PRINCIPLE

In an editorial about Carl Levin, the Detroit News wrote, "He has been above reproach personally and has stuck to his principles, even when they were unpopular. Principled leadership, no matter what political ideology it comes from, is sorely needed in Washington."

LEADERSHIP

Carl Levin is the ranking Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, where he has earned a reputation as a strong supporter of our national defense and an effective waste fighter. He was an early and consistent advocate of efforts to prepare the American military to combat terrorism and other emerging threats of the post-Cold War world. Senator Levin has been a strong advocate on behalf of our service men and women. In January 2003, the Secretary of the Navy cited Levin's "exceptional service to the Navy and Marine Corps" in presenting him its Distinguished Public Service Award, the highest award given to a civilian. In December 2002, WorldBoston, formerly the World Affairs Council of Boston, presented Levin with the 2002 Christian A. Herter Award in recognition of his role following September 11, 2001, in ensuring a bipartisan response to the threat to the United States. The Herter

Senator Levin also presently serves as the ranking Democrat of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. In 2002, as chairman of that subcommittee, Levin led Congress' most in-depth examination into the collapse of Enron. His investigation exposed how Enron used deceptive accounting and tax transactions to enable Enron to report better financial results than the company actually experienced. The subcommittee's investigative work contributed to the accounting and corporate reforms enacted in the Sarbanes-Oxley Act in July 2002. Levin also initiated an investigation into gasoline price spikes, and in April 2002 he issued a 400-page report and chaired hearings detailing how U.S. retail gasoline prices are manipulated. Levin is also a member of the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.

Levin is perhaps best known for his efforts to make our government both more efficient and more ethical. He authored the Competition in Contracting Act, which has led to significant reductions in federal procurement costs. His Whistleblower Protection Act protects federal employees who expose wasteful practices. Levin also helped author the Taxpayers Bill of Rights, which protects individuals and small businesses from IRS harassment. He has never accepted honoraria from special interests, and in 1995 he persuaded the Senate to adopt a strong ban on gifts to senators and paid trips.

That same year, he won passage of strict disclosure requirements for lobbyists, the first major overhaul of those laws in 50 years. In December 2001, the Council on Government Ethics Laws recognized Senator Levin's leadership in this area by awarding him its highest honor. That same month, Taxpayers for Common Sense bestowed its annual "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" award to Senator Levin and his colleague Senator John McCain for their bipartisan effort to cut inefficient Defense Department spending.

Carl Levin believes we must expand educational opportunities for all Americans if our nation is to remain strong and productive. He has fought for increased funding for the Head Start preschool program, Title I for educationally disadvantaged students, and Pell Grants and loans for college and vocational school students. Senator Levin has been a strong advocate for the effective use of technology in K-12 schools and helped create the Consortium for Outstanding Achievement in Teaching with Technology, a groundbreaking Michigan partnership helping teachers master technology skills. He has been an enthusiastic supporter of School to Work programs, which have created a public-private partnership to prepare students for the demands of the modern workplace. He has won critical federal support for the Focus: HOPE Center for Advanced Technology, a world-class manufacturing training facility in Detroit.

Carl Levin has worked to strengthen Michigan's industrial economy and to protect the environmental treasures of "the Great Lakes State." As a co-chair of the Senate Auto Caucus and the Senate Auto Parts Task Force, Levin has been one of the most insistent voices in Washington calling for tough action to open the world's markets to American goods. Levin has been a longtime advocate of programs that provide for joint government-industry partnerships in development of advanced vehicle technologies. These efforts led to the establishment of the Army's National Automotive Center in Warren, Michigan, which has played a critical role in developing advanced technologies for military use in conjunction with the private sector.

In his role as co-chair of the Senate Great Lakes Task Force, Levin has fought to protect this irreplaceable natural resource for Michigan and the country. Through Levin's efforts, the Great Lakes Initiative is creating new standards of environmental protection of Great Lakes waters and the Great Lakes Legacy Program will clean up contaminated sediments. Levin has also worked to secure funding to prevent new introductions of aquatic invasive species including zebra mussels, milfoil and Asian carp.

FAMILY

Carl Levin married Barbara Halpern in 1961. They have three daughters: Kate, Laura and Erica, and four grandchildren. His brother Sander has served in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1983.

