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Floor & Hearing Statements

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LEVIN STATEMENT ON IRAQ RESOLUTION U.S. Representative Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak) today made the following statement in opposition to House Resolution 861, which declared that "the United States is committed to the completion of the mission to create a sovereign, free, secure, and united Iraq."  

LEVIN STATEMENT ON BILL TURNING THE ARCTIC WILDLIFE REFUGE OVER TO THE OIL COMPANIES (Washington, DC) - U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak) today made the following Floor statement in opposition to H.R. 5429, legislation by Representative Pombo to allow oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska.   

LEVIN STATEMENT ON 2007 BUDGET RESOLUTION U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak), a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee, today made the following floor statement in opposition to the Republican budget resolution, and in support of the budget alternative offered by Representative John Spratt of South Carolina.   

LEVIN STATEMENT ON ROLLING BACK OIL COMPANIES' TAX BREAKS U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak), today made the following floor statement in support of closing $5.4 billion in unjustified tax breaks for large oil companies.  

LEVIN SLAMS GOP LOBBYING BILL U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak) today opposed the GOP's Lobbying proposal saying it was reform in name only and was a smoke a mirror tactic of the Republican Majority. Levin instead supported the Democratic reform proposal, the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act, which was restricted from debate under the House Republican Leadership's rules.  

LEVIN STATEMENT ON GASOLINE PRICES AND TAX LOOPHOLES FOR BIG OIL COMPANIES (Washington D.C.)- U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak), today made the following floor statement in support of closing abusive loopholes in the tax code that favor big oil companies.  

LEVIN STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF THE DARFUR PEACE AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT (H.R. 3127) U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak), today made the following floor statement in support of legislation to strengthen US efforts to halt the ongoing genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan.  

LEVIN STATEMENT ON MANUFACTURING: THE PERSONAL VOICES OF THOSE AFFECTED U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak), today made the following floor statement in support of the manufacturing sector by reflecting on the personal voices of those the manufacturing jobs crisis has affected in Michigan.  

LEVIN STATEMENT ON THE HIGHER EDUCATION REAUTHORIZATION (Washington D.C.)- U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak) today delivered the following statement on the Republican failure to address the ballooning cost of higher education in America. Levin opposed the reauthorization of the Republican higher education plan because it failed to reverse earlier cuts to student aid, while doing nothing to make college more accessible nor affordable. As a result of this misguided approach, a college education will become even harder to obtain for thousands of Michiganders needing to secure a post-secondary degree given current economic conditions. The Republican approach to higher education puts tax cuts for the very rich ahead of the needs of working families illustrating just how out of touch the Republican-controlled Congress has become.  

LEVIN STATEMENT ON US POLICY IN IRAQ (Washington D.C.)- U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak) today opposed a resolution on U.S. policy in Iraq that was offered by the Republican House Leadership. The resolution, under the guise of commending the people of Iraq for their December 15 election, spends more time trying to justify an open-ended commitment of U.S. troops in Iraq than on congratulating the Iraqis.  Democrats were not allowed to offer amendments to the resolution or offer a nonpartisan resolution expressing congratulating the Iraqi people on their elections and commending our troops. The resolution offered by the House Leadership was adopted on a vote of 279 to 109, with 34 Members voting “present” to protest the closed procedure under which the resolution was considered by the House.    

USA PATRIOT ACT (Washington D.C.)- Today, U.S. Rep. Sander Levin submitted the following statement into the Congressional Record, commenting on his opposition to the USA Patriot Act:  

MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY COMPETITIVENESS ACT OF 2005 Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I simply want to say, listening to this debate, to the gentleman from Georgia; to my friend from Michigan; to the gentleman from California (Mr. Dreier), the chairman of the Committee on Rules; and to the Speaker of the House; and to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay), this is outrageous. You have no excuse. Three million manufacturing jobs lost in the last 4 years or so, another 110,000 the first 8 months, and you will not allow a debate on an amendment that relates to manufacturing, the ATP amendment of Mr. Honda's. 

ESTABLISHING THE SELECT COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE THE PREPARATION FOR AND RESPONSE TO HURRICANE KATRINA Mr. LEVIN.  Mr. Speaker, this is a very important debate for our country.  I cannot imagine anything more important to the American people than an independent investigation of why the response to Hurricane Katrina fell so short of expectations.  We need a full accounting of what went wrong at all levels of government so such failures don't happen again.  

PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF THE SECOND EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT TO MEET IMMEDIATE NEEDS ARISING FROM THE CONSEQUENCES OF HURRICANE KATRINA, 200} Mr. LEVIN.  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the emergency funding bill that the House will consider later today to continue relief and recovery operations in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.  We need to approve this measure today with all deliberate speed. I do object to the procedure in which the House will take up this emergency measure, which provides just 40 minutes to debate a $51 billion appropriation, with no amendments allowed.  

Manufacturing Technology Competitiveness Act of 2005  "Three million manufacturing jobs lost in the last 4 years or so, another 110,000 the first 8 months, and you will not allow a debate on an amendment that relates to manufacturing, the Advanced Technology Program," Rep. Sander Levin.

Investigation of Government Response to Hurricane Katrina  "I support the appointment of a non-partisan, independent commission--modeled after the successful 9/11 Commission--to investigate the response to Hurricane Katrina.  We need a full accounting of what went wrong at all levels of government so such failures don't happen again," Rep. Sander Levin.

Emergency Funding for Hurricane Relief  "I support the emergency funding bill that the House will consider later today...we need an investigation of why the federal government's response fell so short of the mark, and we need accountability."

Energy Policy Act of 2005 "The bill before us today is not perfect, but it is much improved.  I want to state clearly why this bill is worthy of passage today."

USA Patriot Act  
 

OSHA Legislation

Intelligence Authorization for FY 2006
 

United Nations Reform Act
 

Testimony on the Ukraine Famine Memorial
June 8, 2005 - This is important legislation to the 1.5 million Ukrainian-Americans throughout the United States, to the people of Ukraine who have embarked on a courageous effort to build a free, democratic, open society, and indeed to all of us who value freedom

House Debates Obey Amendment on Emerald Ash Borer
June 8, 2005 - Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support the Weiner/McCotter amendment. We need to boost federal funding to fight the invasive species that are destroying native trees across the United States.

House Debates Obey Amendment to Boost Federal Funding for Veterans Health Care
May 26, 2005 - Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of the Obey Amendment.  This amendment provides badly needed funding for veterans health care, and represents the minimum necessary to maintain the current level of services. While the increase in veterans health care funding in the underlying Military Quality of Life and Veterans Appropriations bill is welcome, it is also inadequate. 

The Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act
May 25, 2005 - Mr. Speaker, The American people need and want a carefully crafted stem cell research policy that allows us to seek scientific breakthroughs.  We do not have such a policy today. The stem cell policy established by President Bush is severely restrictive and arbitrary. The National Institutes of Health has reported that of the 78 stem cell lines promised by President Bush, only 22 lines meet the President's criteria for use.

Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act Fiscal Year 2006
May 19, 2005 - Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of the Obey amendment. Three weeks ago, by a bare three-vote margin, the House of Representatives approved the Republican budget. Today, we're dealing with the consequences of that vote and the majority's misguided priorities. The budget that was agreed to contained more than $100 billion in additional cuts – the vast majority of which disproportionately benefit the very richest individuals in this country.

Conference Report on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2006
April 28, 2005 - Mr. Speaker, once again, the Republican majority has written a budget that uses every penny, every penny of the Social Security surplus. I went back and read what the President said March 22, 2001. “The budget I set up says the payroll taxes are only going to be spent on one thing, and that is Social Security.” Once again, the President is not keeping that commitment.

The United States Must Continue to Stand with Ukraine
April 6, 2005 - Mr. Speaker, today in this chamber we heard a compelling voice for the power of freedom and democracy in President Viktor Yushchenko of Ukraine. Just a few months ago, the Ukrainian people stood up for genuine liberty in their country by peacefully demanding free and fair elections in what has become known as the Orange Revolution.

Congratulating People of Ukraine for Democratic, Transparent and Fair Runoff Presidential Election
January 4, 2005 - Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer my full support as a cosponsor to this resolution, congratulating the Ukrainian people for their role in ensuring a fair and free election on December 26, and congratulating Viktor Yushchenko for his perseverance in winning the presidency...

On the Death of Congressman Robert Matsui
January 4, 2005 - When I came here Monday morning, having heard the news a few hours before, here is what I said to myself: This place is truly a different place without Bob Matsui. There is for us a large hole in our ranks and in our hearts. He added so much to this institution that he loved. He added his exceptional vitality to the notion we often say, this is the people's House...