Congressman Sander Levin

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Job Loss Figures Spotlight Need for State and Federal Action

Michigan Delegation Urges GM to Make New Vehicles in Michigan

Levin Statement on Holocaust Museum Tragedy

Sandy's Blog

Jobs Numbers Highlight Need to Keep Pressing Action at State and Federal Levels The Department of Labor released the jobs numbers for June.  The national unemployment rate now stands at 9.5%.  The numbers behind this figure are very concerning and point to the difficulty of this recession and recovery.  467,000 additional jobs were lost in June.  The long-term unemployed, or individuals unemployed for longer than 6 month, has tripled since the start of the recession and now stands at 4.4 million.  The estimate is that there are 5 people looking for work for every job available. 

Great – The three "G's" for Michigan today Today was another good news day for Michigan.   

Climate Change Legislation Needs to Address International Competition Trying to finalize and strengthen border adjustment provisions in the climate change legislation so U.S. manufacturers not at competitive disadvantage if other countries don’t participate in the solution to this serious environmental problem.  As we put a price on carbon pollution here in the United States, we don’t want U.S. industries to be put at a competitive disadvantage with industries in the developing world (like India and China) that do not have similar controls on their carbon emissions.  The bill already provides some relief by giving energy intensive, trade competitive industries (like steel, aluminum, flat glass, etc.) free allowances (an allowance is the right to emit one ton of carbon), but I am working to allow the President and Congress to put a border adjustment on carbon intensive goods that are imported into the U.S. (starting in 2020) from countries that have not made a similar commitment to curbing carbon emissions. 

Continued Federal Action on Auto Issues Today was a good news day for the auto industry. Ford was awarded $9.5 billion in loans to retool 11 facilities so they can produce the next generation of vehicles.  I look forward to seeing additional investments financed through this Department of energy program, including those at GM, Chrysler, and the companies of the automotive supply base.  And, I have introduced legislation to double the funding this program because even in this first batch of applications demand far outpaced resources.