Press Releases
Peters Presses Federal Agencies for Plans on Safely Reopening, Protecting Workers from Coronavirus
DETROIT, MI - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, is seeking details from 24 federal agencies on their plans to begin safely reopening offices in Michigan and across the country, as well as the steps they are taking to provide health and safety guidance and personal protective equipment to workers. "While the country faces an unprecedented public health crisis and accompanying economic recession, it is more important than … Continue Reading
07.10.20
Peters, Stabenow Announce Nearly $3 Million in Transit Funding for City of Midland
DETROIT, MI - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (MI) and Debbie Stabenow (MI) today announced that the City of Midland will receive $2,974,164 in funding from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). Peters and Stabenow helped secure this funding as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The funds will help ensure that the City of Midland Dial-A-Ride Transportation will remain operational during the COVID-19 pandemic. "Between the Coronavirus pandemic and recovering f… Continue Reading
07.10.20
Peters, Colleagues Call for Premium Pay for VA Employees on the Front Lines of the Coronavirus Pandemic
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, joined his colleagues in calling on the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to share information on premium and retention pay policies for medical employees working on the front lines of the COVID-19 response. Peters previously proposed the "COVID-19 Heroes Fund" to provide pandemic premium pay to reward, retain and recruit essential workers. The House passed a provision ba… Continue Reading
07.09.20
Peters & Stabenow Press for Clarification on Northern Border Travel Restrictions as Local Coronavirus Guidance Evolves
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (MI), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and Debbie Stabenow (MI) are pressing the Department of Homeland Security for additional information on travel restrictions at the U.S.-Canada border as local Coronavirus restrictions begin to change. Restrictions on non-essential travel have helped slow the spread of Coronavirus and allowed essential trade and travel to continue at the U.S.-Canada border. The Senators are… Continue Reading
07.08.20
Peters Introduces the National Institute of Manufacturing Act
DETROIT, MI - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) today announced introduction of legislation that would establish an independent federal institute - the National Institute of Manufacturing (NIM) - to serve as the hub for federal manufacturing programs that would be led by a Chief Manufacturing Officer (CMO) responsible for creating and implementing a National Strategic Plan for Manufacturing across the executive branch. The National Institute of Manufacturing Act would coordinate federal manufacturin… Continue Reading
07.06.20
Peters Introduces 1619 Act to Raise Awareness, Understanding of African American History in Schools
DETROIT, MI - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) today announced he introduced a bill to increase awareness and understanding of African American history across our schools through expanded access to programming from the National Museum of African American History and Culture. The 1619 Act would provide federal funding to support African American History educational programs through workshops and professional development activities for educators. Peters' bill is cosponsored by 15 Senators, including … Continue Reading
07.06.20
Peters, Stabenow Press Trump Administration for Answers on Rewarding an Unreliable Company to Produce Testing Supplies
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (MI), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and Debbie Stabenow (MI) requested that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) explain why a company called Fillakit was awarded a no-bid contract by FEMA worth more than $10 million. According to recent reporting, Fillakit was incorporated one week before it was awarded the contract and was headed by an untrustwo… Continue Reading
07.02.20
Peters Report Details Impact of Coronavirus on Nursing Home Residents and Workers
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, released a new report on the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic on residents and workers in nursing homes. The report details missteps by the Trump Administration that enabled the spread of COVID-19 through nursing homes, which led to deaths of more than 54,000 residents and workers nationwide, and about 2,000 seniors and workers in Michigan facilities. Despite representi… Continue Reading
07.02.20
Peters Announces Over $14 Million in Federal Grants to Expand Apprenticeships in Michigan
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) announced that the U.S. Department of Labor is providing the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity with $14,329,228 in federal grants to expand and improve apprenticeship programs. Michigan will receive $9,447,859 for Registered Apprenticeship Programs and $4,881,369 for Youth Apprenticeship Readiness Programs. Last month, Peters supported Michigan's application for a grant to build state capacity for increasing skills training oppor… Continue Reading
07.02.20
Peters, Colleagues Introduce Resolution Supporting Additional Funding to Keep the Postal Service Operating
WASHINGTON, D.C - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, joined his colleagues in introducing a resolution in support of the U.S. Postal Service. The Coronavirus pandemic and resulting economic crisis have led to serious financial uncertainty for the Postal Service, and the agency could be forced to limit operations in the coming months without additional financial support from Congress. Peters' resolution calls for additional f… Continue Reading
07.01.20
Senate Passes Peters’ Bipartisan Bill to Prevent Payments to Deceased Americans
