In the News
Detroit News: Peters questions why shutdown hasn't affected site in Trump's hotel
by Melissa Nann Burke
Washington - Michigan Sen. Gary Peters is questioning the decision to exempt a tourist attraction inside the Trump International Hotel during the partial government shutdown. Peters, D-Bloomfield Township, wrote Friday to federal officials, seeking answers about who decided to continue staffing the historic clock tower with National Park Service rangers inside the federally owned Old Post Office building that houses Trump's Washington hotel. The federal government leases the Old Post Office… Continue Reading
01.05.19
Port Huron Times-Herald: Peters' bill targets oversight at ports of entry like the Blue Water Bridge
by Jackie Smith
One of Michigan's two senators in Washington co-authored a measure aimed at installing more oversight at the nation's ports of entry. And that's something that, Sen. Gary Peters said, means a lot to crossings like the Blue Water Bridge. A bill that requires Homeland Security submit regular analyses - dubbed the U.S. Ports of Entry Threat and Operational Review Act - was introduced last July and passed the Senate in December. It was presented to the president as of Dec. 21 - amidst a shift in b… Continue Reading
12.26.18
Detroit News: Trump signs Peters bill requiring review of ports of entry
by Melissa Nann Burke
Washington - President Donald Trump has signed a bipartisan measure co-sponsored by Michigan Sen. Gary Peters that would require federal officials to assess all ports of entry, including finding ways to reduce wait times for passengers and cargo at the border. The bill, authored by Peters, a Bloomfield Township Democrat, and Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, directs the Department of Homeland Security to conduct an in-depth analysis of current and potential security threats by individuals … Continue Reading
12.19.18
The Alpena News: Peters vows to push for Alpena customs agent
by Steve Schulwitz
ALPENA - In 2016, the federal government decided not to refill the position of a customs agent in Alpena who retired and, although there was a concerted effort to convince the feds to reconsider, that position remain open today. That means international travelers are forced to stop elsewhere to clear customs. Now that U.S. Senator Gary Peters has become the ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee, however, the matter could be brought back before the … Continue Reading
12.14.18
Detroit News: Peters to be top Dem on Senate homeland security panel
by Melissa Nann Burke
Washington - Michigan's Gary Peters has been named the top Democrat on the U.S. Senate committee that oversees federal government operations and homeland security. Peters' promotion on the powerful panel comes four years after he joined the committee as a freshman senator in 2015. With the committee's broad oversight power, Peters sees an opportunity to stress U.S. security at the northern border. He also plans to continue pushing the federal government to address water contamination in Michig… Continue Reading
12.14.18
Detroit Free Press: Pet stalking is about to become a federal crime
by Todd Spangler
WASHINGTON - The federal stalking law is getting an update to include threats made against a person's pets or emotional support animals. U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., managed to get his proposal - which adds threats and violence against a person's pets to the stalking statute -included in this year's Farm Bill, which has passed both chambers of Congress and is headed to President Donald Trump for his signature. Under the law, threatening or harming a pet as a way to harass or intimidate a vi… Continue Reading
12.05.18
Port Huron Times-Herald: Bill establishes Coast Guard oil spill center
by Bob Gross
A provision authored by U.S. Sen. Gary Peters to establish a Coast Guard oil spill center for the Great Lakes was signed into law by President Donald Trump, according to a news release from Peters' office. The provision established a U.S. Coast Guard National Center of Expertise for the Great Lakes. The center, according to the news release, would examine the effects of oil spills in freshwater and help develop responses. A site for the center has not been established. The St. Clair River, ho… Continue Reading
11.29.18
Macomb Daily: Bill to commemorate end of WWII 75th anniversary passes senate
by David Angell
The parades for Memorial and Veterans Day were great this year but imagine what they'll be like in 2020, being the 75th anniversary of the ending of World War II? It's a very big deal. And just to be sure they are befitting of the occasion legislation has been introduced to establish a commemorative program ahead of the iconic anniversary. "When the forces of tyranny threatened the annihilation of our values and our way of life, an entire generation of Americans answered the call to defeat ev… Continue Reading
11.13.18
FOX 17 West Michigan: Senator Peters holds PFAS panel; EPA a no-show
by Darren Cunningham
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- The growing discussion involving PFAS contamination and how to clean it up continued at Grand Valley State University's downtown campus today. Senator Gary Peters interviewed experts on the topic, as well as Sandy Wynn-Stelt who lost her husband in 2016. "He was diagnosed with stage IV liver cancer, and he died 3 weeks later," the Belmont resident said. Wynn-Stelt explained, "So after being married for 25 years my world was completely rocked." She's lived on House Stre… Continue Reading
10.03.18
WWMT West Michigan: U.S. Senate passes legislation allowing airports to stop using toxic firefighting foams
WASHINGTON D.C. - Bills to help prevent PFAS contamination are moving through Congress, led by U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-Michigan). The U.S. Senate passed legislation allowing airports to stop using firefighting foams that contain the toxic chemicals. Sen. Gary Peters of Michigan says current FAA standards require airports to use the foam based on an old department of defense specification. "It makes no sense that airports should be required to adhere to a military specification that even t… Continue Reading
10.03.18
