Press Releases
Peters, Stabenow Join Colleagues in Introducing Bipartisan PFAS Bill
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) today announced that they have introduced bipartisan legislation with a bipartisan group of Senators that would mandate the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) declare per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as hazardous substances eligible for cleanup funds under the EPA Superfund law, and enable a requirement that polluters undertake or pay for remediation. The bill, the PFAS Action Plan of 2019, was introduced b… Continue Reading
02.28.19
VIDEO: Peters Speaks on Senate Vote in Opposition to Wheeler Nomination and Need to Address Climate Change
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) spoke on the Senate floor today in opposition to the Senate confirmation of Andrew Wheeler as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Below is video of his remarks and text as prepared for delivery: "I rise today to discuss why I voted in opposition to the confirmation of Andrew Wheeler for the position of Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. "Clean air and clean water are not only vital to our public health -… Continue Reading
02.28.19
Peters Questions Administration on Taxpayer-Funded Travel during Government Shutdown
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, is seeking information from the White House and eleven federal agencies on taxpayer-funded official travel by senior federal officials and other agency employees that occurred during the nation's longest government shutdown earlier this year. "As public officials, it is critical that we act as responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars, particularly when government em… Continue Reading
02.28.19
Peters, Rubio Reintroduce Legislation to Improve Burial Services for Veterans
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) today announced that they are reintroducing bipartisan legislation to improve burial services for our nation's veterans by increasing funeral benefits offered through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The Burial Rights for America's Veterans' Efforts (BRAVE) Act would update the current funeral and burial benefit system to treat all non-service connected deaths equally, regardless of where the veteran passes away. Ve… Continue Reading
02.27.19
Michiganders Share Concerns with Peters About EPA’s Inaction on PFAS, Blast Agency’s Action ‘Plan’
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) is continuing to hear from Michiganders impacted by Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure following the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)'s plan unveiled recently. The plan does not establish enforceable drinking water standards or guide clean-up efforts. "I've consistently heard from Michiganders about the need for EPA to establish an enforceable standard and share their concerns that the EPA's new 'plan' only kicks the can do… Continue Reading
02.26.19
Peters, Burr Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill Targeting Unfair Trade Practices From Foreign Competitors
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), a member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, and Richard Burr (R-NC) today reintroduced bipartisan legislation to help small and medium-sized businesses that are negatively impacted by unfair trade practices from foreign competitors. Currently, many agricultural producers, manufacturers and parts suppliers lack the resources needed to identify unfair practices and bring them to the attention of the U.S. Department of Co… Continue Reading
02.25.19
After Pushing for New Great Lakes Icebreaker Support, Peters Welcomes Funding
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) welcomed the appropriation of $5 million for the research and design of a new Great Lakes icebreaker as part of the federal funding bill the President recently signed into law. Peters pushed for and helped secure the funding, which will solidify the Coast Guard's capability to carry out icebreaking assignments on the Great Lakes during winters with severe ice coverage. "It is critical that members of the Coast Guard have access to the resources the… Continue Reading
02.21.19
Peters Applauds Additional Funding for Census
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, today applauded the inclusion of $3.8 billion for the U.S. Census Bureau in the government funding bill that Congress passed last week. The bipartisan legislation included an additional $1 billion more than last year's funding to ensure greater accuracy of census data for communities in Michigan and across the country as the Census Bureau prepares to conduct the 2020… Continue Reading
02.20.19
Senate Advances Peters & Colleagues’ Bipartisan Bill to Stop Wasteful Government Payments
WASHINGTON, DC -- The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee recently unanimously approved a bipartisan bill introduced by U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) and his colleagues to cut down on millions of dollars in wasteful government spending and improper payments. Peters, who serves as the Ranking Member of the committee, has made good stewardship of taxpayer dollars a top priority in the U.S. Senate. He joined with U.S. Senators Tom Carper (D-DE), Ron Johnson (R-WI) and Mike B… Continue Reading
02.17.19
Peters Tours Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge
SAULT STE. MARIE, MI - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, today toured the Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge, where he saw bridge operations firsthand and heard from border security officials on the challenges facing our Northern Border. "Michigan is home to some of the busiest international trade crossings in the country," said Senator Peters. "As Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, one of … Continue Reading
