In the News
WBUP: Federal legislation aims to help small businesses
WASHINGTON, D.C. - New federal legislation aims to make it easier for vital players in the economy - namely, small businesses - to get the loans they need. The Help Small Businesses Access Affordable Credit Act, co-sponsored by U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), would allow the U.S. Small Business Administration to increase loan limits by up to ten percent in a fiscal year without legislative action. A recent spike in demand caused the program to reach its limit, leading to disruptions and ultima… Continue Reading
03.28.16
Oakland Press: Students say early college program helps them overcome obstacles to earning degrees
by Anne Runkle
Joe Rodriguez, 19, of Wixom, is the oldest of nine children. The child of a single mom, he was always expected to set a good example for his siblings. He started taking classes through Oakland Community College as a junior in high school. He found that traditional college students didn't treat him any differently as he joined them in classes as a 16-year-old. "They were actually really nice," he said. "We're all just trying to get a degree." Rodriguez will be in the first class of graduates … Continue Reading
03.10.16
The Hill: Senate bill wants DHS to help states fight hackers
by Cory Bennett
A new bipartisan Senate bill aims to give state and local governments access to the federal resources to combat cyber crime. Sens. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) and David Perdue (R-Ga.) will introduce the State and Local Cyber Protection Act on Thursday as a companion to a House bill Rep. Will Hurd (R-Texas) introduced in November. The legislation, Peters said in a statement, "will help ensure all levels of government are equipped with the best practices and resources to counter cyber threats." … Continue Reading
03.10.16
Alpena News: Sen. Peters co-authors bill for UAS education
by Steve Schulwitz
Colleges and universities are saddled with the same restrictions for operating an unmanned aircraft system as commercial companies. As a result it is difficult for them to get needed permits and licenses to instruct future professionals in the industry. A new piece of legislation proposed by Sen. Gary Peters, D-Michigan, could change that. On March 3 Peters and bill co-sponsor Sen. Garrette Turner of Kansas, introduced the Higher Education UAS Modernization Act that will support the use of d… Continue Reading
03.06.16
The Detroit News: Senate passes higher safety standards for pipelines
by Melissa Nann Burke
Washington - The U.S. Senate has passed a bill reauthorizing the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration and boosting pipeline safety and oversight, including a designation for the Great Lakes that will subject them to higher standards for operating safety. The legislation, which passed the chamber by unanimous voice vote Thursday, included provisions introduced by Michigan Sens. Gary Peters of Bloomfield Township and Debbie Stabenow of Lansing that would require federal reviews … Continue Reading
03.05.16
Detroit Free Press: Senate passes pipelines bill with Great Lakes protections
by Keith Matheny
Tougher pipeline standards near the Great Lakes, improved oil spill response plans and more reviews of pipelines' age and integrity are all parts of a pipeline regulator funding bill that passed the U.S. Senate Thursday. U.S. Senator Gary Peters was a co-sponsor of the bill, which reauthorizes the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, or PHMSA, the federal regulator of pipelines. The bill passed the Senate by unanimous consent, and now heads to the House of Representatives for… Continue Reading
03.02.16
Detroit Free Press: Head Start expansion announced for Flint children
by Katrease Stafford
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced Wednesday $3.6 million in emergency funds to expand Head Start and Early Head Start services for preschoolers who've been affected by Flint's lead contaminated water supply. The funding - a onetime grant - will immediately expand the services to children by providing additional classrooms, home visiting support and transportation for families who need to visit the doctor, Dr. Nicole Lurie, HHS Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Re… Continue Reading
02.29.16
Southgate News-Herald: Peters talks about need to fill Supreme Court vacancy in talk at Legislative Forum
by Dave Herndon
Gary Peters, the junior U.S. Senator from Michigan spoke at the monthly Southern Wayne County Regional Chamber Legislative Forum on Leap Day. Peters touched on a variety of topics from what committees he's on to bills he is working on in Washington. He also touched on the Flint Water crisis, funding college for more or Michigan's youth, and the expected fight to have a new Supreme Court justice confirmed in the next few months. Peter's said that confirmed a new justice is the right thing to do… Continue Reading
02.27.16
Battle Creek Enquirer: Peters offers bill to protect Kellogg Airport funding
by Trace Christenson
Legislation will be introduced to protect W.K. Kellogg Airport from the Federal Aviation Administration. U.S. Senator Gary Peters, a Democrat from Pontiac, announced he is asking Congress for an exemption in the law prohibiting federal grants to airports that have military bases without flying missions. The missions at the Michigan National Guard Base at W.K. Kellogg Airport do not include aircraft. The FAA requires airports applying for federal grants to charge fair market value for tenants e… Continue Reading
02.25.16
Oakland Press/Daily Tribune: Peters, Stabenow sponsor legislation to put more nurses in schools
by Anne Runkle
After a task force found that Michigan ranked last in the ratio of school nurses to students, the state's two U.S. senators are introducing legislation to allow schools and state agencies to apply for federal grants to hire more nurses. U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow and U.S. Sen. Gary Peters of Michigan are joining Jon Tester of Montana and Jack Reed of Rhode Island, all Democrats, in the Nurse Act, which will make school districts eligible to apply for additional nurses based on the number of thei… Continue Reading
02.22.16
