Annual Legislative Report
2001 Legislative Report
Expanding Economic Opportunities for Working Families
Fighting for Fair Trade Practices. As co-chair of the Senate Auto Caucus and the Senate Auto Parts Task Force, Sen. Levin led the effort to urge the Administration to negotiate a new and tougher trade agreement with Japan that would improve the trade balance of autos and auto parts. The now expired 1995 Framework Agreement on Autos and Auto Parts has had little impact on reducing the nation's large automotive trade deficit with Japan. Sen. Levin also introduced a concurrent resolution urging Korea to remove automotive trade barriers to U.S. automotive exports.
Fighting for Fair Steel Trade. Successfully urged the Bush Administration to conduct two Commerce Department investigations into steel trade. The "Section 201" import surge investigation found that steel imports have indeed injured the domestic steel industry. The International Trade Commission recommended remedies to the President. Sen. Levin testified for a strong remedy and urged the President to take stronger action to help domestic steel industry recover.
Focus: HOPE.
- Helped secure funding to assist Detroit's Focus: HOPE in its mission to provide education, training and placement in technology and manufacturing jobs. In the FY02 Department of Defense Appropriations bill, Sen. Levin secured $5.6 million for the Army's Mobile Parts Hospital, a state-of-the-art project that, when completed, will enable the Army to machine and fashion replacement parts for military systems in the field. Helped obtain $750,000 for the Machinist Training Institute, which provides Michigan state-licensed training in precision machining and tool work for thousands of students.
- Helped to secure $500,000 for the Information Technology Center at Focus: HOPE.
The Automotive Research Center (ARC). Secured $2 million to enable the U.S. Army's National Automotive Center in Warren to increase its assistance to the ARC for basic research programs. ARC is a university-based, U.S. Army Center of Excellence tasked with creating advanced simulation software, and conducting studies of related technologies for military and civilian ground vehicles. The University of Michigan, Wayne State University, and Oakland University are three of the schools that comprise this eight-university consortium, which the University of Michigan leads.
Casting Emissions Reduction Program. Secured $5.8 million for the Casting Emissions Reduction Program (CERP), the largest experimental, full production casting facility. CERP is a partnership between private industry and the U.S. Army. A portion of these funds will be used to assist the efforts of General Motors' Malleable Iron Plant, located in Saginaw, to develop new, environmentally friendly metal casting technology.
Mott Community College. Secured $1 million for Mott Community College's Workforce Development for Manufacturing Simulation Project, a program designed to increase permanent employment opportunities in high skill technology industries nationwide for workers in the fields of computer engineering, modeling and simulation, and virtual manufacturing.
National Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVACR) Education Center at Ferris State University. Secured $500,000 for this education center to train HVACR technicians and professionals. For each student graduating from the current Engineering Technology Program at Ferris State, there are, on average, 25 job openings. Development of this national center will fill a needed technical niche in industry and will provide students will valuable engineering skills.
Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self- Determination. Secured $200,000 for the Institute to expand its Pathways to Freedom and Learning Center programs. The Pathways to Freedom program traces history from the days of the Underground Railroad to the civil rights movement of the 1960s and beyond. The Learning Center program includes an intergenerational mentoring and computer skills partnership program in which computer savvy young people are paired with senior citizens and teach them how to use computers.
Schoolcraft College in Livonia. Secured $1 million for the Vista Tech Center for equipment to provide extensive connectivity to the Internet.
Minimum Wage Increase. Original cosponsor of legislation to raise the minimum wage by $1.50 per hour in three increments.
Keeping Our Families Safe and Healthy
HEALTH CARE:
Wayne State University and the University of Detroit-Mercy. Helped secure $440,000 for Wayne State University and the University of Detroit-Mercy for a joint project to expand nurse anesthesia education. The expansion of the program will allow the universities to develop an instructional technology system for collaborative design, teaching and broadcasting throughout Michigan. This joint program will help address a nationwide shortage of nurses and nurse anesthetists.
Project Access - Muskegon County. Secured $500,000 for Project Access in Muskegon County, a program which provides quality, affordable medical insurance to over 3,000 uninsured workers, primarily in small businesses, and to low-income individuals.
