Press Releases
Peters Opening Remarks at Field Hearing on Line 5 & Great Lakes
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Ranking Member on the Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety and Security, today convened a Senate Commerce Committee field hearing in Traverse City on Line 5 and the importance of protecting the Great Lakes for future generations. You can watch Senator Peters' opening remarks on his Facebook page, and below is the text of his opening remarks as prepared for delivery: "Thank you to the Dennos Museum for… Continue Reading
08.16.18
Peters, Stabenow Urge President Trump to Approve Individual Assistance Appeal to Help Families Affected by Severe Flooding in the Upper Peninsula
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) today urged President Trump to approve Governor Snyder's appeal of Individual Assistance for families affected by the severe flash flooding that occurred in Houghton, Gogebic and Menominee counties. FEMA denied the State of Michigan's request for Individual Assistance last week. The Governor's appeal indicates that only 18 individuals and businesses have active flood insurance and without federal assistance, the major… Continue Reading
08.15.18
Senators Peters, Stabenow Announce Over $500,000 in Support for the Bedford Township Fire Department
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow today announced that the Bedford Township Fire Department will receive $536,071 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response program to hire four firefighters for a three year period. This funding will support the hiring and retention of firefighters and volunteer firefighters and allow the Bedford Township Fire Department to increase their advanced life support service at all hou… Continue Reading
08.13.18
Peters to Hold Commerce Committee Field Hearing on Line 5 & Protecting the Great Lakes
TRAVERSE CITY, MI - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) will convene a field hearing titled "Pipeline Safety in the Great Lakes: Incident Prevention and Response Efforts at the Straits of Mackinac" at 10:00 AM on Monday, August 20th in Traverse City, Michigan. The hearing will focus on enhancing federal oil spill prevention efforts, preparedness and response capability in the event of an oil pipeline break in the Straits of Mackinac. Line 5, the 65-year-old pipeline crossing the Straits of Mackinac, h… Continue Reading
08.13.18
Peters to Hold Community Meeting in Traverse City
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters will hold a community meeting in Traverse City on Saturday, August 18th to provide an additional opportunity to hear from constituents. The meeting is open to the public, and staff from Senator Peters' office will be available to meet with constituents who need help dealing with federal programs and agencies such as Medicare, Social Security, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the IRS. This is Peters' fifth community meeting this summer. He rece… Continue Reading
08.10.18
Day 5 #RideMI: Peters Views Pere Marquette River Restoration & Promotes Short Line Railroad Investments
LUDINGTON, MI - On the fifth and final day of his #RideMI Motorcycle Tour, U.S. Senator Gary Peters stopped in Baldwin to observe restoration efforts along the Pere Marquette River. Peters, a member of the Senate Great Lakes Task Force, discussed the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), which provides federal funding to leverage the efforts of local groups to clean and preserve local waterways. "One of the many great aspects of the GLRI is the ability for local organizations to turn feder… Continue Reading
08.09.18
Day 4 #RideMI: Peters Rides Restored Harley, Discusses Employee Owned Businesses & Promotes Innovative Timber Use
McBain, MI - On Day Four of his #RideMI Motorcycle Tour, U.S. Senator Gary Peters visited Hagerty in Traverse City, where he had the opportunity to ride a restored 1957 Harley Davidson Sportster. Hagerty provides insurance and financial products to owners of classic cars, motorcycles and other vehicles. Last year, Peters introduced the National Historic Vehicle Register Act, which would require the Department of Interior to establish a register within the Library of Congress to preserve examples… Continue Reading
08.09.18
Peters Statement on FEMA’s Denial of Individual Assistance for June Flooding
MCBAIN, MI - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) issued the following statement after the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) denial of individual assistance in Houghton, Gogebic, and Menominee Counties following June flooding. FEMA previously declared these areas eligible to receive assistance through the Public Assistance Program: "While swiftly repairing the roads is vital to the health of the community, the families whose houses have been severely damaged or destroyed also need help to r… Continue Reading
08.08.18
Day 3 #RideMI: Peters Visits U of M BioStation in Cheboygan County & Michigan Scientific in Charlevoix County
CHARLEVOIX, MI - U.S. Senator Gary Peters began Day Three of his #RideMI Motorcycle Tour with a visit to the University of Michigan's Biological Station (UMBS) in Pellston to view their cutting-edge environmental research on issues like climate change, endangered species, and river and wetland restoration. "Michiganders are fortunate to be surrounded by an abundance of natural resources, diverse ecosystems, and fascinating wildlife, and I appreciate UMBS's critical research efforts that help pr… Continue Reading
08.07.18
Day 2 #RideMI: Peters Visits Oscoda County Auto Supplier, Receives Forestry Briefing in Montmorency County
PELLSTON, MI - U.S. Senator Gary Peters began Day Two of his #RideMI Motorcycle Tour with a visit to Cooper Standard in Fairview. Cooper Standard manufactures automotive systems and components, and Peters applauded their efforts to help veterans obtain specialized training opportunities after their military service. "Manufacturing is part of Michigan's past, present and plays a critical role in shaping our state's future," said Senator Peters. "Michigan needs a 21st century workforce to keep ou… Continue Reading
08.06.18
