By Cavan Sieczkowski | April 27 2012 11:30 AM
Senator Carl Levin (D-MI) released a statement Monday after President Barack Obama signed into law the Omnibus Public Land Management Act.
Earlier in the day, Obama signed the act into law, which protects 2 million acres of wilderness and preserve monuments, trails and rivers across the country.
The act is a combination of over 150 individual environmental bills and will, among other things, conserve water and protect 1,000 miles of scenic rivers.
Further, the act blocks mining and drilling on millions of acres of federal land and provides funding for research on paralysis by including the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act.
I am thrilled to see President Obama today sign into law the omnibus public lands bill, a measure that will benefit Michigan and the nation by enhancing preservation of natural and historic resources and improving recreational opportunities for current and future generations, Levin said.
This legislation will provide a significant boost to Michigan through four provisions I authored.
Levin said the bill removes several onerous federal requirements and increases authorized funding levels for the Upper Peninsula's Keweenaw National Historical Park.
He also stated it authorizes the federal government to purchase land from willing sellers for the North Country National Scenic Trail, the nation's longest hiking trail, 1,000 miles of which traverse through Michigan.
After years of careful planning and public input, Levin continued, the bill will also protect 12,000 pristine acres of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore along the south shore of majestic Lake Superior while preserving access and recreational opportunities for the public.
Each of these provisions will pay dividends for years to come by protecting natural beauty and history in Michigan while also encouraging tourism and recreation and celebrating everything our state has to offer.
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Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee Chairman Chris Dodd and House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank sent a letter to President Barack Obama Monday, in which they pledged to work together on regulatory modernization.
Given the importance to our economic future of this set of issues, I will do everything I can to achieve the broadest possible support for legislation that is effective and comprehensive, Frank said in the letter.
As we prepare to write legislation that will modernize our financial regulatory system for the 21st century, the Banking Committee has strong partners both across the Capitol and in the White House, added Dodd.
I will also continue to work closely with Ranking Member Shelby and my other Republican colleagues to build upon our bipartisan record.
Dodd said Congress has already begun an intensive series of hearings, briefings and meetings on this subject which, combined with the important work of the House Financial Services Committee, will help us pave the way for this significant undertaking.
I am confident, Dodd said in closing his remarks, that through this process we will be able to design a system to better protect consumers and restore confidence in our banking system.
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Even supermodels are not invulnerable to wardrobe malfunctions.
Former Victoria's Secret Angel and one of the world's original supermodels, Stephanie Seymour, left little to the imagination on Tuesday night at the Chanel Tribeca Film Fest party in New York City. The 43-year-old wore a sheer black Chanel dress that looked nothing short of demure, until the flash bulbs went off, revealing that Seymour was braless underneath her dress.
Stephanie Seymour's see-through outfit caught the media's attention. The Daily Mail was the first to note the supermodel's wardrobe malfunction.
Stephanie Seymour showed a lot more than she intended when she had an embarrassing wardrobe malfunction last night, wrote the Daily Mail. And although the faux-pas was embarrassing, Stephanie didn't have to be red-faced about her incredible figure.
Yes, her figure is still quite enviable at 43-years-old, but some preparation could have helped.
Stephanie Seymour should probably test her ensemble choices under more extreme lighting, wrote the New York Post's Page Six.
Celebrity wardrobe malfunctions are relatively commonplace these days, some more purposeful than others.
Former Pussycat Doll, Melody Thornton, dared to bare it all at the ELLE Women In Music Event at Avalon on April 11, 2012 in Hollywood, California. The singer wore a completely sheer lace dress, showing off her entire chest.
Melody told the Daily Mail Online, I just really wanted to do something crazy. And my friend was like, 'You have to stop being so safe, so Jackie O.' She was like, 'Go out there and show some ass.' I like to think I put a little classy twist on it.
Classy? Not sure if we can agree with you there.
Check out our slideshow of Stephanie Seymour's, Melody Thornton's and other celebrity's wardrobe malfunctions.

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