News
Agriculture Chairwoman Stabenow: Seven More Michigan Counties Declared Free of Bovine Tuberculosis
U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, Chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has declared that seven Northern Michigan counties are free of bovine tuberculosis, which is a serious threat to Michigan's agriculture industry and rural economy. Since Sen. Stabenow's initial call on Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack in 2011 to address the spread of the disease, Michigan livestock producers have received increas… Continue Reading
09.16.14
Senate Republicans Block Bill to Lower Student Loan Payments for Millions of Americans
Senate Republicans today blocked legislation co-authored by U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow that would lower the student loan payments of more than 25 million Americans, including nearly one million in Michigan alone. The Bank on Students Emergency Loan Refinancing Act, introduced by Senator Stabenow, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Senator Al Franken (D-MN) and others, would allow people to refinance their existing loans at the lower rates available to new borrowers during the 2013-2014 school … Continue Reading
09.16.14
Stabenow, Levin Announce Grant for Forecasting Harmful Algal Blooms
Researchers at the University of Michigan will receive a federal grant of $653,097 from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to develop tools to predict water quality and forecast harmful algal blooms (HABS) in the Great Lakes, U.S. Sens. Debbie Stabenow and Carl Levin announced today. The grant will also support outreach activities to let the public know about the presence of HABS. "The Great Lakes are critical to Michigan's economy and our way of life," said Stabenow. "This gran… Continue Reading
09.15.14
Senate Republicans Once Again Block Passage of Bill that Would Guarantee Equal Pay for Women
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senate Republicans today blocked a final vote on legislation cosponsored by U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow to ensure women receive equal pay for equal work. The Paycheck Fairness Act would have helped reduce gender discrimination by empowering women to negotiate for equal pay, close loopholes courts have created in the law, and create strong incentives for employers to obey the laws by strengthening federal enforcement efforts. This is the second time just this year that Senate … Continue Reading
09.15.14
Senator Stabenow Participates in M-1 RAIL Community Celebration, Highlights New Federal Support for Rail Project
U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow today participated in a community celebration to highlight additional federal support for the M-1 RAIL project. Sen. Stabenow and Southeast Michigan's Congressional Delegation helped secure $12.2 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation, which will allow the transit project to be finalized by the end of 2016. In 2013, Sen. Stabenow and her colleagues also helped secure a $25 million federal grant to invest in M-1 RAIL and have worked closely with business a… Continue Reading
09.15.14
Senators Stabenow, Levin Announce $5 Million for Detroit Metropolitan Airport to Rehabilitate Taxiway
U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow and Carl Levin today announced support for the Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport to rehabilitate its taxiway. The $5,000,000 grant comes through the U.S. Department of Transportation. "Making sure passengers are able to travel to and from Michigan is vital to the state's economy," said Stabenow. "This support will help ensure that the Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport can continue to keep people travelling safely and increase business activity to bo… Continue Reading
09.15.14
Senators Stabenow, Levin Announce Funding for University of Michigan Project to Study Effects of Climate Change on the Great Lakes
Senators Debbie Stabenow, vice chair of the Great Lakes Task Force, and Carl Levin, chair of the Great Lakes Task Force, announced today a $321,448 grant for the University of Michigan's Cooperative Institute for Limnology and Ecosystems Research through the School of Natural Resources and Environment. This support, which comes from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Office of Oceanic & Atmospheric Research, will help researchers study the effects of climate change on the … Continue Reading
09.12.14
Stabenow, Levin Announce $8 Million for Michigan Community Health Centers to Expand Access to Care
U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow and Carl Levin today announced federal support for 36 Michigan Community Health Centers. The funding, which will expand access to affordable and quality care, comes through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and was made available by the Affordable Care Act. "Many Michigan families rely on community health centers to receive basic medical services," said Stabenow. "Without these centers, many patients would go without critical health care or be … Continue Reading
09.12.14
Chairwoman Stabenow Announces Support for YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids to Expand Access to Healthy Foods
U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, Chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, today announced support to expand healthy food options in Grand Rapids. This grant, which comes through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture, will help the YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids roll out and expand several projects to provide healthy and nutritious foods to urban and low income communities. "This support will help the YMCA of Greater Grand Rap… Continue Reading
09.11.14
Senate Republicans Block Measure to Limit the Role of Special Interests in Elections
Senate Republicans today filibustered a final vote on a constitutional amendment that would have responded to the Supreme Court's decisions in Citizens United and related cases, which have unleashed hundreds of millions of dollars in campaign spending from outside special interest groups and secretive billionaires, by restoring the longstanding authority of Congress and the states to regulate campaign spending. Senator Stabenow is a co-sponsor of the amendment authored by Senator Tom Udall (D-NM… Continue Reading
