Press Releases
Peters & Stabenow Press DeVos on Department of Education Actions to Weaken Discrimination Protections
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow joined a group of their colleagues in a bicameral letter to Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos pressing for clarifications on changes in policy after the Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights (OCR) released a new Case Processing Manual that makes it easier for the Department of Education to dismiss discrimination complaints. In their letter, the Senators also reaffirmed the importance of equal protections against discrim… Continue Reading
05.25.18
Peters, Donnelly, Gillibrand Introduce Bill to Help Workers Who Lose Their Jobs to Automation
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (MI), Joe Donnelly (IN) and Kirsten Gillibrand (NY) this week introduced legislation that would extend Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) benefits, such as job training and reemployment services, to workers who lose jobs due to automation. TAA helps workers who lose their jobs due to trade with foreign countries. According to a Ball State University report, automation has caused more than 85% of manufacturing job losses in recent years. Additionally, acc… Continue Reading
05.24.18
Peters Provisions Supporting Michigan Included in Defense Bill
WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee has passed bipartisan defense legislation that includes a number of provisions authored by Senator Gary Peters to support Michigan's military installations, defense manufacturers, veterans and their families. Among other provisions, the bill includes additional funding for A-10 aircraft repairs, support for defense research, and efforts to prevent and address water contamination at and near military installations. The John S. McCain III F… Continue Reading
05.24.18
Peters Consumer Protection Provisions Signed into Law
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, President Donald Trump today signed into law two consumer safety provisions championed by U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI). The provisions will allow private student loan borrowers to rehabilitate their credit if they default on their loans and help prevent identity theft from the stolen Social Security numbers (SSN) of children. "Borrowers with private student loans should have the opportunity to restore their credit when recovering from a default. With this legislation, m… Continue Reading
05.18.18
Peters, Warren & Brown Lead Colleagues in Call to Protect CFPB Public Consumer Complaint Database
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) led 32 of their colleagues in urging the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to preserve public access to the Bureau's Consumer Complaint Database. Last month, Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney stated he wanted to shut down the important consumer protection tool that allows consumers to file public complaints, resolve issues and make informed decisions when using finan… Continue Reading
05.18.18
Peters Announces Service Academy Appointments
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and former Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve, today announced that fifteen Michigan students nominated by his office have received appointments to one of the nation's Service Academies. Of the group, five will attend the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado; five will attend the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland; four will attend U.S. Military Academy in West Point… Continue Reading
05.17.18
Peters, Cornyn Project Safe Neighborhoods Bill Passes Senate
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Senate has passed a bill introduced by U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and John Cornyn (R-TX), the Project Safe Neighborhoods Grant Program Authorization Act of 2018, which would authorize a nationwide law enforcement program focused on the reduction of violent crime. A companion bill sponsored by U.S. Representative Barbara Comstock (R-VA-10) unanimously passed the House of Representatives in March. "It is critical that we do all we can to help communities in Michigan … Continue Reading
05.16.18
Peters, Stabenow Call for Trump Administration to Release Study on Health Effects of PFAS Chemicals
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) today called on the Trump Administration to release a study on the health effects of perfluoroakyl substances (PFAS) chemicals. Recent news reports indicate that Trump Administration officials intervened in order to delay release of the study, which reportedly concludes that PFAS chemicals pose a danger to human health at a far lower level than the Environmental Protection Agency has previously said was safe. "If thi… Continue Reading
05.16.18
Peters, Gardner Introduce Bill to Strengthen Airport Security
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Cory Gardner (R-CO) today will introduce bipartisan legislation to increase safety and security for airport passengers and visitors outside of Transportation Security Administration (TSA)-screened areas. The Secure Airport Public Spaces Act allows airports to use existing Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) funds to update their security infrastructure to better protect public areas, including pick up and drop off areas, as well as baggag… Continue Reading
05.15.18
Peters Floor Remarks Supporting American Workers and the Butch Lewis Act
Peters: "These Americans made a deal with their employers, decades of hard work in exchange for fair earnings and a decent retirement. A deal is a deal." Peters: "We must address pension insolvency without sacrificing workers' hard-earned benefits." WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), spoke on the Senate floor today to urge his colleagues to support American workers by addressing pension insolvency without sacrificing hard-earned benefits. Below is video and text of his remarks a… Continue Reading
