In the News
MLive: Sen. Gary Peters wants to give students who default on private loans a second chance
by Kyle Feldscher
LANSING, MI - College graduates who default on private student loans could get a second chance at a good credit score if legislation proposed by Sen. Gary Peters becomes federal law. In an announcement at Michigan State University on Monday, Peters announced the introduction of the Fair Student Credit Act. The bill would allow students with private loans to have their default wiped from their credit report and their credit rehabilitated if they made a series of nine consecutive monthly payments… Continue Reading
05.01.15
Grand Rapids Press: Grand Rapids doctor joins Sen. Gary Peters in promoting human trafficking bill
by Sue Thoms
GRAND RAPIDS, MI - A local physician joined U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, D-Michigan, on Friday, May 1, in calling for training to help medical professionals identify victims of human trafficking. Dr. Matthew Denenberg, the chief medical director of Spectrum Health's Helen DeVos Children's Hospital, spoke in support of legislation that would provide training to help doctors and nurses recognize the warning signs that could indicate a person is a victim of human trafficking. The victims "are too often… Continue Reading
04.30.15
Macomb Daily: U.S. Sen. Gary Peters working to boost minimum wage to $12
by David Grocki
U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (MI) has joined up with 32 other politicians to introduce to the floor the Raise the Wage Act, according to a United States Senate press release. The legislation seeks to increase the federally-mandated hourly minimum wage to $12 per by 2020, an incremental raise from the current $7.25. The legislation would also eliminate the $2.13 tipped per hour wage seen in food service industries. "Nobody who works full-time in this country should have to live in poverty, but that is… Continue Reading
04.30.15
Port Huron Times Herald: Blue Water Bridge plaza project not forgotten
by Port Huron Times Herald Editorial Board
The Blue Water Bridge plaza expansion isn't a priority, but at least it hasn't been forgotten. Michigan's new U.S. Senator, Gary Peters, put Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson in the hot seat Wednesday at a Senate homeland security committee hearing. Peters pressed him for answers on Homeland Security's commitment to infrastructure and staffing at two of America's busiest land border crossings - at Detroit and Port Huron. Peters told Johnson that Border Security must do two things - keep … Continue Reading
04.29.15
Huffington Post: Senator Pushes Criminal Justice Reform Bill After Baltimore Riots
by Kate Abbey-Lambertz
Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) introduced a bill Tuesday that he said would be a preliminary step towards overhauling the criminal justice system in the wake of violent protests over policing in Baltimore and other cities around the country. The National Criminal Justice Commission Act of 2015 would create the first national commission on criminal justice since 1965, Peters said in a call with media Tuesday. The legislation was referred to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary and has the support o… Continue Reading
04.29.15
Michigan Chronicle: After Inkster, Peters pushes justice reform
by Bankole Thompson
U.S. Senator Gary Peters has unveiled what he calls a bipartisan legislation to push for criminal justice reform in the nation. Republican Senators Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and John Cornyn of Texas are cosponsoring the bill. Peters' proposal, a National Criminal Justice Commission, comes on the heels of numerous public outcries calling for an end to overbearing law enforcement in communities of color and most recently in Inkster, where a former Inkster police officer, William Melendez, … Continue Reading
04.28.15
Detroit News: Peters unveils bill to review criminal justice system
by Tom Greenwood
With the backing of two Republican U.S. Senators, Michigan Democratic Sen. Gary Peters on Tuesday introduced legislation that would create a National Criminal Justice Commission to review the U.S. criminal justice system. According to Peters, the intent of the commission is to scrutinize the justice system from top to bottom and to propose reforms to issues facing the system. "Recent incidents, like the traffic stop of Floyd Dent in Inkster, and civil unrest in areas like Baltimore and Ferguso… Continue Reading
04.28.15
MLive: Sen. Gary Peters calls for comprehensive review of the country's criminal justice system
by Fritz Klug
With recent police-related killings leading to protests and civil unrest, U.S. Sen. Gary Peters is calling for a comprehensive review of the country's criminal justice system. The Michigan Democrat is expected to introduce a bill Tuesday calling for the creation of a national commission to look at the criminal system. The bill is also sponsored by senior Republican Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and John Cornyn of Texas. Members of the commission would include experts on law enforcemen… Continue Reading
04.20.15
Holland Sentinel: U.S. Sen. Gary Peters introduces bipartisan bill
U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, D-14th District, a member of the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, announced he has introduced bipartisan legislation. The legislation will ensure that the Small Business Administration's main lending program, the 7(a) Loan Program, can continue to meet the increasing small business demand for loans. In recent years, there has been an increase in demand for 7(a) loans, from $15.2 billion in 2012 to $19.2 billion in 2014, including $1.2 billion in lending to o… Continue Reading
04.15.15
Detroit News: Worthy pushes for more funding to prosecute rapists
by David Shepardson
Washington - Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy met Wednesday with Michigan's two senators and other members of the congressional delegation, seeking more funding to help prosecute suspected rapists. In 2009, more than 11,300 untested rape kits were found in Detroit dating back to 1984. With $4 million from the state and support from advocacy groups, testing has been completed and found significant evidence of serial rapists. Worthy said last year that testing of some kits had identified 127 p… Continue Reading
