Press Releases
Peters and Portman Legislation to Strengthen Cybersecurity Coordination with State and Local Governments Advances in Senate
WASHINGTON, DC - Legislation that was recently reintroduced by U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Rob Portman (R-OH), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, to promote stronger cybersecurity coordination between the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and state and local governments has advanced in the Senate. The State and Local Government Cybersecurity Act would encourage federal cybersecurity experts to share information regarding cybersecurity thre… Continue Reading
08.04.21
Peters Bipartisan Bill to Expand Eligibility for State Maritime Academies Student Incentive Payment Program Advances in Senate
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters' (MI) bipartisan legislation to expand the age eligibility for the Student Incentive Payment Program through the Maritime Administration advanced in the U.S. Senate, after passing in the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. The Changing Age-Determined Eligibility to Student Incentive Payments (CADETS) Act would expand the Student Incentive Payment Program eligibility age for financial assistance to cadets who attended one of the six Sta… Continue Reading
08.04.21
Peters Legislation to Strengthen Cybersecurity Coordination with State and Local Governments Advances in Senate
WASHINGTON, DC - Legislation that was recently reintroduced by U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, to promote stronger cybersecurity coordination between the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and state and local governments has advanced in the Senate. The State and Local Government Cybersecurity Act would encourage federal cybersecurity experts to share information regarding cybersecurity threats, vulnerabilities, and breaches as well as… Continue Reading
08.03.21
Video: Peters Examines Impact of White Supremacist, Faith-Based and Anti-Government Domestic Terrorism Threat on American Communities
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, convened a hearing to examine how the rise of domestic terrorism, in particular white supremacist, faith-based, and anti-government extremist violence, has impacted communities across the United States. The hearing was the first of two Peters is convening this week to continue examining the threat of domestic terrorism and needed actions by the federal government to address t… Continue Reading
08.03.21
Peters Discusses Cybersecurity Priorities with Top Administration Officials
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, released the following statement after convening a meeting with Jen Easterly, the Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, National Cyber Director Chris Inglis, and Anne Neuberger, the Deputy National Security Advisor for Cyber and Emerging Technology, to discuss how to strengthen the nation's cybersecurity defenses and tackle the threat posed by grow… Continue Reading
07.30.21
Peters and Portman Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Help Improve Federal Workforce’s Understanding of Artificial Intelligence
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Rob Portman (R-OH), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, introduced bipartisan legislation that would help bolster the federal workforce's understanding of artificial intelligence (AI). The bill would create a training program to help federal employees responsible for purchasing AI technologies better understand the risks and benefits it poses to the American people. It would also help ens… Continue Reading
07.30.21
Peters and Stabenow Honor Senator Carl Levin in the U.S. Senate
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Gary Peters (MI) and Debbie Stabenow (MI) today honored the life of former Senator Carl Levin. The Senators spoke on the floor of the U.S. Senate highlighting Senator Levin's service to the people of Michigan, fierce commitment to truth and justice, and ability to work with everyone to get things done. The Senators authored a resolution memorializing Senator Levin and his legacy, which unanimously passed the U.S. Senate this evening. Following passage of the resolution, … Continue Reading
07.30.21
Peters and Ernst Bipartisan Legislation to Expand Federal Contracting Opportunities for Small Businesses Passes Senate
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Legislation authored by U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and Joni Ernst (R-IA) to encourage innovation in contracting and expand opportunities for small businesses to work with the federal government has passed the Senate. Federal contracts can provide significant opportunities for small businesses, but some agencies have been reluctant to utilize the Small Business Administration's (SBA) contracting progra… Continue Reading
07.30.21
Peters Bipartisan Legislation to Expand Federal Contracting Opportunities for Small Businesses Passes Senate
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Legislation authored by U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, to encourage innovation in contracting and expand opportunities for small businesses to work with the federal government has passed the Senate. Federal contracts can provide significant opportunities for small businesses, but some agencies have been reluctant to utilize the Small Business Administration's (SBA) contracting programs. The Promoting Rigorou… Continue Reading
07.30.21
Peters, Sullivan, Hassan & Tillis Bipartisan Bill to Protect Firefighters from Hazardous PFAS Chemicals Passes Senate
WASHINGTON, DC - Legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) to help protect the health and safety of firefighters, emergency responders and the communities they serve has passed the Senate. The legislation, which was unanimously approved in March by the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee where Peters serves as Chair, now heads to the U.S. House of Representatives. The Protecting Firefighte… Continue Reading
07.30.21
