Press Releases
Peters Launches ‘On the Job for Michigan,’ Highlighting Success Resolving Cases for Michiganders
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) today launched "On the Job for Michigan," a series highlighting the successful work of his office resolving cases involving federal agencies on behalf of Michiganders. In the first installment of the series, Grosse Pointe resident Tom Koenig and Vietnam War veteran shared how Peters' office assisted him in claiming benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs. Tom served in the Brown Water Navy in the Vietnam War. His duties placed him in the… Continue Reading
05.13.19
Peters, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Curb Federal Improper Payments to Deceased People
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Gary Peters, Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, joined his colleagues in introducing bipartisan legislation that would save millions of taxpayer dollars by preventing improper or fraudulent payments to deceased individuals. The Social Security Administration (SSA) maintains the most thorough federal database of individuals who are reported to have died, but only a small number of federal agencies have access to this officia… Continue Reading
05.10.19
Senate Passes Peters, Stabenow Resolution Honoring Judge Damon Keith
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (MI) and Debbie Stabenow (MI) today announced Senate passage of a resolution they introduced celebrating the life and legacy of Detroit native Judge Damon Keith, who passed away on April 28th, 2019. Despite having to overcome countless institutional barriers over the course of his more than 50- year career, Judge Keith became an instrumental figure on the federal bench. Through his rulings on numerous landmark civil rights cases, he served as a role mo… Continue Reading
05.09.19
Peters, Stabenow, Rubio Announce Bipartisan PFAS Accountability Act
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) today led eight other Senators in announcing the introduction of the PFAS Accountability Act. This legislation would hold federal agencies accountable for addressing contamination for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) at military bases across the country. It comes just days after the release of a new report showing that Michigan has the most PFAS-contaminated sites in the nation. "Too man… Continue Reading
05.08.19
Peters, Lankford Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Address Issue Impacting Military Reservists & National Guard Members Seeking to Access Benefits After Their Service
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and James Lankford (R-OK) today introduced bipartisan legislation to help reserve component members of the United States Armed Forces - including members of the Reserves and National Guard - receive the benefits they have earned following their retirement or completion of service. Currently, Reservists do not receive a separation document detailing their service and Guardsmen do not receive the same forms as Active Duty servicemembers after com… Continue Reading
05.07.19
Peters, Young, Kildee, Dingell, Huizenga, Joyce Reintroduce Bipartisan Legislation to Update Environmental Sensitivity Index Maps for Great Lakes
WASHINGTON, D.C. -U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Todd Young (R-IN) along with Representatives Dan Kildee (MI-05), Bill Huizenga (MI-02), Debbie Dingell (MI-12) and David Joyce (OH-14) today reintroduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to update the Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) maps in the Great Lakes. The legislation would direct the Great Lakes Region ESI maps to be updated for the first time in over twenty years, joining maps for the East coast, West coast, and Gulf coast that… Continue Reading
05.06.19
Peters Statement on New PFAS Study Showing Michigan With Most Contaminated Sites in U.S.
DETROIT, MI - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) released the following statement on the Environmental Working Group's new study released today mapping the PFAS crisis nationally that shows Michigan with the most contaminated sites in the U.S., which it notes may in part reflect the state's ongoing efforts to test for PFAS: "This study confirms what we already know: the PFAS crisis is impacting many communities across Michigan and the country," said Senator Peters. "We cannot afford to wait any long… Continue Reading
05.02.19
Peters Votes to Override President Trump’s Veto on Bipartisan Legislation to End U.S. Military Support to Saudi-Led Coalition in Yemen
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) today voted to override President Trump's veto on bipartisan legislation to end U.S. support for Saudi Arabia-led operations in Yemen. According to the United Nations, the Saudi-led coalition has exacerbated the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Yemen that has removed countless families from their homes, driven millions into starvation and on average leads to the death of one Yemeni child under ten every five minutes. Earlier today, Peters spoke on the… Continue Reading
05.01.19
Peters Presses for Consumer Data Privacy Protections
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) today highlighted the need to strengthen privacy protections as consumers increasingly utilize data and technology apps for daily needs. During a Senate Commerce Committee hearing examining data privacy expectations, Peters questioned experts about what more must be done to protect consumers' data and highlighted recent reports of pregnancy applications sharing personal data and data brokersattempting to sell the personal information of over 1.2 mil… Continue Reading
04.30.19
VIDEO: Peters, Slotkin, Cornyn, Stabenow, Upton, Mitchell Call on Congress to Pass Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation to Hold Universities Accountable for Sexual Abuse
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Representative Elissa Slotkin (MI-08), Senators John Cornyn (TX), Debbie Stabenow (MI) as well as Representatives Fred Upton (MI-06) and Paul Mitchell (MI-10) today called on Congress to pass their bipartisan, bicameral legislation to hold universities that receive federal funding accountable for sexual abuse cases that threaten the safety of their students. The Accountability of Leaders in Education to Report Title IX Investigations (ALERT) Act wo… Continue Reading
