Press Releases
Peters, Colleagues Raise Concerns over President Trump’s Cuts to Rural Development
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Gary Peters joined 28 other Senate Democrats in sending a letter to President Trump expressing strong concerns over recent actions that would have negative impacts on families in rural America. In the letter, the Senators objected to the proposed cuts, and urged President Trump to maintain the position of Under Secretary for Rural Development at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). "Small towns and rural communities embody many of our nation's greatest str… Continue Reading
05.29.17
Peters Statement on Memorial Day
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and former Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve, released the following statement in honor of Memorial Day: "From the fight for American independence to the fight against ISIS, millions of American servicemembers have laid their lives on the line to make our country a stronger and safer place to live. Today, we honor the men and women in uniform who have made the ultimate sacrifice to prot… Continue Reading
05.26.17
Senators Peters, Stabenow Announce Over $780,000 in Support for Mid-Michigan Fire Departments
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow today announced $786,887 for fire departments in Mid-Michigan to help purchase equipment. This grant comes from the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Assistance to Firefighters Grants program. The Dewitt Township Fire Department has been awarded a $674,910 regional grant to be used throughout Clinton County. The Somerset Township Fire Department has been awarded a $60,667 grant. The Benton Township Fire Department has been awa… Continue Reading
05.25.17
Senators Peters, Stabenow Applaud Support for City of Flint Fire Department
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow today applauded $267,069 for the City of Flint Fire Department to help purchase equipment. This grant comes from the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Assistance to Firefighters Grants program. "Flint's firefighters put themselves in harm's way to help protect their community, and we should do everything we can to keep them safe in the line of duty," said Senator Peters. "This grant will help ensure that firefighters and first… Continue Reading
05.24.17
Peters, Stabenow Announce New Pipeline Safety Legislation
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow today introduced a package of bills that would increase pipeline safety in and around the Great Lakes and account for the unique needs of the Great Lakes ecosystem. The bills announced today would raise liability caps for Great Lakes pipeline operators; expand and clarify U.S. Secretary of Transportation's authority to suspend or shut down unsafe oil pipelines; strengthen federal review of oil spill response plans; increase transpare… Continue Reading
05.23.17
Peters, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Strengthen Homeland Missile Defense
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters, a member of the Senate Armed Services and Homeland Security Committees, joined his colleagues in introducing bipartisan legislation to strengthen and improve the reliability, capability, and capacity of U.S. homeland missile defense. The Advancing America's Missile Defense Act of 2017 will, among other actions, accelerate the completion of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) as part of the next step in developing an interceptor site in the Midwest … Continue Reading
05.23.17
Peters Statement on President Trump’s 2018 Budget Proposal
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Ranking Member of the Federal Spending Oversight Subcommittee, released the following statement regarding President Trump's fiscal year 2018 budget proposal, which makes drastic cuts to programs that Michigan families and businesses rely on: "I am extremely concerned that President Trump's budget proposal makes significant cuts to critical programs that boost Michigan's working families, support economic development in Michigan's urban and rural c… Continue Reading
05.19.17
Peters Cosponsors Bill to Protect Public Land & Water
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S Senator Gary Peters (MI) announced today that he is cosponsoring the bipartisan Land and Water Conservation Authorization and Funding Act to permanently reauthorize and fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). The LWCF uses revenues from offshore oil and gas drilling to fund the protection of everything from wildlife refuges and national parks to lakes, rivers and community parks. Michigan has received over $320 million in funding from the LWCF over the 50 yea… Continue Reading
05.19.17
Peters, Stabenow Announce Support for Saugatuck Township Fire District
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow today announced $41,885 for the Saugatuck Township Fire District to help purchase equipment. This grant comes from the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Assistance to Firefighters Grants program. "We rely on our firefighters to protect our communities in the event of an emergency, and we must provide them with the right equipment to stay safe while on the job," said Senator Peters. "I'm pleased to announce this grant for Sauga… Continue Reading
05.19.17
Peters, Stabenow Announce Support for Southeast Michigan Fire Departments
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow today announced $458,666 for two fire departments in Southeast Michigan to help purchase equipment. The grants come from the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Assistance to Firefighters Grants program. The Ypsilanti City Fire Department has been awarded $451,237, and the Armada Township Fire Department has been awarded $7,429. "We rely on our firefighters to protect our communities in the event of an emergency, and we must pr… Continue Reading
