October 2014 Newsletter
Issues Update
In recent weeks, Sen. Levin and his wife, Barbara, participated in the christening of the USS Detroit; he delivered a major foreign policy speech on Afghanistan; he welcomed a security agreement between the United States and Afghanistan; and he joined Michigan's Sen. Debbie Stabenow in fighting an electric rate increase in the Upper Peninsula.
Ingredients in place for success in Afghanistan
In a speech to the U.S. Institute of Peace in Washington, Sen. Levin said he is hopeful about Afghanistan's future because of the progress we have helped bring about over the last several years and because of the recent peaceful and democratic transition of power, a first in Afghanistan's long history. That transition, he said, offers increased reason for optimism that we have an essential ingredient, perhaps the essential ingredient, for success in place there: a unity government of Afghans whose own goals are in harmony with our goal of a free, peaceful and unified Afghanistan with strong security forces and honest governance. Photo courtesy of U.S. Institute of Peace.
Read Sen. Levin's speech at the U.S. Institute of Peace »
Watch Sen. Levin's speech at the U.S. Institute of Peace on C-SPAN.org »
Christening of the USS Detroit
In mid-October, Sen. and Mrs. Levin celebrated the christening and launch of the future USS Detroit, the sixth ship in the history of the U.S. Navy to bear that name. The ship, built at Marinette Marine's shipyard in Wisconsin just across the state line from the Upper Peninsula, is part of the Navy's growing fleet of Littoral Combat Ships. Barbara Levin is the ship's sponsor and had the ceremonial duty of breaking the traditional champagne bottle on the ship's bow at the christening. Photo courtesy of Lockheed Martin.
Read Sen. Levin's remarks at the christening of the USS Detroit »
Read Barbara Levin's remarks at the christening of the USS Detroit »
Read Sen. Levin's newspaper column about the christening of the USS Detroit »
More news from Senator Levin
- Sen. Levin joined Sen. Debbie Stabenow in writing to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission calling for action to prevent an electric rate increase for Upper Peninsula consumers.
- He welcomed congressional approval of legislation to authorize training and equipping of moderate Syrian rebels to help combat the terrorist group ISIS.
- In an opinion column published in The Washington Post, he joined Republican Sen. Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma in calling for the United States to provide defensive weapons to Ukraine to help that country protect itself from Russian aggression.
- He and Sen. Stabenow welcomed the announcement from the Environmental Protection Agency of the successful cleanup of two toxic hotspots in Lake Superior and Lake Michigan.