Michigan Families For Fair Care Hosts "Backpacks Not Burdens" Giveaway As Tariffs Drive Up Back-to-School Costs Across MI-10
On Monday, Michigan Families for Fair Care hosted the "Backpacks Not Burdens" backpack giveaway at Halmich Park in Warren, handing out free backpacks filled with school supplies to families across Michigan's 10th Congressional District days before the new school year begins. Alongside the giveaway, the event offered free food, games, face painting, music, gently used clothing, and a community food pantry. Attendees shared how rising costs are squeezing their households and called on Congressman John James to stop the tariffs and return the money his constituents have already paid. The event was part of the Republican Price Tag campaign.
Back-to-school season has gotten more expensive for Warren families, and the reason is no mystery. Tariffs have raised the price of notebooks, backpacks, clothing, and shoes on top of the groceries families were already stretching to cover. A recent report from the Joint Economic Committee found that Americans are spending $3,500 more just to maintain their quality of life, money that could have gone toward school supplies or a month of groceries. For thousands of families across the 10th District, that has meant tighter budgets and harder choices heading into the school year.
"I do want to thank Michigan Families for Fair Care that's giving out several 100 backpacks and school supplies, as well as food and baby formula. We know that these tariffs that are about to be put on our community by the current administration in two days will be detrimental for dads like me who have four kids and are trying to buy school supplies, papers, pencils, and folders, which are going to shoot through the roof and cost more,” said Michael Howard, Macomb County Commissioner and small business owner. “Teachers going back to school, like my wife, having to supply their classrooms, will be negatively impacted by this. So I'm grateful for Michigan Families for Fair Care. Who are doing two things: one, helping provide for our community, and the second thing is also holding elected officials accountable for the poor decisions that they make."
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Congressman James has done little to bring down costs for the families he represents. He has backed these tariffs, including tariffs the Supreme Court has since ruled illegal, and in February he voted against a bipartisan resolution to end the tariffs on Canadian goods, a measure that passed the House 219–211 with six Republicans crossing the aisle. James was not among them. He also voted for the Republican Tax Law, which handed permanent tax breaks to the wealthiest while threatening the health care and food assistance thousands of families in his district rely on. Michigan Families for Fair Care will keep pressing Congressman James to answer for the rising costs facing the families he represents.