Detroit Medical Center. Secured $800,000 for the Detroit Medical Center for several renovation projects including building a new rehabilitation center and substantially refurbishing the women's center and two floors in the children's hospital.
Charlevoix Area Hospital. Secured $225,000 for Charlevoix Area Hospital for the construction of a helicopter landing pad at the hospital which will also enable the Traverse City Coast Guard helicopters to perform patient evacuations from water craft on Lake Michigan as well as Beaver Island.
Marquette General Health System. Secured $250,000 for Marquette General Health System, a community hospital as well as a rural referral center, which will use the funds to renovate their facilities.
Automated Clinical Practice Guidelines. Helped secure $6.4 million to support collaborative efforts between Tripler Army Medical Center and Henry Ford Health System (HFHS). The goal of the HFHS-Tripler partnership is to collect data for medical practices so that automated clinical practice guidelines can be designed and implemented. The data is collected and placed in personal electronic records so that medical service can be tailored to individual needs, and so that large studies can be conducted. In fiscal year 2002, the program will be expanded to address the promotion of women's health issues, such as uncomplicated pregnancies.
Managed Care Reform. Cosponsored the Patients' Bill of Rights which passed the Senate in June 2001. The bill gives patients sweeping new rights when dealing with managed care companies.
Medicare Prescription Drugs. Original cosponsor of legislation which would create a universally available, but voluntary, prescription drug benefit as part of the Medicare program.
Family and Medical Leave. Cosponsored legislation that amends the Family and Medical Leave Act to extend coverage to employees at work sites with at least 25 employees. Currently the number stands at 50 employees.
Improving Immigrant Health Care. Cosponsored legislation that would grant states the option of enrolling legal resident aliens in Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program.
Helping Health Care Providers Deal with Substantial Medicare Cuts. Cosponsored legislation that would prevent cuts in Medicare payments to hospitals that are scheduled to take place in 2002.
Assisting Physicians with Medicare Reimbursement. Cosponsored legislation that diminishes the proposed decrease in Medicare reimbursement scheduled for 2002.
Assisting Rural Health Care Providers. Cosponsored legislation that helps rural Medicare providers by increasing rural reimbursement rates, revising existing loan guarantee programs and creating new programs to provide grants to rural providers.
Modernizing Medicare. Original cosponsor of legislation that would modernize Medicare by adding preventative benefits to the program such as tobacco cessation counseling, hypertension screening and counseling for post-menopausal women.
Alleviating Health Care Professional Shortages. Cosponsored legislation which the Senate passed that addresses shortage of trained nurses.
Mental Health Parity. Cosponsored legislation the Senate passed that requires equal coverage of mental health benefits with respect to health insurance.
Ending Inequity in Home Health Care. Cosponsored legislation to create a fairer, more efficient home health care system that would help Michigan's home health care providers.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE:
Wayne Area Justice Information System (WAJIS). Helped secure $2 million for the WAJIS, which will electronically connect 43 police and district court systems to Wayne County's Wide Area Network. Wayne County is working to: set up standard data applications to be used by all agencies; develop a comprehensive data warehouse for all agencies; update the jail's information system for the benefit of the police departments; provide participating agencies with a secure e-mail system to exchange information in real time; provide local police with computer hardware and software needed for connectivity; provide agencies with video cameras for video arraignment and conferencing; and build a Geographic Information System application.
Wayne County Juvenile Justice "At-Risk Youth Program." Helped secure $2 million for this innovative approach to keep young people out of trouble by preventing truancy in the county's schools. Each day in the Detroit Public Schools, approximately 48,000 students from grades 6 through 12 are truant from school. The Department of Community Justice has formed partnerships with community and faith-based organizations, as well as law enforcement and school resource officers, to provide a wide range of prevention and treatment services for young people and their families.
"High Course Correction Program." Helped obtain $300,000 for the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries to support their work with more than 1,200 at-risk youth at their facilities in Detroit and Howell. The funding will support the development of a "High Course Correction Program," a boot-camp style program designed to help at-risk youth build leadership skills, improve self-esteem, enhance communication skills, develop conflict resolution skills, increase personal responsibility and become productive citizens.
