Press Releases
Peters, Stabenow Lead Bipartisan Effort Urging Trump Administration to Include New Great Lakes Icebreaker in Upcoming Budget Proposal
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (MI) and Debbie Stabenow (MI) today led a bipartisan group of Senators in urging the Administration to include adequate funding for the Coast Guard to acquire a new Great Lakes icebreaker. In their letter to Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney, Department of Homeland Security Acting Secretary Chad Wolf and United States Coast Guard Admiral Karl Schultz, which nine other senators joined, the Senators requested the Administration priori… Continue Reading
01.29.20
Peters Statement on USMCA Signing Ceremony
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) today released the following statement on the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), the renegotiated North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA): "Trade deals need to work for Michigan's workers, farmers and businesses. Although the USMCA is not perfect, it is an improvement from the initial deal announced by the Administration and includes strict labor standards and stronger enforcement mechanisms that I pushed for. That's why I believe t… Continue Reading
01.28.20
Peters, Stabenow Lead Bipartisan Push to Secure $320 Million for Great Lakes Conservation Program in Trump Administration’s FY 2021 Budget Request
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (MI) and Debbie Stabenow (MI), co-chair of the Senate Great Lakes Task Force, led a bipartisan effort to urge the Trump Administration to allocate at least $320 million for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) in the fiscal year (FY) 2021 President's budget request. In a letter to the heads of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Environmental Protection Agency, Peters, Stabenow and a bipartisan group of Senators highlighted the GL… Continue Reading
01.28.20
Peters Joins Bipartisan Bill to Ensure Proper-Fitting Body Armor and Personal Protective Equipment Is Available for Female Servicemembers
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) announced that he has cosponsored bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) to ensure body armor and personal protective equipment (PPE) is adequate, properly-fitted, and readily available for female servicemembers. The Female Body Armor Modernization Act would encourage the Services to expedite the contracting, procuring, and fielding of a new generation personal protective equipment that better fits and protects all servi… Continue Reading
01.27.20
Peters-Backed Bill to Increase Security Funding for Houses of Worship Signed Into Law
WASHINGTON, DC - President Donald Trump has signed into law a bipartisan bill backed by U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, to provide grants to faith-based and nonprofit organizations to help secure their facilities against potential domestic terrorist attacks. Peters made the legislation a priority after a recent surge in prominent threats and attacks on religious institutions such as synagogues, churches, mosques … Continue Reading
01.24.20
Grand Rapids Brewer Praises Peters’ Efforts in Helping His Small Business Cut Red Tape in Latest Installment of ‘On the Job for Michigan’
GRAND RAPIDS, MI - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) today released the latest installment of "On the Job for Michigan," a series highlighting his office's work supporting Michiganders across the state. Chris Andrus is the co-owner and co-founder of the Mitten Brewing Co. in Grand Rapids. Mitten Brewing Co. discovered that a brewery in Northport Michigan was going out of business. They saw this as an opportunity to expand their brewery as well as protect the jobs of those employees. In order to do … Continue Reading
01.24.20
Peters Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen Michigan’s Cybersecurity by Establishing a Federal Cybersecurity Coordinator in Every State
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, announced he introduced a bipartisan bill that would require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to establish a Cybersecurity State Coordinator program. The bill would ensure that each state has its own Cybersecurity Coordinator, who would be responsible for helping to prevent and respond to cybersecurity threats by working with federal, state, and local gove… Continue Reading
01.23.20
Peters Leads Michigan Delegation Members in Urging Air Force to Prioritize & Increase Funding for PFAS Cleanup Efforts at Former Wurtsmith and K.I. Sawyer Air Force Bases
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) today led members of the Michigan Congressional delegation in calling on the Air Force to allocate a portion of the additional $60 million the agency received for PFAS remediation efforts to the ongoing cleanup projects at the former Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Oscoda and the former K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base in Marquette County. In a letter to Air Force Secretary Barbara Barrett, the lawmakers - Peters, U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (MI) and U.S. Re… Continue Reading
01.22.20
Peters Joins Bipartisan Effort to Crack Down on Fraudulent and Undue Bonus Payments to Contractors & Save Taxpayer Dollars
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, announced that he has cosponsored bipartisan legislation with U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) to rein in excessive spending on unwarranted bonuses to contractors that fail to meet certain standards on federal projects. The Bogus Bonus Ban Act would prohibit taxpayer dollars from being used to pay bonuses to government contractors for unsatisfactory performances and outcomes, inc… Continue Reading
01.17.20
Peters, Stabenow, Kildee, Moolenaar Introduce Resolution to Stop Canadian Nuclear Waste Site Near Great Lakes
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (MI) and Debbie Stabenow (MI) and U.S. Representatives Dan Kildee (MI-05) and John Moolenaar (MI-04) today introduced a bipartisan resolution opposing Canada's placement of a permanent nuclear waste storage site near the shared Great Lakes Basin, which is currently being considered at two sites by Canada. For years, Canada has considered storing 52 million gallons of low- and medium- level nuclear waste in Kincardine, Ontario, less than a mile from Lak… Continue Reading
