Press Releases
Bipartisan Michigan Lawmakers Call on Secretary Pompeo to Press for Fair and Transparent Judicial Process for Detained U.S. Citizen and Michigan Resident Paul Whelan
WASHINGTON DC-Bipartisan members of the Michigan congressional delegation called on Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to press for a fair and transparent judicial process in the case of Paul Whelan, the U.S. citizen and Michigan resident who has been detained by Russia since December 28, 2018. The lawmakers specifically called for Mr. Whelan to be allowed to select his own legal counsel and receive regular and unrestricted visits from U.S. officials. They also asked the State Department to press fo… Continue Reading
04.04.19
Peters, Stabenow, Kildee Introduce Legislation Ensuring Health Care for Veterans Harmed by PFAS Chemicals
WASHINGTON, DC-U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-05) and members of the PFAS Task Force today introduced legislation to ensure that veterans and their families exposed to toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) chemicals at military installations get the health care services and benefits they need through the U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA). The Veterans Exposed to Toxic PFAS Act (… Continue Reading
04.03.19
Peters, Cornyn Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Address Staffing Shortages at Ports of Entry
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and John Cornyn (R-TX) today introduced bipartisan legislation to strengthen border security and address personnel shortages at ports of entry on the Southern and Northern borders, as well as in the interior. The Securing America's Ports of Entry Act of 2019 would fully staff America's airports, seaports and land ports of entry by requiring U.S. Customs and Border … Continue Reading
04.03.19
Senate Passes Peters, Stabenow Resolution Honoring Ted Lindsay
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow yesterday announced Senate passage of a resolution they introduced celebrating the life and legacy of Ted Lindsay who passed away on March 4, 2019. Born in Renfrew, Ontario, Lindsay made his National Hockey League debut at age 19 playing for the Detroit Red Wings. Lindsay helped the Red Wings win 10 league championships and four Stanley Cups and was the team's captain during four seasons. At a time when most professional hockey pl… Continue Reading
04.03.19
Peters, Gardner Bill to Improve Space Weather Prediction Advances in Senate
WASHINGTON, DC - Bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Cory Gardner (R-CO) to strengthen the nation's ability to predict severe space weather events and mitigate their harmful impacts on Earth advanced in the Senate today. The Space Weather Research and Forecasting Act directs the federal agencies that study and predict space weather to coordinate with the private sector to assess the potential impacts of space weather on the United States. The bill also autho… Continue Reading
03.29.19
Peters, Colleagues Press Election Equipment Manufacturers on Security
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, is pressing the country's three largest election system vendors on what steps they are taking to strengthen the security of voting machines ahead of the 2020 elections. The three largest election equipment vendors - Election Systems & Software, LLC; Dominion Voting Systems, Inc.; and Hart InterCivic, Inc. - provide the voting machines and software used by 92 percent of … Continue Reading
03.29.19
Peters Resolution Condemning White Supremacy Passes Senate
WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Senate unanimously passed a bipartisan resolution introduced by U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) condemning the white supremacist terrorist attack in Christchurch, New Zealand earlier this month and reaffirming our nation's ties with New Zealand. The resolution also notes other acts of terror perpetrated by white supremacists in recent years, including at an Islamic cultural center in Quebec, a synagogue in Pittsburgh and a church in Charleston. "I was heartbroken by th… Continue Reading
03.28.19
Bipartisan Michigan Delegation Members Introduce PFAS Detection Act
WASHINGTON, DC - Bipartisan members of the Michigan congressional delegation, including U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Representatives Jack Bergman (MI-01), Debbie Dingell (MI-12), Dan Kildee (MI-05), Brenda Lawrence (MI-14), Andy Levin (MI-09), Elissa Slotkin (MI-08), Haley Stevens (MI-11), and Rashida Tlaib (MI-13), today introduced legislation to address contamination from chemicals containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The PFAS Detection Act … Continue Reading
03.26.19
Peters, Gardner Reintroduce Legislation to Improve Space Weather Prediction
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Cory Gardner (R-CO) reintroduced bipartisan legislation to strengthen the nation's ability to predict severe space weather events and mitigate their harmful impacts on Earth. A severe space weather event, such as a solar flare or coronal mass ejection, has the potential to seriously disrupt the electric power grid, communications networks including cellular phones and GPS, satellites and aircraft operations. "Our economy increasingly relies … Continue Reading
03.25.19
Peters Urges Senate to Pass Commonsense Policies to Address Climate Change in a Way that Benefits Michigan Workers, Families, Great Lakes
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) spoke on the Senate floor today urging his colleagues to take bold action to effectively confront climate change. Peters highlighted the immediate need to pass legislation that would effectively tackle climate change in a way that benefits Michigan workers, families, and the Great Lakes. A new report released last week found the Great Lakes are warming more quickly than other parts of the country, posing an urgent threat to Michigan. "It is an unde… Continue Reading
03.22.19
Peters, Johnson Call for Information on Interagency Dispute over Groundwater Cleanup Guidelines for PFAS Chemicals
