Press Releases
Eleven Peters Bills Have Now Passed the Senate This Congress, Most for Any Senator in Either Party
DETROIT, MI - The U.S. Senate this week unanimously approved yet another bill authored by U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI). The legislation - which will support veterans and their caregivers - marks the 11th standalone Peters bill that has passed the Senate this Congress. Earlier this week, Peters' tenth bill passed the Senate. Despite serving in his first term and in the minority, Peters has passed more bills than any Senator through the Senate this Congress, Republican or Democrat. Peters also ha… Continue Reading
11.20.20
Peters Slams Administration for Lack of Action Against Foreign Adversaries Over Coronavirus Vaccine Research Hacks
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, slammed the Trump Administration for their lack of action against foreign adversaries, including Russia, China, and North Korea, that have sponsored cyber-attacks against American hospitals and research institutions in an effort to steal information related to development of Coronavirus vaccines. Peters' letter comes after President Trump fired senior cybersecurity… Continue Reading
11.19.20
Peters & Colleagues Call On GSA Administrator to End Unprecedented Delay & Provide Critical Transition Resources to President-Elect Biden
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, led his colleagues in calling on General Services Administration (GSA) Administrator Emily Murphy to end her unprecedented delay, immediately ascertain Vice President Joe Biden as President-elect and Senator Kamala Harris as Vice President-elect, and make available the transition resources that are provided by law. This delay creates unacceptable risks to national securit… Continue Reading
11.19.20
Peters Bipartisan Bill Supporting Small & Medium-Sized Manufacturers Advances in Senate
WASHINGTON, DC - The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee unanimously approved a bill introduced by U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) to bolster the public-private partnerships providing critical support and guidance to small and medium sized manufacturers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Helping Manufacturers Respond to COVID-19 Act of 2020, which Peters introduced earlier this year with U.S. Senator Cory Gardner (R-CO), would specifically grant MEP centers throughout the country … Continue Reading
11.18.20
Peters Calls on GAO to Identify Strategies to Eliminate Discrimination in Travel Screenings
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, is calling on the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) to examine ways to eliminate discrimination in travel screenings by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Several of Peters' constituents in Michigan, including individuals from the Muslim and Arab American communities, have shared reports of potentially … Continue Reading
11.18.20
Peters Bipartisan Bill to Improve VA Caregiver Program Passes Senate
WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Senate passed bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Gary Peters (MI) to improve the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) caregiver program. This marks Peters' 11th bill that he has passed through the Senate since 2019, the most of any Senator from either party. According to reports, caregivers and veterans were arbitrarily discharged or downgraded from the program, with benefits subsequently revoked or reduced. The VA Office of the Inspector General reported in 2018… Continue Reading
11.18.20
Peters & Colleagues Introduce Bill to Block Trump Order Stripping Federal Employees of Critical Protections
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, led 40 of his colleagues in introducing legislation that would block the implementation of an October 21 Executive Order by President Trump, which created a new classification for federal employees, Schedule F. This harmful executive order would make it easier for the Administration to fire non-partisan civil servants with policy expertise. "This recent executive order… Continue Reading
11.18.20
Peters Bipartisan Bill to Protect American Telecommunications Networks from Foreign Suppliers Advances in Senate
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) today applauded the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee for passing his bipartisan legislation that would help safeguard American telecommunications networks against cyber threats from untrusted foreign equipment suppliers. The Ensuring Network Security Act, which Peters introduced with Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI), would expand access to federal funding for telecommunications providers and educational institutions for the removal an… Continue Reading
11.18.20
Peters Applauds House Passage of His Bipartisan Bill to Fix Security Vulnerability Posed by Foreign Ownership of Federally Leased Properties
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, applauded passage of his bipartisan bill that requires the federal government to determine if office space it leases is owned by foreign entities. "Our foreign adversaries are constantly seeking to steal valuable information from our government. Knowing exactly who owns office space where sensitive U.S. government materials is stored could prevent our foreign adversari… Continue Reading
11.17.20
Senate Passes Peters Bipartisan Bill to Establish National Integrated Flood Information System
WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Senate passed U.S. Senator Gary Peters' (MI) bipartisan legislation that would establish a National Integrated Flood Information System. The Flood Level Observation, Operations, and Decision Support (FLOODS) Act, which Peters introduced with U.S. Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS), would specifically provide funding to strengthen the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) ability to forecast floods, hurricanes and tornados and disperse relevant information to… Continue Reading
