In the News
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
07.28.18
Owosso Argus-Press: Senator: Efforts underway to build employee skills
by Sally York
OWOSSO - Skilled trades were on U.S. Sen. Gary Peters' mind Friday when he visited Baker College's Auto/Diesel Institute of Michigan. The Democratic senator from Michigan came to Owosso after visiting a factory in Saginaw, where he was told about the many open skilled positions they couldn't fill because of a lack of qualified candidates. The Auto/Diesel Institute, the senator noted, offers an opportunity to gain those qualifications. "This is a very impressive facility that provides state of … Continue Reading
07.19.18
Dearborn Press & Guide/Southgate News Herald: Peters, Risch bill to help small business access patent protections passes Senate
The U.S. Senate has passed a bill introduced by U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI) and Jim Risch (R-ID) to help small businesses protect their intellectual property by improving education on obtaining and protecting patents. The Small Business Innovation Protection Act will help leverage existing outreach programs run by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), to better educate small businesses on domestic and international patents. "Small bu… Continue Reading
07.10.18
Detroit Free Press: Michigan senator helps teen's Make-A-Wish dream come true
by Todd Spangler
WASHINGTON - It turns out not everyone reviles Congress: Some people actually dream of being there. On Tuesday, 18-year-old Tom Stephenson of Greenville - who has been diagnosed with a congenital heart condition - got to shadow U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., courtesy of the Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic organization, which helps children with critical conditions see their wishes come true. In name, at least, he got to be "senator for a day." As part of the day, Stephenson - who is attending Mi… Continue Reading
06.25.18
Gaylord Herald-Times: New federal bill aims to increase awareness of diverse career paths
by Arielle Breen
WASHINGTON - U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, D-Michigan, introduced a bill into the U.S. Senate last week that would use existing funds to give K-12 school counselors more training on the variety of career paths students can take after graduation. The Supporting Useful Career Counseling in Elementary and Secondary Schools Act (SUCCESS Act) would start by training people who are studying to be counselors, on the alternative career paths available after high school. The bill emphasizes awareness of ot… Continue Reading
06.07.18
Houghton Lake Resorter: Opioid crisis devastating community Peters told during visit to Gerrish
In an effort to meet those combating the opioid crisis on daily basis, United States Senator Gary Peters held a roundtable Friday at Gerrish Township Hall. Peters met with representatives of area law enforcement agencies, human service groups, medical fields, first responding units and local municipalities in order to get a sense of what the opioid crisis is like locally. "The opioid crisis has devastated our community and endangered our staff," said Brandon Rodgers, Gerrish Township Fire/EMS … Continue Reading
05.22.18
WKTV (Kentwood/Wyoming): Ford airport leader welcomes Sen. Peters’ introduction of bill to fund airport security
by K.D. Norris
Michigan's Democratic U.S. Sen. Gary Peters last week joined with Republican Sen. Cory Gardner of Colorado to introduce bipartisan legislation to "increase safety and security for airport passengers and visitors outside of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screened areas," according to supplied material. The Secure Airport Public Spaces Act allows airports to use existing Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) funds to update their security infrastructure to better protect public area… Continue Reading
05.14.18
Detroit News: Driverless vehicles may reshape future of warfare
by Ian Thibodeau
Warren- Detroit carmakers say autonomous vehicles will change transportation forever. The U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center here is using that technology to reshape the future of warfare. Secretary of the Army Mark Esper is seizing the opportunity of a larger budget and slowing combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan to pump money and other resources into the modernization of the Army's tanks, transport vehicles and weapons. Everything is on the table… Continue Reading
04.12.18
MLive/Grand Rapids Press: U.S. senator questions continued Line 5 operation after damage found
by Mark Tower
ST. IGNACE, MI -- As the U.S. Coast Guard continues its response to a spill of an estimated 600 gallons of mineral oil containing toxic chemicals in the Straits of Mackinac, one of Michigan's senators expressed his dissatisfaction with the speed of that response. U.S. Sen Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Township, voiced his concerns during a committee hearing held Thursday, April 12, on preparations for the upcoming hurricane season. Peters explained that his constituents are demanding answers. "We … Continue Reading
03.27.18
Midland Daily News: Peters shares the value of Scouting: Local Boy Scouts offer 12,000 hours of community service
by John Kennett
Calling Boy Scouts an "absolutely vital organization," Sen. Gary Peters visited Midland Monday as the keynote speaker at the 2018 Great Lakes Bay Region Boy Scout breakfast. "One of the most important roles Boy Scouts play in our communities is providing strong education and citizen leadership. Scouting teaches you that even a small action in your life can have a big impact on the community," said the Democratic U.S. Senator before a roomful of people at the Great Hall. Peters spoke from exper… Continue Reading
03.23.18
E&E Daily: Sen. Gary Peters: Pipeline foe and motorcycle fanatic
by Maxine Joselow
If you spend enough time with Sen. Gary Peters, chances are good he'll mention motorcycles. "I've been riding since I was probably 12 years old," the Democrat from Michigan said in a recent interview. "Last summer, during the August congressional break, I rode 1,800 miles all across Michigan, from the Lower Peninsula to the Upper Peninsula." If you're a reporter and the interview stretches longer than half an hour, Peters may even invite you on a ride. "In between stops, various people would … Continue Reading
03.12.18
MLive Ann Arbor: Sen. Gary Peters receives Champion of Science Award at UM
by Martin Slagter
ANN ARBOR, MI - The Science Coalition presented U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., with its Champion of Science Award on Monday, March 12, recognizing his commitment to funding research that keeps the U.S. and Michigan at the forefront of scientific and medical discovery and technological innovation. Peters is a member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. While serving as ranking member of the Senate Science, Space and Competitiveness Subcommittee, Peters worked with Repub… Continue Reading