SAFETY:Disaster Assistance for Detroit Homeowners. Won a 30-day extension from the Federal Emergency Management Agency of the deadline for applying for emergency assistance. This extension allowed hundreds of Detroit homeowners to receive disaster so they could repair the extreme damages to their homes which occurred during the fall thunderstorms in Southeast Michigan. FEMA awarded over $50 million to homeowners in the greater Detroit area.
Emergency Fire Equipment. Helped secure valuable funding for fire departments throughout Michigan. The Congressional Fire Services Institute selected Sen. Levin as one of its "Legislators of the Year" for his contributions to the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program.
Energy Assistance. Worked with other Senators to increase funding for the Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) by $300 million to help thousands of Michigan residents who are unable to pay their utility bills.
Railroad Crossing Bill. Introduced the "Railroad Crossing Delay Reduction Act" to require regulations to address the safety concerns that arise when trains block traffic at railroad crossings. These delays prevent ambulances, police vehiclesand fire trucks from reaching their emergency destinations, raising serious public health and safety concerns. There is currently no federal limit on how long trains can block railroad crossings.
Assisting Railroad Retirees and their Families. Cosponsored and voted for final passage of the Railroad Retirement and Survivors' Improvement Act which substantially improves the antiquated retirement system.
Protecting the Great Lakes and Michigan's Environment
THE GREAT LAKES:
Moratorium on Oil and Gas Slant Drilling in the Great Lakes. Helped enact a two-year moratorium on new permits being issued while the Army Corps of Engineers conducts a study on the environmental impacts of drilling in the Great Lakes.
Fishery and Ecosystem Restoration. Secured $200,000 for a program which allows the Army Corps of Engineers to cooperate with other federal, state and local agencies and the Great Lakes Fishery Commission to plan, implement and evaluate projects supporting the restoration of the fishery, ecosystem, and beneficial uses of the Great Lakes. Fiscal year 2002 funds will be used to develop a plan to support the management of Great Lakes fisheries.
Biohydrology Inventory. Secured funding for the Army Corps of Engineers to finish compiling existing information within the federal government which is relevant to sustainable water use management. This information will be needed to make decisions about the appropriate, sustainable use of Great Lakes waters.
Great Lakes Water Levels.
- Made assistance available to Great Lakes marina owners to conduct dredging operations through a Small Business Administration low interest loan program and urged SBA to perform better outreach to marina owners so they know about the low interest loans. Worked to provide $3.5 million to the International Joint Commission (IJC) for the second year of the Lake Ontario/St. Lawrence River Study. This 5-year study will provide the information needed to evaluate the Lake Ontario/St. Lawrence River Orders of Control (orders that dictate the regulation of Great Lakes water), which have not been formally reviewed for 50 years.
- Secured $2 million for a Real-Time Great Lakes Water Level-Environmental Monitoring Network within the National Ocean Service Tide and Current program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. This network will provide real-time water level and meteorological information to federal, state, and local governments and to the public. The network information will have broader application for navigation and coastal management purposes.
Great Lakes Center for Excellence. Obtained $1.25 million for the Great Lakes Hydrological Center for Excellence, a partnership between Western Michigan University (WMU) and Altarum, formerly the Environmental Research Institute of Michigan (ERIM), to study, manage and, ultimately, deliver solutions that improve the quality of water flowing into the Great Lakes system.
Fish Consumption Study. Secured passage of legislation directing the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) to report to Congress on the feasibility of establishing a Pilot Program in Michigan in conjunction with the Great Lakes Human Health Effects Research Program to develop risk communication strategies to reduce toxic chemical exposures from contaminated fish from the Great Lakes and to evaluate the effectiveness of targeting health education to specific audiences who eat fish from the Great Lakes, such as women of reproductive age and minority anglers.
Navigation.
- Helped secure $3 million in construction funds for the larger replacement lock at Sault Ste. Marie. Over 80 million tons of cargo move through this lock complex, so it is vital to the regional industries, the lake carriers, and the ports that larger ships be able to navigate through this passage. Worked to fund the second year of two studies so that the Army Corps of Engineers can complete (1) the Great Lakes Navigation Study, which will consider improvements to locks, dams, harbors and ports; and (2) a comprehensive Great Lakes Strategic Plan in which the Corps would provide Congress with recommendations for navigation improvements; environmental restoration activities; water level control; flood damage reduction; and other activities.
