing them with tuition assistance is one way our state can give back, helping them pursue their goals, build their careers, and continue serving our communities in and out of uniform.”
Last month, Whitmer signed bipartisan legislation to establish the Michigan National Guard Benefit Fund. The three bills signed Tuesday complete the four-bill package.
“These bills reaffirm our commitment to fight for those who fight for us,” said Governor Whitmer. “We are lowering the cost of health care and child care for members of the Michigan National Guard, ensuring they can carry out their missions to keep us all safe and provide for their families too. I’m proud that legislators worked across the aisle to pass these commonsense bills, building on years of bipartisan progress we have made to help our National Guard balance their service and their daily lives. Let’s keep working together to make health care and child care more affordable for everyone and stay focused on getting things done that make a real difference in people’s lives."
Senate Bill 370, sponsored by state Senator Sam Singh (D-East Lansing), will require the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) to create and operate a Tricare premium reimbursement program, lowering the cost of health care for Michiganders who serve in the National Guard.
“Michigan National Guard members selflessly serve our state and nation, making sacrifices on a daily basis to keep our communities and loved ones safe. It’s incumbent upon us as elected officials to do all we can to protect them in return,” said Singh. “I’m proud to see this legislation signed into law, ensuring our guardsmen and women can access the health and dental care they need, when they need it, while improving troop readiness, recruitment, and retention along the way.”
Senate Bill 540, sponsored by state Senator Kevin Hertel (D-Saint Clair Shores), will create the Michigan National Guard Child Care Assistance Program?within the DMVA. The new program will help eligible Michigan National Guard members?pay for child care costs during weekend drills?or annual training.
“National Guard members have the same day-to-day responsibilities and costs anyone else does, including child care,” said Hertel. “When they take the selfless step to sign up for service, their actions deserve to be honored with our fullest support. This legislation helps us meet their needs by providing critical child care benefits to our guardsmen and women so they can serve our community with the peace of mind that their families are cared for.”
Senate Bill 542, sponsored by state Senator Veronica Klinefelt (D-Eastpointe), is tie-barred to SB 540 and will require the balance remaining in the Michigan National Guard Tuition Assistance Fund at the end of the fiscal year to be transferred to the Michigan National Guard Member Benefits Fund.
“Our National Guard members put their lives on hold to serve and protect our state,” said state Klinefelt. “Providing them with tuition assistance is one way our state can give back, helping them pursue their goals, build their careers, and continue serving our communities in and out of uniform.”
Last month, Whitmer signed bipartisan legislation to establish the Michigan National Guard Benefit Fund. The three bills signed Tuesday complete the four-bill package.
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