I write today to update you on recent legislative activities in the United States Congress.  I appreciate the opportunity to contact you.

Extending Unemployment Benefits

Many Michigan families are struggling as the state’s unemployment continues to hover near 7 percent and well above the national average.  Extending unemployment benefits is crucial for these families as they deal with job losses tied to Michigan’s economic situation.  Unemployment workers in states like Michigan need this boost to help them provide for their families under these extraordinary circumstances.

That is why I co-authored H.R. 5749, the Emergency Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 2008.  I am pleased to report that H.R. 5749 passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 274 to 137.  This measure which currently is before the U.S. Senate, will provide up to 26 weeks of extended unemployment benefits for Michigan workers who have exhausted their regular unemployment compensation.  This helping hand to Michigan families is crucial because 3.5 million jobless workers nationally will exhaust their regular unemployment benefits this year.

While every American would prefer a job over an unemployment check, unemployment insurance is an important part of our safety net.  It allows laid-off workers to meet their families’ basic needs while conducting a job search and undergoing job retraining.

Rest assured, I will continue working on towards getting this bipartisan measure signed into law.  Please visit my Job Resources webpage for information on job banks, unemployment assistance, retraining and my job creation agenda.

Declaring Energy Independence by July 4, 2015

If we come together as a nation, we could stop importing overseas oil by 2015, and protect America’s national security, lower gasoline and home heating prices, create jobs and protect the Environment.  That is why I introduced a legislative plan, H.R. 6161, that would lift the nation over the hurdle of depending on oil from nations that do not want America to succeed.

My legislative plan, H.R. 6161, to Provide for America’s Energy Independence by July 4, 2015, is a holistic approach to develop more sources of energy in the United States, so we stop sending millions of dollars a day to countries like Russia, Venezuela, and Saudi Arabia and start giving that money to American families.

The fact is, we have the ability to lower the price of gas, my legislation explains that is not one or two things we need to fix but rather a collection of solutions to provide America with energy domestically.  Please go to my website and look at the plan.

You can view my Energy Independence plan here

You can view an animated explanation of the plan here

 Protecting the Great Lakes

The Great Lakes are a natural wonder and a state treasure.  The lakes contain nearly 90% of the surface freshwater of the United States and 20% of the surface freshwater globally.

However the Great Lakes face serious threats like poor water quality, degraded fish and wildlife habitat, toxic sediments, and invasive species such as the asian carp. They also face serious threats from states trying to wrest control away from Great Lakes states.  That is why one of my highest priorities in Congress has and will continue to be the protection of the Great Lakes.

To face these threats, Congress should reauthorize the Legacy Act and implement the recommendations of the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration immediately.  These two pieces of legislation that I was an original co-sponsor of will provide funding to the Great Lakes for the collaborative cleanup and protection of the Great Lakes.

To read more about current events in Congress to restore the Great Lakes click here

I appreciate your continued interest in the legislative activities of your U.S. Congress.  As always, should you have questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to let me know.

Sincerely,

Mike Rogers

Member of Congress