1. United States
2. Mich.
3. Letter

I urge you to zealously guard the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and Medicaid funds to protect lead-poisoned children like mine. My 19mo old triplets were lead poisoned by my old Detroit home in 2024. This has led to many health and development struggles, but thanks to a grant through CHIP my family is remediating the lead to avoid any more exposures and potentially lifelong harm. My triplets are not unique in their lead poisoning. Michigan ranks one of the highest in the nation for lead poisoning among our children. In Michigan, 78% of tested children had measurable lead in their blood. Even microscopic exposure risks a host of longterm health effects. Children are far more affected by lead than adults are, and ages 0-6 is the most vulnerable. But if Medicaid or CHIP funding is slashed, my family will not be able to afford to remediate our home. My triplets will continue to be exposed to a dangerous neurotoxin. If Medicaid funding is cut, my triplets won’t be able to see the doctors and teachers that are ensuring they heal and get back on track developmentally. Even if protecting our children from lead poisoning isn’t enough, funding CHIP for lead remediation is good economics— Multiple estimates, such as one by the Ecology Center, say remediating lead for our children would pay for itself in just a few years. In the Great Lakes states alone, the cost of lead exposure in total childhood economic burden is $22.9 billion. This includes costs of reduced lifetime productivity; increased healthcare, education, juvenile and adult crime, and social assistance spending; and early death. A $600 million investment in lead remediation would reduce the childhood lead poisoning by 70% while paying for itself in 3 years. I entreat you to protect my children’s lives, and the lives of thousands of others just like them. Protect and fight for funding for CHIP. Protect and fight for funding for Medicaid.