Levin Will Not Seek Reelection To House

ROYAL OAK, MI — Longtime U.S. Rep. Sander Levin announced Saturday he would not seek reelection. The Royal Oak Democrat has served in the House for the past 35 years.

“I have been incredibly honored to serve the people of Michigan in Congress and to work on so many issues important to our communities, our state, and our nation,” Levin, 86, said in a statement. “I have tried to live up to the trust given to me by my constituents by following the values of my parents and family and by acting on what I believe after digging deeply into the facts and consulting broadly.

Besides being on the House’s Ways and Means Committee since 1987, Levin has taken on numerous issues in his tenure, including:

• Fighting for comprehensive health care for all as Chair of the Ways and Means Committee during consideration and passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
• Saving Social Security by leading efforts to defeat attempts to privatize the program.
• Working for fairer trade policies by authoring with Rep. Rangel the May 10th agreement which required for the first time the inclusion of fully enforceable labor and environmental standards in trade agreements, and by insisting that any renegotiated NAFTA address outsourcing of jobs to Mexico due its very low wages and lack of labor rights.
• Preserving America’s automobile industry by working along with his brother, Senator Carl Levin, and the entire Michigan Congressional Delegation in 2007 and 2008 to ensure emergency assistance to the domestic automobile industry.
• Fighting for a fairer tax code, authoring the original legislation to treat “carried interest” compensation received by investment fund managers as ordinary income and by pressing to close the “inversion” loophole that allows companies to avoid paying U.S. taxes.

Levin serves Michigan’s 9th Congressional District. U.S. Sen. Gary Peters said Levin’s retirement is a great loss for Michigan.

“Sandy Levin is someone who has been a mentor and role model for me, and his dedication to public service will be missed in the halls of Congress and across Southeast Michigan,” he said in a statement. “If there is one lasting legacy Sandy will leave behind, it is his steadfast commitment to improving the lives of working people. Whether it was fighting for workers affected by trade deals or protecting Medicare and Social Security from cuts and privatization, Sandy always put people first.”

Levin plans to remain active in “retirement.” He will join the University of Michigan’s Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy.

“Working to renew our confidence in promoting positive change, especially among our next generation of leaders, will be a particular interest,” Levin said. “But for the next year, much work remains in Congress, especially as it relates to important tax, trade and health policies.”

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