Peters Highlighted Federal Support He Secured to Help Bring Safe Drinking Water to Local Residents and Businesses
FENTON TOWNSHIP, MI – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) kicked off his annual motorcycle tour in Fenton Township. Peters was joined by local community leaders from Fenton Township and Genesee County to underscore the need to support projects that help ensure Michiganders have access to safe drinking water. Peters highlighted federal funding he helped secure for the Southern Lakes Water Extension Project, the township’s ongoing four-phase project to connect residents and businesses to municipal water after the community’s private water supply was found to have high levels of arsenic.
“Today, we’re celebrating a long-term initiative to improve access to clean drinking water here in Fenton Township and across the Southern Lakes Region,” said Senator Peters. “Since the beginning, this project has been a success because of folks at all levels of government working together to make it happen. As a result of this collaboration, more Michiganders will have safe drinking water. It’s great to be here to see this project firsthand, and I can’t think of a better place to kick off this year’s motorcycle tour.”
Peters helped secure about $11 million in federal funding for the Southern Lakes Water Extension Project, including $10.5 million alone from the American Recuse Plan Act (ARPA) he helped pass into law in 2021. Peters additionally secured about $479,000 in federal funding through government funding legislation passed into law in 2023 to support the project. Peters was joined by Fenton Township Supervisor Vince Lorraine and Genesee County Drain Commissioner Jeff Wright.
“As we look ahead, our focus is not only on completing the remaining project phases, but also on ensuring that every Fenton Township resident and business has access to safe, reliable and clean drinking water. That is a responsibility we all share, regardless of party or politics,” said Vince Lorraine, Fenton Township Supervisor.
“Utilizing ARPA and congressional grant funding for water infrastructure projects to advance public safety allowed us to complete 10 years of planned upgrades in less than 36 months,” said Jeff Wright, Genesee County Drain Commissioner. “Bringing high quality, affordable water to residents and businesses in Genesee County not only protects public health, but makes our community more desirable for quality high paying jobs. I appreciate Senator Gary Peters for his commitment and dedication to ensuring these dollars were delivered to help local residents.”
To download pictures from the event, click HERE.
Peters has long worked to ensure Michigan communities have access to safe drinking water. Peters helped pass the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law which made the largest investment in water infrastructure in American history, including to improve wastewater management systems, protect freshwater resources, and deliver safe drinking water to homes, schools, and businesses. In 2016, Peters helped establish the Flint Registry, which is a community-based initiative that helps deliver the comprehensive support that families need to mitigate the negative impacts of lead exposure.
Peters has also worked for years on addressing PFAS contamination across Michigan. In 2018, Peters helped convene the first-ever hearing on PFAS contamination in the Senate, which assessed the federal government’s response and remediation efforts.
This year marks Peters’ ninth motorcycle tour. Peters tour will also make stops in Lansing and Battle Creek. Peters is an avid and long-time motorcycle rider who founded the bipartisan Senate Motorcycle Caucus in 2017.
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