May 2012 Newsletter
Issues Update
In recent weeks, Sen. Levin has helped lead an effort to make important changes to legislation reforming the U.S. Postal Service, pushed for rules on Wall Street to help prevent risky bets by banks that could lead to another financial crisis, and made his ninth visit to see U.S. troops in Afghanistan as chairman of the Armed Services Committee.
Postal reform must protect universal service
As the Senate debated legislation aimed at helping the U.S. Postal Service deal with a mounting budget crisis, Sen. Levin joined with Sens. Jon Tester of Montana and Al Franken of Minnesota to propose an amendment ensuring that communities have a meaningful chance to challenge decisions to close postal facilities, and ensuring that any closings yielded measurable financial savings. The Senate passed the reform bill with the amendment included.
Read Sen. Levin's Senate floor statement on the importance of the amendment »
Read a press release on the amendment's adoption »
Read Sen. Levin's floor statement on final passage of the bill »
Read his newspaper column on the need for careful postal reform »
Cops on the beat must halt risky Wall Street bets
As the co-author of Wall Street reform provisions designed to prevent financial institutions from risking the stability of the economy with risky financial bets, Sen. Levin led an effort by a group of senators to call on regulators to eliminate loopholes that could allow risky transactions and to quickly implement the law as written. Their arguments were bolstered just days later by a reported $2 billion loss at the nation's largest bank.
Read a press release on the senators' letter to financial regulators »
Sen. Levin on hand for signing of Afghan accord
Sen. Levin traveled to Afghanistan for the ninth time as chairman of the Armed Services Committee. During his visit, President Obama made an unannounced trip there to sign a historic strategic partnership agreement with the Afghan government. Sen. Levin also visited Turkey and NATO headquarters in Belgium during the trip.
Read the press release announcing Sen. Levin's trip »
Read Sen. Levin's statement on the signing ceremony »
See a slide show of photos from Sen. Levin's trip »
More news from Senator Levin
- Sen. Levin and Sen. Debbie Stabenow welcomed progress on providing funding for a new nuclear science facility at Michigan State University.
- Sen. Levin led an effort by 27 senators to push for adequate funding for harbor maintenance on the Great Lakes and around the country.
- He called for an end to a filibuster that blocked legislation to prevent a doubling of college loan interest rates.
- He supported passage of legislation to help communities fight violence against women.
- He called for IRS action to close an abusive tax loophole.
- He and Sen. Dianne Feinstein refuted claims by a former intelligence official that "enhanced interrogation tactics" had helped lead to the discovery of Osama bin Laden's hideout.