This amendment is one that we have talked about many, many times, and it has to do with the Healthy Michigan Fund. As you know, as we have talked about earlier, this budget cuts the Healthy Michigan Fund almost in half and rolls up all of the line items which delineate the programs that are funded by the Healthy Michigan Fund.

So that you understand the programs that would be impacted by this—let me just tell you about a few of them. One is the Alzheimer’s Disease Outreach and Education Program; another is the Cancer Prevention and Control Program; cardiovascular chronic disease prevention programs; dental programs; anti-diabetics programs; Huntington’s disease programming; immunization programming; infant mortality programming; lead poisoning programming; nurse family partnerships programs; physical fitness, nutrition, and health education; pregnancy prevention programs; and anti-tobacco, anti-smoking prevention programs.

So, Mr. President, thank you. I just wanted to outline how important it would be if all these programs got cut. They are, as you know, very important to all of our citizens. One of the things that I also want to point out is that as we roll these programs up into one line item, the Senate potentially will never know what is being funded through this program.

I think it is important for us to know what the Healthy Michigan Fund funds, what programs are funded, and it is important that we continue to fully support these programs. They are some of the few programs that each one of our communities has a say in. Our communities are involved, for hundreds and thousands of volunteers are involved in these programs and it is important that they continue.

I ask members to support this amendment, and again, I hope that we would be wise in our judgment and adopt it.