Sen. Levin speaks on Great Lakes Week, American Jobs Act

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., made the following statement honoring Great Lakes Week, a week-long summit in Detroit this week highlighting efforts to solve some of the most pressing problems facing the lakes.*

"I am delighted that so many people are in Detroit this week to celebrate the Great Lakes and work to protect them. The lakes are central to our economy, our history, our culture, and our future. Millions of people depend on these lakes for their drinking water, transportation, trade, employment and recreation. We need to ensure that our best efforts and most innovative solutions focus on the restoration and protection of these jewels."

Levin speaks on filibuster against American Jobs Act

On Oct. 12, 2011, Sen. Levin, along with a group of Senate colleagues, gave a Senate Floor speech on the Republican filibuster of the American Jobs Act. Here is an excerpt from the unofficial transcript of Sen. Levin's remarks:

"Madam President, more than 14 million Americans are without work. The American Jobs Act would help up to two million Americans get work or keep their jobs. It would prevent the layoffs of hundreds of thousands of teachers, police, firefighters and other first responders. The jobs bill would give tax cuts to millions of small businesses, would give incentives to those businesses to hire new workers. The American jobs act will provide a payroll tax cut to millions of American families. It would help our returning veterans find jobs. The American jobs act would put thousands of construction workers on the job repairing crumbling schools, building and repairing roads and bridges. Now, the chief economist for Moody's, Mark Zandi, estimates that this legislation would add two percentage points to economic growth and will reduce the unemployment rate by up to one full percentage point. Economists surveyed by Bloomberg believe this bill -- quote -- "would help avoid a return to recession." That's their words. That's what the majority of our economists say. Both sides of the aisle across the political spectrum...."

Click here to read the rest of this transcript and see a video.

* Click here for live streaming of Great Lakes Week events in Detroit.