- Worked to provide $1 million for low water dredging of the St. Mary's River. Because of low water levels during the past few navigation seasons, the efficiency of Great Lakes shipping has declined, and additional dredging at the Little Rapids Cut of the St. Mary's River will provide some relief to the shipping industry.
Review of Federal Great Lakes Programs. Called upon the General Accounting Office (GAO) to review all federally authorized Great Lakes protection and environmental restoration programs. As part of this assessment, GAO will inventory all of the existing programs, their respective purposes, the various agencies involved, and their roles and responsibilities for each of the programs, and report what overall progress has been made under these programs.
OTHER WATERS:
Belle Isle. Secured $150,000 for Belle Isle for a restoration project providing 7.7 acres of fish (smallmouth bass, musky, pike, walleye, yellow perch etc.) feeding, spawning and refuge areas along with winter habitat. The project involves dredging sediments and placing clean sand and some riprap.
Black Lagoon. Obtained $50,000 for Black Lagoon for a 2.3-acre project to restore coastal wetland habitat. The project consists of cutting a channel through the shoreline and increasing water flow through the channel into the lagoon. It is anticipated that the migratory, spawning, forage and nursery activities of a diverse population of fish, wildlife, waterfowl, amphibians, and other indigenous flora and fauna, will benefit from the proposed restoration.
Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge. Won Senate passage of legislation to establish the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge. This legislation, which President Bush signed into law in December 2001, will protect remaining high-quality fish and wildlife habitats, authorize international efforts to conserve, restore, and manage the fish and wildlife habitats both in Canada and the United States, and encourage cooperation to promote public awareness of the resources of the Detroit River.
Grand Marais. Obtained $200,000 for the preparation of an Army Corps of Engineers Major Rehabilitation Report for Grand Marais harbor.
Houghton Lake/Clearwater Lake. Secured $500,000 for Houghton Lake and $80,000 for Clearwater Lake to eradicate harmful Eurasion watermilfoil which can lower oxygen levels in water bodies, killing fish and making navigation difficult.
Detroit River. Helped secure $200,000 for environmental dredging of the Detroit River.
CLEAN ENERGY:
National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium (NAFTC). Helped secure $2.5 million for the National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium. These funds will aid 20 member institutions, including Lansing Community College develop training curricula and materials for technicians who service alternative fuels vehicles.
Clean Cities Program. Worked with other Senators to increase funding for the U.S. Department of Energy's Clean Cities Program, which provides grants that encourage more widespread use of alternative fuel vehicles.
Energy Efficiency and Conservation Programs. Worked with other Senators to increase funding for the State Energy Program, the Federal Energy Management Program and the Energy Information Administration. Also increased funding for research and development programs in solar, wind, biomass, biofuels, hydrogen, geothermal and hydropower.
PARKS:
South Fox Island. Was successful in passing legislation to protect lands with a federal interest on South Fox Island, including critical dunes habitat, designated piping plover habitat, and the nationally recognized historic South Fox Island lighthouse.
Keweenaw National Historical Park. Secured $2.5 million for building restoration and $800,000 for land acquisition at Keweenaw National Historical Park.
Sleeping Bear Dunes. Secured $1.1 million for land acquisition at Sleeping Bear Dunes.
North Country National Scenic Trail. Secured an increase in base operations funding for the North Country National Scenic Trail.
Friend of the National Parks and Trails. Was presented the "Friend of the National Parks" award by the National Parks Conservation Association. Senator Levin also received the "Vanguard Award for Public Service" from the North Country National Scenic Trail for his help and support with the North Country National Scenic Trail.
OTHER:
Soil Erosion. Secured $800,000 for Allegan County's National Shoreline Erosion Control Development and Demonstration Program. This partnership with Western Michigan University includes testing a unique ground-water removal system and long-term monitoring of bluff movements to work to stabilize slopes along the Great Lakes shorelines.