04.28.19
Peters Statement on Passing of Judge Damon Keith
DETROIT, MI- U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) released the following statement following the passing of Judge Damon Keith, a Detroit native and long-serving federal judge: "Detroit, our state and country have lost an extraordinary jurist and legal trailblazer. Judge Damon Keith devoted his life to public service and ensuring equal protection under the law. He will be best remembered for his decisions from the federal bench to protect civil rights and individual liberties. Colleen and I send our … Continue Reading
04.25.19
During Visit with Key Air Force Official, Peters Presses Air Force to Do More to Cleanup PFAS Contamination in Oscoda
OSCODA, MI - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) hosted Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Installations, Environment and Energy, John Henderson in Oscoda to discuss efforts to cleanup areas surrounding the former Wurstsmith Air Force Base contaminated by per- and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) chemicals. Henderson visited Oscoda following Peters' invitation and in addition to participating in a public forum together, Peters met with Assistant Secretary Henderson and urged the Air Force to do more to mi… Continue Reading
04.25.19
Peters Welcomes Anti-Dumping Petitions Filed By Cherry Coalition to Department of Commerce and ITC
TRAVERSE CITY, MI - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) welcomed the anti-dumping and countervailing duty petitions filed by the Dried Tart Cherry Coalition regarding imports of dried cherries from Turkey. The petitions will be considered by the Department of Commerce and US International Trade Commission (ITC). "This is a welcome development as Michigan cherry growers continue to be harmed and see a significant drop in the price of their products because of unfair practices from foreign competitors … Continue Reading
04.24.19
Peters, Stabenow, Slotkin Work to Raise Awareness for Meningitis B Prevention
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (MI) and Debbie Stabenow (MI) and Representative Elissa Slotkin (MI-08) are working to raise awareness for meningitis B prevention and treatment. April 24 is World Meningitis Day, and Peters, Stabenow and Slotkin recently led the introduction of a bicameral resolution to recognize the importance of confronting meningitis B. Although this disease kills or disables over 170,000 patients across the globe annually, few in the U.S. have received meningitis B… Continue Reading
04.22.19
Peters Statement on City of Detroit Rejecting Pet Coke Ordinance Exemption Request
EAST LANSING, MI - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) released the below statement following the decision by the City of Detroit's Buildings, Safety Engineering & Environmental Department to reject an ordinance exemption request from Marathon Petroleum to store pet coke uncovered near the Detroit River: "When pet coke piles were stored in the open near the Detroit River years ago, it blew into residents' homes, impacted businesses, flowed into the Great Lakes basin and resulted in a massive dark… Continue Reading
04.22.19
Peters Convenes Field Summit Highlighting the Rising Costs of Climate Change to Taxpayers
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, today hosted a field summit examining the rising costs to taxpayers from extreme weather and climate change. The summit, titled "The Cost of Inaction: The Impacts of Climate Change and the Financial Burden on Taxpayers," focused on the financial impacts of climate change on our national security, infrastructure, economy and public health. At the summit, Peters also r… Continue Reading
04.17.19
Peters Announces Key Air Force Official to Visit Iosco County on April 24
OSCODA, MI - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) today announced that following his invitation, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Installations, Environment and Energy, John Henderson, will visit the Oscoda area with him next Wednesday, April 24th. The visit will include a public event and give residents impacted by exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) an opportunity to hear about recent updates and what more must be done to clean up contaminated areas surrounding the former W… Continue Reading
04.16.19
Peters Applauds Appointment of Monroe Port Director to Key Federal Maritime Transportation Committee
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) today applauded the Department of Transportation's decision to appoint Director of the Port of Monroe Paul LaMarre to the U.S. Marine and Transportation System National Advisory Committee (MTSNAC) for a term of two years. Last year, Peters supported LaMarre's application, writing a letter to the Department of Transportation. "From his service as a U.S. Navy pilot to his superb management of the Port of Monroe, Paul LaMarre is a distinguished repres… Continue Reading
04.11.19
Peters Calls on Colleagues to Support His Bipartisan Legislation to Expand R&D for Fuel Efficient Technologies
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) spoke on the Senate floor today in support of the Vehicle Innovation Act, bipartisan, bicameral legislation he authored and reintroduced earlier this week to promote 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. "Transportation is responsible for roughly two thirds of our national consumption of petroleum and one of the largest… Continue Reading
04.11.19
Senators Peters, Duckworth and Reps. Kildee, Speier Introduce Legislation to Protect Military Families from Lead Exposure
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-05), and Congresswoman Jackie Speier (CA-14) introduced a package of five bills to protect families from the threat of lead exposure in their homes and schools. The Peters-Duckworth-Kildee-Speier legislation would: Guarantee all children who are at risk of lead exposure are tested in compliance with the American Academy of Pediatrics' best practices. Require testing and mitigation for le… Continue Reading