Michigan Radio: Commercial airports could soon be able to use PFAS-free firefighting foam
by Bryce Huffman
Congress has passed legislation to allow airports to stop using foam containing PFAS chemicals. Under current law, commercial airports must use firefighting foam that contains toxic chemicals known as PFAS. However, Congress wants that to change. PFAS chemicals are a large source of drinking water contamination all over Michigan. There are at least 35 confirmed sites of contamination across the state. These chemicals have been linked to kidney and testicular cancer and high cholesterol. Mela… Continue Reading
09.26.18
WWMT West Michigan: Peters promises to 'press' EPA and DoD on PFAS to continue mitigation
by Mikenzie Frost
WASHINGTON, D.C. - A Senate subcommittee put PFAS in the spotlight Wednesday afternoon and heard from a variety of federal agencies to determine what's next and what role the federal government plays in this contamination crisis. Currently, PFAS have been confirmed in just a handful of states and Michigan is one of them. Democrat Senator and Ranking Member of this Homeland Security subcommittee Gary Peters said the issue of contamination is not going away. "This is just the beginning,"… Continue Reading
09.01.18
Detroit News: Peters bill targets lavish spending by Trump administration officials
by Melissa Nann Burke
Washington - Legislation introduced by Sen. Gary Peters seeks to rein in wasteful travel spending, requiring senior agency officials to repay taxpayer money spent on items such as private flights, vacations or amusement. Peters, D-Bloomfield Township, introduced the Executive Branch Waste and Fraud Recovery Act with three other Democrats: Sens. Tom Carper of Delaware, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Mazie Hirono of Hawaii. The lawmakers say the bill is in response to growing ethical con… Continue Reading
08.24.18
Port Huron Times-Herald: Sen. Peters touts bill to boost reverse scholarships
by Jackie Smith
U.S. Sen. Gary Peters stopped by Port Huron Friday to announce legislation aimed to encourage reverse scholarships such as the Community Foundation of St. Clair County's Come Home grants. Similar legislation has been introduced in the U.S. House. Both measures would allow recipients to avoid paying income taxes on the grants. "It's pretty simple. If you get a scholarship today, that's not taxable and goes to your education," Peters said, speaking at the Underground business incubator. "With t… Continue Reading
08.20.18
9 & 10 News: Sen. Peters Hosts Commerce Committee Field Hearing on Line 5
by Whitney Amann
A commerce committee field hearing is happening in Traverse City. U.S. Senator Gary Peters is holding the hearing, looking to get answers on how to handle Enbridge's Line 5 under the Straits of Mackinac. The room is full of people demanding answers on what would happen if there was an oil spill. Senator Peters is questioning two panels of experts. Representatives from the Coast Guard, National Wildlife Federation and Enbridge are just a few of the experts attending. Senator Peters says tha… Continue Reading
08.20.18
MLive/Grand Rapids Press: U.S. senator gives Line 5 operator failing grade in public trust
by Michael Kransz
TRAVERSE CITY, MI -- U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, D-Michigan, says the Canadian company operating the Line 5 oil and gas pipeline underneath the Straits of Mackinac has and deserves a failing grade in public trust. "It's a well deserved deficit of trust, given the pipeline disaster in Kalamazoo and the fact that we tend to find information from Enbridge Energy after it's happened, and when it should've been reported we don't find out about it for a few months after," Peters told reporters Monday, Aug… Continue Reading
08.12.18
Oakland Press: Sen. Peters introduces bill to increase veterans' burial benefits
by Anne Runkle
U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, D-Michigan, recently spoke at a Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee hearing in support of bipartisan legislation he introduced to increase funeral benefits for eligible veterans. The Burial Rights for America's Veterans' Efforts Act updates the current benefit system to treat all non-service connected deaths equally, regardless of where the veteran dies. Currently, eligible veterans who die at a Department of Veterans Affairs facility receive more funds to cover funeral a… Continue Reading
08.11.18
Ludington Daily News: Peters wraps tour at Harsco
by David Bossick
Sen. Gary Peters roared through the countryside of upper Michigan this week on his Harley-Davidson, and he made his final stop at Harsco Rail in Ludington. Peters, D-Pontiac, used a short recess of Congress to have his annual motorcycle tour. He began his week in the Thumb, wound his way to Hillman and Cheboygan, then on to Traverse City and McBain before taking his final day on Friday in Baldwin and Ludington. "We've met with small manufacturers (and) a biological station with the (University… Continue Reading
08.10.18
Cadillac News: Sen. Gary Peters visits Biewer Sawmill in McBain
by Karen Hopper Usher
MCBAIN - Sen. Gary Peters wants to help the timber industry grow, he said. Peters, who is touring part of the state on his motorcycle, visited Biewer Sawmill in McBain on Thursday afternoon. "My goal is to help this industry grow because there are a lot of good-paying Michigan jobs associated with timber,' Peters said in an interview with the Cadillac News after his walking tour of the sawmill. Before the tour, Peters talked with industry representatives about attracting labor. T… Continue Reading
08.08.18
Charlevoix Courier: Sen. Gary Peters tours Michigan Scientific in Charlevoix
by Lonnie Allen
CHARLEVOIX - U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, D-Michigan, was in Charlevoix on Wednesday as part of his third annual #RIDEMI motorcycle tour. Peters travels on his motorcycle each summer to visit communities around Michigan. He plans to stop at farms and manufacturing facilities during the week. Charlevoix was his third stop and seventh county he visited. While in Charlevoix, Peters toured Michigan Scientific Corporation and had discussions on investments in STEM and workforce development. … Continue Reading
