Rep. Levin Opposes Proposed Cuts to Programs Serving Struggling Families, Seniors and the Environment

Rep. Levin Opposes Proposed Cuts to Programs Serving Struggling Families, Seniors and the Environment

This week, President Trump released the Fiscal Year 2019 budget request which proposed devastating cuts to the Medicaid program and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), while also slating other programs, like the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) for complete elimination.  The proposed budget also would cut over $500 billion from the Medicare program, despite the President’s previous promises to not cut the program.  Additionally, the budget would gut environmental programs, including nearly eliminating all funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. You can see Rep. Levin’s statement in opposition to this budget here. 

Rep. Levin Files Friend of the Court Brief in Support of Detained Iraqis in Michigan

On Monday, Rep. Levin filed an amicus brief with the Sixth Court of Appeals in support of the plaintiffs in Hamama v. Homan.   He was joined by Reps. Kildee, Moolenaar, Lawrence, and Dingell. The friend of the court brief outlines their support for the July 2017 stay of removal of Iraqis in Michigan, which is currently being challenged by the federal government.  A copy of the amicus brief that was filed can be found here.

The brief shows several examples of detainee stories showing their longstanding ties to the U.S. and Michigan, including the lead petitioner, Sam Hamama, whose wife was Rep. Levin’s guest at the State of the Union address last month. Sam is among more than 100 Iraqi Christians from Michigan who were arrested and detained last year by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Rep. Levin has closely followed the plight of the Iraqi-Americans during their detention. He has written several letters, including an October 3, 2017 letter to Thomas Homan, who is Deputy Director of ICE, urging a meaningful review of the detainees’ post-order custody detention. The Congressman also has personally visited some of the detained Iraqi-Americans at a facility in Youngstown, Ohio.

Rep. Levin Receives Lifetime Distinguished Service Award from CADCA

Last Wednesday, Rep. Levin attended the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America’s (CADCA) 28th National Leadership Forum, where he received the organization’s Lifetime Distinguished Service Award. In 1997, Rep. Levin and Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) worked together to authorize the legislation that created the Drug-Free Communities (DFC) program. Since then, the DFC program has helped over 2,000 grantees in over 600 communities across all 50 states. Each year, CADCA's work through the coalitions reach over 5 million youths to help them fight against drug abuse.

Rep. Levin strongly believes that the best way to fight the drug problem we have is a strong collaborative effort among prevention, treatment and recovery - all made possible through a community effort. CADCA embodies this work and spirit.

Ways and Means Health Subcommittee Holds Hearing on the Opioid Crisis

Rep. Levin, the Ranking Member of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health, recently attended a hearing on “Removing Barriers to Prevent and Treat Opioid Abuse and Dependence in Medicare.” At the hearing, Rep. Levin spoke out regarding the devastating impact that the opioid crisis is having on communities in Michigan and throughout the United States. He emphasized the crucial role that Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act have played in providing patients with access to substance abuse treatment, and pushed back against Republican efforts to cut these crucial programs. He also highlighted the harmful impact that attempts by the Trump Administration to undermine the Office of National Drug Control Policy and the Drug-Free Communities Program would have on our national effort to reduce drug abuse. To read Representative Levin’s full opening statement from the hearing, click here.

This Week on the House Floor:

This week the House will consider a package of bills that makes changes to various financial services policies and regulations as well as a bill that is intended to address a 2015 federal court decision that has an impact on bank lending programs.  The House will also consider the ADA Education and Reform Act, which would impose notice and cure requirements before anyone can seek legal action on potential noncompliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.