In the News
Detroit Free Press: Trump wants to end $7,500 electric car tax credits, members of Congress move to stop him
by Todd Spangler
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump has proposed ending tax credits to encourage the purchase of electric cars but a bipartisan group in Congress moved Wednesday to stop him. U.S. Sens. Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters, both D-Mich., as well as Sens. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., Susan Collins, R-Maine, and U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Flint Township, instead proposed legislation that would expand the credits. "Today's legislation is something we can do now to reduce emissions and combat carbon polluti… Continue Reading
04.10.19
Port Huron Times-Herald: Peters bill targets border personnel shortage — even if it hasn't reached crossings like Port Huron
by Jackie Smith
U.S. Sen. Gary Peters is spearheading another piece of legislation affecting border crossings - only this time, he said, it may be more proactive for Port Huron than other ports of entry across the country. The bi-partisan bill, co-sponsored by three other senators, proposes increasing the number of U.S. Customs and Border Protection field officers and support staff to incrementally correct a reported shortage of personnel of nearly 4,000. According to its original release, Peters' camp is cit… Continue Reading
04.08.19
Detroit News: Peters: Bulk up Customs and Border Protection staffing at ports of entry
by Melissa Nann Burke
Washington - Two border-state senators, Gary Peters of Michigan and John Cornyn of Texas, want to plug a shortage of nearly 4,000 officers in the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency as the number of migrant families crossing the southwest border is breaking records. Their bipartisan bill requires CBP to hire no less than 600 additional officers a year until the agency's staffing needs are met. Peters, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committe… Continue Reading
03.20.19
Michigan Radio: Cherry farmers want federal help in trade dispute with Turkey
by Max Johnston
For the past decade, Americans have been buying tart cherries from Turkey for cheap. Tart cherry farmers in Michigan say that's hurting their bottom line. Now they're hoping a new bill in Washington will balance the scales. On a sunny but cold day at a cherry orchard north of Cedar, second-generation cherry farmer Ben LaCross, of Leelanau Fruit Company, prunes some young cherry trees with electric shears. "We're trying to open up the scaffolds of the limbs to let more light in and forc… Continue Reading
03.15.19
WBUP ABC 10 Marquette: Sen. Gary Peters introduces Telehealth bill
by Donny Ede
LANSING- Michigan Senator Gary Peters reintroduced a bill today to expand Telehealth services throughout the country. Peters has been a strong advocate for expanding Telehealth services for a while now, as it will help people with disabilities, or in rural areas, be able to get treatment without having to travel to a hospital or doctors office. Telehealth services would allow a person to visit with a physician from the comfort of their own homes, and could even wear monitors that will transmi… Continue Reading
03.11.19
Oakland Press: Sen. Peters reintroduces legislation to boost early college, dual enrollments for high school students
by Anne Runkle
U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and John Boozman (R-AR) have reintroduced bipartisan legislation to expand opportunities for high school students to obtain college credit. The Making Education Affordable and Accessible Act (MEAA) would help improve high school and college graduation rates by expanding the use of existing grants to institutions of higher education to expand their dual and concurrent enrollment initiatives and early/middle college programs. "Rising costs of… Continue Reading
03.07.19
WOOD TV NBC 8 Grand Rapids: Peters: EPA should be more 'aggressive' about PFAS
by 24 Hour News 8 web staff
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - Michigan's U.S. senators are pushing a bill to force the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to declare PFAS a hazardous substance. The desingation would make more money available for cleanup under the EPA's Superfund program, and also require polluters to start cleanup or to pay for it. Sen. Gary Peters and Sen. Debbie Stabenow, both Democrats, are part of a bipartisan group aiming to force the EPA to regulate the chemical more strictly. "It's been very frustrat… Continue Reading
03.05.19
Dearborn Press & Guide: Peters named among most effective senators in 115th Senate
U.S. Sen. Gary Peters was named among the most effective lawmakers in the 115th Senate (2017-2018). According to the non-partisan Center for Effective Lawmaking, Peters was named the 4th-most effective Senator in the minority party in enacting and advancing legislation. "My top priority is working to get things done for Michigan families - regardless of which political party is in the White House or has the majority in the Senate," said Senator Peters. "Michiganders expect us to work together i… Continue Reading
03.02.19
WPBN Marquette: Peters aims to help Michigan's cherry industry, other AG products crippled by dumping
by Mikenzie Frost
LANSING, Mich. - A bipartisan effort is underway in Washington to help curb imported products sold at a lower price on the U.S. market, hurting many small industries. Sen. Gary Peters, D-Michigan, introduced legislation aimed to help small and medium-sized businesses that have been negatively impacted by trade practices known as dumping; when products are imported and sold a lower price due to subsidies and little to no tariffs. "We've certainly seen a very devastating impact of Turkish cherri… Continue Reading
02.17.19
9&10 News Traverse City: Sen. Peters Visits Sault Ste. Marie to Assess Northern Border Security
by By Jim LeHocky & Megan Viecelli
"We know how important investments are in the northern border," said Senator Gary Peters, (D), Michigan. Senator Gary Peters visited Sault Ste. Marie Sunday to speak with border security officials about the challenges facing our northern border. Senator Peters serves as Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. International Bridge Administration officials drove the senator across the bridge to the Canadian customs and back. They made a stop along the… Continue Reading
02.08.19
MLive: Air Force pledges to be ‘proactive’ on PFAS in Oscoda
by Garret Ellison
OSCODA, MI - The Secretary of the Air Force has told U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., that it will be "proactive" in cleaning up toxic PFAS contamination at a former base in northern Michigan where the chemicals are polluting drinking water and the environment. This week's letter was in reply to Peters, who rebuked the Air Force last week for taking an "aggressive and defensive posture" with the state of Michigan related to its compliance with state laws limiting the amount of PFAS entering surf… Continue Reading
01.30.19
WSGW FM: Border Security A Priority For Senator Gary Peters
by John Hall
Michigan's junior U-S Senator Gary Peters says protecting America's borders is critical. The Detroit area Democrat adds some areas along the southern border with Mexico should be fenced, but other locations can be managed through surveillance. Peters told WSGW's Art Lewis the most emphasis needs to be put on entry points with proper screening of people and vehicles and making sure their paperwork is correct. Peters also wants to end government shutdowns. That includes maintaining pay forworke… Continue Reading
01.15.19
Detroit Free Press: Senators: Does border wall threaten Soo Locks, other projects?
