Press Releases
Citing Supply Chain Concerns, Peters Urges Administration to Secure Medical Supplies Needed to Distribute and Administer Coronavirus Vaccine
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, urged the Trump Administration to take immediate action to ensure there is a sufficient supply of needles, syringes or comparable delivery devices to quickly immunize millions of Americans once a Coronavirus vaccine is developed. In a 2019 report, Peters raised concerns and recommended actions to address vulnerabilities in our medical supply chain, including medical … Continue Reading
05.11.20
Peters Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Improve Housing Financial Literacy
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) today announced he introduced a bipartisan bill that would aim to bolster financial literacy among prospective first-time homeowners. The Housing Financial Literacy Act, which Peters introduced with Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), would provide those who complete a Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)-certified housing counseling course the opportunity to claim a .25% deduction on their Federal Housing Administration (FHA) mortgage insuranc… Continue Reading
05.08.20
Peters, Stabenow Announce Over $14 Million in Federal Funding for 39 Michigan Healthcare Centers to Expand COVID-19 Testing
DETROIT, MI - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (MI) and Debbie Stabenow (MI) today announced a total of $14,422,926 in federal funds will be awarded to 39 health centers across Michigan to expand their Coronavirus testing operations. Peters and Stabenow successfully secured this funding from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act they helped enact. "From the onset of this pandemic, it has been clear that we must dram… Continue Reading
05.08.20
Peters, Stabenow Provisions Securing Commitments to Protect the Great Lakes and Safeguard Drinking Water Advance to Full Senate
DETROIT, MI - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (MI) and Debbie Stabenow (MI) announced today that key provisions to protect Michigan's environment and the Great Lakes advanced this week in the Senate. The provisions - which were included in the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2020 - include a record $375 million reauthorization of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), an assessment on shoreline protection and resiliency in areas affected by the recent high water levels along the Grea… Continue Reading
05.08.20
Peters, Stabenow Announce Over $28 Million in Funding for Grand Rapids Transit Services
DETROIT, MI - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (MI) and Debbie Stabenow (MI) today announced that the Interurban Transit Partnership in Grand Rapids will receive $28,400,000 in funding from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). This funding is a result of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act that was signed into law on March 27, 2020. The funds will be used to operate transit services during the COVID-19 pandemic. "The Coronavirus pandemic has upended everyone's daily liv… Continue Reading
05.07.20
Peters Introduces Bill to Strengthen Disaster Response Efforts for Minority Communities
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, introduced legislation to strengthen the Federal Emergency Management Agency's disaster response efforts for communities of color who often face barriers to securing federal aid following an emergency, such as the Coronavirus pandemic. Communities of color and other underserved communities have been disproportionately affected by the virus, underscoring a long history of di… Continue Reading
05.07.20
Peters Announces Proposal to Deliver Relief Funding to Local Governments Responding to and Recovering from Coronavirus Pandemic
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, today announced legislation to provide local governments with direct federal relief that can be used to pay for essential services and offset lost revenues and increased costs from the COVID-19 pandemic. This continues Peters' efforts to advance relief for communities across Michigan as part of the next Coronavirus relief package. The Direct Support for Communities A… Continue Reading
05.06.20
Peters, Stabenow Announce Over $27 Million in Funding for Ann Arbor and Port Huron Transit Services
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (MI) and Debbie Stabenow (MI) today announced that Ann Arbor and Port Huron will receive $27,250,000 in funding from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). This funding is a result of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act that was signed into law on March 27, 2020. The funds will be used to operate transit services during the COVID-19 pandemic. "The Coronavirus pandemic has upended everyone's daily lives. Public transit is v… Continue Reading
05.06.20
Peters, Stabenow Introduce Legislation to Address Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Coronavirus Pandemic
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (MI) and Debbie Stabenow (MI) joined their colleagues to introduce legislation to establish an interagency task force charged with identifying and addressing disparities that are disproportionately affecting minority communities in Michigan during the Coronavirus pandemic. The Coronavirus outbreak has heightened the urgent need to address longstanding inequities in the American health care system, particularly for minority communities who have long stru… Continue Reading
05.06.20
Peters: Air Force Must Immediately Prioritize PFAS Cleanup Efforts at Former Wurtsmith Base in Oscoda
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, today called on the Air Force to expedite PFAS cleanup efforts at the former Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Oscoda. In a letter to Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Installations, Environment and Energy John Henderson, Peters expressed his concern that the Air Force does not yet intend to spend the $13.5 million i… Continue Reading
05.05.20
Peters, Bustos, Kinzinger Lead Bipartisan Push to Include Funeral Benefits Increase for Veterans’ Survivors in Next Coronavirus Relief Package