11.17.20
Peters Warns Delayed Transition Could Slow Coronavirus Vaccine Distribution
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, is raising concerns that continued delays to the Presidential transition could interfere with the incoming Biden Administration's efforts to effectively distribute potential Coronavirus vaccines once authorized or approved. Peters recently released a report highlighting shortcomings in the Trump Administration's vaccine plans and making recommendations to ensure that vacc… Continue Reading
11.17.20
Tenth Peters Bill Passes the Senate This Congress
WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Senate yesterday unanimously approved U.S. Senator Gary Peters' bipartisan legislation to update the Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) maps in the Great Lakes, marking the tenth standalone Peters bill that has passed the Senate in this session of Congress - more than any Senator, Republican or Democrat. Recently, President Trump signed a sixth Peters bill into law - no Senate Democrat has enacted more bills during his presidency, and this week's passage of Peters' l… Continue Reading
11.16.20
Peters Bill to Update Great Lakes Environmental Sensitivity Index Maps Passes Senate; Peters Has Passed More Bills Through Senate Than Any Senator This Congress
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) today applauded Senate passage of his bipartisan legislation to update the Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) maps in the Great Lakes. The legislation, which he introduced with U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-IN), would require the Great Lakes Region ESI maps to be updated for the first time in over two decades, joining maps for the East coast, West coast, and Gulf coast that have been updated more recently. It would additionally require periodic Grea… Continue Reading
11.13.20
Peters Statement on State of Michigan Revoking Line 5 Easement
DETROIT, MI - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) - a member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee which oversees the federal agency responsible for pipeline safety - today released the following statement on the State of Michigan revoking Enbridge's easement to operate Line 5 underneath the Straits of Mackinac: "There's no question an oil spill in the Straits of Mackinac would have catastrophic and long-term consequences to the economic and environmental health of Michigan and… Continue Reading
11.10.20
Peters Commemorates Veterans Day
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), a former Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve and a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today released a video in advance of Veterans Day. "From World War II to modern day conflicts across the globe, generations of Michiganders have answered America's call to service," said Senator Peters, a former Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve and a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. "On Veterans Day, we honor the r… Continue Reading
11.09.20
Peters Statement Ahead of Supreme Court Health Care Lawsuit Oral Arguments
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) released the following statement ahead of oral arguments before the Supreme Court on the future of the health care law: "We've come too far to go back to the days when insurance companies called the shots on health care for millions of Michiganders. We cannot go back to the days when insurance companies could discriminate against people with pre-existing health conditions; when seniors could be charged more for prescription drugs; or when lifetime … Continue Reading
11.02.20
Peters’ Bipartisan Provision to Protect Amateur & Olympic Athletes From Abuse Signed Into Law
DETROIT, MI - U.S. Senator Gary Peters' (MI) bipartisan amendments to ensure Olympic and amateur athletes can report abuse anonymously were signed into law by President Trump as part of the bipartisan Empowering Olympic and Amateur Athletes Act. This legislation was introduced following the findings of systemic abuse within the U.S. Olympic movement and the sexual abuse of former U.S. Olympic and Michigan State University doctor Larry Nassar. The Empowering Olympic and Amateur Athletes Act is sw… Continue Reading
10.26.20
Peters, Stabenow Announce $15.6 Million Federal Grant for Michigan Rail Upgrades
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (MI) and Debbie Stabenow (MI) today announced that the Michigan Department of Transportation will receive $15.6 million in federal funding to rehabilitate railroad tracks, replace over 16 miles of rail and enhance track crossing protections in the corridor between Ypsilanti and Jackson. This federal grant comes from the Department of Transportation's Federal-State Partnership for State of Good Repair Program. "As communities across Michigan continue wo… Continue Reading
10.26.20
Peters Speaks on Senate Floor Opposing Barrett Confirmation to Supreme Court
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) today spoke on the Senate floor opposing Judge Amy Coney Barrett's confirmation to the U.S. Supreme Court. In his remarks, Peters highlighted how over two million Michiganders have already voted and that Americans deserve to have a say in who nominates and confirms the next Justice to a lifetime appointment on our nation's highest court. He stressed the far-reaching consequences of the Supreme Court, including the health care lawsuit pushed by the T… Continue Reading
10.23.20
New Peters Report Presses Trump Administration to Take Immediate Action to Ensure Trusted, Safe, Effective Coronavirus Vaccines
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, released a new report urging the Trump Administration to take immediate action to ensure eventual Coronavirus vaccines will be safe, effective, free and widely available to all Americans. Peters' report found that the Administration's political interference in vaccine development is eroding public trust in eventual vaccines, and that the Administration is falling short wi… Continue Reading
