In the News
MLive: Bill would update Great Lakes oil spill response maps
by Garret Ellison
Federal maps which assess coastal resources in the Great Lakes that could be harmed by an oil spill would be updated for the first time in decades under bipartisan legislation in the U.S. Senate. On July 17, U.S. Sens. Gary Peters, D-Michigan, and Todd Young, R-Indiana, introduced Senate Bill 1586, which directs the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to update the Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) maps in the Great Lakes. According to Peters' office, the last time Gre… Continue Reading
07.21.17
Alpena News: Peters seeks to extend comment period
by STEVE SCHULWITZ
Sen. Gary Peters and 19 of his colleagues have sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Commerce requesting an extension to the public comment period over an executive order by the Trump administration that could impact marine sanctuaries, including the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. The executive order mandates the Commerce Department review the designations and expansion of 11 national marine sanctuaries and marine national monuments that have taken place since 2007. The study will see… Continue Reading
07.20.17
CBS Evening News: Car companies race to roll out self-driving cars, but the rules aren't ready
by KRIS VAN CLEAVE
WASHINGTON -- Car companies are racing to get self-driving cars on U.S. highways. But federal regulators are playing catch-up. Starting next year, a largely autonomous Audi hits the highways. This fall, students at the University of Michigan will be hopping a driverless bus across campus. Carmakers are promising mass-market, fully self-driving cars by 2021, and tech companies like Uber and Google could deploy them much sooner. California is readying its roads, replacing raised lane markers wi… Continue Reading
07.19.17
Detroit News: Trump order could affect Lake Huron marine sanctuary
by Melissa Nann Burke
Democratic Sen. Gary Peters is raising concerns about an executive order from President Donald Trump calling for the review of all National Marine Sanctuaries designated in the last 10 years, which he says could lead to the elimination or reduction in size of the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary in Michigan. The review is part of Trump's America-First Offshore Energy Strategy executive order that would potentially open marine sanctuaries and monuments designated under the previous two admi… Continue Reading
06.14.17
Alpena News: Peters proposes change to SAFER grant
by Steve Schulwitzz
LANSING - A proposed amendment to the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response grant program by Michigan Sen. Gary Peters could allow for local fire departments to bump up part-time employees to full-time. Peters said as the program was set up, SAFER would help to fund a new firefighter hired by a department full-time, but did not help cover the cost of someone already employed, but not full-time. He said if the SAFER reauthorization is approved it will help to bolster fire departmen… Continue Reading
06.13.17
Detroit News: Senators crafting ‘bipartisan principles’ for robo-cars
by Keith Laing
Washington - The day before a Senate panel is to discuss federal regulations for self-driving cars, three senators released "principles" to guide that legislation. U.S. Sens. John Thune, R-S.D.; Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Township; and Bill Nelson, D-Fla., all members of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, on Tuesday released "bipartisan principles" to guide legislation on self-driving cars. The panel will hold a hearing Wednesday about the "hurdles for testing and deploym… Continue Reading
06.06.17
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