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, applauded Senate passage of bipartisan legislation he introduced to prevent the federal government from wasting taxpayer dollars on wrongful payments to deceased Americans. The Senate's action follows a report Peters released earlier this week detailing how the Trump Administration sent more than 1.1 million Coronavirus economic relief payments totaling $1.4 billion … Continue Reading
07.01.20
Following Briefing, Peters Presses for Answers from Administration on Russia Reportedly Paying Bounties for Lives of U.S. Servicemembers
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) released the following statement regarding the reports that Russia paid bounties to Taliban militants for the lives of U.S. and allied servicemembers, following a Senate Armed Services Committee briefing today: "As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, my top priority is ensuring servicemembers have the support they need to safely carry out their missions and return home," said Peters, a former Lt. Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve. "I … Continue Reading
06.30.20
Peters, Stabenow Announce Northern Michigan Airports Will Receive Almost $2.2 Million Federal Grant for Improvements
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (MI) and Debbie Stabenow (MI) today announced that the Department of Transportation (DOT) will be awarding $1,921,000 to the Cherry Capital Airport and $263,156 to the Pellston Regional Airport of Emmet County. This Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grant is supplemented by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act - which Peters and Stabenow helped enact - to support airports affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The funding will g… Continue Reading
06.30.20
Peters, Stabenow Announce Muskegon County Airport Will Receive $1 Million Federal Grant for Improvements
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (MI) and Debbie Stabenow (MI) today announced that the Department of Transportation (DOT) will be awarding $1,052,631 to the Muskegon County Airport. This Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grant is supplemented by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act - which Peters and Stabenow helped enact - to support airports affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The funding will go towards infrastructure improvements including the rehabilit… Continue Reading
06.30.20
Peters, Stabenow, Kildee Announce Bishop International Airport Will Receive Around $419,000 Federal Grant for Improvements
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (MI) and Debbie Stabenow (MI) and U.S. Representative Dan Kildee (MI-05) today announced that the Department of Transportation (DOT) will be awarding $419,444 to the Bishop International Airport. This Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grant is supplemented by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act - which Peters, Stabenow and Kildee helped enact - to support airports affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The funding will go towar… Continue Reading
06.30.20
Peters, Stabenow Announce Houghton County Memorial Airport Will Receive $544,000 Federal Grant for Improvements
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (MI) and Debbie Stabenow (MI) today announced that the Department of Transportation (DOT) will be awarding $544,000 to the Houghton County Memorial Airport. This Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grant is supplemented by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act - which Peters and Stabenow helped enact - to support airports affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The funding will go towards infrastructure improvements including the co… Continue Reading
06.30.20
Peters, Stabenow Announce Alpena County Regional Airport Will Receive $1.2 Million Federal Grant for Improvements
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (MI) and Debbie Stabenow (MI) today announced that the Department of Transportation (DOT) will be awarding $1,206,500 to the Alpena County Regional Airport. This Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grant is supplemented by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act - which Peters and Stabenow helped enact - to support airports affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The funding will go towards infrastructure improvements including the re… Continue Reading
06.30.20
Peters, Stabenow Announce $4.1 Million for Transportation Services in Holland, Zeeland Through the CARES Act
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (MI) and Debbie Stabenow (MI) today announced that the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is providing the Macatawa Area Express Transportation Authority (MAX Transit), which services both Holland and Zeeland, a $4.1 million grant. Peters and Stabenow helped secure this funding as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The funds will help ensure that MAX Transit will remain operational during the Coronavirus pandemic. … Continue Reading
06.26.20
Peters Joins Homeland Security Committee Members in Calling for Answers on Strategic National Stockpile Supplies
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, joined several of his committee colleagues in a letter calling for answers from the Administration about the Strategic National Stockpile, which is maintained by the federal government to rapidly distribute personal protective equipment and other critical medical supplies during public health emergencies. U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (NH), Tom Carper (DE), Kamala Harris (CA)… Continue Reading
06.26.20
Peters Receives Special Recognition Award from the Michigan Health & Hospital Association
DETROIT, MI - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) today received a Special Recognition Award from the Michigan Health and Hospital Association (MHA) for his dedication to ensuring that all Michiganders can access quality, affordable health care and leadership during the Coronavirus pandemic. "Now more than ever, it is critical that health care professionals serving in hospitals, nursing homes and community health centers in every corner of our state have the resources needed to do their jobs safely a… Continue Reading
