Conservation Voters celebrate Sen. Stabenow for her commitment to protecting our Great Lakes, our climate and more
LANSING – The Michigan League of Conservation Voters and League of Conservation Voters issued the following statements after news broke that Senior Senator Debbie Stabenow – the first woman elected to represent Michigan in the U.S. Senate – will be retiring at the end of her term in Jan. 2025.
“Senator Debbie Stabenow’s career in Washington will be defined by her deep, steadfast commitment to protecting our Great Lakes – the lifeblood of our state,” said Lisa Wozniak, executive director of the Michigan League of Conservation Voters. “We congratulate Senator Stabenow on a decorated career working to make the lives of Michiganders better and protecting our natural resources. In Congress, she showed up for Michigan’s water time and again, authoring and protecting the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, working to stop the spread of invasive species, banning oil and gas drilling in our Great Lakes and so much more.”
“Senator Stabenow is a tireless climate, clean energy, and Great Lakes champion,” said League of Conservation Voters President Gene Karpinski. “We are so grateful for her leadership over more than two decades in Congress, especially her relentless advocacy for the strongest climate, jobs, and justice bill in U.S. history. From her commitment to provide relief to families poisoned by lead in Flint, to helping bring thousands of good-paying clean energy jobs to Michigan autoworkers, to ensuring agriculture is part of our climate solutions, Senator Stabenow is a fighter for people and the planet and we look forward to continuing to advance our shared priorities together over the next two years.”
During her time in office, Senator Stabenow has been steadfast in her commitment to protecting Michigan’s rivers, lakes and streams and protecting the health of Michigan communities. The first law she enacted as U.S. Senator was a ban on oil and gas drilling in the Great Lakes. She also authored the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, a game-changing policy that funds the cleanup and maintenance of our Great Lakes.
At a critical time in the Flint water crisis, Senator Stabenow helped lead the charge in Congress to secure significant resources to begin replacing lead pipes, repair the water system, and provide wrap-around health services to Flint families.
She also has a decorated record on agricultural policy, serving as the lead author of the Farm Bill. She has advocated for sustainable and climate-friendly farm practices to reduce harmful runoff pollution, improve soil health, and conserve national forests, and championed access to healthy, affordable food.
She has also worked to ensure Michigan’s auto industry continues to lead the pack in the transition to the electric vehicles future and creating tools for the nation’s industrial sector to be leaders on clean energy and advanced manufacturing.