In the News
The Arab American News: Senator Peters applauds Obama for inclusion
by Ali Harb
DEARBORN - Sen. Gary Peters (D-Michigan) praised President Obama's final State of the Union Address, applauding the commander in chief for explicitly condemning anti-Muslim rhetoric. "I was pleased that he made very strong and very emphatic statements that really appeal to who we are as Americans," Peters told The Arab American News. "This country has always been about welcoming folks from all across the earth. They come to this country to pursue the American Dream." Obama denounced attacks ag… Continue Reading
01.12.16
Boyne City Gazette: Michigan Senator Gary Peters’ Middle East trip focused on national security
U.S. Senator Gary Peters, a member of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, today announced that he traveled to the Middle East last week, where he met with allies in the region to discuss a number of national security issues, including the threat from groups such as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and progress on implementing the Iran nuclear agreement. Peters and seven other senators met with heads of state, ambassadors and other top officials in Israel, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and… Continue Reading
12.21.15
Interlochen Public Radio: Peters' bill would bring 'most stringent requirements' to Straits' oil pipeline
by David Cassleman
The Great Lakes region would become a 'high consequence area' for oil spills, under a bill before the U.S. Senate. Sen. Gary Peters, who introduced the legislation, says the designation will make the Straits of Mackinac safer from a potential spill. "It's going to increase the inspections," Peters told IPR News Radio in an interview. "It increases the reporting. It increases the standards that companies have to meet for those pipelines." Environmental groups say a 60-year old oil pipeline cro… Continue Reading
12.09.15
Detroit Free Press: Pipeline bill would give Great Lakes greater protection
by Todd Spangler
WASHINGTON - A pipeline safety bill passed by a U.S. Senate committee on Wednesday would make pipelines in the Great Lakes subject to greater scrutiny and encourage oil companies to plan for spills under ice cover such as that seen at near-record levels in the Great Lakes the last two years. The legislation, which goes to the full Senate for consideration, comes as concerns continue to be raised about Enbridge's Line 5, twin pipelines, which run beneath the Straits of Mackinac in northern Mich… Continue Reading
12.09.15
Detroit News: Senate panel OKs higher safety standards for pipelines
by Melissa Nann Burke
Washington - The Senate Commerce Committee approved Wednesday legislation to improve pipeline safety and oversight that included designating the Great Lakes as a sensitive area, which would make pipelines in the lakes subject to higher safety standards. The legislation included other provisions introduced separately by Michigan Sens. Gary Peters of Bloomfield Township and Debbie Stabenow of Lansing in September that would require federal reviews of pipeline age and integrity. They also would di… Continue Reading
12.09.15
MLive/Grand Rapids Press: Great Lakes would be 'high consequence' area under pipeline bill
by Garret Ellison
A U.S. Senate committee has approved a bill that would boost scrutiny and review of submerged pipelines by adding the Great Lakes to a "high consequence" categorical area of federal crude oil pipeline regulation that requires higher safety standards. On Dec. 9, the commerce, science and transportation committee passed by voice vote a reauthorization bill for the Pipeline Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) that included provisions targeted at the controversial Enbridge Inc. Line 5… Continue Reading
12.08.15
Detroit Free Press: Education reform bill includes Peters' measures
by Todd Spangler
WASHINGTON - A dual-enrollment provision that can help make college more affordable promoted by U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., is part of an education reform bill advanced in the Senate on Tuesday. The Senate voted overwhelmingly to move ahead with the Every Student Succeeds Act, setting the stage for a final vote later this week on legislation rewriting the much-maligned No Child Left Behind program. The U.S. House has already passed the bill. Under the legislation, states will gain much gre… Continue Reading
12.04.15
MLive: Sen. Gary Peters applauds Army review of soldiers' mental health-related dismissals
by Angie Jackson
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Sen. Gary Peters is praising the Army's decision to conduct an investigation into allegations that thousands of soldiers were wrongfully dismissed for misconduct after returning from deployment with mental health disorders. Peters (D-MI) said Friday he is concerned the Army may have unfairly discharged soldiers suffering from "the invisible wounds of war." The Army's announcement follows an October report by National Public Radio and Colorado Public Radio that revealed… Continue Reading
12.03.15
WLUC: Peters introduces bill to expand telehealth services
by Rebecca Himmelstein
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Receiving virtual care from the comfort of your home could soon be a reality. Senator Gary Peters introduced legislation to expand telehealth services in rural areas, all covered under Medicare. Senator Peters introduced the Telehealth Innovation and Improvement Act which would create a five-year pilot program. The program would require Medicare to work with local providers to expand their telehealth services.… Continue Reading
12.03.15
9&10 News: Sen. Peters Working to Expand Michigan Healthcare Access With New Telehealth Bill
by Jamie Valentine
U.S. Senator Gary Peters is working on a bill to help expand access to healthcare in Michigan. The Telehealth Innovation and Improvement Act would extend those services to rural areas. The move would pave the way for Medicare to cover additional telehealth services. It would save patients time and money, as they could be treated much closer to home.… Continue Reading
12.03.15
Detroit Free Press: Feds pressed to fund Blue Water Bridge project
by Todd Spangler