ADOPTION AND FOSTER CARE

Senator Levin has long been an active supporter of adoption and foster care. This was one of the first issues with which he became involved when he entered the Senate. He co-authored a provision in the Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act (P.L.96-272) removing the disincentives to adopting special needs children in foster care, by continuing the foster care subsidy after the child has been adopted. In addition, he authored the first-ever adoption expense tax deduction law in 1981. In 1983, he sought to extend the tax deduction for all adoptions; and has subsequently supported adoption tax credits.

Additionally, in 1982, Senator Levin co-authored a law that eased the immigration requirements for Amerasians -- Asian children fathered by U.S. Servicemen who sought to come to the U.S. due to rejection in their own country because of their mixed heritage. The new law benefited Amerasian children in Korea, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand and Kampuchea.

Senator Levin was also actively involved in shaping the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997 (P.L.105-89), which speeds up the adoption of children in foster care who cannot be safely returned to their families, and the Strengthening Abuse and Neglect Courts Act (P.L.106-314), which provides the support services and training needed to assist family court personnel in meeting the requirements of the Safe Families Act. It is critical that the federal government encourage American families to adopt, and that all of our children have safe homes in which to live. He will continue to work toward these goals.

More recently, Senator Levin supported a provision in the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 (P.L.107-16) that extends and increases the current adoption tax credits. P.L.107-16 makes the adoption tax credits permanent and adjusts them annually for inflation. Individuals can now claim 100 percent of qualifying costs for domestic adoption, up to an annually-adjusted level. For 2006, the limit is $10,960.

Senator Levin is proud of these and other efforts to hasten the adoption of children in need of loving homes, and to ease the financial burden on families who choose to adopt. However, adoptive families, birth parents and adopted persons in Michigan long ago brought to his attention the realization that Congress cannot continue to increase and expedite more and more adoptions, without simultaneously putting in place a system of support for adult adopted persons, separated siblings and birth parents. These persons may later in life desire to mutually make contact with one another, for various compelling reasons, in some cases, for life or death reasons.

In an effort to assist birth relatives who seek to mutually make contact with one another, Senator Levin introduced bipartisan legislation to facilitate and reduce the hardship and anguish experienced by many birth relatives who, often for many years and at great expense, seek to find each other.

Some adoptees are assisted in this endeavor by their adoptive parents. The legislation permits the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to establish a National Voluntary Mutual Reunion Registry that would facilitate the voluntary and mutual exchange of information between adult birth relatives who wish to make contact. This legislation has been the subject of hearings in both the Senate and the House, and has previously passed the Senate.

On November 8, 1997, the Senate passed S. 1487, which Senator Levin sponsored along with Senator Larry Craig, R-Idaho, to establish the National Voluntary Mutual Reunion Registry, The legislation (at no cost to the federal government) would facilitate the voluntary and mutually sought exchange of identifying information between adult adopted persons, adult siblings and birth parents who seek to contact one another. Modified versions of this legislation have previously passed the Senate and have always been bipartisan, enjoying the co-sponsorship of Senator Larry Craig, R-Idaho, Senator Jim Jeffords, I-Vt., and Senator John McCain, R-Ariz., as well as former Senators Nancy Kassebaum and Bob Dole.

On February 8, 2006, President Bush signed the Deficit Reduction Act (P.L.109-171) into law, which included two provisions that reduced eligibility for foster and adoption care assistance and reduced states' ability to receive federal reimbursement for foster care programs. Senator Levin opposed these cuts to adoption and foster care programs and will continue to work to improve funding levels in the 110 th Congress.

On September 28, 2006, the Child and Family Services Improvement Act (P.L.109-288) was enacted into law. Senator Levin supported this act, reauthorizing the Promoting Safe and Stable Families program (Title IV-B of the Social Security Act), which provides crucial community-based family support services, family preservation, and adoption promotion and support.

AUTOS

Michigan, home of the Big-3 automakers, is the heart of the U.S. automobile industry. The auto industry is responsible for 6.6 million jobs nationwide or about five percent of private sector jobs. For every worker directly employed by an automaker, more than six spin-off jobs are created. Senator Levin has played an active role in promoting the U.S. auto industry through his work in the Senate Auto Caucus and the Auto Parts Task Force.

