Johanna's Law Makes Great Leap Forward U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak) today announced that Johanna's Law - a bill that would authorize a federal campaign to increase early detection of Gynecologic Cancer - has been approved by the United States House of Representatives.  Johanna's Law, first introduced by Mr. Levin in 2003, is named after Johanna Silver Gordon, a local teacher who died of ovarian cancer in 2000.  Levin, who spoke in support of the measure on the House Floor, praised Johanna's family and the coalition of cancer survivors, family members, and medical professionals whose dedication and hard work resulted in the House vote. Levin applauded the bill's passage calling the bill "significant progress for women's health."  11/14/2006

LEVIN NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR NOMINATIONS TO THE U.S. SERVICE ACADEMIES (Washington D.C.)- U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak) is currently accepting applications for nominations to the four U.S. Service Academies for the class of 2011.  Applicants must live in the 12th Congressional District, and must be U.S. citizens between the ages of 17 and 21.  All applicants seeking an appointment to the Academies must first receive a nomination from one of the three authorized nominating sources: U.S. Representative, U.S. Senator, and the Vice President.  10/24/2006

LEVIN UKRAINIAN FAMINE MEMORIAL BILL APPROVED BY CONGRESS The Senate unanimously approved H.R. 562 last week, a bill introduced by Representative Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak) to allow the Government of Ukraine to donate a memorial in Washington, DC honoring the victims of the Ukrainian Famine-Genocide of 1932-33.  The House of Representatives approved H.R. 562 last November, and the Senate?s action sends the bill to the President for his signature.  10/5/2006

OVER 90% OF NEW MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG PROGRAM ENROLLEES IN MICHIGAN AT RISK OF FALLING INTO THE DOUGHNUT-HOLE After seniors battled months of confusing and inaccurate enrollment information surrounding the Medicare Prescription Drug program, Democrats on the House Ways and Means Committee, led by senior members including U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak), today released a Congressional Report that found that 91% of newly enrolled Medicare Part D beneficiaries in Michigan are at risk of falling into the "doughnut-hole," the part of the program that contains a gap in coverage where beneficiaries continue to pay premiums without receiving financial coverage for medicines.  Michigan's percentage is above the already high national average of 88%. The report also concluded that only 7% of new enrollees -- 1% of Michigan's total Medicare population -- gained full, uninterrupted coverage through the new law.  9/21/2006

LEVIN HONORED FOR COMBATING DRUG ABUSE BY LEADING ANTI-DRUG ORGANIZATION The Partnership for Drug-Free America (Partnership) today presented select members of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate "Guardian Awards" to honor each Member's active commitment to protecting children and families from substance abuse. U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak) received a Guardian Award presented by Partnership CEO Stephen J. Pasierb. In addition, the Macomb County Prevention Coalition will present an award in Levin's name to Dana Gire for his excellent work as the Prevention and Training Coordinator at the Macomb County Office of Substance Abuse.  9/19/2006

LEVIN RISES IN SUPPORT OF CANADIAN TRASH BILL AS POSSIBLE FURTHER STEP Speaking on the House floor today in strong support of an issue of great importance to the people of Michigan, U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak) made the following statement regarding H.R. 2491 - The International Solid Waste Importation and Management Act of 2006:  9/6/2006

U.S.-SOUTH KOREAN FTA MUST TEAR DOWN HISTORIC AUTOMOTIVE TRADE BARRIERS AND OPEN MARKET ACCESS IN SOUTH KOREA As the third round of trade negotiations begin between the United States and South Korea, U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-MI), a senior member of the House Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee, today offered a stiff reminder to the United States Trade Representative (USTR) that a successful trade pact with South Korea must include significant market access for the U.S. automotive sector. Despite a letter to the Administration from several Members of Congress on the heels of the second round of negotiations, the Administration has refused to make clear that the most basic issue is eradicating South Korea?s trade barriers.   9/5/2006

LEVIN HAILS TRASH AGREEMENT WITH CANADA NEGOTIATED BY STABENOW AND LEVIN U.S Rep. Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak) today applauded the efforts of Senators Debbie Stabenow and Carl Levin (D-MI) to broker an agreement with the Canadian government to deal with the long-standing problem of shipments of municipal solid waste from Canada into Michigan. The agreement between Stabenow and Levin with Ontario's Minister of the Environment provides that there will be an immediate 20 percent reduction in shipments of Canadian municipal solid waste in the first year and a complete phase out over a four year schedule.   8/31/2006

LEVIN HOSTS BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR SOCIAL SECURITY To commemorate the 71st anniversary of the Social Security system, U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak), Ranking Democrat on the House Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee, hosted a birthday party for Social Security today at the St. Clair Shores Senior Center.  8/14/2006

HOUSE POLITICS: MINIMUM WAGE BILL POISONED House Republicans today chose to play politics with the wages of American families by failing to bring a stand-alone Minimum Wage bill to the House floor, instead choosing to combine the needed wage increase with a controversial repeal of the estate tax. U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak), speaking in opposition to the poisonous measure, blasted Congressional Republicans on the House Floor for holding hostage a vote on raising the federal minimum wage by attaching it to a measure that would benefit very few at the expense of the needs of many working families.  7/28/2006

CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS MOVE TO END PROGRAM AIMED AT ASSISTING EVACUEES Congressional Republicans yesterday introduced and passed a bill that would temporarily increase funding for the Repatriation Program to cover the current cost of assisting thousands of U.S. Citizens being evacuated from Lebanon, but then would terminate the Repatriation Program in 2007. The Bush Administration has notified Congress that the program will shortly run out of funds and will no longer be able to assist citizens returning to the U.S.  U.S. Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak), a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee, together with U.S. Reps. Jim McDermott of Washington and Ben Cardin of Maryland, had introduced alternative legislation that would raise the cap on funding for this year's emergency without preventing it from helping people evacuated in the future. Levin slammed Congressional Republicans for their "upside-down" priorities at a time when Americans need their assistance.  7/26/2006

