News
Chairwoman Stabenow Announces Support to Improve Electric Service for Residents, Businesses Across Central Upper Peninsula
U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, Chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, today announced support to improve electric service to businesses and residents in the central Upper Peninsula. The support comes through the USDA's rural utilities program and will help replace aging electric lines, build new lines to reach new residents, and support smart grid projects that can help reduce electric consumption and protect the electric grid to improve service. Senator Stab… Continue Reading
05.06.14
Senator Stabenow Fighting to Make College More Affordable
U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow today joined Senator Elizabeth Warren to introduce legislation that would save millions of borrowers money on their student loans. The Bank on Students Emergency Loan Refinancing Act would allow responsible borrowers with outstanding student loan debt, including some privates loans, incurred at past higher interest rates to refinance at the low rates currently offered only to new borrowers. This would save borrowers hundreds or even thousands of dollars a year. At … Continue Reading
05.05.14
Senator Stabenow Announces Support for the City of Clare to Equip Police Vehicles
U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow today announced support for the City of Clare to purchase new equipment for five patrol vehicles. This project will help serve 3,071 rural Michiganders. The support, made available through a U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Economic Impact Initiative Grant, will help the City of Clare update its fleet of police cruisers. Senator Stabenow said: "Our first responders provide critical services to rural communities like Clare throughout Michigan. This sup… Continue Reading
05.01.14
Senator Stabenow, Representative Peters Introduce Bill to Help Small Businesses Grow and Create Jobs
U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow and Carl Levin and U.S. Representative Gary Peters today introduced the Small Business Access to Capital Act, which would reauthorize and improve the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) to help small businesses grow and create jobs. The legislation builds on the successful SSBCI initiative created by the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010. The effort has made nearly $70 million available to Michigan - the most of any state in the country - to help small bu… Continue Reading
05.01.14
Stabenow, Levin Announce Firefighter Grants for Ann Arbor, Armada and Detroit
Three Southeast Michigan fire departments will each receive a grant from the Department of Homeland Security to help improve their operations and boost safety for their emergency personnel and the public, Sens. Debbie Stabenow and Carl Levin announced today. Ann Arbor Charter Township Fire Department will receive $89,186, Armada Township Fire Department will receive $24,206, and Detroit Fire Department will receive $1,176,300 from the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program of the Federal Emerg… Continue Reading
05.01.14
Stabenow, Levin Announce Grant for Onondaga Fire Department
Onondaga Fire Department will receive a grant from the Department of Homeland Security to help improve their operations and boost safety for their emergency personnel and the public, Sens. Debbie Stabenow and Carl Levin announced today. The department will receive $119,434 from the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, part of the Department of Homeland Security. "Our firefighters provide critical, courageous service to communities across Mid-Michig… Continue Reading
05.01.14
Stabenow, Levin Announce Grant for Sherman Township Fire Department
Sherman Township Fire Department will receive a grant from the Department of Homeland Security to help improve their operations and boost safety for their emergency personnel and the public, Sens. Debbie Stabenow and Carl Levin announced today. The department will receive $24,843 from the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, part of the Department of Homeland Security. "Our firefighters provide critical, courageous service to communities across Mic… Continue Reading
04.30.14
Senate Republicans Block Legislation to Raise Minimum Wage for Millions of American Families
Senate Republicans today filibustered a vote to raise the minimum wage for millions of American families. U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow voted to move forward on the Minimum Wage Fairness Act, legislation she cosponsored that would increase the minimum wage to $10.10 per hour. While a majority of senators voted to move forward on the bill, Republicans refused to allow consideration of the bill, which would help lift millions of American families out of poverty. "Right now, many people working fu… Continue Reading
04.30.14
Senator Stabenow Leads Bipartisan Women Senators Urging Administration to Protect Women’s Health in Medical Trials
In advance of Mother's Day, U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow today led a group of bipartisan women senators in standing up for women's health to make sure medical treatments are safe and effective for women. In a letter to the Food and Drug Administration, the senators urged that more women and minorities be included in clinical trials to ensure accurate information on the safety and effectiveness of new drugs and medical devices is made available. Women and minorities are not fairly represented in… Continue Reading
04.22.14
Chairwoman Stabenow Announces Over $5 Million for City of Norway Water Project
U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, Chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, today announced that the City of Norway will receive $5.6 million to support necessary improvements to its water and wastewater system. This major investment is part of Sen. Stabenow's 2014 Farm Bill, which increased funding for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Rural Development Water and Environmental programs. President Obama signed the Farm Bill into law at Michigan State Univer… Continue Reading
04.17.14