05.15.18
Peters, Colleagues Urge FCC to Expand Rural Health Program
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), today joined a bipartisan group of 30 Senators in urging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to increase the funding cap for a program aimed at improving the quality of health care available to patients in rural areas. In a letter to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, the Senators highlight the need to strengthen the Rural Health Care (RHC) Program to address the shortage of broadband connectivity for rural health care providers. The program has b… Continue Reading
05.14.18
Peters Questions Mattis on Removal of Climate Change from Key Vulnerability Assessment
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI) joined a group of 21 Senators in calling on Defense Secretary James Mattis to release the unpublished draft of a January 2018 assessment on the vulnerability of U.S. military installations and explain why references to climate change were removed. This follows a report that the Department of Defense revised the assessment by removing references to climate change and key findings on the risks from sea level rise. "These are substantive, not styl… Continue Reading
05.11.18
Peters, Stabenow Raise Concerns over Defense Department Response to Water Contamination across Michigan
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow raised concerns with the Department of Defense's response to water contaminated from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) at and around defense installations across Michigan. PFAS chemicals were used for decades in firefighting foam. Now a growing number of active and decommissioned military installations across Michigan are uncovering alarmingly high levels of PFAS, including Wurtsmith, Camp Grayling, KI Sawyer, Selfridge, A… Continue Reading
05.10.18
Peters Meets with NHTSA Administrator Nominee Heidi King
WASHINGTON, DC-U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), a member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, released the following statement after meeting with Heidi King, President Trump's nominee to serve as the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) Administrator: "We are in a new era of rapid technological changes in transportation, and the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration will face a number of emerging challenges as it works to build a s… Continue Reading
05.10.18
Peters, Stabenow Urge President Trump to Follow Through on Commitment to Modernize Soo Locks
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Gary Peters (D-MI) called on President Trump to follow through on his commitment to modernize the aging Soo Locks. They urged his Administration to complete a critical economic assessment that is necessary for Congress to fund an upgrade of the locks and to support the funding necessary to maintain the lock system before construction of a new lock is completed. "The Soo Locks facility currently consists of four parallel locks: the Poe,… Continue Reading
05.09.18
Peters Questions U.S. Spending in Afghanistan at Hearing
Peters: "In the 17 years since September 11th, the American taxpayer has been asked to bankroll hundreds of billions of dollars of spending on combat, relief, and reconstruction in Afghanistan." Peters: "What do I tell the people of Flint, Michigan who ask me, 'Why are my taxes paying for clean water in Kabul when I don't have clean water in my own home?'" WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Ranking Member of the Federal Spending Oversight and Emergency Management Subcommittee, p… Continue Reading
05.09.18
Peters Floor Remarks Supporting CRA to Reinstate Net Neutrality Rules
Peters: "We need net neutrality to keep our economy dynamic, growing and innovative. We need net neutrality to keep our startups and small businesses competitive." Peters: "I stand here urging my colleagues to reverse this disastrous decision. We have the power to do it, and we must. All we need is one more vote." WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), spoke on the Senate floor today to urge his colleagues to support legislation that will reinstate net neutrality rules. Below is vid… Continue Reading
05.08.18
Peters Statement on U.S. Withdrawal from Iran Nuclear Deal
WASHINGTON, DC - Below is a statement from U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, on President Trump's announcement that the United States will exit the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA): "Three years ago, the Senate voted on whether or not to reject the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, known as the Iran nuclear deal. At the time, I stated my reservations with the deal as it was negotiated, but felt that accepting the agreement was our only v… Continue Reading
05.08.18
Peters, Stabenow Raise Alarm over Secretary DeVos Actions to Restore Federal Recognition of Failed For-Profit Accrediting Organization
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow today raised alarm over recent actions by the Department of Education to restore the federal recognition of failed for-profit accrediting organization, the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges (ACICS). ACICS gave its stamp of approval to unscrupulous for-profit colleges like ITT Tech and Corinthian Colleges, which defrauded thousands of students in Michigan and left them saddled with debt. "Even with this staggering eviden… Continue Reading
05.04.18
Peters Visits Marinette Marine
MARINETTE, WI - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today visited Marinette Marine, where he saw vessel production firsthand and highlighted Marinette Marine's critical role in American's national defense as a builder of Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) for the U.S. Navy and employer of hundreds of Michiganders. "The production of the LCS is an intricate process that requires highly-skilled engineers and workers, who can transform raw material into a first… Continue Reading