Sewer Funding. Throughout Michigan, municipalities are struggling to finance much-needed improvements to municipal sewer systems to prevent discharges to the environment or private property. These communities have very high water and sewer tax rates and cannot handle additional debt. Senator Levin has worked to increase funding for the Environmental Protection Agency's water infrastructure and water quality programs, including the State Revolving Fund and the new sewer overflow control grant program. In 2000, Senator Levin was successful in getting authorizations for the Army Corps of Engineers to assist in the effort to upgrade Michigan's sewers. In 2001, three of these projects were funded in the Energy & Water Appropriations bill: $250,000 was appropriated for the Twelve Towns Drain Retention Facility; $150,000 was appropriated for the City of Negaunee, and $250,000 was appropriated for Genesee County. Further, Senator Levin helped to secure an additional $3 million for the City of Negaunee, an additional $1 million for Genesee County, $2.2 million for the George Kuhn Drainage District, $900,000 for the City of Grand Rapids, $675,000 for the City of Almont, $485,000 for the Detroit Sewer and Water Department , $1.5 million for the City of Farmington, $900,000 for the City of Bad Axe and $1.8 million for the Rouge River National Wet Weather Demonstration Project for sewer system improvements.
Detroit Revitalization. Secured $100,000 for the Detroit River Greenway Masterplan effort. This funding will help the City of Detroit develop a revitalization plan which integrates of numerous shoreline protection, flood control, navigation, and other hydrological and logistical elements. Also obtained $100,000 for the City of Detroit's shoreline erosion protection project, which will help to protect critical municipal facilities and will be an integral part of the Detroit shoreline erosion revitalization effort, and $250,000 for shoreline stabilization projects on Belle Isle.
Energy Efficiency in Department of Defense Facilities. Directed the Department of Defense to develop and submit to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees a comprehensive plan for replacing standard light bulbs with energy efficient light bulbs.
Brownfields Redevelopment. Introduced two bills to help communities expedite the economic redevelopment of brownfields. Brownfields are abandoned, idled or under-used industrial and commercial properties where expansion or redevelopment is complicated by real or perceived environmental contamination. The "Brownfields Site Redevelopment Assistance Act of 2001" would create a program to target assistance to projects that redevelop brownfield sites. The "Brownfields Economic Development Act of 2001" would make it easier for the Department of Housing and Urban Development to give economic development grants to local governments.
Smart Growth Task Force. As co-chairman of the Smart Growth Task Force, Sen. Levin organized briefings for Senators and staff to educate them about smart growth issues and legislation. Sen. Levin cosponsored, with Smart Growth Task Force co-chairman Sen. Jim Jeffords (I-VT), numerous smart growth bills. The General Accounting Office completed two reports at the request of the Smart Growth Task Force.
Focusing on Education
Family Literacy. Authored an amendment to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Reauthorization of 2001, which permits the use of "Reading First" funds for a proven program that helps parents whose literacy skills are low build the confidence they need to help their children (ages 6 - 10) learn to read. The program has been specifically designed to teach discussion techniques that stimulate interest in reading. This initiative, entitled "Prime Time Family Reading Time," has been a successful pilot program in a few public libraries, including the Alma Powell Branch Library in Kalamazoo. In authorizing the program, the Levin amendment converts the program from a pilot program in a few libraries in a few states, to a program available to all libraries in every state through grants from Local Education Agencies.
Education Technology. Authored an amendment to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Reauthorization of 2001 to permit the use of funds under the Enhancing Education Through Technology program for preparing K - 12 teachers as technology leaders in their schools and for bonus payments to such teachers. These technology leaders will, in turn, serve as experts who train other teachers in the effective use of technology in the classroom.
Lifelong Learning Center. Helped secure $500,000 for a Lifelong Learning Center at Northwestern Michigan College West Bay Campus in Traverse City. The center will serve as a convening point of learning groups, allowing for a central facility on the NMC campus to house innovative educational partnerships from the public and private sectors.
University of Michigan Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy. Secured $2 million for the University of Michigan's Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy for curriculum development and training.
Grand Valley State University Teacher Academy. Helped obtain $200,000 for a teacher academy to train a cadre of master teachers who will develop a curriculum and mentor incoming and novice science and math teachers. The academy will address curriculum development, inquiry-based teaching, assessment strategies, and integration of technologies.