U.S. REP. SANDER LEVIN RESPONDS TO PRESIDENT'S FIRST VETO OF STEM CELL ACT Using his power of the veto for the first time since taking office, President Bush today vetoed the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act, H.R. 810 - a bill that has passed both the House and Senate with broad bipartisan support. In reaction to the President's actions, the House of Representatives immediately exercised their constitutional right to take up of the bill with the goal of overriding the President's veto. U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak), who supported the measure originally, cast his vote to override the veto, which failed to get the two-thirds vote needed to override a presidential veto.  The House vote was 235 to 193.   7/19/2006

GOVERNOR ANNOUNCES HIGHER ED COMMISSION AND ESTABLISHMENT OF INDEPENDENT STUDY As a result of Governor Jennifer M. Granholm's announcement of the creation of a Commission on Higher Education and Economic Growth in Macomb County, and the establishment of an independent, professional, privately-funded study of the County's higher education needs, U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak) sent the following letter to supporters of a 4-year University in Macomb County today.  7/18/2006

NEW NATIONAL REPORT CONFIRMS PROBLEMS REMAIN WITH RX DRUG PROGRAM Nearly two months after President Bush and House Republican leaders refused to extend the deadline to enroll in a Medicare drug plan this year, U.S. Rep. Sander Levin, a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee, highlighted a new Government Accountability Office (GAO) Report released today that found that call centers run by private Medicare drug plans provided inaccurate and incomplete information most of the time. GAO determined that the private plans responsible for running the new Medicare drug benefit "did not consistently provide callers with accurate and complete information."  7/10/2006

GAO INVESTIGATION UNCOVERS PROBLEMS WITH EPA'S SPILL PREVENTION EFFORTS IN THE ST. CLAIR - DETROIT RIVER CORRIDOR Senators Carl Levin (D-MI) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Representative Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak) announced the results of a new study by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) that identified a number of serious concerns about the accuracy of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) data concerning oil and chemical spills in the St. Clair River/Lake St. Clair/Detroit River corridor as well as deficiencies in the EPA's procedures to prevent and respond to spills.   7/7/2006

U.S. -SOUTH KOREA FTA TEST OF BUSH ADMINISTRATION'S WILLINGNESS TO FIGHT FOR U.S. AUTO INDUSTRY As the United States' trade delegation prepares to depart for the second round of negotiations of the U.S. - South Korea free trade agreement in Seoul, Michigan Representatives Dale Kildee (D-Flint), Fred Upton (R-St. Joseph) and Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak), led the effort to open the Korean automotive market to American-made autos in ongoing trade negotiations between the two countries.  The three U.S. Representatives organized a bipartisan group of 38 members of the House of Representatives in writing the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), Susan Schwab, urging her to meaningfully address persistent unfair trade practices by South Korea that have discriminated against the U.S. automotive sector.  7/7/2006

THE DEMOCRATIC PLAN: A REAL PRESCRIPTION DRUG PLAN FOR SENIORS U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak), a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee, today joined his Democratic colleagues in endorsing the Democratic Prescription for Change - the Democrats' plan to improve the flawed Prescription drug plan. The Democratic plan will make key improvements to the program so that beneficiaries get an affordable, simple, and reliable prescription drug benefit they earned by paying into Medicare while they were working. It would also allow millions of seniors who were unable to choose a plan by the May 15th deadline are now locked out until January 2007 to get coverage this year.  6/27/2006

REPUBLICAN STUDENT AID HIKES ARE AN UNWELCOME PRESENT TO GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS With the average student borrower accumulating a record $17,500 in debt and tuition and fees soaring 40% at four-year public colleges since 2001, U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak) today slammed the Republican cuts to the federal student aid program that take affect July 1st. The Republican Raid on Student Aid was passed this past February as part of the misnamed Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, where the $12 billion cut from student aid programs was used to pay towards the $70 billion in tax cuts for the very wealthy. The rate increases be felt acutely by families in Michigan and across the country.  6/22/2006

NEW ESTATE TAX BILL IS FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak), a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee, today spoke on the floor of the House of Representatives to blast the GOP's latest attempt to pass a reckless tax cut that benefits a very few at the expense of the many. Levin spoke in opposition to the bill - H.R. 5638 - that would permanently cut the federal estate tax, calling it "fiscally irresponsible." The House of Representatives approved the Republican estate tax bill on a vote of 269 to 156. Last week, the House Republican Leadership blocked a vote on raising the minimum wage for American families, which had bipartisan support.  6/22/2006

LEVIN CALLS ON BUSH ADMINISTRATION TO CHANGE COURSE IN IRAQ Throughout yesterday and today, the U.S. House of Representatives held a marathon 11-hour debate on a divisive resolution on Iraq written by the House Leadership.  The highly partisan resolution [H. Res. 861] would shun specific timetables for redeploying troops out of Iraq and casts the war as a central front in the war on terrorism. Democrats objected to rubber stamping the Bush Administration's open-ended policy in Iraq.  Democrats also objected that the House Leadership would not permit any amendments to be offered to the resolution, as well as the fact that the resolution on terrorism was so narrowly focused on Iraq and did not even mention Osama bin Laden.  The House adopted the resolution on a vote of 256 to 153, and 5 members voting "present," with U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak) voting against the resolution.   6/16/2006

