In the News
Monroe News: Clean water, jobs in state big focus for Sen. Peters
by Dean Cousino
LASALLE - Preserving federal funding of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and bringing the new F-35 aircraft to Michigan would greatly safeguard local drinking water supplies and boost the state's economy. These and other priorities were mentioned during a town hall-style meeting with U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, D-Michigan, at the Monroe County Chamber of Commerce luncheon Monday at LaRoy's Hall in LaSalle. His remarks followed a tour of Ventower Industries' plant at the Port of Monroe and meet… Continue Reading
06.02.17
Detroit News: Peters: ‘If lock is shut down, economy shuts down’
by Jonathan Oosting
Sault Ste. Marie - The 455-foot Zelada Desgagnes pauses while 22 million gallons of water are pumped into the Poe Lock, raising the hefty cargo ship 21 feet so it can continue on to Lake Superior to pick up iron ore, grain or other commodities. It's one of about 3,800 ships this year that will pass through the Poe, the largest of four locks at the Soo complex Michigan's Upper Peninsula, and the only one capable of handling ships wider than 76 feet. "The raw materials that come through here on … Continue Reading
06.01.17
Detroit Free Press: Peters cheers self-driving vehicles but warns of policy lags
by John Gallagher
MACKINAC ISLAND - Trying to sort through the hype about self-driving cars? You could do worse than to listen to U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., one of the more thoughtful civic leaders on future mobility issues. Speaking here at the annual Mackinac Policy Conference, Peters sounds an initial note of optimism about the technological progress we're seeing toward autonomous vehicles. "It's going to happen a lot sooner than people will realize," Peters told me here at the Grand Hotel. "The techno… Continue Reading
05.26.17
Detroit News: Peters hopes to speed release of report on missile site
by Melissa Nann Burke
Washington - A new bipartisan Senate bill aims to accelerate the selection of a new missile defense site for which Michigan is among three finalists. The Missile Defense Agency is preparing an environmental impact study of three potential East Coast locations for a new Continental United States Receptor Site, including the Fort Custer Training Center near Battle Creek Air National Guard Base. The environmental study was expected to be released last year, but the agency says it cannot provide a… Continue Reading
05.25.17
Alpena News: New legislation focuses on Great Lakes pipeline safety
by Jordan Spence
WASHINGTON - Michigan senators hope their new legislation strengthens protections of the Great Lakes from pipeline oil spills. Sens. Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters introduced pipeline safety regulation legislation Wednesday. "With the oil spill experienced in the Kalamazoo River … we know how devastating these spills can be," Peters said. "Any sort of spill in the Great Lakes would be absolutely catastrophic." The bills would increase Great Lakes pipeline liability caps; give greate… Continue Reading
05.25.17
Traverse City Record-Eagle: Proposed regulations would impact Line 5
by Jordan Travis
TRAVERSE CITY - Michigan's U.S. Senators are championing legislation that would enact stricter standards for operators of pipelines that run under the Great Lakes, and create new authority to shut them down if operators don't meet those benchmarks. Operators, namely Enbridge, would have to prove they have the financial means to clean up a spill, said Sen. Gary Peters, D-Michigan. The U.S. Secretary of Transportation could shut down pipelines if a company can't meet that standard, if they violat… Continue Reading
05.24.17
Detroit Free Press: Peters, Stabenow want to raise liability caps on Great Lakes pipelines
by Todd Spangler
WASHINGTON - Michigan's U.S. senators proposed legislation today that they say would improve underwater pipeline safety in the Great Lakes by raising liability caps on pipeline owners and giving federal officials more authority to shut down pipelines if they deem it necessary. The proposals made by U.S. Sens. Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow, both Democrats, come as environmentalists continue to demand safeguards - if not a shutdown - of Canadian oil company Enbridge's Line 5, a pair of 64-year-… Continue Reading
05.24.17
Monroe News: Gary Peters cosponsors conservation legislation
by Monroe News Staff Reporter
U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., cosponsored the bipartisan Land and Water Conservation Authorization and Funding Act. The act will permanently reauthorize and fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund, a news release said. The LWCF uses revenues from offshore oil and gas drilling to fund the protection of everything from wildlife refuges and national parks to lakes, rivers and community parks. Michigan has received more than $320 million in funding from the LWCF during the 50 year lifes… Continue Reading
05.22.17
Holland Sentinel: Peters, Stabenow push for student loan refinancing
by Holland Sentinel Staff Reporter
U.S. Senators Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Hills, and Debbie Stabenow, D-Lansing, joined their colleagues in introducing the Bank on Students Emergency Loan Refinancing Act. The legislation would allow those with outstanding student loan debt to refinance at the lower interest rates offered to new federal borrowers in the 2016-2017 school year. "Access to higher education can provide a pathway to economic opportunity, but too many young people are saddled with crushing debt after they leave school… Continue Reading
05.18.17
Detroit News: Mich. senators revive push for advanced car legislation
by Keith Laing
Washington - Michigan's U.S. senators are reviving a push to advance legislation aimed at boosting advanced technology vehicles. U.S. Sens. Debbie Stabenow, D-Lansing, and Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Township, along with U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, said Thursday they are reintroducing the measure, which has been dubbed the Vehicle Innovation Act, "to encourage investments in research and development of clean vehicle and advanced safety technologies to increase fuel efficiency and redu… Continue Reading