Detroit Science Center Urban Intervention Science Programs. Helped secure $500,000 for the Detroit Science Center to develop an educational series to introduce students to careers in science, technology, and engineering through multi-media presentations featuring diverse professionals drawn from the sciences and industry.
Lake Superior State University. Helped obtain $200,000 for the development of a new degree program to meet the demand for skilled tradesmen and women who are trained in new technologies. The program will combine an apprenticeship program with an associate's degree in applied science. Project activities include the development and delivery of seven online courses using the resources of Michigan Virtual University, faculty and staff training, distance learner orientation, and comprehensive support services.
Jason Foundation Funding. Helped obtain $2.5 million in funding for the Jason Foundation, which seeks to increase student aptitude in math and science by using state-of-the-art educational technology to create hands-on learning experiences.
B.J. Stupak Olympic Scholarship Program. Helped secure $1 million in funding to defray the cost of education for U.S. athletes while they are training for the Olympic Games.
Targeting Terrorism
Fighting Terrorism by Curbing Money Laundering. Authored the anti-money laundering provisions in the "Uniting and Strengthening America Act" to make it difficult for terrorists to use U.S. banks to carry out illicit activities.
Promoting Homeland Defense. Worked with Governor Tom Ridge, Director of Homeland Defense, to provide the funding necessary for the Michigan National Guard to assist Customs officials at border crossings between Michigan and Canada.
Northern Border Security. Worked to authorize a tripling of the number of Border Patrol agents, Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) inspectors, and Customs inspectors at the Northern Border as well as $50 million each to the INS and Customs Service to make improvements in technology for monitoring at the Northern Border. Also fought for more resources to be dedicated to the Northern Border, including $28 million for the hiring initiative which will increase staffing along the Northern Border by approximately 308 Customs officers, 97 of whom will be allocated to Michigan. Funding was also approved for the INS to add 348 inspectors nationwide (approximately 105 in Michigan) and for the Border Patrol to increase their numbers by 570 agents (about 45 agents assigned to Michigan).
Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Teams. Ensured that Michigan will be one of five states to deploy a new Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team (WMD-CST). The Michigan Army National Guard will operate the team, which will assist first responders in the event of an attack involving weapons of mass destruction.
Tightening Security Policy at the Border. Chaired a hearing of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations to examine the Border Patrol and the Immigration and Naturalization Service policy of releasing aliens who have been arrested while attempting to enter the U.S. illegally. Prior to the PSI hearing, the agencies often released arrested aliens on their own recognizance and without a criminal background check pending their removal hearing. Many, if not most, of the aliens who were released never showed up for their removal hearing. As a result of Sen. Levin's PSI hearing, the INS began mandating criminal background checks on all arrested aliens
.Combating Bioterrorism. Cosponsored legislation which both the Senate and House passed that strengthens our nation's ability to combat bioterrorism attacks by protecting our national food supply, developing new countermeasures, and improving our federal pharmaceutical stockpile.
Working to Improve Our Military
Important Michigan Defense Projects. Led efforts to secure funding for military construction projects in Mt. Clemens, Battle Creek, Ft. Custer and Lansing. Helped secure funding for M1 tank upgrades, the Advanced Amphibious Assault Vehicle, the Improved Recovery Vehicle, the Army's Future Combat System, the 21st Century Truck Initiative, the Mobile Parts Hospital, the Competitive Sustainment Initiative, and the Network STEP Enabled Production, all of which will be substantially performed in Michigan.
Commercially-Based Tactical Truck (COMBATT) Program.
- Helped secure $14 million for hybrid truck research, development and testing to accelerate the Army's COMBATT program, supporting the development of 18 hybrid prototypes at the U.S. Army's Tank Automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM) in Warren.
- Authored legislation requiring the National Automotive Center to prepare a "road map" for further development and production of hybrid trucks.
Military Pay. Helped enact a targeted military pay raise ranging from five percent to ten percent, with non-commissioned officers and junior officers receiving the largest raises.
Education Benefits. Helped enact provisions authorizing the military services to permit service members with critical skills to transfer up to 18 months of unused Montgomery GI Bill benefits to family members and to provide education savings bonds as a retention tool to military personnel with critical skills who reenlist for at least six additional years.