LEVIN DEMANDS ANSWERS ABOUT NEW PRESCRIPTION DRUG PROGRAM AFFECTING SENIORS At the first full House Ways and Means Committee oversight hearing on the new prescription drug program, U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak), a senior member of the Committee, today sought answers from the Bush Administration about the millions of seniors now locked-out of receiving drug coverage because of the confusing and complicated nature of the enrollment process. Levin also inquired about how many seniors are now locked-into drug plans with gaps in coverage and other limits on benefits of which they may not be aware. Representatives of the Bush Administration continued to use selective and misleading statistics to claim victory, rather than engaging in a discussion about the millions of seniors who are now locked-out of coverage or the problems ahead for those locked-in.  6/14/2006

LEVIN RESPONDS TO REPUBLICAN EFFORTS TO PRIVATIZE SOCIAL SECURITY IN 2007 Today, U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-MI), Ranking Democrat on the House Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee, responded to remarks House Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee Chairman Jim McCrery (R-LA) made to reporters after a speech to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce:  6/6/2006

LEVIN ENDORSES BILL PROTECTING VETERANS FROM IDENTITY THEFT In response to the breach of 26.5 million personal records by the Department of Veterans Affairs, U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D- Royal Oak), Ranking Democrat on the House Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee, today announced that he is cosponsoring the Veteran Identity Protection Act, H.R. 5455. This legislation, introduced by U.S. Rep. John T. Salazar of Colorado, aims to assist veterans whose personal data was stolen from the home of a VA employee earlier this month.  6/6/2006

U.S. -- SOUTH KOREA FTA MUST KNOCK DOWN BARRIERS TO U.S. AUTOS OR FACE OPPOSITION With the beginning of formal negotiations for a U.S. - South Korea Free Trade Agreement (FTA), U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-MI), a senior member of the House Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee, today warned that a U.S. - South Korea Free Trade Agreement must meaningfully address persistent unfair trade practices by South Korea that have for too long discriminated against the U.S. automotive sector.  6/5/2006

HOUSE GIVES GREEN LIGHT TO OIL DRILLING THAT DOES NOTHING TO LOWER GAS PRICES Today, the House of Representatives approved legislation [H.R. 5429] opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) to oil drilling.  The House adopted the measure on a vote of 225 to 201, with U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak) opposing the legislation.  It is unclear whether the bill has enough support to pass the Senate.  5/25/2006

LEVIN PRAISES COMMODITY FOOD PROGRAM FUNDS Late last night, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Fiscal Year 2007 Agriculture Appropriations bill on a vote of 378 to 46. The legislation included $118.3 million for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), an increase of $11 million.  Earlier this year, the President had proposed eliminating CSFP in his budget request.  Voting in support of the bill, U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak) praised the restored funding for this important food assistance to low-income seniors, mothers and children, and slammed the Administration for its upside-down budget priorities.  5/24/2006

LEVIN ANNOUNCES U.S. SERVICE ACADEMY APPOINTMENTS U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak) today announced that three of the students that he nominated to United States Service Academies from the 12th Congressional District were offered Appointments.  All three students accepted their offers by the May 1st deadline and will be entering their respective Academy in July.  Each student received a nomination from Congressman Levin after they completed the application process and interviewed with a local nomination selection committee.  5/23/2006

LEVIN BLASTS IMMORAL BUDGET U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak), a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee, opposed the Republican budget proposal early this morning stating the Republican budgetary policy was "unsustainable and morally indefensible." The Republican budget proposal passed in the dead of night on a vote of 218 to 210.  5/18/2006

NEW RX DRUG PROGRAM: LOCKED-IN OR LOCKED-OUT? As the May 15th Deadline for Medicare beneficiaries to sign-up for the new prescription drug plan has passed, U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-MI), a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee, today responded to reports that House Republicans may introduce legislation to waive the cash penalty for late enrollment in Medicare Part D, but are not willing to give seniors more time to enroll or switch plans.  Under both current law and the Republican proposals being discussed, seniors who have not yet enrolled would be "locked out" of drug coverage and seniors who have enrolled would be "locked in" to their current plans until January 2007.  5/16/2006

ADMINISTRATION ALSEEP AT THE WHEEL WHILE TRADE DEFICIT ON TRACK FOR ANOTHER RECORD SETTING YEAR As the U.S. Department of Commerce released new trade deficit figures forecasting a record deficit for 2006, U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-MI), a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee, reacted today by calling on the Bush Administration to get off its hands and enforce U.S. trade laws to shrink the rapidly exploding trade deficit.  5/12/2006

MILLIONAIRES SHOWERED WITH CAVIAR WHILE AMERICAN MIDDLE-CLASS GETS CRUMBS UNDER REPUBLICAN TAX BILL .S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak), a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee, speaking on the House floor today blasted the Republican Majority's misguided Tax Reconciliation Conference Report, H.R. 4297. The Republican Tax Bill rewards those making a million dollars or more with an average tax cut of $42,000, while giving American middle-class families an average of $20. The GOP Tax Bill passed the House on a vote of 244 to 185.  5/10/2006

BUSH ADMINISTRATION LOOKS THE OTHER WAY, AGAIN, OVER CURRENCY MANIPULATION AS U.S. BUSINESS PAYS THE PRICE In response to the United States Treasury Department's release today of its Semiannual Report on International Economic and Exchange Rate Policies, U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-MI), a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee, offered the following remarks:  5/10/2006

LEVIN: TAKE THE LOCK OFF MAY 15th As Secretary Michael O. Leavitt of Health and Human Services attends a Medicare Prescription Drug event in Detroit touting the Bush Administration's new drug plan, U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak), a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee, today sent a clear message to Secretary Leavitt to deliver to President Bush: Extend the May 15th deadline so seniors who are not enrolled yet can make an informed choice, and seniors who are already enrolled can make sure they're enrolled in the right plan. The Administration has refused to consider extending the May 15th deadline, or giving seniors more time to switch plans despite the fact that millions of uncovered seniors have not yet signed up, and the majority of seniors who have signed up are enrolled in plans that have a gap in coverage, known as the "doughnut hole."  5/10/2006

