Press Releases
Peters Statement on Richard Cordray’s Retirement from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
WASHINGTON, DC-U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) released the following statement on the resignation of Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Richard Cordray: "I appreciate Richard Cordray's many years of public service and his longstanding commitment to protecting consumers and holding bad actors in the financial industry accountable for fraudulent or predatory practices. Continuing the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's mission to shield consumers against abusive practices is more imp… Continue Reading
11.10.17
Peters Statement Honoring Veterans Day
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and a former Lt. Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve, today released the following statement in recognition of Veterans Day: "From World War II to Korea and Vietnam to modern day conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, generations of Michigan veterans have served our nation in uniform with honor and dedication. On Veterans Day, we honor all the soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines who answered the call of… Continue Reading
11.09.17
Peters, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Strengthen Foreign Investment Review Process, Safeguard National Security
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) today joined his colleagues in introducing bipartisan legislation to authorize heightened scrutiny on the flow of sensitive U.S. technology to foreign countries that may be investing in American companies to gain a military advantage. The Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act (FIRRMA) would modernize and strengthen the review process by which the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) approves acquisitions, mergers, … Continue Reading
11.08.17
Peters Urges Senate Finance Committee to Preserve Electric Vehicle Tax Credit in New Tax Legislation
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI) today sent a letter to U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, urging the committee to preserve the Electric Drive Vehicle Credit (EV Credit) in the forthcoming Senate tax reform proposal. The EV Credit, which drives innovation and economic growth for the American automotive industry, was omitted in the House Republicans' draft tax legislation released last week. U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), a senior memb… Continue Reading
11.07.17
Peters, Stabenow Raise Serious Concerns about Line 5 Pipeline Conditions and Call for Investigation into Enbridge’s Compliance with Reporting and Safety Requirements
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters today raised serious concerns about the current conditions of Enbridge's Line 5 Pipeline and called for an investigation into whether Enbridge complied with reporting and safety requirements. The Senators sent letters to the CEO of Enbridge and the head of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) following recent news reports that Enbridge did not disclose problems in the protective coating of the Line 5 … Continue Reading
11.03.17
Peters Hosts Keweenaw Bay Indian Community President at U.S. Senate Hearing
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Ranking Member of the Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries and Coast Guard Subcommittee, hosted Chris Swartz, President of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC), at a subcommittee hearing this week on how to protect Native American lands for future generations. Decades of mining and manufacturing in the Upper Peninsula have resulted in long-term pollution issues, including stamp sands: a hazardous material that is a byproduct from ore processing. Today… Continue Reading
11.03.17
Peters, Stabenow Announce over $1.5 Million in Great Lakes Funding for Grand Traverse Bay
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) today announced $1,589,664 in Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) funding for three projects in Grand Traverse Bay to protect against invasive species and improve water quality. GLRI is critical to cleaning up our Great Lakes, beaches, and waterways for swimming, boating, and fishing; fighting invasive species like Asian carp; and protecting our Michigan way of life. The Nature Conservancy will receive a $550,0… Continue Reading
11.01.17
Peters, Capito Introduce Bill to Expand Access to Opioid Addiction Treatment for Adolescents
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) today introduced legislation that will help expand access to opioid addiction treatment for adolescents. The Youth Opioid Use Treatment Help (YOUTH) Act will renew an existing substance abuse program at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) and establish a demonstration program that will expand access to medication to treat adolescents suffering from opioid addiction. According to… Continue Reading
10.30.17
Sen. Peters Statement on Indictments in Russia Investigation
WASHINGTON, DC-U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) released the following statement on the indictments in the Russia investigation: "I advocated for a special counsel because America needs a full investigation into Russian interference in our elections that is impartial and free from politics. There are many unanswered questions about Russia's efforts to meddle in the 2016 election, and today's indictments further demonstrate that Robert Mueller must be able to continue this independent investigation… Continue Reading
10.27.17
Peters Presents Michigan WWII Veteran’s Family with Medals and Honors
GRAND RAPIDS, MI- U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) today presented nine medals and honors to the family of U.S. Army Private Frederick Ash. Ash bravely served in the European Theater in World War II and passed away in the 1950s. Peters helped obtain the commendations after Mr. Ash's daughter contacted his office to ensure his contributions to our nation were properly honored. Peters is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and a former Lt. Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve. "Private Ash… Continue Reading
10.27.17
