Press Releases
Peters & Stabenow Raise Concerns over Possible Michigan Impact of Canada’s Coronavirus Travel Restrictions
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (MI) and Debbie Stabenow (MI) wrote President Donald J. Trump to ensure his Administration is working with the Government of Canada on its new travel restrictions that could have an unintended impact on Michigan's efforts to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak. Earlier this week, amidst the global coronavirus pandemic, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his intention to close the Canadian border to any individuals who are not citizens or permanent res… Continue Reading
03.17.20
Peters Announces Proposal to Quickly Increase Nationwide Coronavirus Testing Capacity
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, today announced a proposal to quickly increase the nation's Coronavirus testing capacity, address the shortage of test kits and remove barriers to access for testing in communities across the country. Widespread testing is crucial for understanding the true scope of the outbreak, but a national shortage of testing kits in the United States has hampered the nation's r… Continue Reading
03.16.20
Peters Reiterates Calls for Immediate Senate Passage of Bipartisan Coronavirus Response Bill
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) issued the following statement reiterating the immediate need for the U.S. Senate to reconvene and pass the U.S. House of Representatives-approved Families First Coronavirus Response Act: "The Senate must pass the bipartisan Families First Coronavirus Response Act immediately to help support families and workers in Michigan and across the country facing unprecedented personal, health and financial challenges. The Senate needs to act to make testing… Continue Reading
03.13.20
Peters Statement on National Emergency Declaration to Combat Coronavirus and Need for More Action
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, this week called on President Trump to declare an emergency making additional resources available, and led bipartisan legislation to provide disaster unemployment assistance to people who are unable to work during the COVID-19 pandemic. Peters issued the following statement after President Trump declared a national emergency today: "The current Coronavirus outbre… Continue Reading
03.13.20
Peters, Stabenow Urge Trump Administration to Re-Open Health Insurance Enrollment Window
WASHINGTON, DC - In light of the ongoing outbreak of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), U.S. Senators Gary Peters (MI) and Debbie Stabenow (MI) urged the Trump Administration to open a special enrollment period to allow people without health insurance or short-term plans to purchase a health care plan through the health insurance marketplaces. Currently, about 27.5 million Americans lack health insurance - and even more are underinsured - which could leave them facing expensive medical bills if hospita… Continue Reading
03.13.20
Peters Introduces Free COVID-19 Testing Act, Presses Trump Administration to Address Testing Shortage
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) introduced legislation that would expand access to free COVID-19 testing and urged the Trump Administration to address the nationwide testing shortage. The Free COVID-19 Testing Act, would waive cost-sharing for COVID-19 diagnostic testing and related health care services for Americans enrolled in private health plans, Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, CHIP, TRICARE, VA as well as for federal civilians and American Indians. In a letter to Vice… Continue Reading
03.12.20
Peters, Wyden, Schumer Lead Bill With Colleagues to Provide Unemployment Assistance to Those Affected by Coronavirus
WASHINGTON, DC - As part of Senate Democrats' response to the coronavirus pandemic, Senate Homeland Security Committee Ranking Member Gary Peters (D-MI), Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR), Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and 20 colleagues today introduced legislation, the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Act, to provide federally-funded unemployment assistance to affected individuals. The bill is cosponsored by Senators Jack Reed (D-RI), Patty Murray (D-WA)… Continue Reading
03.12.20
Peters Calls for Additional Aggressive Action to Protect Michiganders, Combat Coronavirus Outbreak
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, today called for bipartisan, aggressive action to address the Coronavirus outbreak, including expanded testing and additional steps to keep the American people safe: "As the Coronavirus outbreak continues to threaten public health, our economy and the daily lives of Michiganders, we need a comprehensive and effective federal response to protect Americans and suppo… Continue Reading
03.12.20
Peters Leads Bipartisan Effort to Provide Unemployment Assistance to People Unable to Work Due to Coronavirus Outbreak
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) led introduction of the bipartisan, bicameral Coronavirus Worker Relief Act. The new bill, which Peters introduced with U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI), Todd Young (R-IN), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), and Mitt Romney (R-UT) would provide disaster unemployment assistance to people who are unable to work due to the current coronavirus outbreak. Assistance would be available to individuals, including self-employed individuals and independent contra… Continue Reading
03.12.20
Peters, Johnson Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Help Great Lakes Communities Address Rising Water Levels, Shoreline Erosion
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Ron Johnson (R-WI), Ranking Member and Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, introduced bipartisan legislation to provide support for local communities facing rising water levels, coastal erosion, and flooding that have put homes and property at risk, and caused millions of dollars in damages. The Great Lakes are expected to hit record high-water levels this year, and communities in Michigan and Wisconsin are f… Continue Reading