LEVIN PRAISES HOUSE APPROVAL OF BILL TO PROTECT MILITARY FUNERALS The House of Representatives today passed the Respect for America's Fallen Heroes Act (H.R. 5037) by an overwhelming vote of 408 to 3.  U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak) voted for and co-sponsored the bill, which would protect military families from having their loved ones' funeral interrupted by protests.   5/9/2006

GOP LOBBYING BILL IS REFORM IN NAME ONLY (Washington D.C.)- In the midst of the Republican culture of corruption encapsulating Congress, U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak) today opposed the watered-down GOP lobbying bill, H.R. 4975 - the Lobbying Accountability and Transparency Act, which passed 217 to 213. Levin instead supported the Democratic reform plan, the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act, which he was a cosponsor. In what has become a standard abuse of House Rules, Democrats were denied the opportunity to debate a number of substantive amendments seeking to improve and strengthen many components of the GOP bill, including elements of the Democratic reform proposal. Levin slammed passage of the GOP bill by stating that it was reform in name only and merely a smoke and mirror tactic by the Republican Majority.   5/3/2006

LEVIN PUSHES TO EXTEND MAY 15TH PRESCRIPTION DRUG DEADLINE With the May 15th deadline quickly approaching and millions of Americans still deciding whether to enroll in a drug plan, U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak), a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee, attended what may be the only Ways and Means Health subcommittee oversight hearing on the new Medicare Prescription Drug program.  Levin and other senior Ways & Means Members have repeatedly asked the Committee to conduct oversight hearings on the drug program.   Democrats took the opportunity to ask the tough questions about extending the enrollment deadline and offered a warning that the largest difficulties with the new drug law may still be ahead.  5/3/2006

SENIOR WAYS AND MEANS DEMOCRATS RESPOND TO 2006 SOCIAL SECURITY / MEDICARE TRUSTEES REPORT Ways and Means Health Subcommittee Ranking Member Pete Stark and Social Security Subcommittee Ranking Member Sander Levin issued the following statements today, responding to the 2006 reports of the Board of Trustees of the Social Security and Medicare Trust Funds:  5/1/2006

LEVIN CALLS ON PRESIDENT TO TAKE CONCRETE ACTIONS IN ADVANCE OF MAY MEETING WITH BIG THREE In advance of the indicated May meeting of President Bush with the Big Three automakers, U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak), a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee, outlined immediate concrete actions the Bush Administration can take to help strengthen the auto industry and its workers:  4/27/2006

LEVIN SCORES 100% VOTING RECORD ON ISSUES AFFECTING AMERICA’S SENIORS The Alliance for Retired Americans (ARA), a nationwide senior organization, awarded U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak) a 100 percent voting record rating on issues affecting America's seniors during the first session of the 109th Congress. ARA calculated the rating by evaluating Member votes on a range of issues affecting retired workers and their families, including pension protections and reform, cutting senior programs, Medicare Part D, and Social Security solvency.  4/26/2006

LEVIN CALLS FOR ROLLBACK OF TAX BREAKS FOR BIG OIL AS GAS PRICES SOAR As oil and gas prices soar in Michigan and throughout the United States, U.S. Rep. Sander Levin advocated for the Energy Consumer Relief Act [H.R. 4479], which would roll back billions of dollars in tax breaks, royalty holidays and subsidies to oil and gas companies.  These subsidies were included in sweeping energy legislation approved by Congress last summer, which President Bush signed into law.  Addressing rising gas prices today, the plan President Bush outlined would save tax payers only $2 billion compared to the Democratic plan estimated to save Americans $9.3 billion dollars, both over ten years.  4/24/2006

RECESS APPOINTMENTS FOR TRUSTEES SENDS WRONG SIGNAL Ways and Means Health Subcommittee Ranking Member Pete Stark and Social Subcommittee Ranking Member Sander Levin issued the following response today to President Bush's recess appointments of John L. Palmer and Thomas R. Saving as public trustees of the Social Security and Medicare programs.   4/21/2006

LEVIN OBJECTS TO CUTS TO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FUNDS UNDER PRESIDENT'S 2007 BUDGET PROPOSAL U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak) today released a report from the Congressional Research Service (CRS) projecting that the entire 12th Congressional District would lose nearly 20% of its CDBG funding under the President's budget proposal. Opposing these proposed cuts, Levin today joined local officials on a "windshield" tour of Warren's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) programs to highlight the importance of this federal funding to 12th District communities. Levin plans to visit Southfield's Community Development Block Grants program on Monday.  4/19/2006

LEVIN RESPONDS TO NOMINATIONS OF ROB PORTMAN TO HEAD OMB AND SUSAN SCHWAB AS THE NEXT USTR U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-MI), a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee, offered the following statement today after President Bush nominated United States Trade Representative (USTR) Rob Portman to be the next Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and elevated Deputy United States Trade Representative Susan Schwab to head the trade office:  4/18/2006

U.S. - PERU FTA FAILS TO ADDRESS THE REALITIES ON THE GROUND IN PERU U.S. Rep. Sander Levin, a senior Democrat on the House Ways and Means Committee, spent a week in January on fact-finding trip to Peru and Panama in advance of Congressional consideration of these trade agreements.  A summary of the findings during four days in Peru is attached to this statement:  4/12/2006