Peters Leads Colleagues in Urging Trump Administration to Hold Drug Companies Accountable for Overpricing
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI) today led 11 of his colleagues, including Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), in a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) expressing alarm over the department's decision to further delay implementation of a rule holding drug companies accountable for overcharging for prescription drugs. The final rule, which was announced in January by the Obama Administration, would give HHS greater authority to penalize pharmaceutical companies … Continue Reading
10.25.17
Peters, Stabenow Call on President to Allow Government to Negotiate Lower Prices for Naloxone, a Life-Saving Opioid Overdose Reversal Drug
WASHINGTON, D.C. - As the White House finalizes its emergency declaration on opioid abuse, U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) called on President Trump to follow the recommendations of his Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis and allow the government to negotiate lower prices for naloxone, a life-saving opioid overdose reversal drug. Drug overdoses are the leading cause of death for Americans under 50 and access to naloxone is critical given the … Continue Reading
10.24.17
Peters Meets with Homeland Security Secretary Nominee Kirstjen Nielsen
WASHINGTON, DC-U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), a member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, released the following statement after meeting with Kirstjen Nielsen, President Trump's nominee to serve as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security: "I was pleased to have the opportunity to meet with Ms. Nielsen and discuss several pressing issues facing Michigan. With one of the longest stretches of our northern border, Michigan is a hub for international co… Continue Reading
10.23.17
Peters, Stabenow Lead Bipartisan Senate Great Lakes Task Force Letter to OMB Director Calling for $300 Million for Great Lakes Restoration Initiative in Next Year’s Budget
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), co-chair of the Senate Great Lakes Task Force, and Gary Peters (D-MI), a member of the Task Force, today led a bipartisan letter to Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney calling for $300 million for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative to be included in the Fiscal Year 2019 budget request. Great Lakes Task Force Co-Chair Rob Portman (R-OH), Vice Chairs Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Todd Young (R-IN), and Task Force members J… Continue Reading
10.19.17
Peters Floor Remarks on Need for Bipartisan Tax Reform
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) spoke on the Senate floor today to voice his opposition to the Republican budget and the need to reach a bipartisan agreement on tax reform that benefits middle class families without raising the deficit. Below is video and text of his remarks as prepared for delivery: Watch the full video "Mr. President, Later today, the Majority is going to attempt to pass a budget for 2018. 'Passing a budget' has come to mean all sorts of things in Congress … Continue Reading
10.18.17
Peters Highlights Benefits of Federal Investments in Scientific Research at Federal Spending Oversight Subcommittee Hearing
WASHINGTON, D.C. -U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Ranking Member of the Federal Spending Oversight and Emergency Management Subcommittee, participated in a hearing on federal investments in scientific research. Below is the text of his opening statement as prepared for delivery and video of his remarks: Watch the full video. "Thank you, Chairman Paul, for holding this hearing on such an important topic, and thank you to our witnesses for taking the time to be here today. I look forward to hear… Continue Reading
10.05.17
Peters Leads Colleagues in Demanding Scrutiny of IRS Contract with Equifax
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Federal Spending Oversight and Emergency Management, led eight of his colleagues in a letter demanding further scrutiny of the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) decision to award Equifax a sole-source contract to verify taxpayer identities and help prevent tax fraud despite the company's recent disclosure of a massive cybersecurity breach exposing the personal information of as many as 145.5 million American… Continue Reading
10.04.17
Peters to Travel to Liberia to See Michigan National Guard Work, Observe National Elections
U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), a member of the Senate Armed Services and Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committees, will travel to Liberia to meet with Liberian defense officials and see the impact of the Michigan National Guard's State Partnership Program with the Liberian military. The State Partnership Program connects state national guards with partner countries around the world. The Michigan National Guard has partnered with Liberia since 2009 to further both nation's security c… Continue Reading
10.04.17
Commerce Committee Approves Peters Legislation to Advance Development of Self-Driving Vehicles
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee today unanimously approved the American Vision for Safer Transportation through Advancement of Revolutionary Technologies (AV START) Act introduced by Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), along with Senator John Thune (R-SD), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. The bipartisan legislation will help advance the testing and development of self-driving vehicles that have the potential to impro… Continue Reading
09.29.17
Peters Tours Cambron Engineering to Highlight Legislation Promoting Awareness of Employee Stock Ownership Plans
BAY CITY, MI - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) today toured the Cambron Engineering facility in Bay City to highlight his legislation to boost awareness of Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs). ESOPs are workplace benefit plans that allow employees to save for retirement while sharing in a business' profits by ensuring a majority of a business' holdings are owned by employees. Cambron Engineering, a tool and die manufacturer, transitioned to an ESOP model that has greatly reduced employee turnov… Continue Reading
