In the News
Holland Sentinel: Sen. Gary Peters visits Coopersville dairy farm
by Grand Haven Tribune
Sen. Gary Peters toured Dream Winds Dairy farm on Friday, March 10, where he announced new, bipartisan legislation to preserve loans used by small farmers to start and grow their operations. The bill would ensure the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Farm Service Agency loan program can fulfill its commitments to already-approved loan applications.… Continue Reading
03.09.18
WZZM (Grand Rapids): Sen. Gary Peters introduces bipartisan farm bill
by Jaleesa Irizarry
Michigan Senator Gary Peters was in Ottawa County Friday morning introducing a new bill that would help small farms. Peters says the bipartisan bill would provide support for farms during periods of high demand. "We need to make sure our farmers, especially our start-up farmers, have the resources they need so they can get a loan," the lawmaker, said at the Dream Winds Dairy Farm on Friday. The bill that would help more farms utilize federal loans to help maintain or expand their business. In… Continue Reading
03.08.18
Alpena News: Peters introduces trade enforcement bill
by Steve Schulwitz
Sen. Gary Peters has introdced a bill that, if passed into law, could help small- and medium-size businesses fight back against unfair trade practices by other countries. President Donald Trump already has pledged his support for the bill after a bi-partisan meeting at the White House last month. The Self-Initiation Trade Enforcement Act would create a task force at the International Trade Administration, an agency within the Commerce Department, to investigate unfair trade practices by foreign… Continue Reading
03.06.18
Detroit News: Senators probe $31K dining set for Carson’s office
by Melissa Nann Burke
Washington - Sen. Gary Peters of Michigan is pressing the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to explain how it decided to spend more than $31,000 for a custom-made hardwood dining set for Secretary Ben Carson's office. Peters, the ranking Democrat on the Senate's Federal Spending Oversight and Emergency Management Subcommittee, wrote to HUD with two colleagues this week to express dismay over a "troubling pattern" of senior administration officials "wasting taxpayer money on extra… Continue Reading
02.15.18
WBUP (Ishpeming): Peters’s bill would help boost economy
by KELLAN BUDDY
WASHINGTON, D.C. - President Trump met this week with Michigan Senator Gary Peters about a potential trade bill. The bipartisan bill will help enforce trade laws for small and medium-sized businesses that are undercut by unfair dumping practices. Currently, the Commerce Department has the authority to investigate dumping, but rarely do, unless a bigger company decides to form a complaint. "I also believe that we need to deal with small companies and agricultural producers that may not have the… Continue Reading
02.15.18
The Hill: Senators introduce bill to help businesses with trade complaints
by Vicki Needham
A bipartisan pair of senators on Wednesday are proposing the creation of a task force within the Commerce Department that would help small- and medium-sized businesses better fight unfair trade practices. Sens. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) and Richard Burr (R-N.C.) are teaming up on legislation that would help businesses that typically lack enough resources to file cases against alleged trade violators. The permanent task force would fall under the the International Trade Administration (ITA) at Comm… Continue Reading
02.14.18
Detroit News: Sen. Peters files bill to combat dumping in trade
by Keith Lang
Washington - U.S. Sen. Gary Peters is introducing a bipartisan bill to force the U.S. Commerce Department to initiate trade enforcement actions on behalf of smaller industries in an effort to combat dumping of products at below-market prices by foreign makers. The measure, which was co-authored by Peters and Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C. and has the support of President Donald Trump, calls for the creation of a permanent task force at the Commerce Department's International Trade Administration tha… Continue Reading
02.13.18
Detroit News: Sen. Peters to Trump: Pump brakes on steel dumping
by Keith Lang
Washington - U.S. Sen. Gary Peters warned President Donald Trump about the harm that steel-dumping inflicts on the auto parts industry during a White House meeting on trade Tuesday. Peters, who was one of 20 senators who attended at the White House meeting, took the opportunity to have an audience with Trump to press the president to address "unfair" trade practices like steel dumping, where foreign makers export steel to the U.S. at below-market prices in an effort to drive out domestic compet… Continue Reading
02.05.18
Crain’s Detroit Business: Sen. Peters: Autonomous vehicles could make Michigan center of AI
by Dustin Walsh
Sen. Gary Peters discussed the future of Michigan He believes AI is our greatest opportunity Fears foreign M&A could pose threat to our technological advancements Sen. Gary Peters sees a Michigan future that's more than cars - if the state and its private and public sectors can seize on the opportunity. Speaking to Detroit Economic Club members Monday at the Masonic Temple in Detroit, Peters called for the state to capitalize on its leadership role in developing autonomous vehicles, a … Continue Reading
02.05.18
Detroit News: Senator urges foresight in self-driving vehicle race
by Ian Thibodeau
Michigan has made progress to lead the development of robotic technology that will drastically change transportation. But lawmakers and business leaders need to ready for what comes after self-driving cars hit the road, according to U.S. Sen. Gary Peters. Peters, D-Bloomfield Township, said Monday at the Detroit Economic Club that state and federal officials have done well to position southeast Michigan as a hub for the development of autonomous vehicles. The American Center for Mobility at Wi… Continue Reading
01.17.18
MLive: Federal legislation for autonomous vehicles expected in 2018
by Paula Gardner