Guard and Reserve. Helped enact provisions increasing full-time manning, the top readiness issue for the Guard and Reserve, by 298 Army Reservists and 724 Army National Guardsmen on active duty, and by 4,876 military technicians in the Army Reserve and 250 military technicians in the Army National Guard.
Base Closures. Led the enactment of a new round of base realignments and closures, to occur in 2005, which will add to the $6 billion a year that Department of Defense (DOD) officials estimate the Department is currently saving from the four previous rounds. The civilian and military leadership of DOD has testified repeatedly, through two Administrations, that the Department has excess infrastructure and needs a new round of base closures to free up funds for higher priority defense needs.
Arms Control. Led successful effort to repeal the statute prohibiting the retirement or dismantlement of certain U.S. nuclear forces until START II enters into force. This repeal provided the President the authority to negotiate reductions in U.S. nuclear forces with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Federal Prison Industries. Led the enactment of provision ensuring that the DOD, rather than Federal Prison Industries (FPI), is responsible for determining whether FPI products meet the Department's needs and authorizing the Department to seek competitive bids for products produced by FPI.
Acquisition Reform. Led the enactment of provisions to improve the management of the $50 billion of services contracts awarded by the Pentagon every year, which should save $1.3 billion in FY 02 alone.
Financial Management. Led the enactment of provisions addressing the Pentagon's inability to produce reliable financial information or auditable financial statements. The implementation of these provisions will enable DOD officials to make decisions on the basis of sound financial information.
DOD Environmental Programs.
- Led the enactment of provisions requiring DOD to develop a comprehensive plan for addressing environmental problems caused by unexploded ordnance on current and former military facilities.
- Led the enactment of a provision requiring the Department to carry out a program to significantly improve the energy efficiency of its facilities over the next ten years.
Hybrid Vehicle Purchase. Authored legislation approved by Congress requiring that only hybrid vehicles be purchased or leased for light duty truck fleet use beginning in 2005 for fleets not now covered by the Energy Policy Act. For "covered" fleets under the Energy Policy Act, the number of light duty trucks that are alternative fuel or hybrid vehicles will be increased by five percent in 2005 and 2006, and by ten percent in 2007 and beyond. This will amount to an annual increase of up to 6000-7000 hybrid vehicles in the DOD federal fleet of light duty trucks beginning in 2005.
Project IMPACT. Helped secure $3.5 million for Project IMPACT (Improved Materials and Powertrain Architectures for 21st Century Trucks). The U.S. Army program located at TACOM and the commercial truck industry are developing the 21st Century Truck Initiative, designed to promote the manufacturing of military and commercial trucks that are more environmentally compliant and fuel efficient. This program will conduct research into lightweight steels, vehicle weight and cost reduction, corrosion control, and vehicle shape optimization. This effort arose from the successful partnership between the growing commercial truck sector and the Army, which operates an extensive truck fleet.
Veterans' Cemetery in Detroit Area. Helped obtain funding to purchase land to construct a Veterans' Cemetery in Detroit. Detroit is the largest metropolitan area in the nation without a Veterans' cemetery. The completion of this cemetery will serve the needs of approximately 927,000 veterans and their families living in Michigan.
Military Voters. Helped enact several provisions that enhance the ability of military personnel and their families to vote in federal, state and local elections. These include improvements to DOD voting assistance programs, simplification of voter registration and absentee ballot application procedures, and an electronic voting demonstration project for absent military voters in the 2002 elections.
Michigan Roads and Transport
Updating and Improving Michigan Airports.
- Helped win Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grants to Detroit Metro Airport and Willow Run Airport of $5.6 million and $1.4 million, respectively, for safety and infrastructure improvements at the two airports. Assisted in getting the Oscoda-Wurtsmith Airport into the Military Airport Program (MAP), a five year FAA program that provides millions of dollars in federal funds to convert former military bases into civilian airports. Helped get $17 million for Detroit Metro; nearly $8 million for the Flint and Kalamazoo/Battle Creek Airports; nearly $8 million for KIS and Chippawa County International Airports in the Upper Peninsula; over $5 million for Lansing Airport (for expanding the terminal building), over $3 million in grants for Saginaw and Traverse City Airports, and funding for Kalamazoo, Alpena, Escanaba and Pellston Airports.
