Press Releases
Peters Announces Bipartisan Student Loan Rehabilitation Bill at Michigan State University
Legislation Would Allow Private Student Loan Borrowers to Remove Default after Series of Payments LANSING, MI - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (MI) announced today at Michigan State University that he will be introducing bipartisan legislation with Senator Shelley Moore Capito (WV) to help private student loan borrowers rehabilitate defaulted loans. The Federal Adjustment in Reporting (FAIR) Student Credit Act would enable a borrower who has successfully completed a series of on-time payments… Continue Reading
05.11.15
Peters, Stabenow Voice Concerns to USTR Froman on Labor Practices in TPP
Letter Calls for Including and Enforcing Strong Labor Standards to Protect Workers’ Rights Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow announced today that they sent a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman and U.S Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez calling for the inclusion of strong labor standards in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and urging the complete implementation of those standards by all TPP countries before the trade agreement enters into force… Continue Reading
05.11.15
Senators Peters, Stabenow Applaud Senate Passage of Measure to Free Amir Hekmati
Senate Resolution Calls on Iran to Immediately Release Imprisoned U.S. Marine Veteran WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters today applauded the Senate passage of a bipartisan measure calling on Iran to immediately release Amir Hekmati, an imprisoned former U.S. Marine. Hekmati has been held captive by the Iranian government since 2011. Iran had originally accused Hekmati of espionage and sentenced him to death, but the Iranian Supreme Court threw out that char… Continue Reading
05.08.15
Peters Cosponsors Bill Establishing New Initiative to End Modern Slavery
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) announced today that he is cosponsoring the End Modern Slavery Initiative Act of 2015 to establish the End Modern Slavery Initiative Foundation, a new nonprofit institution dedicated to identifying and supporting successful strategies to combat modern slavery around the world. More than 27 million people are trapped in the multi-billion dollar modern slave trade industry. Problems like weak enforcement of existing laws, corruption or a lack of res… Continue Reading
05.07.15
Peters Cosponsors Legislation Expanding Coverage for Veterans Harmed by Agent Orange
Bill Would Ensure “Blue Water” Veterans Harmed by Agent Orange During Vietnam War Receive Benefits WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) today announced he is cosponsoring the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2015, bipartisan legislation that would ensure Vietnam veterans who served aboard deep-water naval vessels, known as “Blue Water” veterans, are eligible to receive the disability and health care benefits they earned for diseases linked to exposure to Agent Orange. Un… Continue Reading
05.07.15
Peters Statement on Joint Review Panel Report on Canadian Nuclear Waste Site
Proposed Nuclear Dump Site Threatens Great Lakes WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) today released the following statement after the Joint Review Panel, a Canadian government advisory board, announced the final environmental assessment report for a proposed permanent nuclear waste storage facility near Kincardine, Ontario, less than a mile from Lake Huron. Last month, Peters helped introduce a resolution urging the Obama Administration to oppose the proposal: “The Gr… Continue Reading
05.06.15
Peters, Stabenow Applaud $294,637 for First Responders in Bedford Township
Bedford Township Fire Department Receives Department of Homeland Security Grant WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow today announced that the Bedford Township Fire Department has been awarded $294,637 from the Department of Homeland Security's Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFG). The funding can be used for professional training, wellness and fitness program equipment, personal protective equipment, modifications to facilities, and supplies that suppo… Continue Reading
05.06.15
Peters, Stabenow Applaud $22,273 for First Responders in Montcalm County
Montcalm County Emergency Services Receives Department of Homeland Security Grant WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow today announced that Montcalm County Emergency Services has been awarded $22,273 from the Department of Homeland Security's Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFG). The funding can be used for professional training, wellness and fitness program equipment, personal protective equipment, modifications to facilities, and supplies that suppor… Continue Reading
05.06.15
Peters, Stabenow Applaud $43,334 for First Responders in Central Lake
Central Lake Fire & Rescue Receives Department of Homeland Security Grant WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow today announced that Central Lake Fire & Rescue has been awarded $43,334 from the Department of Homeland Security's Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFG). The funding can be used for professional training, wellness and fitness program equipment, personal protective equipment, modifications to facilities, and supplies that support firefi… Continue Reading
05.06.15
Peters Congratulates Holland Small Business Owner on Michigan State Small Business Award Winner
EBW Electronics Chairman Earns National Recognition WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), a member of the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, today applauded the Chairman of EBW Electronics, Pat LeBlanc, for earning national recognition from the Small Business Administration (SBA) as a State Small Business Award Winner for 2015. The award comes during National Small Business Week, which aims to showcase small businesses nationally, promote the work small busin… Continue Reading