TRADE ROUNDTABLE CALLING ON BUSH ADMINISTRATION TO KNOCK DOWN FOREIGN TRADE BARRIERS TO U.S. PRODUCTS (Washington D.C.)- U.S. Rep. Sander Levin, (D-Royal Oak), a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee, today was joined by Governor Jennifer M. Granholm and Senator Carl Levin (D-MI), in hosting a Trade Roundtable on the unfair trade barriers to U.S. products in overseas markets at the Macomb Educational Technology Center in Warren, Michigan. Levin, Granholm, and Levin were surrounded by members of Michigan's manufacturing community in discussing the negative impact of unfair trade barriers that hurt Michigan businesses and workers, while calling on the Bush Administration to use the tools at its disposal to challenge these practices.  4/11/2006

BUSH ADMINISTRATION CONTINUES TO IGNORE MANUFACTURING JOBS CRISIS (Washington D.C.)- In response to President Bush's comment that "manufacturing activity is growing" during his remarks on the economy this morning, U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak), a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee, made the following statement:  4/7/2006

BUSH ADMINISTRATION CANNOT IGNORE CRUCIAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR U.S. EXPORTS (Washington D.C.)- The United States Trade Representative (USTR) today released the National Trade Estimates (NTE) report, a government inventory of barriers to U.S. exports of goods and services, investment and intellectual property rights of our trading partners.  In anticipation of this report, House Democratic Leadership joined with members of the Committee on Ways and Means and the New Democrat Coalition on a joint letter to President Bush outlining additional opportunities for the Bush Administration to enforce U.S. trade laws and stand up for American workers and businesses.  3/31/2006

WELCOMED STEP, MUCH MORE ACTION NEEDED ON CHINA TRADE (Washington D.C.)-  U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-MI), a senior member of the House Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee, released the following statement in response to today's announcement by the United States Trade Representative (USTR) that it will file a case with the World Trade Organization (WTO) against unfair Chinese tariffs on imported auto parts:  3/30/2006

LEVIN REPORTS ON HIS TRADE TRIP TO PERU AND PANAMA (Washington D.C.)- In preparation for the trade agenda this year, Rep. Levin went on a week-long fact-finding trip in late January to Peru and Panama.  The Administration had notified Congress of its intention to sign a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Peru on January 6th and the negotiations with Panama were entering their seventh round.  Since the trip, the Administration has also notified Congress of its intention to sign an FTA with Colombia.  The Trip focused on the impact of rapidly expanding economic globalization on their socio-economic structures, the level of economic growth and its contents, and the likely effects of an FTA embodied in the negotiations between our nations.  3/14/2006

LEVIN CITES IMPORTANCE OF HOUSE PASSAGE OF UKRAINE PERMANENT NORMAL TRADE RELATION (Washington D.C.)- The House of Representatives today passed H.R. 1053 on a vote of 417 to 2 granting Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) to Ukraine, paving the way towards Ukraine's accession into the World Trade Organization (WTO).  U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak), a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee, spoke on the House floor in support of the measure, which also ends the application to Ukraine of the Cold War-era Jackson-Vanik Amendment linking trade benefits to the emigration and human rights policies of communist and former communist countries.  3/8/2006

LEVIN STATEMENT ON U.S. PORTS (Washington D.C.)- U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak) issued the following statement regarding the President's threat to veto Congressional action on the sale of operational control of U.S. ports to a company controlled by the United Arab Emirates:  2/22/2006

LEVIN JOINS MOVE TO ENSURE MICHIGAN CHILDREN RECEIVE MONEY OWED TO THEM (Washington D.C.)- U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak) today joined colleagues U.S. Rep Jim McDermott of Washington and U.S. Rep. Rahm Emanuel of Illinois in introducing a bill that would repeal the child support enforcement cuts that Republicans included in the Deficit Reduction Act.  2/16/2006

LEVIN: US-CHINA TRADE 'ONE-SIDED' (Washington D.C.)- U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-MI), a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee, made the following statement in response to the United States Trade Representative's (USTR) release of its "Top-to-Bottom" review of U.S - China trade policy:   2/14/2006

TRADE DEFICIT SETS ALL-TIME HISTORIC HIGH AS BUSH ADMINISTRATION FAILS TO ENFORCE TRADE AGREEMENTS, KNOCK DOWN TRADE BARRIERS AND STOP UNFAIR TRADE PRACTICES (Washington D.C.)- With today's announcement of the highest trade deficit in U.S. history, U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-MI), a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee, reacted by calling on the Bush Administration to "get into the game and use the tools of the federal government to shape trade to our advantage."  2/10/2006

LEVIN ON BUSH: FIRST BIPARTISANSHIP, NOW PRIVATIZATION? (Washington D.C.)- {U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-MI), Ranking Democrat on the House Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee, today responded to the President's 2007 budget proposal to spend $712 billion over the next 10 years for the creation of private accounts in the Social Security program.  2/7/2006

THREE MICHIGAN LAWMAKERS COMMEND EPA ON AGREEMENT TO BEGIN 2ND PHASE OF PCB CLEANUP (Washington D.C.)- Senators Carl Levin (D-MI) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), and U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak) commended the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for agreeing to return to St. Clair Shores to continue the cleanup of PCB contamination. The three lawmakers have been working with the City of St. Clair Shores to get EPA to move ahead with the next phase of the PCB cleanup.  2/7/2006

IN NEGOTIATING A KOREAN TRADE AGREEMENT BUSH ADMINISTRATION MUST STAND UP FOR US AUTOMOTIVE SECTORUSTR (Washington D.C.)- U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak), a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee, today issued the following statement in advance of the United States Trade Representative's official announcement scheduled for 3PM today of its intent to enter into negotiations for a free trade agreement with South Korea.   2/2/2006