WASHINGTON - Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson and the Obama administration are being pressed by members of Michigan's congressional delegation to make a long-awaited expansion of the Blue Water Bridge's customs plaza part of next year's budget plan, something Johnson alluded to possibly happening earlier in the year. In a letter to Johnson sent Thursday, U.S. Sens. Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow, both D-Mich., and U.S. Rep. Candice Miller, R-Harrison Township, argued that the delay of t… Continue Reading
12.03.15
Detroit News: Lawmakers urge customs plaza funding in Port Huron
by Melissa Nann Burke
Washington - Three members of Michigan's congressional delegation are again appealing to the Obama administration to give higher priority to funding an expanded customs plaza at the Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron in the next federal budget. The Blue Water Bridge, which links Port Huron with Sarnia, Ontario, has awaited a delayed $165 million construction project for several years. Sens. Debbie Stabenow, D-Lansing, and Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Township; and Rep. Candice Miller, R-Harrison Tow… Continue Reading
11.21.15
Traverse City Record-Eagle: George Weeks: Lawmakers push for new super-sized Soo lock
by George Weeks
There's an important issue looming in Michigan, one that has been overshadowed of late by understandable media focus on road funding, national politics, international terrorism and refugees. I refer to the commendable efforts of Democratic Sens. Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters to push for federal support of a new super-sized shipping lock at Sault Ste. Marie. They announced last week that the Army Corps of Engineers and White House budget officials now support a $1.35 million cost-benefit stud… Continue Reading
11.17.15
Detroit Free Press: A super-sized Soo Lock? Study to decide
by Todd Spangler
WASHINGTON - Michgan's U.S. senators said Monday night that the Army Corps of Engineers and the Office of Management and Budget has agreed to move $1.35 million into a cost-benefit study which could potentially lead to a new super-size shipping lock being built in Sault Ste. Marie someday. For more than a year, members of Michigan's congressional delegation have been urging the Corps to undertake a new study of the economic rationale for building a second lock the size of the existing Poe Lock … Continue Reading
11.16.15
Detroit News: Army Corps gets $1.35M to study upgrade for Soo Locks
by Melissa Nann Burke
Washington - The Obama administration has approved $1.35 million in funding that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers requested for a cost-benefit study of an additional shipping lock on the river that connects Lakes Huron and Superior. Only one of the four aging locks Sault Ste. Marie is large enough to handle ships that carry 70 percent of the cargo, and members of Michigan's congressional delegation have pushed to replace two outdated locks with a new one capable of handling the largest freighte… Continue Reading
11.15.15
Dearborn Press & Guide: Dingell, Peters appear at plant in Taylor to announce fuel efficiency legislation
by Anne Runkle
U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-Michigan) and U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-12th District) appeared at a commercial vehicle outfitting plant in Taylor Friday to announce legislation that promotes investments in research and development of fuel-efficient technologies. Peters and Dingell appeared with Ross Haith Jr., president of Leggett and Platt Commercial Vehicle Products, 20401 Trolley Industrial Drive in Taylor. Leaders of several trade organizations also attended the announcement. Dingell said she … Continue Reading
11.07.15
Ann Arbor News/MLive: Bill would let Ypsilanti veteran receive Medal of Honor for daring rescue of soldiers
by John Counts
Forty-eight years after Major Charles S. Kettles completed a daring rescue of eight soldiers stranded on a battlefield in Vietnam, he's a step closer to receiving the U.S. military's highest honor for his bravery. U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Dearborn) and Michigan's U.S. senators Gary Peters (Democrat) and Debbie Stabenow (Democrat) Friday introduced legislation to allow Kettles to be awarded the Medal of Honor. The legislation waives the customary rule stipulating that the Medal of Honor must… Continue Reading
11.06.15
Detroit Free Press: Ypsilanti man could get Medal of Honor under new bill
by Todd Spangler
WASHINGTON - An 85-year-old Ypsilanti man who flew helicopters during the Vietnam War could receive the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military award, under legislation proposed by several members of Michigan's congressional delegation on Friday. Some 47 years ago, Army Maj. Charles Kettles was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions in May 1967 in the Song Tra Cau riverbed in Vietnam that saved the lives of more than 40 military personnel. More recently, supporters began … Continue Reading
11.05.15
Detroit News: Mich. lawmakers want Canada nuke waste facility blocked
by Melissa Nann Burke
Washington - Twelve members of Michigan's congressional delegation have written to the new Canadian prime minister urging him to block plans for an underground storage facility for nuclear waste near Lake Huron in Ontario. The majority of Michigan's 16 congressional members want Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who was sworn in Wednesday, not to issue construction permits for the project by Ontario Power Generation to construct a deep geologic repository near Kincardine, three-quarters of a mile … Continue Reading
10.30.15
Chaldean News: Senator Gary Peters: ‘There Is Definitely a Moral Responsibility’
U.S. Senator Gary Peters has shown support for the Middle East's Christians and other religious minorities lately with actions ranging from taking a trip to the region to advocating for refugees. In September, Peters and fellow Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut traveled to Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Jordan and Iraq to discuss anti-ISIS efforts, and visited a refugee camp in Jordan.In October, he was among those who led a letter to the U.S. Departments of State and Homeland Securit… Continue Reading
