Press Releases
Peters Calls on President Trump to Restore Funding for National Sea Grant College Program
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters today joined a group of 22 other senators in calling on President Trump to reconsider his proposed elimination of the critical National Sea Grant College Program. In a letter to President Trump, the senators highlighted the important role Sea Grant Programs play in boosting local economies and preserving coastal communities, and urged him to fully fund the program in FY 2018. "We represent senators from some of the 33 states with Sea Grant Programs and… Continue Reading
04.03.17
Peters, Stabenow Lead Bipartisan Delegation Letter to Trump Administration Urging Funding for Dredging of Recreational Harbors in Michigan
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow led a bipartisan delegation letter to Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney requesting that funding for dredging of recreational and commercial harbors in Michigan be included in the fiscal year 2018 budget. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has not included operation and maintenance funding to dredge Michigan harbors over the last several fiscal years. "These harbors are critical to commercial and recreational na… Continue Reading
03.31.17
Senators Peters, Risch Reintroduce Legislation to Help Small Businesses Access Patent Protections
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Jim Risch (R-ID) today announced that they have reintroduced the Small Business Innovation Protection Act, bipartisan legislation to help small businesses protect their intellectual property by improving education on obtaining and protecting patents. The bill will require the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to work together to leverage existing outreach programs in order to better educ… Continue Reading
03.31.17
Peters, Stabenow Announce Legislation to Toughen Up Buy American Act and Create More Jobs at Home
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) announced the Make It In America Act, which closes loopholes in the current Buy American law so the federal government is spending American tax dollars to buy products made in America. This Act also holds federal agencies accountable for how they spend taxpayer dollars. "Spending American tax dollars on products made by American workers not only helps create jobs, it's a critical component of protecting our national s… Continue Reading
03.30.17
Peters, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Support Great Lakes Debris Cleanup
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S Senator Gary Peters (MI), Ranking Member of the Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard Subcommittee and a member of the Great Lakes Task Force, joined his colleagues to introduce bipartisan legislation to help address the growing problem of marine debris affecting the Great Lakes and America's coastlines. The Save our Seas (SOS) Act would reauthorize the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Marine Debris Program, which removes thousands of tons of… Continue Reading
03.30.17
Peters, Gardner Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Expand Telehealth Services
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Cory Gardner (R-CO) today introduced the Telehealth Innovation and Improvement Act, legislation that would expand access to health care in both rural and urban areas by paving the way for Medicare to cover additional telehealth services. Currently, Medicare covers limited telehealth services, setting a poor industry standard, discouraging innovation, and restricting access to specialized services. "Michigan seniors and families in rural an… Continue Reading
03.29.17
Peters Cosponsors Legislation to Recognize and Encourage U.S-Israel Economic Partnership
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S Senator Gary Peters (MI), a member of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, today announced he is cosponsoring bipartisan legislation to recognize the economic accomplishments of the U.S.-Israel economic partnership, and support expanded dialogue between the U.S. and Israel to encourage innovation in science and technology across a variety of industries. "Maintaining a strong, constructive relationship with Israel, our strongest ally in the Middle East, is crucial to the … Continue Reading
03.28.17
Peters Applauds Senate Approval of Montenegro’s Bid to Join NATO
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and Co-Chair of the Senate Albanian Issues Caucus, released the statement below following his vote in favor of a treaty approving the ascension of Montenegro into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO): "Strengthening our NATO alliance is critical to America's national security as Russia seeks to expand its influence and destabilize democracies across the globe - including our own. Today's overwhel… Continue Reading
03.28.17
Peters & Colleagues Announces Creation of New Bipartisan Chemistry Caucus
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Chris Coons (D-DE) and Steve Daines (R-MT) announced that they will serve as co-chairs of the newly formed Senate Chemistry Caucus. In addition to the new chairs, Senators John Boozman (R-AR), Joe Donnelly (D-IN), John Neely Kennedy (R-LA) and Joe Manchin (D-WV) will join the Caucus. The Senate Chemistry Caucus will provide a bipartisan forum to discuss issues dealing with the science of chemistry and America's ch… Continue Reading
03.28.17
Peters Statement on Supreme Court Nominee Judge Neil Gorsuch
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) released the following statement announcing his opposition to Judge Neil Gorsuch's nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court: "The U.S. Supreme Court is a pillar of our nation's democracy, and I take very seriously the Senate's responsibility to advise and consent on nominees to serve in this revered institution. The U.S. Supreme Court is often the last line of defense for everyday Americans, and Judge Gorsuch's previous rulings indicate he believes tha… Continue Reading
03.24.17