The drive for innovation in the auto industry continues at a revolutionary pace. However, federal legislation still lags where automakers, traffic safety experts and the public needs it to be, according to officials at Detroit's auto show. That could change this year, said U.S. Senator Gary Peters. It's a national issue that particularly affects Michigan due to the dominance of the auto industry here - and how other nations also are making strides toward breakthrough technology. "We're in a … Continue Reading
01.06.18
Southgate News-Herald: Sen. Peters tours Viconic Defense factory in Taylor
by Dave Herndon
U.S. Sen. Gary Peters toured Viconic Defense's state of the art factory in Taylor on Monday. Peters is a member of the Armed Services Committee, and has a vested interest in the defense industry as it related to the Michigan plant. "I wanted to come out and see some of the work being done here to save warfighters lives," Peters said. "This is something I focus a great deal on." Viconic Defense manufactures a line of products aimed at making vehicles safer for members of the military to trave… Continue Reading
11.28.17
Macomb Daily: Leaders highlight value of Great Lakes Restoration Initiative in Macomb County
by Don Gardner
Bipartisan cooperation to enhance and protect the environment. That was the message Monday morning as Sen. Gary Peters toured improvements made at the Gloede Drain in Clinton Township, along with local political leaders, to see first-hand the results of Great Lakes Restoration Initiative dollars. Peters was joined by Macomb County Public Works Commissioner Candice Miller, County Executive Mark Hackel, Clinton Township Supervisor Bob Cannon and Clerk Kim Meltzer in front of the Italian American … Continue Reading
11.08.17
Reuters: Michigan Senator urges Congress to retain electric car tax credit
by David Shepardson
A Democratic U.S. Senator from Michigan on Wednesday urged his fellow lawmakers to retain a $7,500 tax credit for people who buy electronic vehicles instead of eliminating it as Republicans have proposed. In a letter seen by Reuters, Senator Gary Peters wrote to Senate leaders that "a new generation of jobs and families will be supported by electric vehicles. Eliminating important economic incentives for electric vehicles would be a step in the wrong direction." Last week, Republicans in the… Continue Reading
11.08.17
MLive: Stabenow, Peters join outcry about Enbridge's maintenance of Line 5
by Julie Mack
U.S. Sens. Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters are joining state officials in raising sharp questions about Enbridge Inc.'s maintenance of its Line 5 pipeline under the Straits of Mackinac. The two Michigan Democrats today released a letter sent to Enbridge CEO Al Monaco in which they expressed "great concern" about the pipeline's condition, as well as the accuracy of the company's communications. In recent months, Enbridge has disclosed there is damage to the protective coating on the pipeline. I… Continue Reading
11.07.17
Houghton Daily Mining Gazette: Autonocars: Pending self-driving vehicle legislation could boost Tech research
by Garrett Neese
Testing of autonomous vehicles, such as that being done at Michigan Technological University, could get a boost with legislation working its way through Congress. The American Vision for Safer Transportation through Advancement of Revolutionary Technologies (AV START) Act was approved by the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee in October. U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., sponsored the bill along with Sen. John Thune, R-S.D. U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., is a co-sponsor o… Continue Reading
11.02.17
Holland Sentinel: Peters introduces bill to expand access to opioid addiction treatment for adolescents
by Sentinel Staff
Ottawa County had 26 opioid-related overdose deaths in 2016. U.S. Senators Gary Peters, D-Michigan, and Shelley Moore Capito, R-West Virginia, introduced legislation Wednesday, Nov. 1, to expand access to opioid addiction treatment for adolescents. The Youth Opioid Use Treatment Help (YOUTH) Act will expand access to medication to treat adolescents suffering from opioid addiction, according to a press release from Peter's office. The bill would also renew an existing substance abuse program a… Continue Reading
10.29.17
MLive/Grand Rapids Press: Purple Heart, Bronze Star presented to family of WWII veteran
by Bryce Airgood
Cheryl Heinrich stood nervously at the front of the room, waiting to receive the nine military medals, including the Purple Heart, on behalf of her father. The emcee described each award, and the honor and sacrifice each stood for. Heinrich's hands shook as U.S. senator Gary Peters passed her the awards one by one. "I'm very proud of him, to know that my dad served and was able to get the medals," Heinrich said. "It's too bad he wasn't able to get them himself or if he did (receive medals), … Continue Reading
10.10.17
MLive: Self-driving vehicles legislation making headway in Congress
by Lauren Gibbons
Congressional efforts to boost autonomous vehicles are gaining traction in the U.S. House and Senate with help from Michigan lawmakers. Last week, the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee unanimously approved legislation sponsored by Michigan U.S. Sen. Gary Peters and John Thune, R-S.D., to update current federal vehicle safety standards to incorporate self-driving vehicle technology. Fellow Michigan U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow is a cosponsor. Peters' legislation, the AV… Continue Reading
10.02.17
Macomb Daily: U.S. Sen. Gary Peters says legislation will make it easier to develop and test autonomous vehicles in Michigan
by Mark Cavitt
U.S. Sen. Gary Peters said new legislation will make it easier to research, develop and test self-driving vehicles in Michigan. Last week, Peters, a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, introduced the American Vision for Safer Transportation through Advancement of Revolutionary Technologies (AV START) Act. The bill aims to advance the testing and development of autonomous technology and provide more public policy on these "life-saving" technologies at t… Continue Reading