05.06.15
VIDEO: Peters Has Busy First 4 Months as Michigan’s New Senator
WASHINGTON, D.C. - It’s been four months now since U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) was sworn in to serve Michigan in the Senate. During that time, Senator Peters has been busy hearing directly from Michiganders and focusing on commonsense, bipartisan policies to create good-paying jobs, strengthen our economy and take care of our nation’s veterans and servicemembers. Watch the video below to see what Senator Peters has been up to over the last four months: Senator Peters held an Economic… Continue Reading
05.06.15
Peters Cosponsors Bill Supporting Veteran Entrepreneurs, Observes National Small Business Week
Bill Would Make Permanent Fee Waiver to Small Business Administration Express Loan Program WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), a member of the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, today announced that he is cosponsoring the Veterans Entrepreneurship Act, legislation that would make it easier for veteran-owned businesses to get access to credit. The legislation would make permanent a temporary fee waiver for the Small Business Administration (SBA)’s Express lo… Continue Reading
05.05.15
Peters Recognizes Cinco de Mayo
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) released the following statement honoring the celebration of Cinco de Mayo, which commemorates the 1862 Battle of Puebla, in which Mexican forces held back an invasion by French forces: “Today as we celebrate Cinco de Mayo, we remember and honor the bravery, resilience and solidarity of the Mexican forces who fought so bravely. As communities in Michigan and across the country commemorate this historic day with parades and festivals, we celebrate… Continue Reading
05.05.15
Peters, Stabenow Announce $697,125 Federal Investment for Grand Rapids Home for Veterans
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow today announced a $697,125 federal investment at the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The funding will go towards installing emergency generators and a hot water system. This is in addition to a previously announced $446,875 federal investment for the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans which will install an anti-wander and security system. “We must keep the promises we’ve made to our se… Continue Reading
05.05.15
Peters, Stabenow Announce More Than $5 Million to Expand Access to Quality Care in Michigan
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters today announced federal support for new Michigan Community Health Center locations and to expand access to affordable and quality care. The funding comes through the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Health Center New Access Point program, which was made available by the Affordable Care Act. "Michigan’s health centers provide important access to comprehensive health services and offer quality medical care for patien… Continue Reading
05.02.15
Peters Delivers Commencement Address at Oakland University
ROCHESTER, MI - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) today delivered the commencement address to Oakland University’s School of Business Administration, School of Education and Human Services, and the School of Engineering and Computer Science. Peters highlighted the outstanding education students receive at Oakland University and the importance of graduates giving back to communities. “The complex problems confronting us today require both specialized training and the ability to draw from an array… Continue Reading
05.01.15
Peters Cosponsors Bill to Support North Country Trail
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) announced today that he is cosponsoring the National Scenic Trails Parity Act to provide administrative parity within the National Park System for the country’s National Scenic Trails, including the North Country National Scenic Trail (NCNST) that runs through Michigan. The bill was cosponsored by former U.S. Senator Carl Levin (MI) in the last Congress. “From the northern edges of the Upper Peninsula all the way through southwest Michigan, the… Continue Reading
05.01.15
Peters Visits Grand Rapids, Discusses Growing Human Trafficking Problem in Michigan
Peters’ Legislation to Help Identify and Prevent Human Trafficking Recently Passed U.S. Senate GRAND RAPIDS, MI -Today, U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) spoke at Spectrum Health’s Fred & Lena Meijer Heart Center to discuss the growing human trafficking problem in Michigan and his bipartisan legislation that passed the U.S. Senate to better train health care professionals to recognize the signs of trafficking in their patients. Peters was joined by Dr. Matthew Denenberg, Chief Medical Di… Continue Reading
04.30.15
Peters Backs New Bill to Raise the Minimum Wage to $12 by 2020
Legislation Would Give 1.2 Million Michigan Workers a Raise WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (MI) today joined 32 of his colleagues in introducing the Raise the Wage Act, legislation that would increase the federal hourly minimum wage to $12. The bill would incrementally raise the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $12 in 2020 and then index the minimum wage to the increase in median hourly wages for all employees starting in 2021. It would also eliminate the tipped minimum w… Continue Reading
04.29.15
Peters, Stabenow Applaud $446,875 Federal Investment for Grand Rapids Home for Veterans
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow today applauded a $446,875 federal investment in the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans. The grant, which comes from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), will go towards installing an anti-wander and security system. “Our brave men and women in uniform have defended our country and freedom, and they deserve the best care possible,” said Senator Peters, a former Lt. Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve. “We must keep the promi… Continue Reading
