From the Detroit Free Press:

LANSING – The state House of Representatives voted unanimously Wednesday to restore tax relief for families who experience a stillbirth.

The bill was especially meaningful for state Rep. Julie Alexander, R-Hanover, whose daughter Amy Jo was stillborn on Christmas Day in 1995.

“She entered the world without a breath or a cry, but lives on in our hearts,” she said of her daughter. “To be able to provide the tax relief, to know that we’re helping families in that way, brings …

“This is about what’s most important – our families, particularly those going through the very difficult time after losing a baby,” said Whiteford, of Allegan County’s Casco Township. “There is nothing we can do to take away the pain and loss for families dealing with a stillbirth. But we can acknowledge the baby, and provide some financial relief on expenses.”

There are roughly 550 to 650 stillbirths in Michigan each year, according to recent statistics. Families dealing with stillbirths often face thousands of dollars in expenses, …