Press Releases
Peters and Portman Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Help Improve Federal Workforce’s Understanding of Artificial Intelligence
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Rob Portman (R-OH), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, introduced bipartisan legislation that would help bolster the federal workforce's understanding of artificial intelligence (AI). The bill would create a training program to help federal employees responsible for purchasing AI technologies better understand the risks and benefits it poses to the American people. It would also help ens… Continue Reading
07.30.21
Peters and Stabenow Honor Senator Carl Levin in the U.S. Senate
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Gary Peters (MI) and Debbie Stabenow (MI) today honored the life of former Senator Carl Levin. The Senators spoke on the floor of the U.S. Senate highlighting Senator Levin's service to the people of Michigan, fierce commitment to truth and justice, and ability to work with everyone to get things done. The Senators authored a resolution memorializing Senator Levin and his legacy, which unanimously passed the U.S. Senate this evening. Following passage of the resolution, … Continue Reading
07.30.21
Peters and Ernst Bipartisan Legislation to Expand Federal Contracting Opportunities for Small Businesses Passes Senate
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Legislation authored by U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and Joni Ernst (R-IA) to encourage innovation in contracting and expand opportunities for small businesses to work with the federal government has passed the Senate. Federal contracts can provide significant opportunities for small businesses, but some agencies have been reluctant to utilize the Small Business Administration's (SBA) contracting progra… Continue Reading
07.30.21
Peters Bipartisan Legislation to Expand Federal Contracting Opportunities for Small Businesses Passes Senate
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Legislation authored by U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, to encourage innovation in contracting and expand opportunities for small businesses to work with the federal government has passed the Senate. Federal contracts can provide significant opportunities for small businesses, but some agencies have been reluctant to utilize the Small Business Administration's (SBA) contracting programs. The Promoting Rigorou… Continue Reading
07.30.21
Peters, Sullivan, Hassan & Tillis Bipartisan Bill to Protect Firefighters from Hazardous PFAS Chemicals Passes Senate
WASHINGTON, DC - Legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) to help protect the health and safety of firefighters, emergency responders and the communities they serve has passed the Senate. The legislation, which was unanimously approved in March by the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee where Peters serves as Chair, now heads to the U.S. House of Representatives. The Protecting Firefighte… Continue Reading
07.30.21
Peters Bipartisan Bill to Protect Firefighters from Hazardous PFAS Chemicals Passes Senate
WASHINGTON, DC - Legislation introduced by U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) to help protect the health and safety of firefighters, emergency responders and the communities they serve has passed the Senate. The legislation, which was unanimously approved in March by the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee where Peters serves as Chair, now heads to the U.S. House of Representatives. U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) are also cospons… Continue Reading
07.29.21
Peters Statement on Passing of Senator Levin
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) released the following statement following the passing of former U.S. Senator Carl Levin: "Senator Levin was one of the finest leaders to have ever served the State of Michigan and our country. "When I first began serving in Congress, I would often seek Senator Levin's advice. His guidance was especially important to me as I succeeded him in the United States Senate. He was not only a mentor - he was a personal friend, who I looked up to as an ext… Continue Reading
07.29.21
Peters Helps Pass Bill to Ensure Funding for Michigan National Guard
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), a former Lt. Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve and Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, today helped pass legislation to ensure funding for the National Guard to continue key training and operations. The National Guard was facing a severe budget shortfall as a result of its mission to secure the U.S. Capitol after the January 6th attacks. "From helping distribute COVID-19 vaccines in our communities to prot… Continue Reading
07.28.21
After Fighting for Long-Term Investments in Selfridge & Michigan’s Military Installations, Peters and Stabenow Welcome Pentagon’s Commitment
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (MI), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Debbie Stabenow (MI) announced that they secured significant commitments from the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) that ensures the military's commitment to Selfridge Air National Guard Base as a key facility to our national security. In a letter that was sent to both Senators, the U.S. Air Force highlighted the long-term roles that the A-10 and KC-135 missions currently at Selfridge will contin… Continue Reading
07.23.21
Peters, Stabenow Resolution Calling for Immediate Release of Michigander Paul Whelan from Russian Authorities Unanimously Passes Senate
DETROIT, MI - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (MI) and Debbie Stabenow (MI) announced their bipartisan resolution calling for the immediate release of Michigander Paul Whelan from authorities under the Russian government passed in the U.S. Senate unanimously. The resolution calls on the Government of the Russian Federation present credible evidence or immediately release him from prison. A companion resolution was reintroduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Representative Haley Stevens (MI-11… Continue Reading
07.22.21
