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HIGHLIGHTS
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Coalition Legislative Director
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Manufacturing
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Trade Adjustment Assistance
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Ballast Discharge and Invasive Species
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Senate Budget Resolution
Coalition
Legislative Director
The Northeast-Midwest Congressional Coalition has hired
Lisa Mark to be its new legislative director. She previously served
as senior legislative assistant to Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI) and staff
assistant to Rep. Doc Hastings (R-WA). A graduate of Colby College, she
also was an intern with Chicago Social
Magazine, Oglivy & Mather Advertising Agency, Offshore Magazine, and NBC News.
Lisa will work out of Rep. Steven LaTourette’s office (2453
Rayburn). Her phone number is 202/225-5731. Her email is elizabeth.mark@mail.house.gov.
Manufacturing
The Senate Task Force on Manufacturing – led by Sens.
Olympia Snowe (R-ME), Herb Kohl (D-WI), Mike DeWine (R-OH), Debbie Stabenow
(D-MI), Joseph Lieberman (D-CT), and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) – are
seeking signatures on a letter asking appropriators to provide $112 million
to the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) in fiscal 2006. The
MEP increases the productivity and competitiveness of U.S.
manufacturers, resulting in expanded economic activity and an enhance tax
base.
The Northeast-Midwest Institute regularly updates a Manufacturing Fact Sheet that includes
the latest data on manufacturing productivity, employment, wages, capacity,
and new orders. The information can be found at http://www.nemw.org/mfgfact.htm
Trade Adjustment Assistance
Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Jack Reed (D-RI),
co-chairs of the Northeast-Midwest Senate Coalition, are requesting
signatures on a letter to the CJS appropriations subcommittee supporting
$16 million for the Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms program.
The program assists hundreds of mostly small and medium-sized manufacturing
and agricultural companies that experience loss of jobs and sales because
of foreign imports. Qualifying companies receive technical assistance
in areas such as marketing, financing, production, product development,
distribution, management information systems, and exporting. The
signature deadline is Wednesday, April 6. Contact: Kris Sarri at the
Northeast-Midwest Senate Coalition (202/224-0606).
Ballast Discharge and Invasive Species
The Northeast-Midwest Institute has released its report
on the International Ballast Discharge Monitoring Device Workshop.
The workshop’s goal was to assess existing and emerging analytical
tools (technologies and techniques) for their potential to support
regulatory evaluations of ballast discharge associated with the range of
standards. This information should help policymakers and regulators
understand the extent to which analytical tools may support the various
types of standards and regulatory activities relevant to ballast water
discharge regulation. The report, titled “Summary and Findings
of the Ballast Discharge Monitoring Device Workshop, can be found on the Institute’s
website at: http://www.nemw.org/MarrowstoneReport.pdf.
Contact: Nicole Mays at the
Northeast-Midwest Institute (202/544-5200).
Senate Budget Resolution
The Senate agreed to a Sense of the Senate amendment
offered by Senators Lincoln Chafee (R-RI) and Paul Sarbanes (D-MD) to fund
the Clean Water program at $1.35 billion. The amendment noted
the need to help states and local communities meet water quality standards
and restore the health and safety of our nation’s waters.
Cosponsoring the amendment were Senators George Voinovich
(R-OH), James Inhofe (R-OK), James Jeffords (I-VT), Hillary Rodham Clinton
(D-NY), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Jack Reed (D-RI),
Carl Levin (D-MI), Edward Kennedy (D-MA), Mike DeWine (R-OH), Joseph
Lieberman (D-CT), Olympia Snowe (R-ME), and Susan Collins (R-ME).
The Senate also endorsed an amendment supporting the
restoration of $2 billion to Community Development Block Grants
(CDBG). Northeast-Midwest Senate Coalition members – including
Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Jack Reed (D-RI), Mike DeWine (R-OH), and Paul
Sarbanes (D-MD) – had led a letter asking the Budget Committee to provide
such funds. CDBG supports housing rehabilitation, public facilities, public
services, and economic development.
Senator Carl
Levin (D-MI) also advanced a Sense of the Senate amendment that urges
appropriators to fund the Advanced Technology Program. ATP supports
industry-led research and development of cutting-edge technologies with
broad commercial potential and societal benefits.
Calendar | Media Links | Reports/Periodicals
Northeast-Midwest
Institute
218 D St, SE
Washington DC 20003
Ph. 202 544 5200
Email dickmunson@nemw.org with comments or to
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