02.15.19
Peters, Stabenow Announce Senate Passage of Resolution Honoring John D. Dingell
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) today announced Senate passage of a resolution honoring the life and legacy of former Congressman John D. Dingell. The bipartisan resolution, which was co-sponsored by 17 other Senators, passed the Senate unanimously. "I was proud to join Senator Stabenow in leading this effort to honor the life and legacy of Chairman Dingell," said Senator Peters. "Chairman Dingell was my mentor and my friend, and his service to Mic… Continue Reading
02.14.19
Peters, Cornyn Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Support Opportunity for Disabled Veterans in Infrastructure Contracts
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and John Cornyn (R-TX) today reintroduced bipartisan legislation to increase the number of infrastructure projects awarded to small businesses owned by veterans with a service-connected disability. The Disabled-Veterans Rebuilding Infrastructure to Vitalize our Economy (DRIVE) Act creates a goal that 5% of the funding allocated in the most recent highway bill be granted to Service-connected Disabl… Continue Reading
02.14.19
Senate Passes Peters-Stabenow's Legislation Supporting MotorCities National Heritage Area
Washington D.C. - This week, the Senate passed legislation by U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) to support the MotorCities National Heritage Area in Southeast Michigan. The Preserving the MotorCities Heritage Act, which passed as part of the Natural Resources Management Act, will increase the authorized funding cap for the area from $10 million to $12 million through 2021. Without this increase, the MotorCities National Heritage area would have soon been ineligible to r… Continue Reading
02.14.19
Peters Statement on EPA’s PFAS Announcement
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, issued the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today released the agency's Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) Action Plan: "This plan falls far short of the commitments promised by EPA leadership a year ago. We know PFAS contamination can have devastating health impacts - and Michigan families across the state that have bee… Continue Reading
02.13.19
Peters Joins Stabenow to Introduce Medicare at 50 Act
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI) today announced that he is an original cosponsor to legislation introduced by Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) to allow people between the ages of 50 and 64 years old to buy into Medicare. The Medicare at 50 Act would provide another health care option for millions of Americans approaching retirement, many of whom are forced to retire early due to layoffs and face increasing health care needs. "Providing anyone age 50 or older the option to buy i… Continue Reading
02.12.19
Peters, Portman, Stabenow, Duckworth Reintroduce Bipartisan Legislation to Bolster Great Lakes Funding
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), Rob Portman (R-OH), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today reintroduced bipartisan legislation to boost Great Lakes funding and research efforts and help support effective fishery management decisions. The Great Lakes Fishery Research Authorization (GLFRA) Act gives the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) the legislative authority to support the $7 billion Great Lakes sport and commercial fishery industry. Despite holding one-fifth of… Continue Reading
02.11.19
Peters Sponsors Bill to Protect Integrity of 2020 Census
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, today announced that he has joined his Senate colleagues in cosponsoring legislation that would protect the integrity of the 2020 Census by requiring any proposed changes to the count be properly studied, researched and tested by the Census Bureau. "Any significant changes to the decennial census must be properly researched and vetted to ensure that taxpayer dollars… Continue Reading
02.07.19
Peters Statement on Passing of John D. Dingell
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) released the following statement on the passing of former Dean of the House of Representatives John D. Dingell: "Chairman Dingell was a true statesman: he embodied the values, spirit and dedication that all public servants should aspire to have. He was a mentor to me and countless others who sought to give back to their communities. I will never forget his wise counsel as I learned my way around Congress. "Chairman Dingell will always be with us b… Continue Reading
02.07.19
Peters Receives Air Force Response to Letter on PFAS Cleanup Surrounding Former Wurtsmith Air Force Base
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) today received a response from Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson in response to a letter Peters sent last week regarding the agency's cooperation with the State of Michigan on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) cleanup efforts around the former Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Iosco County. In the Air Force's letter, Secretary Wilson assured Peters that the Air Force will continue to work with the State of Michigan, and that Assistant Sec… Continue Reading
02.06.19
Peters, Stabenow Announce $19.2 Million for Flash Flooding Recovery Efforts in the Upper Peninsula
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) today announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) will award a grant totaling $19.2 million to the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) for disaster recovery projects in Gogebic, Houghton and Menominee Counties. The fundingwill be used to repair highways and roads that were significantly damaged as a result of th… Continue Reading
