Press Releases
Peters Supported Measures to Provide Servicemembers a Pay Raise, Strengthen National Security & Michigan’s Defense Sector in Final National Defense Bill
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), who helped negotiate the final national defense bill, today highlighted provisions in it that will benefit servicemembers and their families, support Michigan's defense sector and strengthen our national security. It includes a pay raise for our men and women in uniform and Peters-led provisions to strengthen the medical supply chain and increase support for missile defense. The National Defense Authorization Act, which sets policy for the Departme… Continue Reading
12.03.20
Peters Applauds House Passage of His Bipartisan Bill to Update Great Lakes Environmental Sensitivity Index Maps
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) today applauded House passage of his bipartisan legislation to update the Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) maps in the Great Lakes. The legislation, which he introduced with U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-IN), passed the Senate earlier this month and companion legislation was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Representatives Dan Kildee (MI-05), Bill Huizenga (MI-02), Debbie Dingell (MI-12) and David Joyce (OH-14). This bill require… Continue Reading
12.03.20
Peters Meets with Intended Homeland Security Secretary Nominee Alejandro Mayorkas to Discuss Michigan and National Security Priorities
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, met with President-Elect Joe Biden's intended nominee for United States Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas, to discuss the security priorities of Michiganders and the American people. Peters released the following statement on the meeting: "As Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, I am committed to strengthenin… Continue Reading
11.24.20
Peters and Colleagues Introduce Bill to Address PPE Shortages Facing Health Care Workers
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, helped introduce the Protect Our Heroes Act of 2020, a bill that will increase the domestic production of critical personal protective equipment (PPE) like N-95 masks and improve the transparency of the supply and distribution of medical supplies needed to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. "Providing personal protective equipment to frontline workers like doctors, nurses, … Continue Reading
11.23.20
Peters Statement on GSA Releasing Transition Resources to President-Elect Biden
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, released the following statement after General Services Administration (GSA) Administrator Emily Murphy informed President-elect Biden that the agency is making transition resources available: "While I am glad that the President-Elect now has access to critical transition resources, this delay has created unnecessary risks to our national security and pandemic respons… Continue Reading
11.23.20
Peters Statement on General Motors Withdrawing from Emissions Lawsuit
DETROIT, MI - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) today released the following statement on General Motors (GM) withdrawing from a lawsuit spearheaded by the Trump Administration regarding fuel economy and greenhouse gas emission standards: "It is critical that the American auto industry wins the global race to own the 21st century car market. Today's announcement from General Motors is a welcome step towards ensuring that - working together - we can meaningfully address climate change while putting… Continue Reading
11.23.20
Peters Statement on President-Elect Biden’s Decision to Nominate Alejandro Mayorkas as DHS Secretary
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, released the following statement after President-Elect Biden announced he will nominate Alejandro Mayorkas to serve as Secretary of Homeland Security: "Our nation faces persistent threats, both longstanding and new, including foreign and domestic terrorism, natural disasters, cyber-attacks, and now a pandemic. The Department of Homeland Security plays a critical role i… Continue Reading
11.20.20
Eleven Peters Bills Have Now Passed the Senate This Congress, Most for Any Senator in Either Party
DETROIT, MI - The U.S. Senate this week unanimously approved yet another bill authored by U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI). The legislation - which will support veterans and their caregivers - marks the 11th standalone Peters bill that has passed the Senate this Congress. Earlier this week, Peters' tenth bill passed the Senate. Despite serving in his first term and in the minority, Peters has passed more bills than any Senator through the Senate this Congress, Republican or Democrat. Peters also ha… Continue Reading
11.20.20
Peters Slams Administration for Lack of Action Against Foreign Adversaries Over Coronavirus Vaccine Research Hacks
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, slammed the Trump Administration for their lack of action against foreign adversaries, including Russia, China, and North Korea, that have sponsored cyber-attacks against American hospitals and research institutions in an effort to steal information related to development of Coronavirus vaccines. Peters' letter comes after President Trump fired senior cybersecurity… Continue Reading
11.19.20
Peters & Colleagues Call On GSA Administrator to End Unprecedented Delay & Provide Critical Transition Resources to President-Elect Biden
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, led his colleagues in calling on General Services Administration (GSA) Administrator Emily Murphy to end her unprecedented delay, immediately ascertain Vice President Joe Biden as President-elect and Senator Kamala Harris as Vice President-elect, and make available the transition resources that are provided by law. This delay creates unacceptable risks to national securit… Continue Reading
11.19.20
Peters Bipartisan Bill Supporting Small & Medium-Sized Manufacturers Advances in Senate
