Fighting for Our Michigan Way of Life

Senator Debbie Stabenow has an impressive record of legislative successes and responsive constituent services. Born in Gladwin and raised in Clare, Debbie understands what makes living in Michigan so special, and fights for those things every day. Most of all, she understands that good paying jobs for our middle class are the heart and soul of Michigan, and that our way of life is under siege.

Elected to the Senate just five years ago, she has fought tirelessly for the people of Michigan. Senator Stabenow works day in and day out to defend our Michigan way of life against foreign countries who engage in unfair and illegal trade practices, a prescription drug industry that cares more about the bottom line than making sure people can afford the medicine they need, oil companies that make record profits while consumers suffer at the pump, and a Bush Congress that just doesn't get it.

Keeping Michigan Working

• Tax Relief for Job Creation: A tax cut, based on Senator Stabenow's MORE JOBS bill, was enacted into law in 2004 giving manufacturers $2 billion in immediate tax relief for creating jobs in the U.S., rather than shipping them overseas.


• Passage of a transportation bill creating over 61,000 good paying jobs in Michigan: Signed into law in August 2005, the SAFETEA transportation bill provides $1.123 billion per year in highway funding and over $594 million in transit funding, significantly increasing Michigan's share of federal transportation funds.


• Stopping counterfeit auto parts and manufactured goods that steal jobs from Michigan: Senator Stabenow was a lead sponsor of the Stop Counterfeiting in Manufactured Goods Act that was signed into law on March 16, 2006. This new law adds weight to existing trademark laws by requiring that all machinery, tooling and supplies used to make counterfeit items be destroyed as part of enforcement. In addition, the bill bans the trafficking in labels and other trademark items that can be attached to counterfeit products.

Protecting Our Resources, Borders and Communities

• Author of the first federal ban on Great Lakes Drilling: With bipartisan support, Senator Stabenow successfully passed the first ever federal ban on drilling for gas and oil in the Great Lakes to protect these waters and the jobs they support for future generations.


• Stopping the Flow of Canadian Trash: Senator Stabenow, along with Senator Carl Levin, recently negotiated an agreement with Ontario officials to stop shipments of municipally controlled solid waste into Michigan over the next four years. Under the terms of the Stabenow-Levin agreement, there will be an immediate 20 percent reduction of municipally controlled solid waste within the first year, a 40 percent reduction within two years and a complete end to these shipments within four years. This represents the largest, most concrete victory yet in the battle to stop Canadian trash flowing into Michigan. Senator Stabenow also successfully authored a law requiring that high-tech equipment be used to search Canadian trash trucks crossing Michigan's borders. Since May of 2003, this new law has resulted in trash trucks being regularly turned away at our border for carrying radioactive material, dangerous medical waste and illegal drugs. (SA 4657, passed 7/13/06; P.L. 108-11, signed 4/16/03; Port Huron Times-Herald, 9/5/04; Port Huron Times-Herald, 4/12/03; CBC News, 7/14/06; AP, 3/31/06)


• Ensuring Homeland Security & Safer Communities by Supporting our First Responders: Senator Stabenow has been instrumental in increasing security along our Northern Border by providing critical resources to law enforcement, firefighters, health officials and other emergency first responders. Through her leadership, every single one of Michigan's firefighters are now eligible for reimbursement for homeland security training. Her leadership was recognized in 2005 when the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police and the Michigan Association of Fire Chiefs both awarded her their 2005 Legislator of the Year awards.

Standing Up for Michigan Families

• Keeping Prescription Drugs Affordable for Our Veterans and Troops: Senator Stabenow has led the fight to keep the government from charging the men and women who wear and wore the uniform more for their prescription drugs. This year she successfully stopped the Bush Administration's effort to double prescription drug co-pays for over 39,000 Michigan veterans. Debbie Stabenow understands that we shouldn't be asking the same people who sacrificed so much for our freedom to pay more at the pharmacy.


• A Recognized National Leader on Health Care & Prescription Drugs: Senator Stabenow's knowledge and expertise on health care and prescription drugs was recognized early in her first term when she was named head of the Senate Health Care Task Force for her Caucus. In 2002, she authored and helped lead the passage of legislation in the U.S. Senate to lower prescription drug prices by allowing states to negotiate lower prices and providing citizens access to lower-priced generic prescription drugs. Keeping her promise to fight for passage of a real Patients' Bill of Rights to give families and their doctors control over medical treatment, the Senate also passed a strong Patients' Bill of Rights in 2001. In 2003, she led a successful effort to increase health care funding for our nation's veterans.


• Stronger Protections for Consumers: As a member of the Senate Banking Committee, Senator Stabenow has authored and passed laws to stop identity theft, protect consumer privacy, protect corporate whistle blowers and stop unscrupulous lenders from swindling consumers through predatory lending practices.


• Setting the Standard for Constituent Service: Throughout her years of service, Debbie Stabenow has set the standard for service to her constituents, and her work as Michigan's U.S. Senator has been no exception. She makes her home in Michigan and has visited all 83 counties in Michigan. Through her six offices across the state, she responds to thousands of citizens, solving their problems with the federal government and bringing resources to local communities for economic development projects and critical services such as new hospital emergency rooms and life-saving equipment for local fire departments. Since her election to the Senate, Senator Stabenow has responded to over one million letters, calls and emails from Michigan citizens.