Peters Secures Nearly $128 Million in Investments for Michigan Military Facilities and Operations in National Defense Bill Advancing to Full Senate
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) helped advance the bipartisan annual national defense bill to the full Senate, and led the charge to secure nearly $128 million in investments for military facilities across Michigan. He also led or supported provisions to strengthen our national security and give our servicemembers a pay raise. "Michiganders play a critical role in our national defense, and I was proud to secure significant investments and resources for military installations acro… Continue Reading
07.22.21
Peters Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Secure Critical Infrastructure Networks Against Cyber-Attacks
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, introduced bipartisan legislation to help safeguard our nation's critical infrastructure networks against cybersecurity threats. The bill would require the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to ensure they can better identify and mitigate threats to Industrial Control Systems - the operational technology involved in operating the function of critical infras… Continue Reading
07.22.21
Peters Announces Port of Monroe Awarded $770,983 Grant to Help Upgrade Cargo Screening Infrastructure
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, today announced the Port of Monroe has been awarded a $770,983 Port Security Grant from the Department of Homeland Security to help upgrade their cargo screening infrastructure. The funding will allow the port to install a Radiation Portal Monitor, which helps to screen cargo for the presence of nuclear or radiological materials. This will enhance the port's ability to ensure t… Continue Reading
07.20.21
Peters Announces Investigation Into Rise of Ransomware Attacks and How Cryptocurrencies Facilitate Cybercrimes
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Gary Peters, Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, announced he is conducting an investigation into the role cryptocurrencies continue to play in emboldening and incentivizing cybercriminals to commit ransomware attacks that pose an increasing threat to United States national security. "The increased use of cryptocurrencies as the preferred method of payment in ransomware attacks shows that cybercriminals believe they can commit at… Continue Reading
07.19.21
Peters Statement on Announcement that the Chinese Government Continues to Encourage and Perpetrate Widespread Cyber-Attacks
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, released the following statement after the Biden Administration and the United States' allies condemned the Chinese government for orchestrating widespread attacks against American networks and compromising American national security: "Today's announcement is an important step to help hold the Chinese government accountable for enabling these malicious cyber-attacks on our c… Continue Reading
07.16.21
Peters Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Strengthen Protections for Consumers and Establish National Data Brokers Registry
DETROIT, MI - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) announced he introduced bipartisan legislation that would improve protections and transparency for consumers by requiring that data brokers-businesses that sell consumers' personal information to third parties-provide information about their practices with regard to collection of personal data. The Data Broker List Act of 2021, which Peters introduced with U.S. Senators Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), would establish a national r… Continue Reading
07.15.21
Michigan Delegation Members Commend Quick Decision from President Biden Declaring a Major Disaster for Washtenaw and Wayne Counties
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (MI), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and Debbie Stabenow (MI) and U.S. Representative Brenda Lawrence (MI-14) today led members of the Michigan Congressional Delegation in commending the quick announcement from President Biden granting a request from Governor Whitmer to declare a Major Disaster for Washtenaw and Wayne Counties. In addition to Peters, Stabenow and Lawrence the letter was signed by U.S. Representat… Continue Reading
07.15.21
Peters and Portman Bipartisan Legislation to Protect FEMA Reservists' Jobs During Disaster Response Advances in Senate
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Legislation authored by U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Rob Portman (R-OH) to protect Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Reservists from losing their full-time employment when they are called up to assist communities with disaster response has advanced in the Senate. FEMA Reservists are temporary, on-call and intermittent employees who are essential to the agency's mission to quickly respond to disasters, but they currently lack employment protections that ensure … Continue Reading
07.14.21
Peters Statement on Department of Justice Inspector General Report on Failures of FBI’s Investigation into Larry Nassar
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) released the following statement after the Department of Justice Inspector General released a report on failures of the FBI's investigation into allegations regarding Larry Nassar: "These findings are absolutely appalling and reinforce the systemic failure that allowed a monster to continue inflicting sexual abuse on collegiate and amateur athletes. We must ensure this can never happen again. "We must take action in Congress and I will keep pushin… Continue Reading
07.14.21
Peters, Stabenow Press for Additional Support for Restaurants Impacted by COVID-19 Pandemic
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (MI) and Debbie Stabenow (MI) today pressed for additional action to provide relief for Michigan restaurants and bars that have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. In their letter to the Small Business Administration (SBA), the Senators highlighted concerns they have heard from small business owners regarding the Restaurant Revitalization Fund and urged the SBA to address challenges faced by businesses that applied for support from the Fund and prov… Continue Reading
