Press Releases
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
05.11.17
Peters Speaks on Firing of FBI Director James Comey
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI) spoke on the Senate floor yesterday about President Trump's firing of Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) Director James Comey in the midst of an FBI investigation into potential collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia. Peters reiterated his call from March for a special prosecutor to conduct a nonpartisan, independent investigation into Russia's involvement in our elections. Watch his remarks here. Below are his remarks as prepared… Continue Reading
05.09.17
Peters Leads Bipartisan Group of Senators in Calling for Farm Service Agency Loan Funding
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI) today led a bipartisan group of 28 Senators in a letter to the Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture urging them to support robust funding for the Farm Service Agency's (FSA) loan programs. FSA provides direct loans and loan guarantees to help struggling family farmers start and maintain viable farming operations. "These loans are cost-efficient and work in tandem with private credit to serve farmers in need," wrote the Senators. "Because … Continue Reading
05.08.17
Peters Visits Detroit International Academy to Promote K-12 Computer Science Education
DETROIT - U.S. Senator Gary Peters today visited the Detroit International Academy for Young Women to highlight the importance of expanding K-12 computer science education to ensure all students can successfully compete in the global economy. While there, Peters also highlighted the American Innovation and Competitiveness Act, bipartisan legislation he introduced that was signed into law earlier this year, that will improve and expand science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) educational … Continue Reading
05.04.17
Peters, Grassley Reintroduce Legislation to Address Needs of At-Risk Youth
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) today announced they are reintroducing bipartisan legislation to help states identify and meet the needs of children who come into contact with both the child welfare and juvenile justice systems, also known as dual status youth. The Childhood Outcomes Need New Efficient Community Teams (CONNECT) Act would authorize competitive grants to improve data collection on dual status youth and encourage better cooperation betw… Continue Reading
05.04.17
Peters, Capito Reintroduce Bipartisan Student Loan Rehabilitation Bill
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (MI) and Shelley Moore Capito (WV) today reintroduced bipartisan legislation to help private student loan borrowers who default on their loans. The Federal Adjustment in Reporting (FAIR) Student Credit Act would allow a borrower who has successfully completed a series of on-time payments to remove the student loan default from their credit report. Unlike federal student loans, there is currently no opportunity to rehabilitate private student loans, and … Continue Reading
05.03.17
Peters, Tillis Lead Colleagues in Letter Calling for Funding for State Veterans Homes
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) led a bipartisan group of their colleagues in a letter to the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies urging them to support robust funding for State Veterans Homes that help provide long-term care to our nation's veterans. Federal funds provided by the State Veterans Home Construction Grant Program allow states to make critical facility upgrades or construct new fa… Continue Reading
05.03.17
Peters, Stabenow Announce Funding for Economic Development in West Michigan
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow today announced that the West Michigan Shoreline Regional Development Commission will receive a $210,000 grant from the Economic Development Administration (EDA) to help spur economic development in West Michigan. "Strong regional coordination helps attract new businesses and new jobs to West Michigan," said Senator Peters. "I'm pleased to announce this funding, which will help ensure the West Michigan Shoreline Regional Developme… Continue Reading
05.02.17
Senate Unanimously Approves Bill to Improve Space Weather Prediction
WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Senate today unanimously approved the bipartisan Space Weather Research and Forecasting Act, introduced by U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), Cory Gardner (R-CO), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN). The legislation will help improve the ability to predict and mitigate the impacts of the extreme space weather events, including solar flares and coronal mass ejections, which are naturally occurring changes in emissions from the sun that can cau… Continue Reading
05.02.17
Peters, Daines Introduce Bill to Protect Americans’ Personally Identifiable Information
WASHINGTON, DC -U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Steve Daines (R-MT) today introduced legislation to require U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to remove personally identifiable information (PII) from vessel manifest sheets before making them available for public disclosure. The Moving Americans Privacy Protection Act would simply amend the manifest disclosure process to explicitly require the removal of individuals' PII, such as, residential addresses, social security numbers, and pa… Continue Reading
05.02.17
Peters Cosponsors Paycheck Fairness Act
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S Senator Gary Peters (MI) announced today he is cosponsoring legislation to help working women fight against wage disparity and gender discrimination in the workplace. The Paycheck Fairness Act would amend the Equal Pay Act passed in 1938 to close loopholes that currently make it easy for companies to pay female employees less solely on the basis of gender. Nationwide, women currently make about 79 cents on the dollar compared to men in the same positions, while in Michigan w… Continue Reading
04.27.17
Peters, Portman Introduce the National Historic Vehicle Register Act
WASHINGTON, D.C. -U.S. Senators Gary Peters (MI) and Rob Portman (R-OH) today announced they are introducing legislation to create a national register to preserve records of historic vehicles in recognition of their significant impact on America's history and culture. The bipartisan National Historic Vehicle Register Act would require the Department of Interior to establish a register housed in the Library of Congress to preserve examples of American history and engineering innovation by documen… Continue Reading
04.27.17
Peters, Gardner Introduce Bill to Keep Government Research Data Publicly Available
WASHINGTON, DC -U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Cory Gardner (R-CO) today introduced bipartisan legislation to help federal agencies maintain open access to machine-readable databases and datasets created by taxpayer-funded research. The Preserving Data in Government Act would require federal agencies to preserve public access to existing open datasets, and prevent the removal of existing datasets without sufficient public notice. Small businesses rely on a range of publicly available machi… Continue Reading
04.25.17
Michigan Delegation Members Join Bipartisan Push to Keep EPA Region 5 Office Open
WASHINGTON, D.C.- Following reports that the Trump Administration plans to abolish Region 5 of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - which serves Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Minnesota, and Ohio - as part of the fiscal year 2018 budget, U.S. Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow and Representatives John Conyers Jr., Sander Levin, Dan Kildee, Debbie Dingell, and Brenda Lawrence joined a bipartisan push calling for the Region 5 office to remain intact and fully supported. … Continue Reading
