20 MiMfg Magazine September 2020
MFG
Voice
Mike
Johnston Dave Greco David Worthams
Vice President of Director of Regulatory Director of Human
Government Mike Johnston Affairs & Environmental Dave GrecoAffairs
David Resource Worthams Policy
Your MMA Government
Affairs Team at Work
EPA Region V Leadership Visits MMA
Mike Johnston • 517-487-8554 • [email protected]
MMA had the rare honor to give an in-person
update on important environmental topics to US
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region
V Administrator Kurt Thiede during his July
visit to Michigan, continuing to strengthen the
Association’s role as manufacturing’s lead voice
on key regulatory matters.
Member companies participated in a robust
conversation on Ozone Attainment strategies, the
state and federal efforts to introduce new PFAS
drinking water standards and MMA’s call for a robust,
science-based approach to address existing concerns.
MMA is grateful for the opportunity to speak
with EPA leadership and continues to promote the
message that manufacturers are committed to a
clean environment and a thriving economy and that
we recognize these are not mutually exclusive goals.
Watch for a Key Conversation with Administrator
Thiede in next month’s issue of MiMfg Magazine.
Dive Deeper into the Issues with
MMA’s Online Learning Center
David Worthams • 517-487-8511 • [email protected]
Members get exclusive access to top regulatory
professionals, state agency leaders and federal issue
experts in a variety of ways to suit your needs and
preferences. The MMA Online Learning Center
offers webinars and e-learning resources to help you
stay ahead of industry trends, regulatory requirements
and legislative initiatives.
Recent webinar additions include:
• COVID-19 Liability Reform Measures with
Representative Thomas Albert
• Considerations of Recent SCOTUS Rulings
on LBGTQ Discrimination with Honigman’s
Matt Radler
• Federal Paid Leave Requirements: U.S. DOL
Update and Q&A with Community Outreach
and Planning Specialist Jacob Swier
• A Conversation with Director of COVID-19
Workplace Safety Sean Egan
Members, log in at mimfg.org to access these
and other important resources.
MMA Pushing Commonsense Liability
Protections for Manufacturers
Dave Greco • 517-487-8543 • [email protected]
Manufacturing’s dedication and ingenuity in the
face of a global pandemic should not be punished
with unnecessary and punitive lawsuits. MMA is
working to pass legislation to protect businesses that
have operated in good faith, worked to follow public
health guidance, and are producing vital products.
Now we need your support.
House Bills 6030-6032 and Senate Bills 1022-
1024 would shield employers from frivolous and
baseless lawsuits arising out of COVID-19 while
also extending Good Samaritan safeguards. Specifically,
the bills:
• Provide a safe harbor for businesses that follow
public health guidance to minimize the risk of
exposure to COVID-19 for their employees,
customers and vendors.
• Prevent opportunistic lawyers from filing mass
tort, class action, or frivolous individual lawsuits
against a business by requiring proof of an actual
injury from COVID-19.
• Place a reasonable limit on the liability exposure
of anyone who makes, sells, distributes, or
donates certain needed products to government
entities, health care providers, first responders, or
essential businesses during the pandemic.
For more information on the current progress of
this and other related legislation, contact your
MMA Government Affairs team. 6
Get More!
MMA’s ability to advocate on behalf of Michigan
manufacturers for a competitive business relies
on the support of pro-manufacturing policymakers.
See pages 6 and 7 to meet two of MMA’s
strongest champions in the Legislature this
past year.
Get the latest updates on legislative and regulatory issues. Join an MMA Policy
Committee or subscribe to weekly MFG Voice updates. Learn more at mimfg.org.