WASHINGTON, DC - The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee unanimously approved a bill introduced by U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) to bolster the public-private partnerships providing critical support and guidance to small and medium sized manufacturers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Helping Manufacturers Respond to COVID-19 Act of 2020, which Peters introduced earlier this year with U.S. Senator Cory Gardner (R-CO), would specifically grant MEP centers throughout the country … Continue Reading
11.18.20
Peters Calls on GAO to Identify Strategies to Eliminate Discrimination in Travel Screenings
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, is calling on the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) to examine ways to eliminate discrimination in travel screenings by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Several of Peters' constituents in Michigan, including individuals from the Muslim and Arab American communities, have shared reports of potentially … Continue Reading
11.18.20
Peters Bipartisan Bill to Improve VA Caregiver Program Passes Senate
WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Senate passed bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Gary Peters (MI) to improve the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) caregiver program. This marks Peters' 11th bill that he has passed through the Senate since 2019, the most of any Senator from either party. According to reports, caregivers and veterans were arbitrarily discharged or downgraded from the program, with benefits subsequently revoked or reduced. The VA Office of the Inspector General reported in 2018… Continue Reading
11.18.20
Peters & Colleagues Introduce Bill to Block Trump Order Stripping Federal Employees of Critical Protections
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, led 40 of his colleagues in introducing legislation that would block the implementation of an October 21 Executive Order by President Trump, which created a new classification for federal employees, Schedule F. This harmful executive order would make it easier for the Administration to fire non-partisan civil servants with policy expertise. "This recent executive order… Continue Reading
11.18.20
Peters Bipartisan Bill to Protect American Telecommunications Networks from Foreign Suppliers Advances in Senate
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) today applauded the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee for passing his bipartisan legislation that would help safeguard American telecommunications networks against cyber threats from untrusted foreign equipment suppliers. The Ensuring Network Security Act, which Peters introduced with Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI), would expand access to federal funding for telecommunications providers and educational institutions for the removal an… Continue Reading
11.18.20
Peters Applauds House Passage of His Bipartisan Bill to Fix Security Vulnerability Posed by Foreign Ownership of Federally Leased Properties
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, applauded passage of his bipartisan bill that requires the federal government to determine if office space it leases is owned by foreign entities. "Our foreign adversaries are constantly seeking to steal valuable information from our government. Knowing exactly who owns office space where sensitive U.S. government materials is stored could prevent our foreign adversari… Continue Reading
11.17.20
Senate Passes Peters Bipartisan Bill to Establish National Integrated Flood Information System
WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Senate passed U.S. Senator Gary Peters' (MI) bipartisan legislation that would establish a National Integrated Flood Information System. The Flood Level Observation, Operations, and Decision Support (FLOODS) Act, which Peters introduced with U.S. Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS), would specifically provide funding to strengthen the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) ability to forecast floods, hurricanes and tornados and disperse relevant information to… Continue Reading
11.17.20
Peters Warns Delayed Transition Could Slow Coronavirus Vaccine Distribution
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, is raising concerns that continued delays to the Presidential transition could interfere with the incoming Biden Administration's efforts to effectively distribute potential Coronavirus vaccines once authorized or approved. Peters recently released a report highlighting shortcomings in the Trump Administration's vaccine plans and making recommendations to ensure that vacc… Continue Reading
11.17.20
Tenth Peters Bill Passes the Senate This Congress
WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Senate yesterday unanimously approved U.S. Senator Gary Peters' bipartisan legislation to update the Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) maps in the Great Lakes, marking the tenth standalone Peters bill that has passed the Senate in this session of Congress - more than any Senator, Republican or Democrat. Recently, President Trump signed a sixth Peters bill into law - no Senate Democrat has enacted more bills during his presidency, and this week's passage of Peters' l… Continue Reading
11.16.20
Peters Bill to Update Great Lakes Environmental Sensitivity Index Maps Passes Senate; Peters Has Passed More Bills Through Senate Than Any Senator This Congress
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) today applauded Senate passage of his bipartisan legislation to update the Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) maps in the Great Lakes. The legislation, which he introduced with U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-IN), would require the Great Lakes Region ESI maps to be updated for the first time in over two decades, joining maps for the East coast, West coast, and Gulf coast that have been updated more recently. It would additionally require periodic Grea… Continue Reading