05.19.17
Peters, Stabenow & Colleagues Introduce Bill to Tackle Student Loan Debt
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow joined their colleagues in introducing the Bank on Students Emergency Loan Refinancing Act. The legislation would allow those with outstanding student loan debt to refinance at the lower interest rates offered to new federal borrowers in the 2016-2017 school year. "Access to higher education can provide a pathway to economic opportunity, but too many young people are saddled with crushing debt after they leave school," said Senato… Continue Reading
05.18.17
Peters, Alexander & Stabenow Reintroduce Vehicle Innovation Act
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) today announced they are reintroducing the bipartisan Vehicle Innovation Act to encourage investments in research and development of clean vehicle and advanced safety technologies to increase fuel efficiency and reduce our nation's dependence on foreign oil. In the 114th Congress, Senators Peters, Alexander and Stabenow introduced similar legislation, which was approved by the U.S. Senate as part… Continue Reading
05.17.17
Peters Statement on Appointment of Special Counselor in Russia Investigation
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) today released the following statement on Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein's appointment of former FBI Director Robert Mueller to serve as special counsel in the Russia investigation: "Russia's unprecedented interference into our election threatens our national security and the very foundation of our democracy. The appointment of Robert Mueller as special counsel is a good first step toward a thorough investigation that is free from political… Continue Reading
05.17.17
Peters Cosponsors Bill to Help Veterans Exposed to Toxic Burn Pits
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S Senator Gary Peters (MI), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and former Lt. Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve, today announced he is cosponsoring the bipartisan Helping Veterans Exposed to Burn Pits Act, which will help veterans suffering from respiratory ailments as a result of exposure to open burn pits during their military service in Iraq and Afghanistan. Burn pits were frequently used on military bases in Iraq and Afghanistan to burn waste, including toxic… Continue Reading
05.16.17
Peters, Collins Introduce Bill to Give Fire Departments Flexibility in Hiring
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Susan Collins (R-ME) today introduced bipartisan legislation to help local fire departments across the country save money and hire and promote trained first responders. The Firefighters Retention Act of 2017 will give fire departments flexibility to use Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response (SAFER) Grants to transition part-time or paid-on-call personnel to full-time status. Under current law, fire departments can only use SAFER… Continue Reading
05.16.17
Senators Peters, Stabenow Applaud Support for Four West Michigan Fire Departments
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow today applauded $479,055 for four West Michigan fire departments to help purchase self-contained breathing apparatuses. The regional award will be shared by Algoma Township Fire Department, Sparta Fire Department, Rockford Fire Department, and Courtland Township Fire Department. This grant comes from the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Assistance to Firefighters Grants program. "Our brave firefighters need access to the righ… Continue Reading
05.15.17
Peters Introduces Bill to Expand Broadband Deployment Using Accurate Coverage Maps
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) introduced the Rural Wireless Access Act of 2017 to require the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to collect up-to-date and accurate data on wireless broadband coverage across the United States and especially in rural areas. "Having an accurate assessment of which rural areas are most in need of wireless broadban… Continue Reading
05.12.17
Peters, Carper, Hassan, Harris Urge DOJ Inspector General to Investigate Political Interference with Russia Investigation
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), Tom Carper (D-DE), Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Kamala Harris (D-CA) all members of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, sent a letter to the Department of Justice (DOJ) Inspector General calling for an inquiry into possible political interference with the FBI's investigation into the Trump campaign's alleged involvement with Russia during the 2016 presidential election. Peters, Hassan and Harris are members of the Fede… Continue Reading
05.11.17
Peters, Stabenow Call on Trump Administration to Protect Worker and Retiree Pensions
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow today led a group of 14 Senators outlining the importance of protecting pensions for workers and retirees. The Senators requested information from the Administration on its plan to address critical issues in the multiemployer pension system. "As you may know, millions of American workers and retirees - through no fault of their own - are at risk of losing a substantial portion of their pensions because their plans are at imminen… Continue Reading
05.11.17
Senators Peters, Stabenow Announce Over $500,000 in Support for Five Southeast Michigan Fire Departments
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow today announced $505,964 for five fire departments in Southeast Michigan to help purchase equipment. This grant comes from the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Assistance to Firefighters Grants program. Lincoln Park Fire Department has been awarded an $85,455 grant. Waterford Regional Fire Department has been awarded a $250,091 grant. Dearborn Heights Fire Department has been awarded a $63,637 grant. Kenockee Township Fire De… Continue Reading