05.16.17
Detroit Free Press: Peters favors federal funding to promote part-time firefighters
by Todd Spangler
WASHINGTON - U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., introduced legislation today that could help local fire departments promote part-time personnel with federal grant funding rather than being forced to hire new employees and train them. Peters introduced the legislation along with U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, as a way to help save money and hire and promote first responders who have already been trained. Under current law, fire departments may only use grants under the Staffing for Adequate Fire… Continue Reading
05.11.17
Congressional Quarterly: Michigan's Sen. Peters Sees Bill as On-Ramp for Driverless Cars
by Jacob Fischler
Sen. Gary Peters said Thursday that he and Sen. John Thune are working on a bill designed to provide a regulatory framework to encourage driverless car technology that would straddle the current regulations and those that would be needed if such cars become commonplace. Peters, D-Mich., said overhauling current regulations could take years and U.S. companies are competing with European and Asian rivals to develop the technology. They need regulatory flexibility, he said in an appearance at Mic… Continue Reading
04.26.17
Holland Sentinel: Gary Peters urges US Senate colleagues to support farm loans
by Holland Sentinel Staff Reporter
In 2016, farmers that counted on Farm Service Agency loans faced a crisis when funding fell short due to high demand. U.S. Senator Gary Peters is leading a bipartisan effort now to make sure that doesn't happen again. "Michigan's farmers - and farmers across our country - feed our country and people around the globe, and we must do what we can to support them," Peters, D-West Bloomfield, said. "Our agricultural businesses rely on the ability to access the resources they need to keep growing, cr… Continue Reading
04.17.17
Michigan Peninsula News: Sen. Peters announces bill to protect small businesses against fraud on federal bids
by Michigan Peninsula News Staff Reporter
During a visit to MessageMakers in Lansing this week, U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) announced the introduction of legislation to protect small businesses against fraud when registering for federal contracts. "It is important business owners are equipped with tools and knowledge to protect their companies against scams while taking advantage of new business opportunities," Peters said. "I am pleased to be at MessageMakers today to see firsthand how Michigan businesses are benefitting from service… Continue Reading
04.13.17
WJRT ABC 12 Flint: Sen. Gary Peters honors local Vietnam Veterans
For many of these veterans it's been 50 years or more since they left Vietnam. It's an experience some wish they could forget. "It's the type of experience if you haven't had it no explanation is possible to comprehend if you have it isn't necessary to to explain. So we kind of meander around in our own fog you know trying not to think about it more than anything", Chester Kobylas, Marine Corps Vietnam Veteran said. "When we first come home we couldn't wait to get the uniform off, because … Continue Reading
04.12.17
WLNS 6 Lansing: Sen. Peters unveils plan to protect small businesses from scammers
by Kevin VanderKolk
It's tough enough keeping a small business alive, let alone thriving. It's even tougher when they fall victim to fraud when they apply for federal contracts. That was the focus today when U.S. Senator Gary Peters visited a small business in Lansing to talk about legislation he is introducing. The "Procurement Fraud Prevention Act" would require small businesses to be notified that free assistance is available for help in procuring government contracts through federal programs, including Procu… Continue Reading
04.11.17
Kalamazoo Gazette/MLive: Domestic violence victims and their pets would be protected by PAWS Act
by Madison Bennett
KALAMAZOO, MI - U.S. Senator Gary Peters is working to expand protection of victims of domestic violence and their pets. The Pet and Women Safety (PAWS) Act, which Peters reintroduced in Congress earlier this year, would expand existing federal domestic violence protections to include threats or acts of violence against a victim's pet and force abusers to reimburse victims for any related veterinarian fees. "Most people don't realize how widespread domestic violence is in our communities," Pet… Continue Reading
04.10.17
Detroit Free Press: Stabenow, Peters press Trump for Asian carp report
by Todd Spangler
WASHINGTON - Michigan's U.S. senators and 10 others from Great Lakes states today again asked the Trump administration to release a report on potential proposals for dealing with the threat posed by invasive Asian carp. The Free Press first reported that the tentative plan to address the threat of Asian carp moving closer to Lake Michigan had been delayed in late February with sources saying the Trump administration wanted to review it, though it was not known why. The plan - which was expecte… Continue Reading
04.06.17
Detroit News: Peters presses Kelly on threats to Jewish centers
by Melissa Nann-Burke & Jonathan Oosting
Sen. Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Township, on Wednesday pressed Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly on why his department hasn't disclosed its plans for "swift action" in response to bomb threats made at Jewish community centers, day schools and synagogues. Last month, all 100 senators signed a letter, led by Peters and three others, asking Kelly, as well as Attorney General Jeff Sessions and FBI Director James Comey, to tell lawmakers what they plan to do to address threats against religious … Continue Reading
04.05.17
WTVB 95.5 FM Coldwater: Peters looks to expand Early College
by Ken Delaney
A program that the Coldwater, Bronson, Quincy School Districts and the Pansophia Academy now offer would be expanded under bipartisian legislation that is being sponsored in part by Michigan Democratic Senator Gary Peters. The Making Education Affordable and Accessible Act would expand opportunities for high school students to earn college credits. The Early College program has already been in place for several years at area schools. Peters says there would be a number of grant programs availa… Continue Reading
