THE HONORABLE DEBBIE A. STABENOW U.S. Senator State of Michigan

United States Senator Debbie Stabenow is bringing manufacturing issues to the forefront in Congress, and is committed to making sure our nation has a 21st century manufacturing strategy.

A nationally recognized leader, she is respected for her ability to build coalitions to get things done for Michigan and our nation.   Her recent appointment to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and membership on the Senate Finance, Agriculture and Budget Committees, has given her a powerful and unique role to play in shaping our nation’s health care, manufacturing and energy policies, so critical to our future.

She is working to cultivate our nation’s emerging leadership in alternative energy.  She won victories in the passage of her Green Collar Jobs Initiative and in the creation of new incentives to create jobs in renewable energy and advanced batteries and vehicle technology.  She was also successful in making alternative energy a priority in the Food Energy and Conservation Act (Farm Bill).  Additional successes include passage of her legislation to permit manufacturers to use alternative minimum tax (AMT) credits and research and development (R&D) tax credits to invest in their businesses.

Senator Stabenow’s proposed Green Collar Jobs Initiative would retool older manufacturing facilities and invest in the newest energy technologies, including advanced batteries, to reduce our dependence on foreign oil and create jobs here at home.  She worked to include a new manufacturing tax credit in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for companies that manufacture advanced technology for the production of renewable energy and advanced batteries.

Senator Stabenow is a champion for our nation’s domestic auto industry.  She is the Senate author of legislation to stimulate auto sales by providing up to $4500 in cash incentives for consumers to trade in less fuel efficient vehicles.   She is author of the Advanced Technology Vehicle Incentives program which will provide $25 billion in low-interest loans to automobile manufacturers for retooling older factories so the next generation of vehicles can be produced here at home.  As a member of the Finance Committee, she helped lead efforts to create consumer tax credits for the new generation of electric vehicles.  She was recognized in Motor Trend Magazine’s 2009 Power List for standing up for Michigan’s auto companies to help them restructure, save jobs and get through the global credit crisis.

Senator Stabenow is playing a key role in negotiating the upcoming Energy bill, energy tax incentives and health care reform.