The sections below detail some of Senator Levin's efforts.

 

• Senate Auto Caucus
• Senate Auto Parts Task Force
• Preserving Auto Industry Jobs in Michigan
• Forming a Partnership Between the Defense Department and the Auto Industries

SENATE AUTO CAUCUS

Senator Levin co-chairs the bipartisan Senate Auto Caucus with Senator George Voinovich, R-Ohio. The Senate Auto Caucus provides a forum for senators to exchange ideas and influence policy on issues affecting the U.S. automotive industry. The Senate Auto Caucus sponsors educational briefings for senators and staff on issues such as trade, transportation and advancements in technology.

Initiatives of the Senate Auto Caucus have included letters calling on the Administration to press Japan to end manipulation of the yen, and introducing a Senate resolution calling on Korea to open its market to U.S. vehicle exports. The Senate Auto Caucus coordinates with the House Auto Caucus on trade, regulatory and safety issues of interest to the industry.

As co-chairman of the Senate Auto Caucus and Senate Auto Parts Task Force, Senator Levin pressed the Administration to take strong measures to persuade China, Japan and other trading partners to end the practice of undervaluing their currencies, which makes their exports less expensive and puts U.S. workers and exports at a disadvantage.

He urged the Administration to press China to adhere to the market opening commitments it made when joining the World Trade Organization (WTO), particularly regarding automotive manufacturers’ ability to fully participate in the Chinese automotive market and to reduce the rampant intellectual property theft that occurs in China. He also joined the Michigan congressional delegation in urging the Administration to focus WTO negotiations on removing non-tariff barriers in the automobile sector.

SENATE AUTO PARTS TASK FORCE

Senator Levin and Senator Arlen Specter, R-Penn., serve as co-chairs of the bipartisan Senate Auto Parts Task Force. The Senate Auto Parts Task Force has advised the Bush Administration on auto parts trade policy, particularly with Japan and Korea.

The Auto Parts Task Force sponsors briefings for senators and staff on issues of concern to the U.S. auto parts industry. The task force brings together industry representatives, administration trade negotiators and members of Congress to discuss trade-negotiating strategies. It also coordinates and sends letters to the administration weighing in on U.S. trade policy.

PRESERVING AUTO INDUSTRY JOBS IN MICHIGAN

Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE)

In 2002, 2003 and 2005, Senator Levin joined with Senator Kit Bond, R-Mo., and other senators to defeat legislation to increase CAFE standards that would have discriminated against domestic auto manufacturers. Instead, the Senate has three times adopted the Levin-Bond alternative that would increase fuel economy, protect the environment, and reduce our dependence on foreign oil and do it in a way that would not harm our domestic manufacturing industries. The Levin-Bond amendment accomplished these goals by adopting a policy that includes both positive incentives to ensure that advanced technology will be available to meet the goal of increased fuel economy and regulatory requirements to help achieve that goal in a rational manner.

FORMING A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT AND THE AUTO INDUSTRIES

National Automotive Center & Automotive Research Center

Senator Levin has been instrumental in working with the Army's National Automotive Center (NAC) and the Automotive Research Center (ARC) to encourage partnerships between DOD and the automotive industry. The ARC enables the Army to work with our university system and industry to help bring about the technologies on which our future Army and civilian vehicles will depend.

Senator Levin helped conceive of the idea of the NAC as an innovative way for the Army and government to work with the automotive industry on collaborative research and development for mutually interesting vehicle technology.

Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Vehicle Technology Development

Senator Levin wrote legislation in the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2003 for a cost-shared vehicle fuel cell program at DOD. The program identifies and supports technological advances necessary to develop fuel cell technology for use in DOD vehicles. The program also includes development of vehicle propulsion technology and fuel cell auxiliary power units as well as pilot demonstration of such technologies. The program also focuses on technology to address hydrogen storage issues and to develop a hydrogen fuel infrastructure. The program is to be carried out in cooperation with industry and other federal agencies.

