House Passes the Woman, Peace, and Security Act

On November 15, the House passed the Women, Peace, and Security Act (H.R. 5332).  This bipartisan measure requires the president to develop a plan to promote the participation of women abroad in conflict prevention, management, and resolution and recovery.  As women remain underrepresented in this field, passage of this measure takes an important step in promoting greater participation of women in conflict resolution, peace, and security.  You may know that research has shown that when women meaningfully participate, conflict resolution negotiations are more likely to address the underlying causes of the conflict, leading to more sustainable outcomes. 

Rep. Levin Co-sponsors the Plymouth 400th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act
Rep. Levin joined 55 House Members in cosponsoring legislation directing the Treasury Department to mint coins in recognition of the cultural contributions of the indigenous Wampanoag tribe and the founding of Plymouth Colony. The design of the commemorative coins will be emblematic of the arrival of the Pilgrims at Plymouth, Massachusetts, the signing of the Mayflower Compact, and will celebrate the 50-year Pilgrim-Wampanoag peace treaty, and the “First Thanksgiving,” which has been woven into the tradition of our country.

Macomb County Site Receives Landmark Designation
On November 2, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell and National Park Service Director Jonathan Jarvis announced the designation of Gaukler Pointe as one of 10 new National Historic Landmarks.  This designation recognizes sites that have exceptional value and offer insight into the heritage of the United States.  The announcement credited the site, home to Edsel and Eleanor Ford, for the collaboration between landscape architect Jens Jensen and architect Albert Kahn.  You can read more about the Secretary’s announcement here.

Participate in the Veterans History Project
Congressman Levin supports the Library of Congress’ Veterans History Project. The goal of the project is to record and preserve the personal accounts of American war veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war and service to our country.

As part of the project, veterans complete an interview discussing their service, which is then sent to Washington, D.C. and added to a growing collection of veteran’s stories. The Veterans’ History Project is a great way for citizens to connect with veterans, provide community service, or complete an Eagle Scout project. To get started, visit the Veterans History Project website here.

This Week on the House Floor
The House reconvenes this week from the fall district work period.  In addition to several non-controversial measures, the House will take up another bill to undermine the Iran nuclear agreement.  H.R. 5711 would revoke prior authorizations by the Treasury Department for commercial aircraft sales to Iran, which is in direct violation of the agreement.  The House will also debate the Midnight Rules Relief Act (H.R. 5982), legislation designed to nullify Obama Administration rulemaking and that could jeopardize health, safety, and consumer protections.