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House Approves Boost for Senior Nutrition
On October 7, the House of Representatives voted 263 to 162 to adopt the annual funding bill for the Department of Agriculture. The measure included an expansion of the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), a monthly service that helps provide nutritious food to low-income women, infants, children, and elderly citizens who struggle with rising food costs. Rep. Levin helped lead the effort to expand the CSFP. “Across the county, literally millions of people are at risk of hunger,” said Rep. Levin. “We need to strengthen efforts at every level to help ensure that people in need do not go hungry.”
In the Detroit area, the program is administered by Focus: HOPE, a non-profit that serves 41,000 people in the area, 35,000 of whom are seniors. “Since advocating for this program in the 1970s, I have seen how effective – and essential – the program is for thousands of mothers, children and senior citizens in metropolitan Detroit,” said Eleanor Josaitis, co-founder of Focus: HOPE.
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Lawmakers Urge Funding for Michigan High-Speed Rail
On October 2, the entire Michigan congressional delegation wrote to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood to encourage the Department of Transportation to fund Michigan’s application for high-speed rail investments. Michigan is seeking $833 million of the $8 billion Congress included in the Recovery Act earlier this year for high-speed rail projects.
To view the letter to Secretary LaHood, click here.
House Approves Hate Crimes Measure
On October 8, the House approved the final version of the 2010 Defense Authorization [H.R. 2647] on a vote of 281 to 146. Included in the agreement was a Senate amendment to strengthen law enforcement against hate crimes. The hate crimes provision – which is supported by more than 300 law enforcement, religious, civil rights, and disability groups – broadens the federal definition of hate crimes to include those motivated by gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, and membership in the military. The Senate is expected to approve the legislation in the near future.
Among its many other provisions, the Defense Authorization provides needed military equipment and training to our troops; gives military personnel a 3.4 percent pay raise; improves health care for our troops; improves family support for military families; bans permanent bases in Iraq or Afghanistan, and provides resources for non-proliferation programs to keep nuclear weapons out of the hands of terrorists.
Rep. Levin Honored for Work on Drug-Free Communities
On October 12, the Alliance of Coalitions for Healthy Communities presented its Champion for Prevention Award to Rep. Levin at their “Celebrate Success” event. Rep. Levin was recognized for co-authoring the bill that created Drug Free Communities Support Program, which is designed to reduce substance abuse among young people by supporting community anti-drug coalitions.
The Week Ahead
The House is expected to approve the Iran Sanctions Act [H.R. 1327] which gives states and local governments the authority to divest from Iran’s energy sector. The House will also debate the Bay Area Regional Water Recycling Program Expansion Act [H.R. 2442] as well as the conference report on H.R. 2892, the annual funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security.
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