01.17.20
Peters, Stabenow, Tlaib, Lawrence, Dingell Call on Labor Department to Support Southeast Michigan Steelworkers
WASHINGTON, D.C - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (MI) and Debbie Stabenow (MI) and Representatives Rashida Tlaib (MI-13), Brenda Lawrence (MI-14), and Debbie Dingell (MI-12) today urged U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia to grant Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) benefits to support steelworkers in Southeast Michigan. Trade Adjustment Assistance ensures that workers who lose their jobs and financial security due to trade have an opportunity to transition to new jobs through income support, job tra… Continue Reading
01.16.20
Peters Announces Bipartisan Bill to Help Michigan Small Businesses Expand and Create Jobs
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) today announced bipartisan legislation that would help provide new avenues for small businesses across Michigan to expand and create good-paying jobs. The Small Business Start-up Savings Account Act, which Peters recently introduced with Senator Cory Gardner (R-CO), would allow small business owners to create tax-deductible savings accounts in order to launch or grow their companies. "Small businesses across Michigan not only help power our economy… Continue Reading
01.15.20
Peters Delivers Remarks in Support of USMCA, Renegotiated NAFTA Update
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) today delivered remarks supporting the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), the renegotiated North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). During his remarks at a Senate Commerce Committee hearing considering the agreement, Peters highlighted why Michigan workers, farmers and businesses need a new trade deal that advances their interests. Peters will vote in favor of the USMCA when it comes before the full Senate for a vote, which is expect… Continue Reading
01.14.20
Peters, Stabenow Blast Final International Trade Commission Decision on Cherry Tariffs
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (MI) and Debbie Stabenow (MI) today strongly criticized the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC)'s final decision not to institute tariffs against Turkish tart cherry exporters, which have been dumping low-quality dried cherries into U.S. markets - creating a trade imbalance that has undermined Michigan cherry growers. The final determination runs contrary to the ITC's initial decision to institute tariffs and the U.S. Department of Commerce's dete… Continue Reading
01.10.20
Year in Review: Peters Continues Delivering Results for Michiganders
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), who was recognized as one of the most effective and bipartisan Democratic senators by non-partisan organizations, continued delivering results for Michiganders in 2019. Legislative provisions Peters led to protect the Great Lakes, expand skills training opportunities, address the PFAS crisis and strengthen Michigan and U.S. security passed the Senate or were signed into law last year. "I'm focused on delivering results for Michigan and willing to … Continue Reading
01.09.20
Peters, Stabenow, Levin, Mitchell Request Additional EPA Assistance on Toxic Hazardous Site in Madison Heights
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (MI) and Debbie Stabenow (MI) and U.S. Representatives Andy Levin (MI-09) and Paul Mitchell (MI-10) today requested additional federal assistance for the State of Michigan's efforts to mitigate the threat posed by toxic chemicals leaking from the Electro-Plating Services site in Madison Heights. In a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Director Andrew Wheeler, the lawmakers also pressed the Agency to identify long-term solutions that will pr… Continue Reading
01.07.20
Peters Announces $1.1 Million Federal Grant for Port of Monroe Equipment Upgrades
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) today announced that the Port of Monroe will receive a $1.1 million federal grant to expand its maritime commerce operations. Peters supported the Port's application for the grant that was awarded through the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)'s America's Marine Highway Projects Program. The grant funding will allow the Port to purchase a crawler crane and train staff to use it, which will allow the Port to boost operations and meet the increas… Continue Reading
01.06.20
Peters, Stabenow Highlight Need to Address High Water Levels in the Great Lakes
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (MI) and Debbie Stabenow (MI) urged the Department of the Army and the Office of Management and Budget to help Michigan communities effected by high water levels in the Great Lakes and inland waterways. Extreme weather, flooding, and erosion have led to damaged property, harbors, beaches, roads, and infrastructure in Michigan. The Senators asked that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) allocate funding to address coastal erosion and dredging needs… Continue Reading
12.23.19
Peters Statement on One-Year Anniversary of Paul Whelan’s Unjust Detention in Russia
DETROIT, MI - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) today released the statement below in advance of the one-year anniversary since Russian authorities detained Novi resident Paul Whelan on December 28, 2018. Since Whelan's detention, Russian authorities have presented no evidence against him and continue to delay his trial, despite concerns surrounding his health. "After one year of detention - without due process and restricted consular access for American officials - the Russians have presented no c… Continue Reading
12.21.19
Peters Provisions to Preserve Great Lakes, Lower Prescription Drug Costs for Michiganders Signed into Law
DETROIT, MI - Provisions led and supported by U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) to strengthen Great Lakes protection, restoration and fisheries programs, and to lower prescription drug costs for Michiganders were signed into law last night as part of the government funding bill for Fiscal Year 2020. Peters, a member of the Senate Great Lakes Task Force, said of the Great Lakes provisions: "The Great Lakes are part of who we are as Michiganders. They provide drinking water to 40 million people, are … Continue Reading