FEDERAL MANUFACTURING AGENDA (####)  2/1/2006

BUSH'S VISION FOR MANUFACTURING REMAINS ONE OF INACTION (Washington D.C.)- U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak), a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee, today released the scorecard of his Federal Manufacturing Agenda checklist indicating the President only mentioned three of the issues and fully addressed just one of them during his State of the Union Address. Levin released the Federal Manufacturing Agenda to try once again to encourage the President to acknowledge the challenges facing the manufacturing sector and finally take action. Levin pointed out that the President didn't say the word "manufacturing" once throughout his State of the Union Address.  2/1/2006

LEVIN: BUDGET BILL HARMS AMERICA'S CHILDREN (Washington D.C.)- Today, U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak), speaking on the House floor, opposed the second Budget Reconciliation Conference Report passed by both the House and Senate. Deceptively called the "Deficit Reduction Act of 2005," the bill would dramatically reduce federal support for child support collection, student loans, and healthcare for children, the elderly, and the disabled. As a result, its reported budgetary savings would be more than canceled out by the $70 billion in tax cuts Republican leaders plan to pass later this month. Levin blasted its razor thin passage of 216 to 214, calling it "harmful for America's children."  2/1/2006

FAMILIES HAVE TO BE ASKING THEMSELVES WHERE HAS THE PRESIDENT BEEN? (Washington D.C.)- U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak), a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee, reacted to the President's failure to use the State of the Union to address the manufacturing jobs crisis in this country.  1/31/2006

PRESIDENT BUSH DOESN'T HAVE A GOOD TRACK RECORD ON SOCIAL SECURITY COMMISSIONS (Washington D.C.)- U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-MI), Ranking member on the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security, released the following statement in response to the President's 2006 State of the Union address:  1/31/2006

BUSH ROSY ECONOMIC RHETORIC RINGS HOLLOW FOR MILLIONS OF MICHIGAN FAMILIES (Washington D.C.)- U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak), a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee, today issued the following statement after President Bush's speech on the economy before the Chicago Economic Club.  1/6/2006

LAWRENCE TECH AWARDED $1 MILLION FOR RESEARCH CENTER (Washington D.C.)- U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak) released information today regarding $1 million in federal funds that was allocated for the Center for Innovative Materials Research (CIMR) at Lawrence Technological University in Southfield.  The University broke ground for the Center last spring to build on Lawrence Tech's path-breaking work in structural materials research.  The new facility will be a state-of-the-art laboratory for the research, development and testing of carbon fiber composites and other advanced materials.  1/5/2006

LEVIN SLAMS WHITE HOUSE FISCAL IRRESPONSIBILITY (Washington D.C.)- With Congress adjourned for the year and most Americans focused more on holiday shopping than economic news, Treasury Secretary John Snow sent a letter to Congressional leaders on December 29 asking lawmakers to increase the federal debt limit.  Unless Congress approves a higher debt ceiling by mid-March, at the very latest, Secretary Snow warned that it would "be unable to continue to finance government operations."  This is the 4th increase in the debt limit that the Bush Administration has sought since 2002.   1/3/2006

LEVIN RESPONDS TO BUSH ADMINISTRATION'S MISLEADING CLAIM ON MEDICARE DRUG PLAN ENROLLMENT (Washington D.C.)- U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak), a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee, today made the following statement in response to the Bush Administration's claim that 21 million seniors and disabled will be getting prescription drug coverage beginning January 1st:  12/23/2005

LEVIN HAILS REPORT LANGUAGE AS FIRST, GOOD STEP TOWARDS JOHANNA’S LAW (Washington D.C.)- U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak) welcomed the inclusion of dedicated funding for gynecological cancer education and awareness. The Committee report on the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations bill specifically calls attention to how important early detection of gynecological cancers is and calls upon the Secretary of HHS to begin a national education campaign -- specifically earmarking $100,000 for that purpose.  12/16/2005

WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE OVERWHELMINGLY REJECTS SOCIAL SECURITY PRIVATIZATION (Washington D.C.)- U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-MI), Ranking Member on the House Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee, today reacted to the news that the majority of the Delegates to the White House-sponsored Conference on Aging overwhelmingly rejected the privatization of Social Security.  12/16/2005

PENSION BILL SETS PERILOUS COURSE FOR MANUFACTURERS and DEFINED BENEFIT PENSION PLANS (Washington D.C.)- U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-MI), a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee, took to the House floor during debate to detail the dangerous provisions in the bill for the manufacturing sector and defined-benefit pensions which provide guaranteed monthly retirement payments.  House Republicans offered a closed rule shutting out any opportunity for debate or discussion on the Democratic Alternative.  12/15/2005

REPUBLICANS' MISGUIDED BUDGET PRIORITIES APPROVED ON SECOND TRY WITH TWO VOTE MARGIN (Washington D.C.)- Just a week after passing additional tax cuts for the very wealthy, House Republicans are back at it again attacking programs for working families contained in the House Republican Labor-HHS-Education conference report. Passing 215 to 213, the House Republican LHHS second conference report cuts critical services in labor, health, social services, and education by $1.6 billion for the poor, the sick, and the elderly below that 2005 funding level.  In a game of political arm-twisting, House Republicans threatened Members to vote for the LHHS Bill arguing that the cuts would be deeper under a continuing resolution.   12/14/2005

LEVIN ANNOUNCES $400,000 FOR FERNDALE COMMUNITY CENTER (Washington D.C.)- Congressman Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak) announced today that $400,000 in federal funds has been allocated to expand Ferndale's Kulick Community Center.  The money was included, at Rep. Levin's request, in the 2006 Department of Transportation funding bill.  The House and Senate approved this legislation last month, and President Bush recently signed the measure into law.  12/14/2005