by Todd Spangler
WASHINGTON - Michigan's U.S. senators want assurances from President Donald Trump that he won't take money from projects they consider vital to the future of the state to build a southern border wall. Although Trump has somewhat backed off his threat to declare an emergency at the southern border and then possibly redirect existing funding toward construction of a wall, U.S. Sens. Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters, both D-Mich., want to know for sure that Michigan projects are safe. They said th… Continue Reading
01.11.19
Detroit News: Peters questions why shutdown hasn't affected site in Trump's hotel
by Melissa Nann Burke
Washington - Michigan Sen. Gary Peters is questioning the decision to exempt a tourist attraction inside the Trump International Hotel during the partial government shutdown. Peters, D-Bloomfield Township, wrote Friday to federal officials, seeking answers about who decided to continue staffing the historic clock tower with National Park Service rangers inside the federally owned Old Post Office building that houses Trump's Washington hotel. The federal government leases the Old Post Office… Continue Reading
01.05.19
Port Huron Times-Herald: Peters' bill targets oversight at ports of entry like the Blue Water Bridge
by Jackie Smith
One of Michigan's two senators in Washington co-authored a measure aimed at installing more oversight at the nation's ports of entry. And that's something that, Sen. Gary Peters said, means a lot to crossings like the Blue Water Bridge. A bill that requires Homeland Security submit regular analyses - dubbed the U.S. Ports of Entry Threat and Operational Review Act - was introduced last July and passed the Senate in December. It was presented to the president as of Dec. 21 - amidst a shift in b… Continue Reading
12.26.18
Detroit News: Trump signs Peters bill requiring review of ports of entry
by Melissa Nann Burke
Washington - President Donald Trump has signed a bipartisan measure co-sponsored by Michigan Sen. Gary Peters that would require federal officials to assess all ports of entry, including finding ways to reduce wait times for passengers and cargo at the border. The bill, authored by Peters, a Bloomfield Township Democrat, and Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, directs the Department of Homeland Security to conduct an in-depth analysis of current and potential security threats by individuals … Continue Reading
12.19.18
The Alpena News: Peters vows to push for Alpena customs agent
by Steve Schulwitz
ALPENA - In 2016, the federal government decided not to refill the position of a customs agent in Alpena who retired and, although there was a concerted effort to convince the feds to reconsider, that position remain open today. That means international travelers are forced to stop elsewhere to clear customs. Now that U.S. Senator Gary Peters has become the ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee, however, the matter could be brought back before the … Continue Reading
12.14.18
Detroit News: Peters to be top Dem on Senate homeland security panel
by Melissa Nann Burke
Washington - Michigan's Gary Peters has been named the top Democrat on the U.S. Senate committee that oversees federal government operations and homeland security. Peters' promotion on the powerful panel comes four years after he joined the committee as a freshman senator in 2015. With the committee's broad oversight power, Peters sees an opportunity to stress U.S. security at the northern border. He also plans to continue pushing the federal government to address water contamination in Michig… Continue Reading
12.14.18
Detroit Free Press: Pet stalking is about to become a federal crime
by Todd Spangler
WASHINGTON - The federal stalking law is getting an update to include threats made against a person's pets or emotional support animals. U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., managed to get his proposal - which adds threats and violence against a person's pets to the stalking statute -included in this year's Farm Bill, which has passed both chambers of Congress and is headed to President Donald Trump for his signature. Under the law, threatening or harming a pet as a way to harass or intimidate a vi… Continue Reading
12.05.18
Port Huron Times-Herald: Bill establishes Coast Guard oil spill center
by Bob Gross
A provision authored by U.S. Sen. Gary Peters to establish a Coast Guard oil spill center for the Great Lakes was signed into law by President Donald Trump, according to a news release from Peters' office. The provision established a U.S. Coast Guard National Center of Expertise for the Great Lakes. The center, according to the news release, would examine the effects of oil spills in freshwater and help develop responses. A site for the center has not been established. The St. Clair River, ho… Continue Reading