Senators Stabenow, Levin Announce Support to Enhance Battle Creek Fire Department’s Operations and Safety
U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow and Carl Levin today announced support for the Battle Creek Fire Department. The grant comes through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. Senator Stabenow said, "Across Michigan, our firefighters provide courageous service to communities like Battle Creek. This support makes sure they have the resources they need to perform their duties safely and protect the public." Senator Levin said, "Battle Creek firefighters sta… Continue Reading
04.17.14
Chairwoman Stabenow Announces Support for Michigan Fruit, Vegetable and Nursery Producers
U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, Chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, today announced the availability of over $1.9 million to support fruit, vegetable, and nursery producers. The funding, which comes through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, is a direct result of the 2014 Farm Bill's significant investment in healthy, locally grown food. President Obama signed Sen. Stabenow's 2014 Farm Bill at Michigan State Universi… Continue Reading
04.15.14
Chairwoman Stabenow Urges Michigan Farmers, Ranchers and Growers to Sign-up for Strengthened Disaster Assistance
U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, Chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, announced that starting today eligible farmers and ranchers in Michigan can sign up for federal disaster assistance. The support, including the Livestock Indemnity Program, the Livestock Forage Disaster Program, the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program, and the Tree Assistance Program, is made possible by Chairwoman Stabenow's 2014 Farm Bill, which Pre… Continue Reading
04.09.14
Senate Republicans Block Passage of Paycheck Fairness Act
Senate Republicans today filibustered the Paycheck Fairness Act, legislation cosponsored by U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow that would help reduce gender discrimination in pay. While the measure received a majority of votes, it was once again unable to overcome Republican opposition. "It is outrageous that in 2014 some in Congress apparently still think that women don't deserve to earn the same amount as a man for doing the same job," said Stabenow. "Women don't get a 23-percent discount at the gr… Continue Reading
04.08.14
Agriculture Chairwoman Stabenow Announces Support for City of Vassar Police Department to Buy New Police Vehicle
U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, Chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, today announced a Rural Development Grant for the City of Vassar Police Department. The grant, made available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development Initiative Community Facilities Grant Program, will be used to help purchase a new police vehicle for the City of Vassar Police Department to help them serve and protect local residents. "We depend on our men and women in … Continue Reading
04.08.14
Senator Stabenow Statement on Equal Pay Day, Presidential Executive Orders on Equal Pay
Today, April 8, marks Equal Pay Day, the day when women's earnings finally catch up to those of men. Because of gender discrimination in pay, women nationally, on average, still earn only 77 cents on the dollar compared to men. Women must work one year, three months and 8 days - more than three months into the current year - to earn the same amount a man earned during just the 12 months of 2013. "We need to give women and their families a fair shot to get ahead in life by making sure that women… Continue Reading
04.07.14
Senate Votes to Extend Emergency Unemployment Insurance
U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow today voted with a bipartisan group of Senators to pass a 5 month extension of emergency unemployment insurance for millions of Americans who are looking for work. The legislation passed today will restore temporary insurance for the 106,200 people in Michigan who lost this critical support. The extension is retroactive to December, 2013, when emergency unemployment insurance expired, and continues through the end of May. "This support is the last lifeline for thos… Continue Reading
04.04.14
16 Rural Michigan Counties Receive Support for Schools and Roads
U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, Chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, today announced over $3.1 million in federal funding to support public schools and roads in 16 Michigan counties. The funding comes through the U.S. Forest Service's Secure Rural Schools program, which provides payments to communities where national forestland is located. The payments are a way for counties to share the profits generated from logging and timber sales in Michigan's Huron-Manis… Continue Reading
04.03.14
Senator Stabenow Appointed Chair of Finance Subcommittee on International Trade, Customs and Global Competitiveness
U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, a senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, today announced her appointment as Chair of the Subcommittee on International Trade, Customs and Global Competitiveness. Senator Stabenow previously served as Chair of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Energy, Natural Resources and Infrastructure. "This is a critical time for our economy, and it is critical that we have the right trade policies to open up new markets and help American businesses create jobs in our co… Continue Reading
04.03.14
Senator Stabenow Measure to Protect Homeowners from Higher Taxes Passes Senate Finance Committee
U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, a senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, today praised Committee passage of her Mortgage Forgiveness Tax Relief Act, bipartisan legislation that protects underwater homeowners from being hit with huge, unfair tax bills by the IRS. Her provision, included in legislation to extend expiring tax provisions (the EXPIRE Act), ensures that homeowners who owe more on their mortgages than their homes are now worth would not be hit with additional income tax if a por… Continue Reading
