Congressman Sander Levin

About Sandy

Serving on the House Ways and Means Committee

"(H)e has won considerable respect as a judicious legislator determined to find the right answers even if they are not the simple answers." Politics in America, 1996 Edition

Sander Levin currently serves on the House Ways and Means Committee, which has jurisdiction over all tax, trade and economic growth policies and entitlement spending, including Social Security, Medicare, welfare and unemployment compensation. He is the Chairman of the Trade Subcommittee. He also serves on the Social Security subcommittee.

He is known as a leader on trade issues — seeking ways to use trade policy to shape globalization. U.S. businesses and workers can compete in the global economy if the playing field is level. He is fighting to include worker rights and environmental standards in trade agreements. He has persistently challenged unfair trade practices, including currency manipulation, that threaten U.S. manufacturers and U.S. jobs and to knock down unfair barriers to our products in foreign markets.

Levin has also made tax equity a top priority. He has introduced legislation to close a loophole in current law that allows private equity fund managers to avoid paying the ordinary income tax rate for services they provide managing other people’s money. He also has tax proposals in the areas of alternative energy, mortgage insurance, food donation, and higher education. He is working to expand children’s health care, add preventative services to Medicare, educate women on gynecologic cancers, and improve advance directives and living wills.

Public Service

Sander Levin was elected to the State Senate in 1964, serving on the Education and Labor Committee. He was Senate Minority Leader (1969/70).

In 1970 and 1974, Levin was the Democratic candidate for Governor. After a four year assignment as Assistant Administrator in the Agency for International Development, he was elected to Congress in 1982.

Representing the 12th Congressional District of Michigan

"Sandy Levin: The guy I'd want for my Congressman and neighbor: hard-working, thoughtful, effective and honest." James Gannon, Detroit News, July 17, 1994

Sander Levin has represented Michigan’s 12th Congressional District since 1992. The District now includes almost 60% of Macomb County and spans from Clinton Township/Mount Clemens and Lake St. Clair to Southfield.

At home he is working to help communities create coalitions to combat drug and alcohol abuse among teenagers. From this experience, Levin co-authored the federal Drug Free Communities Act which has funded over 700 of these programs nationwide. His work on the Anti-Crime bill has resulted in over 70 additional community police officers, a new multi-jurisdictional unit, and $17 million for a consortium of 44 police agencies in Oakland County to upgrade crime-fighting technology at local police departments. Levin served on the local committee that facilitated the transfer of the former tank plant in Warren to private use. He is actively involved in a variety of efforts to improve water quality throughout the region, including Lake St. Clair and numerous other local projects.

Background

Born in Detroit, Levin graduated from Central High School. He earned his B.A. at the University of Chicago, his M.A. in international relations from Columbia University and a law degree from Harvard University. Sander Levin and his wife, Vicki have four children and eight grandchildren. His brother, Carl, serves in the United States Senate.