Sens. Peters, Cassidy, Boozman, Franken and Reps. Polis & Reed Reintroduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation to Make College More Affordable & Accessible
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), John Boozman (R-AR) and Al Franken (D-MN), and U.S. Representatives Jared Polis (D-CO) and Tom Reed (R-NY) today announced they are reintroducing bipartisan, bicameral legislation to help make college more affordable and accessible by expanding opportunities for high school students to earn college credit. The Making Education Affordable and Accessible Act (MEAA) would improve access to higher education by providing grants t… Continue Reading
03.23.17
Peters Speaks on Need for Independent Investigations into Russian Interference in U.S. Election
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters spoke on the Senate Floor today about the pressing national security threat posed by Russian aggression. He reiterated his call for a special prosecutor to investigate Russian interference in our recent election and announced he is cosponsoring legislation introduced by Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), which would create an independent, nonpartisan special commission to provide a comprehensive report on Russian election activity and make recommendations on how… Continue Reading
03.22.17
Peters Joins Colleagues in Opposition of Proposed EPA Cuts
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Gary Peters joined a group of 37 Senators in opposing President Trump's proposal to inflict a more than 30 percent cut to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) budget that would have a direct effect on Michigan and the Great Lakes. Included in the budget proposal is a complete elimination of funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), which addresses the most serious risks to the Great Lakes ecosystem and supports long-term cleanup goals. The pr… Continue Reading
03.21.17
Sens. Peters, Ernst Relaunch Senate Albanian Issues Caucus
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Joni Ernst (R-IA) today announced they are relaunching the Senate Albanian Issues Caucus. Peters and Ernst, who will serve as co-Chairs of the caucus, also met with Albanian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ditmir Bushati today. The Senate Albanian Issues Caucus will help to facilitate dialogue on critical issues facing the Albanian American community and countries in Southeast Europe with significant Albanian populations. "Albania is a key Amer… Continue Reading
03.21.17
Peters’ Bipartisan Bill Supporting NASA Signed into Law
WASHINGTON, D.C. - President Trump today signed into law legislation introduced by U.S. Senator Gary Peters that authorizes and sets priorities for NASA and the nation's space exploration mission. Peters was an original cosponsor of the bipartisan The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Transition Authorization Act of 2017, Sens. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), John Thune (R-S.D.), Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), and John Cornyn (R-Tex… Continue Reading
03.20.17
Peters, Stabenow, Announce $1.2 Million to Expand Head Start Programs for Scottville Area Children
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow today announced that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) awarded $1.2 million to FiveCAP, Inc. in Scottville, Michigan to support expanded Early Head Start programs for children through their Early Head Start Child Care Partnership program. "Head Start and Early Head Start programs provide vital educational and support services to families and children that put them on the path to success," said Senator Peters. "I'm … Continue Reading
03.20.17
Peters, Stabenow, Announce $4.6 Million to Expand Head Start Programs for West Michigan Children
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow today announced that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) awarded $1.95 million to the Grand Rapids Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative to support their Early Head Start Child Care Partnership program, and $2.7 million to the Muskegon Area Intermediate School District to support Early Head Start and Head Start programs for children. "Head Start and Early Head Start programs provide vital educational and support … Continue Reading
03.20.17
Peters, Stabenow, Announce $3.8 Million to Expand Head Start Programs for Pontiac Area Children
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow today announced that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) awarded $3.8 million to the Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency to support Early Head Start and Head Start programs for children in Oakland County. "Head Start and Early Head Start programs provide vital educational and support services to families and children that put them on the path to success," said Senator Peters. "I'm pleased to help announce this fu… Continue Reading
03.20.17
Peters, Stabenow, Kildee Announce $5.5 Million to Expand Flint Early Head Start
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow, and Congressman Dan Kildee today announced that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) awarded $2.3 million to Genesee County and $3.2 million to the Genesee Intermediate School District to support expanded Early Head Start for children in the Flint area through their Early Head Start Child Care Partnership programs. "The children of Flint have been particularly impacted by the water crisis given their vulnerability to… Continue Reading
03.17.17
Peters Presents West Michigan Vietnam Veterans with 50th Anniversary Commemorative Lapel Pins
GRAND RAPIDS, MI - U.S. Senator Gary Peters, a member of the Senate Armed Services and Homeland Security Committees and a former Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve, today presented Vietnam veterans from West Michigan with commemorative lapel pins to honor their service in the Vietnam War. The ceremony, which was held at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids, is part of a national effort to honor the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War. "Michigan is home to more Vietn… Continue Reading
