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Michigan Lawmakers Demand Plan to Address Asian Carp Threat
On January 22, the Michigan Congressional Delegation called on federal agencies to quickly finish and submit a comprehensive response plan to address the ecological and economic threats to the Great Lakes posed by the Asian carp.
The letter, which was written to the heads of the Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Agency, said that the “Asian carp poses one of the most serious threats to the Great Lakes to date.... As such, we request that the completed comprehensive response plan be submitted to members of the Michigan delegation no later than the close of business, Friday, February 5th.” The letter was co-signed by all 17 Members of the Michigan Delegation. To read the letter in full, click here.
Southeast Michigan Awarded $2 Million to Provide Training and Placement in Clean Energy Jobs
On January 20, the U.S. Department of Labor announced that the State of Michigan is the recipient of a State Energy Sector Partnership and Training Grant to train workers in the skills demanded by local renewable energy and energy efficiency firms and place the workers into jobs. The state’s grant application calls for $2.1 million to be used in Southeast Michigan for training in advanced energy storage and solar energy.
Rep. Levin said that the “announcement gives another important boost to Michigan’s training and economic development initiatives by strengthening a vital private-public partnership for training and placement in emerging energy jobs. While workers train for new jobs, we must also redouble our efforts to encourage job growth and get credit flowing to small businesses so they can expand.” For more information on this award, click here.
House Resolution Underscores Need for Early Cancer Screening
On January 22, the House of Representatives approved a resolution [H.Con.Res.158] in support of designating an Early Detection Month for cancer to enhance public awareness of cancer screening. Every year almost 2 million Americans are diagnosed with cancer, and early detection can help patients get early treatment. Rep. Levin, who was a co-sponsor of the resolution, has been a strong proponent of increased education to aid the early detection of cancer, particularly gynecological cancers.
Every year, 26,000 women in the U.S. die from gynecological cancers including cervical, ovarian, and uterine cancer. But research shows that many deaths could be prevented if more women knew the risk factors and early symptoms of gynecologic cancers and discussed them with health care practitioners. In 2003, Rep. Levin was the original sponsor of the 2006 “Johanna’s Law,” which provides funding to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention to educate the public and health care providers about the signs and symptoms of gynecological cancers. Since passage of Johanna’s Law, Rep. Levin has led efforts in each of the succeeding years to secure funding for the program, and is now working to pass a bill to continue the program beyond its original 3-year time frame. To learn more about the CDC campaign funded by Johanna’s Law, please visit: http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/gynecologic/knowledge/
Good News
At the end of the week, Rep. Levin’s office received good news for a student and unemployed steelworker. In highlighting the need to extend unemployment insurance during the economic recession, Rep. Levin has featured the story of Larry from Madison Heights who had been unemployed since May 2008, when he was laid off after 25 years as a steel worker. Larry received a call that he has been offered a job at a company in Sterling Heights, also working in steel, and called to tell us the good news. Rep. Levin was also honored to call the family of a Chippewa Valley High School Senior to let them know their son has been offered appointments from West Point, the Naval Academy and the Air Force Academy, an impressive achievement.
Keep the emails, regular mail, phone calls and other requests coming
We do our best to respond to the letters, phone calls and emails that we receive from 12th District residents. Last year the total came to over 34,000 responses sent out, a 24% increase over 2008. We look forward to hearing from you.
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