News
Senator Stabenow Statement on White House Let Girls Learn Initiative
U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow today issued the following statement regarding the Let Girls Learn initiative being led by the White House. This initiative helps young women across the world gain access to quality education: "I applaud the action President Obama is taking to make sure that all young women in the U.S. and across the world have access to quality education. Having led the first all-women CODEL to Africa last year, I saw firsthand how young women can succeed when they are given the rig… Continue Reading
02.26.15
Senator Stabenow, Congresswoman Miller Introduce Bipartisan Bills to Stop Asian Carp
U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Congresswoman Candice Miller (R-MI) today introduced bipartisan legislation to stop Asian carp and other invasive species from entering the Great Lakes, which put hundreds of thousands of jobs at risk. Invasive species pose a grave threat to the Great Lakes ecosystem and the region's $7 billion recreational fishing and $16 billion recreational boating industries. The Defending Our Great Lakes Act will give federal agencies broad authority to take immediate… Continue Reading
02.25.15
Stabenow, Peters Announce $7.9 Million Grant for Great Lakes Cleanup
Michigan's U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters, both members of the Great Lakes Task Force, today announced that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is awarding $7.9 million to fund habitat restoration projects in the Great Lakes Areas of Concern (AOC). The Great Lakes Commission will lead a regional partnership in coordination with NOAA, the Great Lakes states and local agencies. "The Great Lakes are a critical part of Michigan's economy and our way of life," sa… Continue Reading
02.24.15
Senator Stabenow Statement on Announcement of New Michigan National Guard Cyber Protection Team
U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow today issued the following statement regarding the selection of the Michigan National Guard for a Cyber Protection Team: "Today's announcement is great news for Michigan and demonstrates the unique role our state plays in ensuring the safety and security of our nation. Cyber threats have become increasingly more serious as we become more reliant on computers and the Internet. Just last week, I met with the leadership at all of our Michigan National Guard bases, and t… Continue Reading
02.24.15
Senators Stabenow, Kirk Announce Senator Klobuchar as Vice-Chair of Great Lakes Task Force
U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Mark Kirk (R-IL), Co-Chairs of the Senate Great Lakes Task Force, announced today that Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) will join Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) as Vice-Chair of the Senate Great Lakes Task Force. The Task Force is a bipartisan working group that advocates for the protection of our Great Lakes. As Vice-Chair, Senator Klobuchar will assist in leading efforts to provide agency oversight and advance legislative initiatives and funding priorities. "It… Continue Reading
02.18.15
Senator Stabenow Statement on Announcement to Fund Detroit-Windsor Bridge Plaza
U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow today issued the following statement regarding a deal between the Obama Administration and Michigan and Canadian leaders to fund the Detroit-Windsor Customs plaza: "Today's news is a critical step forward in building the Detroit-Windsor bridge, which means new jobs, new commerce and increased security for our state. I was pleased to be involved in a number of conversations over the last year both in Ottawa and in DC with top Canadian officials to find a solution to … Continue Reading
02.17.15
Senator Stabenow Joins Local Partners to Highlight $20M Public/Private Investment in Saginaw Bay Watershed
U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, today joined local agriculture and conservation partners in Frankenmuth to highlight a historic $10 million public investment that will be matched by a $10 million private sector investment to improve water quality in the Saginaw Bay Watershed, Michigan's largest watershed. Support for this project comes through the 2014 Farm Bill's Regional Conservation Partnership Program, which Sen. St… Continue Reading
02.16.15
U.S. Senators Stabenow, Peters, Donnelly Highlight $13.6M Public/Private Investment in St. Joseph Watershed
U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Gary Peters (D-MI), and Joe Donnelly (D-IN) visited Pier 33 Marina in St. Joseph today to highlight a historic $6.8 million public investment that will be matched by a $6.8 million private sector investment to improve water quality in the St. Joseph Watershed, the third-largest River Basin of Lake Michigan. The Senators were joined by state and local partners from Michigan and Indiana to discuss how the new St. Joseph Watershed Conservation Partnership will … Continue Reading
02.13.15
Senators Stabenow, Peters Urge President Obama to Keep A-10 Fleet Running
U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters today urged President Obama to reconsider the Obama Administration's fiscal year 2016 budget proposal to retire the A-10 Thunderbolt II fleet, which is located at Selfridge Air National Guard Base. In a letter to President Obama, Senators Stabenow and Peters highlighted the importance of the A-10 fleet in military combat and requested that further research be conducted before a decision is made to retire the fighter jets. The letter reads in part:… Continue Reading
02.13.15
Senators Stabenow, Peters Cosponsor Great Lakes Protection Bill
U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow, Co-chair of the Great Lakes Task Force, and Gary Peters, member of the Great Lakes Task Force, today announced they are cosponsoring the bipartisan Great Lakes Ecological and Economic Protection Act (GLEEPA), a bill which would bolster ongoing efforts to protect and restore one of Michigan's most important ecological treasures by equipping communities with the tools they need to combat invasive species, protect wildlife habitats and improve water quality in the Gre… Continue Reading