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Ron Johnson (R-WI), the Ranking Member and Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, issued a bipartisan call for information following a recent news report that a review of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) cleanup guidelines for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanoic sulfonate (PFOS) - two chemicals structures belonging to a class of chemicals known as PFAS - have been delayed due to… Continue Reading
03.15.19
Peters Statement on NHTSA Self-Driving Vehicle Public Comment Period
WASHINGTON, DC-U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) released the following statement on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)'s announcement that it will publish a petition from General Motors (GM) for public comment on their proposal to deploy fully self-driving vehicles: "Today's announcement from NHTSA reaffirms that self-driving technologies are not an innovation of the future: they are already on our roads and carrying passengers. "With self-driving technology rapidly ev… Continue Reading
03.15.19
Peters, Gardner, Tipton, Crow Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Streamline Veterans Affairs Hiring Process
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Cory Gardner (R-CO), along with Representatives Scott Tipton (CO-3) and Jason Crow (CO-6), introduced bipartisan legislation to overhaul the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) hiring process by making it easier to fill staffing shortages. The Veterans Improved Access and Care Act would establish a pilot program to expedite the onboarding of licensed medical professionals at understaffed VA facilities, and would require the Secretary of the VA … Continue Reading
03.14.19
Peters Floor Remarks Opposing the President’s Budget Proposal to Drastically Cut the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) spoke on the Senate floor today in opposition of the Trump Administration's budget proposal, which includes a 90% decrease in funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative has provided more than $600 million in funding to Michigan communities to help clean-up and restore the Great Lakes, beaches, and waterways. "The Great Lakes are a vital natural resource not only for my home state of Michigan, but for … Continue Reading
03.14.19
Peters, Gardner Reintroduce Bipartisan Legislation to Expand Telehealth Services
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Cory Gardner (R-CO) reintroduced bipartisan legislation to expand healthcare access in both rural and underserved communities by providing additional pathways for Medicare to cover increased telehealth services. The Telehealth Innovation and Improvement Act would help bolster Medicare's limited telehealth service coverage, which has set a poor industry standard, discouraged innovation and restricted access to specialized services. Peters an… Continue Reading
03.13.19
Peters, Capito Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Expand Apprenticeship Opportunities for Veterans
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) introduced bipartisan legislation to expand opportunities for veterans to register for apprenticeships. The Support for Veterans in Effective Apprenticeships Act would require that veterans are included in Department of Labor (DOL) standards for registered apprenticeship programs. It would also improve the coordination between the Department of Labor and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to ensure that vete… Continue Reading
03.12.19
Peters Statement on Trump Budget Proposal to Provide $75 Million for Soo Locks Upgrade
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) issued the following statement on President Trump's budget proposal including $75 million for FY 2020 toward upgrading the Soo Locks: "I have long been a strong advocate for the Soo Locks. I'm glad that the Trump Administration has proposed dedicating $75 million to this bipartisan effort - it's a good first step. There's a lot of work ahead to ensure this project is finished. I am committed to continuing to partner with my colleagues in the Michi… Continue Reading
03.12.19
Peters, Durbin, Tlaib, Kelly Introduce Bicameral Bill to Study Effects of Petroleum Coke
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (MI) and Dick Durbin (IL) and Representatives Rashida Tlaib (MI-13) and Robin Kelly (IL-2) announced that today they are introducing bicameral legislation that would address the concerns of petroleum coke on a national level and pave the way for federal environmental safety regulations on the tar sands byproduct. The Petroleum Coke Transparency and Public Health Act of 2019 would require the federal government to study the potential health risks posed b… Continue Reading
03.11.19
Peters Statement on President Trump’s Budget Proposal to Cut Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Funding By 90%
WASHINGTON, DC-U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) today released the following statement on President Trump's budget proposal, which includes slashing funding to the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative by 90%: "The Great Lakes provide drinking water for over 40 million people, are an economic engine for Michigan and are one of our nation's most precious resources. I've seen firsthand across Michigan how funding from the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative has helped protect our Great Lakes for futur… Continue Reading
03.08.19
Peters, Cassidy, Boozman Reintroduce Bipartisan Legislation to Make Higher Education More Accessible & Affordable
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and John Boozman (R-AR) today reintroduced bipartisan legislation to expand opportunities for high school students to obtain college credit in an effort to make higher education more accessible and affordable. The Making Education Affordable and Accessible Act (MEAA) would help improve high school and college graduation rates by expanding the use of existing grants to institutions of higher education to expand their dual and … Continue Reading