03.11.20
Peters Bipartisan Bill to Expand Veterans Apprenticeship Opportunities Heads to the President’s Desk
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters' (MI) bipartisan legislation to expand apprenticeship opportunities for veterans is headed to the President's desk to be signed into law, after passing the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously today. The Support for Veterans in Effective Apprenticeships Act - which Peters introduced with U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) - previously passed the U.S. Senate. Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin (MI-08) championed the legislation in the House of Repres… Continue Reading
03.09.20
Peters’ Bipartisan Bill to Crack Down on Wasteful Government Spending Signed into Law
WASHINGTON, DC - Bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, was signed into law to cut down on billions of dollars in wasteful government spending. The Payment Integrity Information Act of 2019 will help to rein in improper payments - including duplicative, excessive, unnecessary and improperly documented payments - that are estimated to have cost the federal government more than $151 billion in f… Continue Reading
03.06.20
Peters, Colleagues Defend the Right of Defense Department Civilian Workers to Engage in Collective Bargaining
WASHINGTON, DC - In an effort to stand up for workers' rights and organized labor, U.S. Senators Gary Peters (MI) and Jack Reed (RI), Ranking Members of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and Armed Services Committees, led the entire Senate Democratic Caucus in urging Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper to uphold workplace protections and safeguard the collective bargaining rights of Department of Defense (DoD) civilian employees. The letter comes on the heels of a Trump Administr… Continue Reading
03.05.20
Peters Helps Senate Pass Coronavirus Funding for Michigan, Convenes Hearing on Federal Response
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, helped the Senate pass a bipartisan funding bill to address Coronavirus-including over $14.5 million in resources for Michigan-and convened a committee hearing on the response to outbreak. The funding that passed today - which was welcomed by Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer - includes $14.5 million for Michigan and priorities raised directly to Peters by M… Continue Reading
03.04.20
Peters, Stabenow Secure Coronavirus Funding for Michigan, Governor Whitmer Welcomes Federal Support
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, and Debbie Stabenow (MI) today announced that they secured resources for Michigan to protect public health and security amid the Coronavirus outbreak. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer welcomed the support. The Senate may vote on the bipartisan funding agreement as early as this Thursday, following passage in the House of Representatives. Michigan will receive $14.5 million in federal fu… Continue Reading
03.04.20
Senate Passes Peters, Portman Bipartisan Bill to Fix Security Vulnerability Posed by Foreign Ownership of Federally Leased Properties
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (MI), Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and Rob Portman (R-OH), applauded the Senate passage of their bipartisan legislation to determine if office space leased by the federal government is owned by foreign entities. The Secure Federal Leases from Espionage and Suspicious Entanglements Act (Secure Federal LEASEs Act) requires the identification of all individuals who own or benefit from partial ownership … Continue Reading
03.04.20
Senate Passes Peters’ Bipartisan Measures to Support Healthy Aging and Age-Friendly Communities
WASHINGTON, DC -U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) welcomed Senate passage of bipartisan provisions he introduced to support age-friendly communities in Michigan and across the nation. The measures based on his Age-Friendly Communities Act would establish a committee to bring agencies from across the federal government together to develop a national set of goals on healthy aging and age-friendly communities. The measures, which Peters introduced with Senator John Boozman (R-AR), passed the Senate as … Continue Reading
03.04.20
Peters’ Bipartisan Bill to Protect America’s Domestic Food Supply and Agricultural Industry Signed into Law
WASHINGTON, DC - President Donald Trump has signed into law U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, bipartisan legislation to address the shortage of agricultural inspectors who protect the nation's food supply and agricultural industry at the border. The Protecting America's Food & Agriculture Act of 2019 ensures the safe and secure trade of agricultural goods across our nation's borders by authorizing U.S. Customs … Continue Reading
03.03.20
Peters Discusses Michigan Security Priorities with Homeland Security Secretary
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, met with Department of Homeland Security Acting Secretary Chad Wolf to discuss Michigan's top homeland security needs. Peters released the following statement on the meeting: "As Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Committee, I'm working to keep communities in Michigan and across the country safe and secure. Today, I met with Acting Secretary Wolf to discuss how… Continue Reading
03.03.20
Peters Calls on Trump Administration to Create Central “Coronavirus.gov” Website for Trusted Health & Safety Information
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, today urged the Trump Administration to launch a centralized federal website - "Coronavirus.gov" - to provide trusted information to the American people about the Coronavirus outbreak. In a letter addressed to Vice President Mike Pence, who has been appointed to lead the U.S. response to the epidemic, Peters argued that challenges finding clear, reliable information about t… Continue Reading