Day 1 #RideMI Motorcycle Tour: Peters Tours Local Farms & Rides with Michigan Motorcyclists
West Branch, MI -U.S. Senator Gary Peters kicked off Day One of his #RideMI Motorcycle Tour with a visit to Star of the West Milling Company in Richville, where he held a roundtable discussion with local farmers. Senator Peters worked with his colleagues to include a provision in last March's government spending bill to level the playing field for farmers to sell their products to both cooperative and non-cooperative businesses. "Having the opportunity to hear from Michigan farmers about what t… Continue Reading
08.03.18
Peters, Stabenow Responded to Federal Disaster Declaration Following Severe Flooding in the Upper Peninsula
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) today responded to the approval for a major disaster declaration following severe flash flooding that affected Houghton, Gogebic and Menominee Counties. In July, the lawmakers sent a letter to President Trump urging the declaration for the affected areas be made. The damage from the flooding in the three counties is estimated at more than $42 million in covered damage to public facilities. With this declaration, assis… Continue Reading
08.03.18
Peters, Stabenow Announce Over $4 Million for the Bishop International Airport
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow today announced that the Bishop International Airport will receive $4,012,542 to rehabilitate the taxiway. This funding comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Aviation Administration as a part of the Airport Improvement Program. "Bishop International Airport plays a critical role in connecting Michiganders with business and travel opportunities around the world," said Senator Peters. "By using this funding to i… Continue Reading
08.02.18
Peters Speaks on Need to Increase Veterans’ Burial Benefits at Senate Veterans Affairs Committee
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), a former Lt. Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve and member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, spoke at a Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee hearing this week in support of bipartisan legislation he introduced to increase funeral benefits for eligible veterans. The Burial Rights for America's Veterans' Efforts (BRAVE) Act updates the current benefit system to treat all non-service connected deaths equally, regardless of where the veteran pass… Continue Reading
08.02.18
Peters Statement on Trump Administration’s Fuel Economy Standards Announcement
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), a member of the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, released the following statement on the Trump administration's announcement on fuel economy standards: "We need one strong, national fuel economy standard based on solid science and data to continue driving our economic competitiveness, protect our environment and public health, and help address climate change. The Administration's preferred option moves us in the wrong direction - cr… Continue Reading
08.01.18
Peters Highlights Measures to Protect Michigan’s Environment, Public Health in Government Funding Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Gary Peters today applauded passage of government funding legislation that will help protect clean air and water in Michigan. The bill includes provisions to support lead abatement programs in housing, prevent lead exposure through drinking water, and provide resources to the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), the premier tool to clean up the Great Lakes. "Whether it's exposure through drinking water, air or soil, we know there are no safe levels of lead,… Continue Reading
08.01.18
Peters Provisions Supporting Michigan Military Operations, Manufacturing & Research to be Signed into Law
WASHINGTON, DC - Today the U.S. Senate passed major defense legislation that includes provisions authored by U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) to support Michigan's growing defense industry and bolster America's military readiness. The final National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which sets Department of Defense (DoD) policy for Fiscal Year 2019, now heads to the President's desk to be signed into law. Peters is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and a former Lt. Commander in the U.… Continue Reading
07.31.18
Peters Announces Third Annual #RideMI Motorcycle Tour
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) today announced his third annual #RideMI Motorcycle Tour that will take him through the Bay Region and Northern Michigan. Peters, an avid motorcycle rider, will be making stops in twelve counties over the course of the five-day tour. He will meet with constituents and hear from them about what can be done in Washington to help grow Michigan's small businesses and farms, bolster our manufacturing sector and protect our environment and the Great Lakes… Continue Reading
07.31.18
Peters Provisions Narrowing Skills Gap Signed into Law
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, President Donald Trump signed into law bipartisan legislation that includes provisions authored by U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) to close the workforce skills gap by strengthening career and technical education (CTE) counseling training. Peters' provisions will help expand school counselor training and awareness of CTE so they can help inform students of post-high school education opportunities outside of the traditional four-year college degree. "By giving our school … Continue Reading
07.27.18
Peters Provisions Narrowing Skills Gap to be Signed into Law
OWOSSO, MI - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) today applauded Congressional passage of legislation that includes provisions based off bipartisan legislation he introduced to expand opportunities for students in career and technical education (CTE). Peters worked to get provisions into the bill that will improve school counselor training in and awareness of CTE. Peters highlighted the provisions today at the Auto/Diesel Institute of Michigan (ADI) at Baker College in Owosso. The provisions, included… Continue Reading