In 2005 and 2006, Senator Levin developed two companion programs focused on hydrogen development and use. A new hydrogen logistics initiative was established in fiscal year 2006 to develop a comprehensive and integrated strategy for the appropriate use and acquisition of hydrogen to meet Department of Defense requirements in the future. In fiscal year 2007, a new merit-based program was established for research, development, and demonstration of solid hydrogen storage technologies.

Specific Funding Levels for Automotive Research and Development Projects

Senator Levin worked to secure funding for the following automotive research and development projects in fiscal year 2006:

• $5.2 million for initiation of a program for research, development, and demonstration of solid hydrogen storage technologies.
   

  This funding will initiate a new merit-based research initiative in fiscal year 2007 to look at solid hydrogen storage systems that would weigh less and take up less volume, allowing vehicles to safely carry more hydrogen, increasing driving range and reducing refueling frequency and cost.

• $4.55 million for the vehicle fuel cell program.
   

  Senator Levin initiated this program in 2002 to coordinate fuel cell activities throughout the military and to focus specifically on vehicle fuel cell technologies. This program develops and demonstrates vehicle propulsion technologies and fuel cell auxiliary power units. The program also includes development of technologies to enable use of JP-8 fuel in fuel cell vehicles. The program continually evaluates new technologies in fuel cells, fuel reforming, hydrogen storage and generation, and battlefield electric power in an effort to solve military problems with fuel cells and allied technologies.

• $4.0 million for the research and development of an advanced mobile microgrid gas-to-liquid fueler.
   

  This funding will pay for the development of mobile systems that can convert waste to fuel for use in mobile power grids and vehicles, continuing the advanced mobile microgrid project that was initiated in FY05 by the Army working with NextEnergy Center in Detroit , Selfridge Air National Guard Base, and industry partners. Waste-to-fuel systems both reduce the amount of fuel that troops need to transport into combat zones and enhance the ability to rapidly deploy forces.

• $3.9 million for research, development and demonstration of ground support equipment powered by proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell systems to meet Army requirements.
   

  This funding will allow initiation of phase II of a program begun in FY05 to evaluate prototype PEM fuel cell systems against DOD requirements and operating conditions. In FY06, the project partners will use the testing and demonstration data gathered under phase one of the program to improve prototype fuel cell technology and will deliver next-generation fuel cell units for evaluation in a large-scale field trial program. Project partners include Ballard Power Systems, Kettering University , Macomb Community College , Selfridge National Air Guard Base and the U.S. Air Force.

• $3.9 million for a project to optimize the use of fuel cell technology to support the continuity of operations in the event of a terrorist attack or other catastrophic event.
   

  Under this project, the DOD will work jointly with industry to develop fuel cell systems that meet the unique power requirements of the small and dispersed satellite locations which would house critical functions of government and military during an emergency. Selfridge Air National Guard Base and other facilities will conduct the testing, evaluation and demonstration of these prototype units.

• $3.0 million to continue the development of an advanced thermal management system to increase engine efficiency for Army vehicles.
   

  Engineered Machined Products in Escanaba has partnered with TARDEC in the development of these systems.

• $2.2 million solid hydrogen storage and fuel cell systems development.
   

  This funding will provide for continued development of metal hydride fuel cells and metal hydride hydrogen storage systems for military applications for work being done by Energy Conversion Devices in Rochester Hills, in conjunction with the Defense Logistics Agency.

• $1.95 million to continue the research and development of an advanced vehicle propulsion system.
   

  Funding for the next generation non-tactical vehicle propulsion system will allow the Army to continue the initiative began last year to provide early demonstrations of fuel cell technology in commercially-based vehicles and evaluate the technologies against military requirements.

• $1.9 million for the Hydrogen Logistics Fuel Initiative.

  Senator Levin established in fiscal year 2006 at the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) to establish an oversight structure and focal point within DoD to monitor technology and policy developments in the area of hydrogen. Funding for this program will plans for the appropriate use of hydrogen and acquisition of hydrogen to meet DoD requirements for the future, and make appropriate technology development investments to those requirements.

• $1.3 million for the research and development on solid oxide fuel cell materials and manufacturing technology.
   

  This funding will allow the Army to begin development of the materials and manufacturing processes necessary for a reliable and cost-effective fuel cell system that can be compatible with existing Army logistics fuels. Delphi Corporation and Kettering University in Flint have extensive experience in this field.