Peters Bipartisan Bill to Protect Firefighters from Hazardous PFAS Chemicals Passes Senate
WASHINGTON, DC - Legislation introduced by U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) to help protect the health and safety of firefighters, emergency responders and the communities they serve has passed the Senate. The legislation, which was unanimously approved in March by the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee where Peters serves as Chair, now heads to the U.S. House of Representatives. U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) are also cospons… Continue Reading
07.29.21
Peters Statement on Passing of Senator Levin
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) released the following statement following the passing of former U.S. Senator Carl Levin: "Senator Levin was one of the finest leaders to have ever served the State of Michigan and our country. "When I first began serving in Congress, I would often seek Senator Levin's advice. His guidance was especially important to me as I succeeded him in the United States Senate. He was not only a mentor - he was a personal friend, who I looked up to as an ext… Continue Reading
07.29.21
Peters Helps Pass Bill to Ensure Funding for Michigan National Guard
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), a former Lt. Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve and Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, today helped pass legislation to ensure funding for the National Guard to continue key training and operations. The National Guard was facing a severe budget shortfall as a result of its mission to secure the U.S. Capitol after the January 6th attacks. "From helping distribute COVID-19 vaccines in our communities to prot… Continue Reading
07.28.21
After Fighting for Long-Term Investments in Selfridge & Michigan’s Military Installations, Peters and Stabenow Welcome Pentagon’s Commitment
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (MI), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Debbie Stabenow (MI) announced that they secured significant commitments from the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) that ensures the military's commitment to Selfridge Air National Guard Base as a key facility to our national security. In a letter that was sent to both Senators, the U.S. Air Force highlighted the long-term roles that the A-10 and KC-135 missions currently at Selfridge will contin… Continue Reading
07.23.21
Peters, Stabenow Resolution Calling for Immediate Release of Michigander Paul Whelan from Russian Authorities Unanimously Passes Senate
DETROIT, MI - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (MI) and Debbie Stabenow (MI) announced their bipartisan resolution calling for the immediate release of Michigander Paul Whelan from authorities under the Russian government passed in the U.S. Senate unanimously. The resolution calls on the Government of the Russian Federation present credible evidence or immediately release him from prison. A companion resolution was reintroduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Representative Haley Stevens (MI-11… Continue Reading
07.22.21
Peters Secures Nearly $128 Million in Investments for Michigan Military Facilities and Operations in National Defense Bill Advancing to Full Senate
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) helped advance the bipartisan annual national defense bill to the full Senate, and led the charge to secure nearly $128 million in investments for military facilities across Michigan. He also led or supported provisions to strengthen our national security and give our servicemembers a pay raise. "Michiganders play a critical role in our national defense, and I was proud to secure significant investments and resources for military installations acro… Continue Reading
07.22.21
Peters Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Secure Critical Infrastructure Networks Against Cyber-Attacks
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, introduced bipartisan legislation to help safeguard our nation's critical infrastructure networks against cybersecurity threats. The bill would require the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to ensure they can better identify and mitigate threats to Industrial Control Systems - the operational technology involved in operating the function of critical infras… Continue Reading
07.22.21
Peters Announces Port of Monroe Awarded $770,983 Grant to Help Upgrade Cargo Screening Infrastructure
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, today announced the Port of Monroe has been awarded a $770,983 Port Security Grant from the Department of Homeland Security to help upgrade their cargo screening infrastructure. The funding will allow the port to install a Radiation Portal Monitor, which helps to screen cargo for the presence of nuclear or radiological materials. This will enhance the port's ability to ensure t… Continue Reading
07.20.21
Peters Announces Investigation Into Rise of Ransomware Attacks and How Cryptocurrencies Facilitate Cybercrimes
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Gary Peters, Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, announced he is conducting an investigation into the role cryptocurrencies continue to play in emboldening and incentivizing cybercriminals to commit ransomware attacks that pose an increasing threat to United States national security. "The increased use of cryptocurrencies as the preferred method of payment in ransomware attacks shows that cybercriminals believe they can commit at… Continue Reading
07.19.21
Peters Statement on Announcement that the Chinese Government Continues to Encourage and Perpetrate Widespread Cyber-Attacks
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, released the following statement after the Biden Administration and the United States' allies condemned the Chinese government for orchestrating widespread attacks against American networks and compromising American national security: "Today's announcement is an important step to help hold the Chinese government accountable for enabling these malicious cyber-attacks on our c… Continue Reading