02.11.15
Senator Stabenow Introduces the Quality Care for Moms and Babies Act
U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) introduced the bipartisan Quality Care for Moms and Babies Act of 2015 to improve maternity care for women and newborns, and reduce health care costs. The bill is also cosponsored by Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Bob Casey (D-PA), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), and Jack Reed (D-RI). Senator Stabenow said: "We all have a stake in making sure women and children have the health care they need from the very start of a pr… Continue Reading
02.11.15
Senator Stabenow Agricultural Research Measure Advances in Senate
U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, today applauded her colleagues on the Senate Finance Committee for advancing a measure to support agricultural research. The measure, previously known as the Charitable Agricultural Research Act, was introduced by Sens. Stabenow and John Thune (R-SD) last Congress and encourages the creation of public-private partnerships to boost funding and spur innovation for agricultural resear… Continue Reading
02.11.15
Senators Stabenow, Blunt Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Create Job Opportunities in America’s Hardest-Hit Cities
U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Roy Blunt (R-MO) introduced legislation that will spur economic growth and create job opportunities in 30 cities by improving the Empowerment Zone program. The Empowering Jobs Act of 2015 will extend the Empowerment Zone program for two years and make the program more effective by expanding the way businesses and local governments can take advantage of their allocations of tax-exempt bonds. The Stabenow-Blunt bill will ease the requirements for how these … Continue Reading
02.10.15
Senator Stabenow's bill will hold countries accountable for manipulating their currency
U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) today introduced a bill to hold countries like China and Japan accountable for cheating trade law by manipulating their currency. Led by Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Jeff Sessions (R-AL), The Currency Undervaluation Investigation Act would give U.S. industries the tools they need to stop countries from cheating American manufacturers and workers. Senator Stabenow continues to lead the effort to make sure all of America's trade agreements include strong an… Continue Reading
02.04.15
Senator Stabenow Statement on One-Year Anniversary of the Bipartisan Farm Bill
U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, today issued the following statement on the one-year anniversary of her 2014 Farm Bill. On February 4, 2014, the Senate passed the bipartisan bill 68-32, sending the legislation to President Obama for his signature. On February 7, 2014, President Obama signed the Farm Bill into law at Michigan State University. "One year ago this week, President Obama signed a new bipartisan Farm Bill int… Continue Reading
02.02.15
Senator Stabenow Statement on Great Lakes Cuts in President Obama’s Budget
U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow issued the following statement on Great Lakes funding in President Obama's fiscal year 2016 budget. Sen. Stabenow championed the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) and has called for strong funding for the Great Lakes by asking for $475 million in 2014. The President's budget decreases GLRI by $50 million compared to current funding levels. "I am extremely disappointed that President Obama's budget cuts funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. Wit… Continue Reading
02.02.15
Senator Stabenow Applauds National Investment in Beginning Farmers Project
U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, today announced a $750,000 grant for Michigan State University to help train and support beginning farmers. The funding, which comes through the USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture, was authorized by Sen. Stabenow's 2014 Farm Bill. "Beginning farmers are critical to the future of agriculture," said Stabenow. "I'm extremely proud of Michigan State's leadership when it comes t… Continue Reading
02.02.15
Senators Stabenow, Peters Call for Increased Funding for Harbor Maintenance, Great Lakes Navigation Projects
U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow, Co-Chair of the Senate Great Lakes Task Force, and Gary Peters, member of the Senate Great Lakes Task Force, urged the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to direct additional funding to Great Lakes navigation projects in FY2015. In a letter to Jo-Ellen Darcy, Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works) and Lt. General Thomas Bostick, Commanding General of the Army Corps of Engineers, Sen. Stabenow and Sen. Peters along with 9 colleagues called for additional resources … Continue Reading
01.28.15
Stabenow, Peters Denounce Republican Opposition to Protecting Michigan’s Environment
U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters expressed disappointment after their amendment to protect Michigan's environment and enhance oversight over aging pipelines in the Great Lakes, such as those underneath the Straits of Mackinac, was defeated today. The amendment, which was offered during Senate consideration of legislation authorizing construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline, was opposed by a majority of Republicans. "It is totally unacceptable that my Republican colleagues voted agai… Continue Reading
01.26.15
Senator Stabenow Introduces Measure to Stop U.S. Postal Service Facilities Closures
U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow today introduced an amendment that would stop the U.S. Postal Service from continuing the closure of facilities for two years, preventing delays in services that will impact Michigan families and small businesses. Sen. Stabenow joined Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and 11 other senators in authoring this amendment to legislation currently before the Senate. The amendment would also re-establish overnight delivery standards for first-class mail. "The post office provid… Continue Reading