REP. LEVIN DELIVERS STATEMENT ON PENSIONS (Washington D.C.)- U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-MI), a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee, made the following brief statement today about the GOP Pension Bill expected to be on the House floor later this week:  12/13/2005

MICHIGAN DELEGATION JOINS TOGETHER TO SEND STRONG MESSAGE TO U.S NEGOTIATORS ON AUTO-RELATED ISSUES AT WTO (Washington D.C.)- The entire Michigan Congressional Delegation sent a letter to the United States Trade Representative (USTR), Ambassador Rob Portman, on the eve of the upcoming World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial meeting in Hong Kong regarding Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) in the automobile sector within the context of the Non-Agricultural Market Access (NAMA) negotiations. As a strong automotive industry is vital to the U.S. economy overall and a critical part of the U.S. manufacturing sector, the Delegation believes it is critical that the U.S. take a position during the Hong Kong Ministerial meeting that will further advance this important issue and achieve an outcome that is beneficial to the U.S. automotive sector.  This letter was discussed at the recent bipartisan meeting with Governor Granholm and was circulated by Reps. Sander Levin and Dave Camp (both Members of the Ways and Means Committee).  12/13/2005

NICK CIARAMITARO OF MACOMB COUNTY TO ATTEND WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE ON AGING (Washington D.C.)- {U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak) announced today that Nick Ciaramitaro of Macomb County will attend as the 12th District Delegate to the 2005 White House Conference on Aging next week. Mr. Ciaramitaro was selected by Rep. Levin to participate in the White House conference because of his strong commitment to older Americans and issues of aging.  12/8/2005

THE REPUBLICAN CHOICE IS CLEAR: MORE TAX CUTS FOR THE VERY WEALTHY AT THE EXPENSE OF WORKING FAMILIES (Washington D.C.)- {U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-MI), a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee, today spoke on the House floor about Republican choices: House Republicans want to award additional tax cuts for the very rich over the needs of working families. Mr. Levin opposed the $56 billion Republican Tax Reconciliation Act, which includes $21 billion in extension of the capital gains and dividend tax cuts for the very wealthy. Today’s passage, in a vote of 234 to 197, of the Republican tax cuts occurred three weeks after the House approved $50 billion in cuts to student loans, child support enforcement, food stamp assistance, and health care for children, the elderly and disabled.   12/8/2005

LEVIN VOTES IN SUPPORT OF BAHRAIN FTA (Washington D.C.)- U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-MI), a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee, today spoke on the House floor in support of the Bahrain Free Trade Agreement – HR 4340 US/Bahrain Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act – which won approval with a vote of 327 to 95.  12/7/2005

MYTH OR REALITY? HOUSE VOTES TO EXTEND TAX RELIEF FOR MIDDLE-CLASS AMERICA (Washington D.C.)- U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-MI), a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee, today spoke on the House floor in favor of a measure that provides assistance for millions of middle-class families by extending relief from the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) – H.R. 4096, the Stealth Tax Relief Act of 2005, passing 414 to 4. However, Democrats argued that the AMT stand alone tax bill was simply a political maneuver by the Republican Majority before they bring up their tax reconciliation bill that does not include AMT relief, but instead awards $21 billion in additional tax cuts that would benefit the very wealthy – nearly half of the cuts go to those who make over a million dollars annually.  12/7/2005

REP. LEVIN RESPONDS TO PRESIDENT BUSH'S COMMENTS ON PENSIONS (Washington D.C.)- Congressman Sander Levin (D-MI), a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee, issued the following statement in response to President Bush's comments on pensions during his speech on the economy and tax relief:  12/5/2005

U.S. REP. SANDER LEVIN, STATE REP. FRED MILLER, COMMISSIONER PAUL GIELEGHEM ANNOUNCE COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS ON THE NEED TO ESTABLISH A FOUR YEAR PUBLIC INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN MACOMB COUNTY (WARREN, MI)- Rep. Sander Levin, State Rep. Fred Miller and County Commissioner Paul Gieleghem met with students at Fitzgerald High School in Warren to announce collaborative efforts on the need to establish a four year public institution of higher education in Macomb County.  12/2/2005

STATEMENT BY CONGRESSMAN SANDER LEVIN ON TREASURY DEPARTMENT'S REPORT RELEASE ON INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC AND EXCHANGE RATE POLICIES (Washington D.C.)- Congressman Sander Levin (D-MI), a Senior Member of the House Ways and Means Committee, made the following statement in response to the Treasury Department's release of the Report to Congress on International Economic and Exchange Rate Policies:  11/28/2005

AMERICANS DEALT BAD HAND UNDER REPUBLICAN BUDGET PLAN (Washington D.C.)- Early this morning, House Republicans delivered a blow to American families by passing their Budget reconciliation bill slashing critical services in the areas of child support, college loans, health services, and food stamps. Turning their backs on America's working families, the Republican plan trades services for those in need in order to award additional tax cuts -- 53 percent of which would go to individuals making more than $1 million annually -- and at the same time digs the deficit deeper.  Congressman Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak) joined a unified Democratic Party in opposing the bill, which passed 217 to 215.  11/18/2005

MACOMB COUNTY RADIO COMMUNICATIONS BOOSTED BY FEDERAL SUPPORT (Washington D.C.)- The Senate and the House have approved the annual spending bill for Science, State, Justice, and Commerce and Related Agencies.  Included in the bill is a total of $900,000 targeted at five communities in Macomb County to upgrade their radio communications equipment.  11/18/2005

HOUSE DEMOCRATS SCORE WIN FOR AMERICAN FAMILIES (Washington D.C.)- Today House Democrats united to defeat a damaging Republican Labor, HHS, and Education Conference Bill that sought to cut education, health and human services, and labor programs to pay for tax cuts for the very wealthy. Although the GOP Leadership held open the vote for 36 minutes to pressure members to change their minds, the conference agreement on the 2006 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education Appropriations bill was defeated on a vote of 209 to 224, with all House Democrats and 22 Republicans voting no.  Congressman Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak) lauded the bill’s defeat, calling it "a win for American families."  11/17/2005

