DETROIT, MI - U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (MI) Sunday received the President’s Award from President Rev. Dr. Wendell Anthony and the distinguished NAACP Detroit Branch at their 69th Annual Fight For Freedom Fund Dinner with President Joe Biden. The award recognizes Senator Stabenow’s decades of commitment to the fight for justice, freedom, and equity.
“The Detroit NAACP and Rev. Dr. Wendell Anthony have been such critical partners in the progress we’ve made to strengthen our democracy and build a more equitable future for everyone. It’s my honor to receive this award from an organization that is fighting the good fight for freedom and justice every day. It’s been the honor of a lifetime to be their partner over the years,” said Senator Stabenow.
Throughout her career, Senator Stabenow has been a champion for Detroit and her focus has been on creating a better quality of life for Michiganders. Senator Stabenow was key in securing funding for blight removal projects in Detroit. Because of her leadership and hard work, Detroit has eliminated over 40,000 abandoned homes. Next year there will be zero abandoned houses. Senator Stabenow’s efforts have made neighborhoods safer and spurred economic growth, making Michigan a national model for blight removal.
Senator Stabenow has been a life-long advocate for quality mental health and addiction services. She created a new model of certified community behavioral health clinics to fully fund high-quality mental health and addiction services through Medicaid. Michigan now has 41 community clinics in Detroit and across the state, including 24-hour crisis centers.
In the wake of the Flint water crisis, Senator Stabenow led the Congressional response and worked with the Obama Administration to address the crisis. She led the effort to secure $170 million for Flint and other communities to repair and replace pipes and provide health care and nutritious food to children and families affected by lead contamination.
Senator Stabenow has prioritized making our courts look more like America. As Michigan’s senior senator, Senator Stabenow has led the effort to confirm 10 Michigan federal judges—8 are women and 7 are people of color.
Senator Stabenow is also committed to ensuring every American’s voice is heard at the ballot box. Throughout her time in Congress, she has supported measures to protect the freedom to vote, including cosponsoring the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, which would strengthen voter protections and ensure Americans can exercise their constitutional right to vote.
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