- Secured $1.75 million for relocation of flight tower at Kellogg Airport in Battle Creek; $2 million for land acquisition and implementation of noise reduction plan Oakland County Int'l Airport; and $1 million for airway strengthening and widening Otsego Regional Airport.
Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles. Helped secure over $127 million for the Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles (PNGV) to continue the program's progress on high-risk research to develop clean, highly-efficient automotive technologies.
Funding for New Buses and Transit Infrastructure in Michigan.
- Helped get $27 million for Michigan buses and bus facilities. Secured $500,000 for Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) for the Metropolitan/Wayne County Airport rail project. The money will be used for an alternative analysis for the project in Southeast Michigan.
- Helped get $750,000 for a Grand Rapids Metro Area Major Corridor Study; $1 million for the Flint Reverse Commute Program; $7.25 million for Intelligent Transportation Systems which encourage using advanced technologies to improve traffic flow and increase transportation safety; $2 million for the Next Generation High Speed Rail, which aims to introduce cost-effective high speed rail service to regions outside the Northeast Corridor, such as the corridor between Detroit and Chicago.
Other Transportation Related Funding for Michigan.
- Helped secure nearly $37 million in funding for Michigan transportation initiatives, including a $3.8 million grant for the Detroit Department of Transportation.
- Helped secure $500,000 for the Detroit Recreation Department to develop a pedestrian overpass park which would traverse I-75, linking Eastern Farmers Market with the Gratiot Central Market; $9 million for Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) Ambassador Bridge national corridor planning and border crossing infrastructure; $893.37 million for statewide federal highway funds; $750,000 for Michigan Technological University's Institute for Aggregate Research; $3.1 million to rebuild the Port Huron Coast Guard station; $300,000 to reconstruct the north wall on Escanaba's municipal dock; $1 million for a White Lake Road transportation pilot program; $3.3 million for Pennsylvania Avenue Bridge; $3.5 million for the I-96/Latson Road Interchange in Livingston County.
Automobile National Heritage Area. Helped obtain $500,000 for the Automobile National Heritage Area (ANHA) which interprets and preserves the automobile history in Michigan. The funds will enable ANHA to develop a Michigan curriculum unit in conjunction with the United Auto Workers and the W.P. Reuther Library to ensure that every school child in Michigan will have the opportunity to learn about the state's rich automotive and labor heritage; to coordinate with the regional tourism industry to promote economic development in Michigan; and to enhance the ANHA website.
Henry Ford - "America's Transportation" Museum and Greenfield Village. Secured $2 million for public exhibition of "America's Transportation Stories" at Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn.
Preserving Michigan's Agricultural Resources and Family Farms
Assistance to Apple Growers.
- Secured $75 million in the Department of Agriculture (USDA) FY02 Appropriations bill to provide grants to area apple growers who have suffered severe losses from a variety of factors, including fireblight.
- Secured $489,000 to support research to help protect future crops from fireblight. -- Prompted the USDA to release $100 million in market loss assistance payments for U.S. apple growers, funds that were approved by Congress as part of the FY01 Agriculture Appropriations bill.
Assistance to Michigan Cherry Growers. Obtained $160,000 to begin a five-to-seven year research project at Michigan State University, which will be known as the Armillaria Task Force. Armillaria is a disease that renders soil unable to sustain fruit trees. It is found in stone fruit regions worldwide, but losses are greatest in North America. There is no known method to control the disease.
Eradicating Bovine Tuberculosis in Michigan. Helped win Senate approval for over $8 million for bovine tuberculosis (TB) eradication efforts in Michigan and $318,000 for bovine TB research at Michigan State University.
Other Agricultural Projects.
- Secured $5.670 million for a USDA Cooperative State Research Education and Extension Service (CSREES) project to develop advanced technologies for hardwood utilization. Michigan State University is one of the institutions participating in this multi-state research consortium.
- Secured $239,000 for a USDA CSREES project to develop improved fruit practices at MSU and $435,000 for a USDA CSREES project regarding sustainable agriculture research at MSU.