Sen. Levin Tribute to Sen. Herb Kohl
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Mr. President, in his four terms representing the state of Wisconsin in this body, Senator Herb Kohl's focus has been precisely where it should be: the welfare of the people of his state and of our nation. Whether in supporting American manufacturers and the jobs they provide; in fighting for protection from crime and for adequate nutrition for our children; in protecting senior citizens from elder abuse; or in preserving the Great Lakes that our two states share, Senator Kohl has accomplished much on behalf of American families.
I've been fortunate to work closely with Sen. Kohl on issues of vital importance to our states. He has long been a strong supporter of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership, which helps U.S. manufacturers with technical support and services that make them more efficient and competitive in the global marketplace. His support for adequate MEP funding has made a significant difference for American companies and workers.
Now, we in Michigan bow to no one in our love for the Great Lakes, but even I would admit that Wisconsin, second only to Michigan in its length of Great Lakes coastline, is a close competitor. As a member of the Great Lakes Task Force, which I co-chair, he has supported cleanup of toxic hot spots, the fight against invasive species, protecting Great Lakes water quality and sufficient funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.
We've also shared an interest in consumer protection. Sen. Kohl chairs the Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights, and from that platform, he has battled those who would prey on American consumers, whether they’re abusive credit card companies or oil-exporting cartel nations.
But where Sen. Kohl has left what may be his most lasting impression is in his hard work on behalf of our nation’s most vulnerable citizens: children and seniors. He has long advocated solutions to help make college more affordable. He has helped expand the availability of nutritious breakfasts for school-age children and programs to help parents afford food on the table for their families. He has worked to strengthen after-school programs. And in 2007, and again in 2008, he introduced the Patient Safety and Abuse Protection Act, which allowed employers to perform background checks on nursing home employees to help prevent elder abuse. When this legislation was included in the Affordable Care Act in 2009, it was a major step forward for patient safety.
I will miss working with Herb Kohl on these and many other issues. I will miss the opportunity to give him a hard time whenever our Detroit Pistons beat his Milwaukee Bucks. I hope we can continue the important work he has helped move forward: protecting good jobs, our Great Lakes, our students and our seniors