CARL LEVIN'S BACKGROUND
Carl Levin, the youngest of three children, was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. He attended Detroit public schools and graduated from Central High School in 1952. After high school, Carl attended Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, where he majored in political science with minors in English and history. Carl graduated with honors in 1956 and continued his education at Harvard University Law School where he received his law degree in 1959.
Carl returned to Michigan where he practiced law and did some teaching. In 1964, Carl was appointed an assistant attorney general of Michigan and the first general counsel for the Michigan Civil Rights Commission.
In 1969, Carl ran for and won a seat on the Detroit City Council and became its president in 1973. In 1978, Carl Levin challenged the number two Republican in the U.S. Senate and won in an upset. He was reelected to the Senate in 1984, 1990, 1996, 2002 and 2008.
COMMITTEE WORK IN THE SENATE
Carl Levin serves on three committees in the Senate: the Armed Services Committee, the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee. He is an ex officio member of the Intelligence Committee.
Carl Levin is the Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, where he has earned a reputation as a strong supporter of our national defense, a tireless advocate on behalf of our service men and women, and an effective fighter against wasteful government spending.
As the most senior Democrat on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Senator Levin has worked to increase accountability and efficiency in the federal government and eliminate waste, fraud and abuse. He is also the chairman of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, where he has focused on issues that impact the wallets of most Americans, including unfair credit card practices and sky-high oil and natural gas prices.
Senator Levin is also a member of the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee where he champions the interests of Michigan small businesses. He understands that small business is the heart of America's economic strength and job creation.
With other members of the Intelligence Committee, Senator Levin oversees agencies such as the Central Intelligence Agency, Defense Intelligence Agency and the National Security Agency.
ISSUES
Fighting for Michigan
Carl Levin has worked to strengthen Michigan's industrial economy. Levin proposed the American Manufacturing Initiative to ensure that our government aggressively fights for manufacturing in America so our manufacturers and workers can compete globally on a level playing field.
Education
Carl Levin believes we must expand educational opportunities for all Americans in order to have a strong and productive nation. He has fought for increased funding for educational programs, training facilities, and loans. Senator Levin has been a supporter of the effective use of technology in our public schools, and helped create a groundbreaking Michigan partnership helping teachers to master technology skills.
Environment
As co-chair of the Senate Great Lakes Task Force, Levin has fought to protect the Great Lakes. These are irreplaceable natural resources for Michigan and the country. Through Levin's efforts, the Great Lakes Initiative is creating new standards of environmental protection of Great Lakes waters.
CARL LEVIN'S FAMILY
Carl Levin married Barbara Halpern in 1961. They have three daughters: Kate, Laura and Erica, and five grandchildren. Carl's brother Sandy Levin was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1982 from Royal Oak, Michigan. They are one of two sets of brothers currently serving in the House and Senate. (The other brothers are John and Ken Salazar of Colorado.)