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Michigan Appropriations

FISCAL YEAR 2011 APPROPRIATIONS REQUESTS

Each year, I work with members of the Michigan community and other members of the Michigan delegation to request funding for projects throughout our state which create jobs and benefit our communities. I have helped to secure funding for many different needs, including funding for education and research; funding to make improvements to the infrastructure in Michigan; funding to enhance the abilities of our law enforcement agencies; funding to protect our national resources and the Great Lakes; funding to enhance healthcare; funding to promote national security; and funding to provide support for organizations throughout the state that serve our most vulnerable citizens.

While this process of congressionally-mandated spending has been criticized by some, I agree with President Obama when he said, “Done right, earmarks give legislators the opportunity to direct federal money to worthy projects that benefit people in their district.” Over the years, I have been proud of the projects for which I have helped to secure funding.

In 2007, Congress passed meaningful ethics and lobbying legislation which included reforms to ensure transparency in the process by providing greater disclosure and requiring information on earmarks to be available to the public online. These disclosures allow all Americans the opportunity to know where their tax dollars are being spent and will help ensure the quality of the projects which are funded.

If Congress didn’t provide funds for these projects through earmarks, the decisions on where those federal dollars are spent would be made solely by the executive branch. I believe that the elected representatives of the people in Congress are often in a better position to decide where the people’s money is spent than the bureaucracy in Washington. As a representative for the people of Michigan, I am committed to continue to work to secure funding for projects that are vital to our communities.

The Appropriations subcommittees to which Senator Levin submits requests are listed in the left and right hand columns. A pdf of Senator Levin's FY 2011 Michigan appropriations requests will be available as soon as they are submitted to each Appropriations subcommittee. Note: Senator Levin requests funding for all projects submitted that would be a good use of taxpayer dollars; only a small percentage of these projects will receive federal funding.

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