During Rebekah’s first term in office, she advocated for Michigan’s State Children’s Health Program (SCHIP), sponsoring two resolutions urging Congress to reauthorize this vital safety net for uninsured children (House Resolution 50 of 2008 and House Concurrent Resolution 6 of 2008), and traveling to Washington D.C. to lobby on its behalf.

Despite continued budget shortfalls, she has consistently voted to protect state Medicaid funding, ensuring that some of our most vulnerable citizens, including children, young adults, and seniors have access to quality health care. In an effort to help address how these challenges are impacting the state’s ability to support important programs, Rebekah has also sponsored legislation to create a tax check-off for the Michigan Alzheimer’s Association Fund, which will benefit services for the unpaid caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease.

Recognizing the moral and economic imperative of promoting preventative care, Rebekah co-sponsored and voted to pass key legislation requiring a smoke-free workplace (Public Act 188 of 2009). She has also fought to fully fund the Healthy Michigan Fund, which provides critical family planning services, cancer screenings and diabetes education.