04.02.15
Dearborn Press & Guide: Peters co-sponsoring bill to train medical staff to respond to trafficking victims
by Teresa Duhl
U.S. Sen. Gary Peters on Monday held a press conference at Wayne State University's School of Medicine to announce that he is co-sponsoring Senate Bill 205: The Trafficking Awareness Training for Health Care Act of 2015. Also on hand to show their support for the bill were Dr. Jack Sobel, interim dean of the WSU School of Medicine, and Angela Aufdemberge, president and chief executive officer of Vista Maria in Dearborn Heights. If passed as currently written, the Trafficking Awareness Training … Continue Reading
04.02.15
Battle Creek Enquirer: Sen. Peters tours Air Guard base for first time
by Trace Christenson
Michigan's newest senator had his first tour of Battle Creek's military base. U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, who took office in January, spent nearly three hours at Battle Creek's Air National Guard Base Wednesday, learning more about work on the base, future missions and seeing the facilities. "It is always better to go out and kick the tires and see what is here," Peters said. Riding with several local officials, Peters saw the base from the front seat of a van and then had briefings about the past… Continue Reading
04.02.15
Flint Journal: U.S. Sen. Gary Peters pushes for human trafficking intervention bill
by Sarah Schuch
FLINT, MI -- Giving medical professionals training on identifying victims of human trafficking could save lives, officials say. That is why U.S. Sen. Gary Peters wants to see more health care professionals trained in knowing what to look for, and is pushing a bill that would create a pilot program for a medical school to create best practices for intervention. Peters, D-Bloomfield Twp., made a stop in Flint on Thursday, April 2, at the Genesys Downtown Flint Health Center to push for his new l… Continue Reading
04.01.15
Kalamazoo Gazette: Michigan Sen. Gary Peters shows strong support for proposed missile defense system
by Alex Mitchell
BATTLE CREEK, MI -- U.S. Sen. Gary Peters toured Fort Custer Wednesday to show support for a proposed missile defense system that could be constructed at the military base. Fort Custer, a 7,500-acre training base for the U.S. Army Reserves and other branches of the military that straddles Calhoun and Kalamazoo counties, is one of four locations currently undergoing an environmental impact study that will be used to partially determine the area best suited for the project. Peters said he strong… Continue Reading
03.31.15
Grand Rapids Press: U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga promote rebuilt parts for federal fleet
by Jim Harger
KENTWOOD, MI - Taxpayers will save money and Michigan companies that rebuild automotive and truck parts will benefit from legislation sponsored by a bipartisan team of U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich. and U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Zeeland. "Encouraging the federal government to use less expensive remanufactured auto parts when repairing their vehicles helps save taxpayers money and supports remanufacturing suppliers in Michigan and across the country," said Peters, who appeared at North America … Continue Reading
03.31.15
MiBiz: Federal legislation could spur growth of remanufactured parts, local jobs
by John Wiegand
KENTWOOD - Advocates for a bill pending in Congress say that using remanufactured parts to repair and maintain federal vehicle fleets would not only help save taxpayer money, but also act to spur job creation at local companies. For North American Fuel Systems Remanufacturing LLC in Kentwood, the bill to encourage the federal procurement of more remanufactured parts could help fuel demand for the engine components it refurbishes for the heavy-truck industry, said Adam Knobeloch, the company's v… Continue Reading
03.30.15
Detroit News: Peters seeks pilot program on human trafficking
by Chad Livengood
U.S. Sen. Gary Peters is scheduled to visit Wayne State University's medical school Monday to push for legislation helping health care professionals better identify patients who are victims of human trafficking. Peters, D-Bloomfield Township, has introduced a bill creating a pilot program for a medical school to develop best practices for identifying and preventing the spread of human trafficking - what the U.S. Department of Homeland Security calls "modern-day form of slavery involving the ill… Continue Reading
03.30.15
The Hill: Fully fund the A-10 fleet, say Michigan senators
by Martin Matishak
Michigan Sens. Debbie Stabenow (D) and Gary Peters (D) are urging senior appropriators to fully fund the Air Force's A-10 "Warthog" fleet and scrap the service's plan to move some of the aircraft into backup status. "Given the United States' current military engagements in the Middle East fighting against [the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria], and protecting NATO countries in Eastern Europe, the aircraft program must be continued until a suitable alternative is in place," the pair said in a let… Continue Reading
03.27.15
Detroit News: Senate OKs Peters’ measure on customs plazas fund
Washington - The U.S. Senate late Thursday approved a budget amendment by Sen. Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Township, that creates a reserve fund for future spending authorization at customs plazas and ports of entry. The measure is non-binding and does not represent an approval for funding. The amendment did not specify a dollar amount for the fund or from where the money would come. It creates a reserve fund in the federal budget that won't increase the federal deficit. The fund may be used for… Continue Reading
03.26.15
Detroit News: Peters seeks funding for customs plazas in Michigan
by Melissa Nann Burke
Washington - As Congress sets its spending priorities this week, U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Township, is seeking a budget reserve for future spending authorization at customs plazas and ports of entry. If approved, the amendment would create a deficit-neutral reserve fund in the federal budget that may be used for construction or increased staffing at ports of entry, such as the Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron - which is awaiting an expanded customs plaza - and the new U.S.-Canada cros… Continue Reading
