Peters & Stabenow Help U.S. Senate Pass Bipartisan Appropriations Package

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Wednesday, helped the Senate pass a bipartisan package of appropriations bills with funding for key Michigan priorities, high-impact local projects, and federal programs. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Peters helped author the bipartisan funding package, which included three appropriations bills: the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs (VA) bill, the Agriculture and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) bill, and the Transportation and Housing bill.

“As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I worked hard to help draft these bills and ensure that funding for Michigan projects and priorities were included,” said Senator Peters. “Now that the Senate has passed this package in a bipartisan way, it’s critical the House follow suit and pass legislation to fund the government at the levels both chambers agreed to during the debt limit negotiations.”  

The package includes $3 million in funding Peters secured through an amendment for a federal program he established with his Pet and Women Safety (PAWS) Act, which provides funding for facilities that harbor survivors of domestic violence and their pets. The legislation also includes funding for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) programs, veterans’ medical care and benefits, and investments to modernize critical military infrastructure and to establish new defense facilities in Michigan. The package also includes $2.4 million Peters secured for the construction of a facility for a tactical vehicle laboratory at the Army Ground Vehicle Systems Center in Warren, Michigan; $72 million for the construction of a Ground Transport Equipment Building at the Detroit Arsenal; and $24.5 million for new buildings at the Battle Creek Naval and Marine Corps Reserve Center (MCRC).

It includes investments in key transportation, workforce and housing initiatives, in addition to providing funding for rural airports and assistance for airports to transition away from using PFAS firefighting foam. The bill includes Peters-led provisions to help improve automobile safety and create a pathway to a regulatory framework for the development of autonomous vehicle (AV) technology in the United States. The legislation also includes assistance for agricultural research, funding to help combat specialty crop pests, and fully funds the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which helps provide food aid to approximately 1.3 million Michiganders. For a full list of provisions secured and supported by Peters that will benefit Michigan, click here.

The House of Representatives is considering its own appropriations bills in advance of the government funding deadline on November 17^th.  

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Senator Stabenow Secures Important Wins for Michigan    

WASHINGTON-The U.S. Senate Wednesday passed bipartisan bills with significant wins for Michigan. These bills include investments in Michigan’s infrastructure, military bases, local farms, and other projects for our communities. The budget bill must now pass the U.S. House of Representatives before being signed into law.

“This budget will continue to fuel Michigan’s economy and help communities in every region of our state. From investing in Michigan’s defense and infrastructure, to helping urban farmers have the tools they need to feed their cities, this bill makes significant investments in our future,” said Senator Stabenow.

Highlights of the bill include: 

Military Base Infrastructure: The bills include $72 million for the construction of a ground transport equipment building at the Detroit Arsenal, which will house a new research and development laboratory space. It also includes $24.5 million for organic supply facilities at Battle Creek Naval and Marine Corps Reserve Center, which specifically provides for the construction of two new buildings and a vehicle wash platform to support those assigned to the reserve center. 

Michigan’s USDA Urban Service Center and Urban Farmers: Senator Stabenow restored $8.5 million in funding for U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production in these bills. The Agriculture Funding bill that passed the Senate had initially stripped the funding for the Office of Urban Agriculture. Chairwoman Stabenow filed an amendment and led her colleagues in restoring this funding for the office and its programs. Restored funding for this office at USDA will be critical for continuing coordination of the establishment of local urban service centers in Detroit and Grand Rapids.

Priorities in Local Communities: 10 local projects submitted to Senator Stabenow by local governments and community organizations across the state were funded. These projects reflect the priorities of local communities and address investments in infrastructure, jobs, housing, small businesses, and other community priorities.

On November 17, government funding is set to expire unless Congress passes all government funding bills, and Democrats and Republicans in the Senate have now come together and passed three bills in a bipartisan way to fund parts of the government. 

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