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), a former Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve and member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and U.S. Representatives Cheri Bustos (IL-17) and Adam Kinzinger (IL-16) today called for the inclusion of their bipartisan bill to increase funeral benefits for eligible veterans in the next phase of Coronavirus relief legislation. With COVID-19 posing serious risks among elderly veterans and those with service-related health conditions, the B… Continue Reading
05.01.20
Peters & Stabenow Call for Efficient, Coordinated Contact Tracing to Limit Spread of Coronavirus and Help Reopen Economy
DETROIT, MI - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (MI) and Debbie Stabenow (MI) this week called on Congressional Leaders to include $8 billion in new funding for contact tracing initiatives in the next Congressional Coronavirus response package. Infectious disease experts argue that robust contact tracing programs are key to stopping the spread of the virus and safely reopening the economy. The funding would be used to help states and localities recruit, hire, and train contact tracers and deploy volunta… Continue Reading
05.01.20
Peters, Luján Push for Increased Investment in Broadband Infrastructure to Bolster COVID-19 Response Efforts in Historically Underserved Communities
DETROIT, MI - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and U.S. Representative Ben Ray Luján (NM-03), Assistant Speaker of the U.S House of Representatives, called for increased investments in rural broadband infrastructure to support Coronavirus response efforts in historically underserved communities. Many healthcare centers, schools and small businesses in rural and tribal communities across the country have had difficul… Continue Reading
05.01.20
Peters, Stabenow Call for Stronger Federal Response to Coronavirus Pandemic by Incentivizing Companies to Manufacture Critical Medical Supplies
DETROIT, MI - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (MI) and Debbie Stabenow (MI) announced they are joining their colleagues to introduce legislation to strengthen the federal government's response to the Coronavirus pandemic under the Defense Production Act, which gives the government the ability to incentivize and direct companies to produce vital medical supplies. The Trump Administration has not fully utilized authorities under the law to address the pandemic, including to direct additional manufacturi… Continue Reading
04.29.20
Peters Proposes Establishing Federal Grants for Non-Profit & Faith-Based Organizations Providing Resources for Underserved Communities During Public Health Emergencies
DETROIT, MI - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) today announced a proposal to establish a federal grant program to support local organizations that will provide resources and information to communities of color during public health emergencies like the Coronavirus pandemic. The program would be focused on outreach and mitigation. It would be administered by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and coordinate with local faith-based and non-profit organizations to increase awareness of pu… Continue Reading
04.28.20
Peters, Colleagues Urge Administration to Provide Clear Guidance for Federal Workers during Coronavirus Pandemic
DETROIT, MI - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, led his colleagues in a letter urging the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to provide clear guidance for federal employees working during the Coronavirus pandemic. A recent report indicates OPM has failed to provide sufficient guidance on teleworking policies to federal employees, as well as information about the availability of personal protective equipment and oth… Continue Reading
04.28.20
Peters, Stabenow Press Trump Administration to Take Immediate Steps, Provide Immediate Relief to Hospital & Health Care Providers in Michigan
DETROIT, MI - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (MI) and Debbie Stabenow (MI) pressed the Trump Administration to ensure that health care providers and hospitals gain immediate access to the additional funding recently passed by Congress. In a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services Secretary, Alex Azar, Peters and Stabenow reiterated the need to ensure that all $175 billion issued in financial relief for hospitals and health care systems be distributed without further delay. "Michigan … Continue Reading
04.27.20
Peters, Colleagues Push for Access to Federal Digital Resources Aid State and Local Government’s Coronavirus Pandemic Response
DETROIT, MI - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, joined his colleagues to call for additional resources for state and local governments to upgrade their outdated technology as they face challenges processing increased unemployment claims, small business loans and other emergency assistance during the Coronavirus pandemic. Many state and local governments have been overwhelmed by unprecedented demand as residents seek aid, an… Continue Reading
04.24.20
As Small Business Support is Signed Into Law, Michigan Small Business Owners Highlight Peters’ Effort Securing Funding for Minority-Owned Businesses
DETROIT, MI - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) is continuing to press to ensure that minority-owned small businesses are able to obtain access to the loans and capital to stay afloat during the Coronavirus pandemic. Today, President Trump signed into law legislation to provide additional funding for the Small Business Administration (SBA)'s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), hospitals and health care providers, and testing. The legislation includes funding Peters led the fight to include for small … Continue Reading
04.24.20
Peters, Harris Lead Colleagues in Pressing FEMA to Address Racial Disparities in Coronavirus Disaster Response
DETROIT, MI - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (MI) and Kamala Harris (CA) led their colleagues in pressing the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to be more transparent with their efforts to address existing racial and socioeconomic disparities in their Coronavirus pandemic response and ensure vulnerable communities get the help they need. Historically, FEMA has struggled to provide equitable response and recovery assistance to vulnerable communities, leaving many minority communities without … Continue Reading
