White House Requests $82 Billion in Emergency Funds for Iraq and
Afghanistan
On February 14, the Bush Administration sent an $82 billion
emergency spending request to Congress, seeking additional money for military
operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, tsunami relief, and other purposes. The
request included $64 billion for military operations and reconstruction efforts
in Iraq. To date, the U.S. has spent $154 billion on military operations in
Iraq, so the President's latest request would boost U.S. spending in Iraq over
$200 billion. However, many Members of Congress voiced concern over some of the
spending requested by the White House, especially $658 million to build what
would be the largest U.S. embassy in the world in Baghdad.
Rep. Levin to Hold Social Security Town Hall Meetings
The Bush
Administration is pushing for major changes to Social Security. President Bush
has called a plan that would divert two trillion dollars from Social Security to
private accounts a "good blueprint." The plan would cut future
benefits across-the-board - for young workers, the cut would amount to $152,000.
Rep. Levin will hold three town hall meetings next week to discuss these
proposals and gather input from local residents. Click here for information on
times and locations in your area.
Great Lakes Restoration Act Proposed in Congress
On February 14,
a bipartisan group of 49 members of the House of Representatives re-introduced
legislation to establish a funding source for restoration of the Great Lakes
System, including Lake St. Clair. Since 1970, significant environmental progress
has been made in the Great Lakes, but a number of problems remain: beach
closings, non-point water pollution, invasive species, toxic Areas of Concern,
and loss of wetlands. The Great Lakes restoration bill would provide federal
resources to carry out restoration efforts within the Great Lakes System. The
bill calls for $4 billion over five years, or $800 million a year, to be used by
states to carry out restoration projects related to reduction of toxic sediment,
reduction of polluted runoff and sewage overflows, restoration of wetlands, and
efforts to preserve endangered species. To read an article on the restoration
effort in Congress by Michigan Reps. Levin and Hoekstra, click
here.
House Adopts Measure to Curb Class Action Lawsuits
On February
17, the House of Representatives adopted legislation designed to shift many
class action suits from state to federal courts. The measure was adopted on a
vote of 279 to149, despite opposition by consumer, civil rights and public
interest groups who expressed concern that the bill would deprive seriously
injured plaintiffs of their day in court. The Senate recently approved identical
legislation, and President Bush is expected to sign the bill into law.
House Boosts Fines for Broadcast Indecency
On February 16, the
House approved legislation to dramatically increase the ceiling on fines the
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) can issue for indecent behavior on radio
or television programs. The vote in the House was 389 to 38. A similar bill has
been introduced in the Senate.