09.10.14
Senate Moves Forward with Legislation to Guarantee Equal Pay for Women
The Senate voted today to move forward with legislation cosponsored by U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow that would ensure women receive equal pay for equal work. The Paycheck Fairness Act would help reduce gender discrimination by empowering women to negotiate for equal pay, close loopholes courts have created in the law, and create strong incentives for employers to obey the laws by strengthening federal enforcement efforts. "Now that the Senate has voted on a bipartisan basis to move forward on th… Continue Reading
09.10.14
Stabenow, Levin announce $7.2 million grant for Gerald R. Ford International Airport
Gerald R. Ford International Airport will receive more than $7.2 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation to help pay for construction of a deicing containment facility, Michigan Senators Debbie Stabenow and Carl Levin announced today. "Today's announcement is great news for the Gerald R. Ford International Airport and the community," said Stabenow. "This support will help the airport preserve local water quality by making sure that deicing fluid doesn't pollute the area's water system… Continue Reading
09.10.14
Stabenow, Levin Announce Support for Lupton Fire Department
The Lupton Fire Department will receive a federal grant to help improve their operations and boost safety in their community, U.S. Sens. Debbie Stabenow and Carl Levin announced today. Lupton Fire Department will receive $15,409 from the Assistance to Firefighters Grant program of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. "Today's announcement is great news for the Lupton Fire Department and families in Ogemaw County," said Stabenow. "Our first re… Continue Reading
09.10.14
Stabenow, Levin Announce Fire Prevention Grant for Olivet Fire Department
The Olivet Fire Department will receive a federal grant from the Department of Homeland Security to help increase public safety through fire prevention activities, U.S. Sens. Debbie Stabenow and Carl Levin announced today. The department will receive $19,000 from the Assistance to Firefighters Fire Prevention and Safety Program of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, part of the Department of Homeland Security. "Today's announcement is great news for the Olivet Fire Department and families i… Continue Reading
09.10.14
Senate to Vote Today on Bill to Guarantee Equal Pay for Women
The Senate will vote on legislation today cosponsored by U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow to ensure that women receive equal pay for equal work. The Paycheck Fairness Act would help reduce gender discrimination by empowering women to negotiate for equal pay, close loopholes courts have created in the law, and create strong incentives for employers to obey the laws by strengthening federal enforcement efforts. "Women and their families deserve a fair shot to get ahead in life by making sure they are … Continue Reading
09.09.14
Michigan Lawmakers Applaud Investment in Detroit’s M-1 RAIL
U.S. Sens. Debbie Stabenow and Carl Levin and Congressmen Gary Peters, John Conyers, Jr., John D. Dingell, and Sander Levin, announced today that M-1 RAIL will receive $12.2 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). M-1 RAIL is a public-private partnership to build a 3.3-mile streetcar line that will run along the Woodward corridor from downtown to the New Center area of Detroit, boosting economic development in Southeast Michigan and creating thousands of jobs. "Today's announc… Continue Reading
09.09.14
Senators Stabenow, Levin Announce Nearly $8 Million for Great Lakes Habitat Restoration
U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow, vice chair of the Great Lakes Task Force, and Carl Levin, chair of the Great Lakes Task Force, today announced support for the Great Lakes Commission to lead a regional partnership focusing on habitat restoration in the Lakes. The partnership, comprised of the Great Lakes Commission and state and local agencies, will receive $7,885,553 through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. "The Great Lakes are critical to Michigan's economy and our way of li… Continue Reading
09.09.14
Senators Stabenow, Levin Announce Support to Re-Connect Black Creek Marsh to the Clinton River
U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow, vice chair of the Great Lakes Task Force, and Carl Levin, chair of the Great Lakes Task Force, today announced support for the Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority to help ensure the Black Creek Marsh Coastal Wetlands' ecosystem remains healthy. The $648,000 grant, which will re-connect the Marsh to the Clinton River and re-create the former Black Creek Channel, comes from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. "Conserving and protecting our valuable … Continue Reading
09.09.14
Senators Stabenow, Levin Announce Support for Michigan Wetlands Restoration
U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow, vice chair of the Great Lakes Task Force, and Carl Levin, chair of the Great Lakes Task Force, today announced support for Ducks Unlimited to implement conservation programs to help restore and conserve Great Lakes coastal and interior wetlands. The $1,488,944 grant comes through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. "Our Great Lakes and wetlands support outdoor recreation and tourism in communities across Michigan," said Stabenow. "This funding will… Continue Reading
09.09.14
Senators Stabenow, Levin Announce Support to Restore Habitats Near Clinton River Spillway
U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow, vice chair of the Great Lakes Task Force, and Carl Levin, chair of the Great Lakes Task Force, today announced support for Macomb County Public Works to help restore habitats near the Clinton River Spillway off Lake St. Clair. The $2,511,800 grant, which will help restore native vegetation, fish, and wildlife populations, comes from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. "Conserving our valuable resources and protecting our native species is critical … Continue Reading