LEVIN SPONSORED BILL ESTABLISHING UKRAINIAN FAMINE MEMORIAL PASSES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES (Washington D.C.)- The US House of Representatives today passed H.R. 562, a bill introduced by Representative Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak) to allow the Government of Ukraine to donate a memorial in Washington, DC honoring the victims of the Ukrainian Famine-Genocide of 1932-33.  Passing by a voice vote, Rep. Levin spoke on the House floor in support of the bill:  11/16/2005

GUARANTEED PENSIONS THREATEND UNDER REPUBLICAN PENSION PLAN (Washington D.C.)- The House Ways and Means Republicans today approved a highly controversial pension reform bill, the "Pension Protection Act of 2005," which would likely increase the number of companies terminating their pension plans, depriving workers of hard-earned retirement benefits they were promised. Opposing the Republican proposal, Congressman Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak) instead supported the Democratic substitute that does not include harmful provisions that will make it more difficult for companies to balance the immediate need to increase competitiveness and fund future pension obligations.  The Democratic substitute also prevents top executives from receiving big bonuses and new benefits while they underfund and terminate the pension plans of their rank and file employees.  11/9/2005

HOUSE REPUBLICANS: UPSIDE-DOWN PRIORTIES (Washington D.C.) - Today, House Republicans on the Budget Committee approved a partisan Republican budget reconciliation bill that would dramatically reduce federal support for child support collection, student loans, nutrition assistance, and health care for children, the elderly, and the disabled. Republicans claimed the "Deficit Reduction Act of 2005" would help to pay for Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, but in fact the bill would hurt those most affected by the Hurricanes by slashing key funding to programs designed to help them in their recovery. Rep. Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak) blasted its approval, calling Republican priorities "upside-down."  11/3/2005

MICHIGAN LAWMAKERS CALL ON EPA TO COMPLETE PCB CLEANUP IN ST. CLAIR SHORES (Washington D.C.) - Members of the Michigan Delegation today released a joint letter to Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 Administrator Tom Skinner urging the EPA to "take immediate action to remediate the additional PCB contamination that has been discovered in St. Clair Shores, Michigan."  The letter was signed by Senators Levin (D) and Stabenow (D), and Congressman Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak).  11/3/2005

REP. LEVIN'S STATEMENT ON PRESIDENT'S TAX PANEL RECOMMENDATIONS (Washington D.C.)- Today, the President’s Advisory Panel on Federal Tax Reform issued its recommendations for tax reform. Rep. Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak), senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee, released the following statement:  11/1/2005

CAMP, LEVIN INTRODUCE BIPARTISAN HOUSE BILL SEEKING BETTER ENFORCEMENT OF TRADE LAWS (Washington D.C.)- Two of Michigan's senior members of the House Ways and Means Committee, the committee responsible for trade policy, today introduced new legislation to beef up U.S. enforcement of international trade laws.   11/1/2005

LEVIN BACKS IMPROVEMENTS TO WORKER TRADE ASSISTANCE BILL (Washington D.C.)- Rep. Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak) and more than 66 Members of Congress introduced a bill making comprehensive improvements to the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program, HR 4156 -- the Trade Adjustment Assistance Improvement Act.  TAA is in place to assist workers whose jobs are shipped overseas or lost because of imports from other countries. 10/28/2005

CONGRESS TAKES LAST STEPS ON BRAC RECOMMENDATION (Washington D.C.)- Rep. Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak) today opposed a resolution that would have blocked the recommendations made by the BRAC Committee, including the addition of nearly 650 additional jobs at TACOM. The LaHood Resolution of Disapproval, introduced by Rep. Ray LaHood of Illinois, was defeated with a vote of 324 to 85.   10/27/2005

PRESIDENT FORCED TO END HIS EXECUTIVE ORDER SUSPENDING PREVAILING WAGE LAWS FOR GULF REGION WORKERS (Washington D.C.)- Rep. Sander Levin issued the following statement after learning that President Bush has announced he will reverse the decision he made in September to remove wage protections for construction workers in the areas affected by Hurricane Katrina.  The 1931 Davis-Bacon Act requires that federal contractors pay the locally prevailing wage on construction projects, including highways, buildings, and bridges.  10/26/2005

HOUSE REPUBLICANS SET TO DECIMATE CHILD SUPPORT PAYMENTS IN DRIVE TO CUT TAXES (Washington D.C.)- Proposals included in the Republican budget reconciliation would reduce child support payments to families nationwide by $16.8 billion over the next 10 years.  Michigan families would lose $204 million in child support payments in just the next three years.  These figures are drawn from analysis by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) of the Republican proposal scheduled for consideration in the House Ways & Means Committee tomorrow.  10/25/2005

STATEMENT BY REP. SANDER LEVIN ON THE DEATH OF MRS. ROSA PARKS (Washington D.C.)- Rep. Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak) today released the following statement on the death of Mrs. Rosa Parks:  10/25/2005

LEVIN-AUTHORED DRUG FREE COMMUNITIES SUPPORT PROGRAM ANNOUNCES GRANTS TO 12 MICHIGAN COMMUNITIES (Washington D.C.)-  The Office of National Drug Control Policy today announced that 12 Michigan Communities will receive new funding through the Drug Free Communities Support Program, totaling 176 new grants being awarded to anti-drug coalitions around the country. Rep. Sandy Levin (D-Royal Oak) was the original co-author of the legislation that established the Drug Free Communities Program in 1997.  9/21/2005