Mike Levin: “I am a co-sponsor and strong supporter of this brownfields revitalization bill. I commend Senators Smith, Reid, Chafee…”

“I am a co-sponsor and strong supporter of this brownfields revitalization bill. I commend Senators Smith, Reid, Chafee and Boxer for their hard work on crafting bipartisan brownfields legislation which will help communities return these former commercial and industrial properties back to productive use. The financial incentives and statutory reforms provided in S. 350 will dramatically improve our communities' efforts to redevelop brownfields. As cochairmen of the Senate Smart Growth Task Force, Senator Jeffords and I will introduce bills to complement S. 350 by providing communities with economic resources to redevelop brownfield sites. Our first proposal would expand efforts of the Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration, or EDA, to assist distressed communities. The bill will provide EDA with a dedicated source of funding for brownfields redevelopment and increased funding flexibility to help States, local communities and nonprofit organizations restore these sites to productive use.”