Detroit Free Press: Sen. Gary Peters looks to expand college credit courses
by Todd Spangler
WASHINGTON - U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., is proposing legislation which could further expand options for high school students to gain college credits by allowing higher education grants to be made to colleges and universities to create and maintain dual and concurrent enrollment programs. Those programs allow students to obtain college credits while still attending high school. Last year, Peters and U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner, R-Colo., won passage of a measure that allows K-12 Title 1 funds to … Continue Reading
02.22.16
MiBiz: Peters legislation to support dual enrollment programs
by John Wiegand
New legislation U.S. Sen. Gary Peters is co-sponsoring would open up federal grant dollars to universities and colleges to develop concurrent dual enrollment programs with high schools. Proponents of the The Making Education Affordable and Accessible Act (MEAA) say that adding additional concurrent dual enrollment programs would both reduce student debt and increase college graduation rates for students. "When I went to school with some help from my parents, scholarships and working part time … Continue Reading
02.22.16
Detroit News: Peters bill would boost college credit at high schools
by Melissa Nann Burke
Washington - U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Township, is introducing a bill to expand options for high school students to earn college credit through dual or concurrent college enrollment via federal grants. The effort builds on an amendment by Peters that passed Congress last year as part of the Every Student Achieves Act, allowing more K-12 money to be spent on similar programs. The bipartisan legislation, introduced with Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Louisiana, would permit the U.S. Department … Continue Reading
02.22.16
MLive: Sen. Gary Peters wants to keep college-bound students out of debt
by Monica Scott
Flanked by Rockford High School seniors, U.S. Senator Gary Peters, D-MI, announced legislation introduced Monday, Feb. 22, to make college more affordable by expanding opportunities for high school students to earn college credit. Peters said the legislation will allow grants to be awarded to colleges and universities that partner with high schools to offer students the opportunity to earn post-secondary credit while still in school West Michigan schools and those across the state, currently o… Continue Reading
02.19.16
WDIV: Michigan to get millions from government for blight removal
DETROIT - Michigan political leaders on Friday announced that the U.S. Department of Treasury will begin distributing millions in Hardest Hit Funds to Michigan to fight blight. Michigan will receive $74.49 million immediately from the U.S. Department of Treasury's Hardest Hit Fund and is eligible to receive up to an additional $249 million this April to continue the revitalization of neighborhoods across the state. The announcement was made in a joint statement from U.S. Senator Debbie Stabeno… Continue Reading
02.15.16
WDIV: Sen. Gary Peters volunteered in Flint on Monday
by Hank Winchester
FLINT, Mich. - Senator Gary Peters was in Flint Monday getting a firsthand look at what residents are dealing with on a daily basis. Peters joined volunteers who donated bottled water and handed it out to those in need. "All sorts of volunteers are coming out to help the Red Cross and groups that are distributing water," Peters said. "But the important thing to remember is this can't continue. People can't live on bottled water. You can't shower. You can't bathe. It's hard to cook. This is not… Continue Reading
02.02.16
Detroit Free Press: Funds for Great Lakes icebreaker authorized by Congress
by Todd Spangler
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Congress has sent President Barack Obama legislation authorizing funds for design and construction of a new icebreaker for the Great Lakes, though it is far from clear when - or if - such a vessel will be built. The measure was included in Coast Guard reauthorization legislation approved on a unanimous voice vote by the U.S. House on Monday evening. The U.S. Senate previously approved the legislation, which Obama is expected to sign. While the measure doesn't spell out a … Continue Reading
02.01.16
The Detroit News: Sen. Peters visits Flint to highlight aid initiative
by Jacob Carah
Flint - U.S. Sen. Gary Peters visited Hurley Medical Center on Monday to highlight legislation set to be introduced Tuesday that would expand early education to children exposed to the city's lead crisis. Peters, D-Bloomfield Township, said the Children's Head Start Intervention for Life and Development (CHILD) Act will create one-time Head Start and Early Head Start grants for "areas affected by water pollution from lead or another toxic substance resulting in an emergency declaration." "We'r… Continue Reading
02.01.16
Detroit Free Press: U.S. lawmakers propose more funds for Flint kids
by Daniel Bethencourt
Michigan members of Congress announced Monday that they would be introducing bills to expand learning programs for Flint children who have been affected by the city's water crisis. U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-Mich) announced the legislation while touring Hurley Medical Center in Flint on Monday. "Flint's children were exposed to contaminated water by no fault of their own," Peters said. "I am proud to introduce this bill to help ensure they have the resources and support necessary to lead happ… Continue Reading
01.26.16
Michigan Radio: Michigan legislators call for additional Head Start money for Flint children
by WILL GREENBERG
Michigan Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow, as well as Congressman Dan Kildee, are asking Washington to help enroll all eligible Flint kids in Head Start. The three sent a letter this week to Blanca Enriquez, director of the Office of Head Start, asking that the program be made available to all eligible children in Flint to help mitigate the damage of the lead-tainted water. "We believe it is critical that we continue to do all we can to address the lasting health effects previous lead … Continue Reading
