Press Releases
Peters, Stabenow Announce Chippewa County International Airport Will Receive Over $5.2 Million in Federal Funding for Improvements
DETROIT, MI - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (MI) and Debbie Stabenow (MI) today announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation will be awarding $5,271,043 to Chippewa County International Airport near Sault Ste. Marie. This funding will go toward the reconstruction and expansion of the airport's terminal building to improve operations and efficiency for travelers and baggage moving throughout the airport. "I'm pleased to welcome this funding which will help Chippewa County International Airpo… Continue Reading
07.22.21
Peters Secures Nearly $128 Million in Investments for Michigan Military Facilities and Operations in National Defense Bill Advancing to Full Senate
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) helped advance the bipartisan annual national defense bill to the full Senate, and led the charge to secure nearly $128 million in investments for military facilities across Michigan. He also led or supported provisions to strengthen our national security and give our servicemembers a pay raise. "Michiganders play a critical role in our national defense, and I was proud to secure significant investments and resources for military installations acro… Continue Reading
07.22.21
Peters Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Secure Critical Infrastructure Networks Against Cyber-Attacks
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, introduced bipartisan legislation to help safeguard our nation's critical infrastructure networks against cybersecurity threats. The bill would require the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to ensure they can better identify and mitigate threats to Industrial Control Systems - the operational technology involved in operating the function of critical infras… Continue Reading
07.22.21
Peters Announces Port of Monroe Awarded $770,983 Grant to Help Upgrade Cargo Screening Infrastructure
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, today announced the Port of Monroe has been awarded a $770,983 Port Security Grant from the Department of Homeland Security to help upgrade their cargo screening infrastructure. The funding will allow the port to install a Radiation Portal Monitor, which helps to screen cargo for the presence of nuclear or radiological materials. This will enhance the port's ability to ensure t… Continue Reading
07.21.21
Peters, Stabenow Announce Over $1 Million in Federal Funds for Houghton County Memorial Airport
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (MI) and Debbie Stabenow (MI) today announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation will be awarding $1,122,990 to Houghton County Memorial Airport. This funding will go toward costs related to operations, personnel, cleaning, sanitization, janitorial services, and combating the spread of pathogens at the airport. "As we work to recover from this pandemic, we must ensure that Michigan airports can continue providing reliable, safe air travel," s… Continue Reading
07.20.21
Peters Announces Investigation Into Rise of Ransomware Attacks and How Cryptocurrencies Facilitate Cybercrimes
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Gary Peters, Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, announced he is conducting an investigation into the role cryptocurrencies continue to play in emboldening and incentivizing cybercriminals to commit ransomware attacks that pose an increasing threat to United States national security. "The increased use of cryptocurrencies as the preferred method of payment in ransomware attacks shows that cybercriminals believe they can commit at… Continue Reading
07.19.21
Peters Statement on Announcement that the Chinese Government Continues to Encourage and Perpetrate Widespread Cyber-Attacks
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, released the following statement after the Biden Administration and the United States' allies condemned the Chinese government for orchestrating widespread attacks against American networks and compromising American national security: "Today's announcement is an important step to help hold the Chinese government accountable for enabling these malicious cyber-attacks on our c… Continue Reading
07.16.21
Peters Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Strengthen Protections for Consumers and Establish National Data Brokers Registry
DETROIT, MI - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) announced he introduced bipartisan legislation that would improve protections and transparency for consumers by requiring that data brokers-businesses that sell consumers' personal information to third parties-provide information about their practices with regard to collection of personal data. The Data Broker List Act of 2021, which Peters introduced with U.S. Senators Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), would establish a national r… Continue Reading
07.15.21
Michigan Delegation Members Commend Quick Decision from President Biden Declaring a Major Disaster for Washtenaw and Wayne Counties
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (MI), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and Debbie Stabenow (MI) and U.S. Representative Brenda Lawrence (MI-14) today led members of the Michigan Congressional Delegation in commending the quick announcement from President Biden granting a request from Governor Whitmer to declare a Major Disaster for Washtenaw and Wayne Counties. In addition to Peters, Stabenow and Lawrence the letter was signed by U.S. Representat… Continue Reading
07.15.21
Peters and Portman Bipartisan Legislation to Protect FEMA Reservists' Jobs During Disaster Response Advances in Senate
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Legislation authored by U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Rob Portman (R-OH) to protect Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Reservists from losing their full-time employment when they are called up to assist communities with disaster response has advanced in the Senate. FEMA Reservists are temporary, on-call and intermittent employees who are essential to the agency's mission to quickly respond to disasters, but they currently lack employment protections that ensure … Continue Reading
07.14.21
Peters Statement on Department of Justice Inspector General Report on Failures of FBI’s Investigation into Larry Nassar
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) released the following statement after the Department of Justice Inspector General released a report on failures of the FBI's investigation into allegations regarding Larry Nassar: "These findings are absolutely appalling and reinforce the systemic failure that allowed a monster to continue inflicting sexual abuse on collegiate and amateur athletes. We must ensure this can never happen again. "We must take action in Congress and I will keep pushin… Continue Reading
07.14.21
Peters, Stabenow Press for Additional Support for Restaurants Impacted by COVID-19 Pandemic
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (MI) and Debbie Stabenow (MI) today pressed for additional action to provide relief for Michigan restaurants and bars that have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. In their letter to the Small Business Administration (SBA), the Senators highlighted concerns they have heard from small business owners regarding the Restaurant Revitalization Fund and urged the SBA to address challenges faced by businesses that applied for support from the Fund and prov… Continue Reading
07.14.21
Peters Bipartisan Bills to Strengthen Cybersecurity Advance in Senate
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Two pieces of legislation authored by U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI) to help protect public and private networks from growing cybersecurity threats have advanced in the Senate. The legislation was unanimously approved by the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, where Peters serves as Chair. The bills would enhance cybersecurity guidance for K-12 educational institutions across the country and secure federal information technology supply chains against … Continue Reading
07.13.21
Following Peters’ Calls, Administration Will Halt Change to Metropolitan Area Standards
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Following calls from U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) announced it will halt a proposed change that would increase the population threshold for metropolitan areas from 50,000 to 100,000. Communities in Michigan and across the United States count on this designation for federal funding that goes towards important programs. If implemented, the change could have threate… Continue Reading
07.13.21
Peters Introduces Legislation to Increase Investment and Access to Affordable Housing in Communities That Have Been Left Behind
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) announced he introduced legislation that aims to provide affordable housing opportunities and investment to communities that have endured longstanding disinvestment. The Restoring Communities Left Behind Act would create a $5 billion program at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to award competitive grants to eligible local partnerships to carry out neighborhood revitalization support activities. These activities include restoring … Continue Reading
07.12.21
VIDEO: At Peters’ Urging, Senate Confirms Key Cybersecurity Nominee Amid Relentless Wave of Ransomware Attacks
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, led the Senate in unanimously confirming Jen Easterly to be the Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). In remarks on the Senate floor, Peters highlighted the important role CISA plays in safeguarding cybersecurity and federal information technology. In the wake of a significant increase in cyber-attacks targeting everything from critical infr… Continue Reading
07.07.21
Peters, Stabenow Welcome Over $12.7 Million in American Rescue Plan Funding for Michigan Head Start Programs Across State
DETROIT, MI - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (MI) and Debbie Stabenow (MI) welcomed the announcement that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) awarded over $12.7 million in funding to Michigan Head Start programs across the state through the American Rescue Plan, historic legislation both senators helped enact. This funding will help programs build back to fully operational, in-person services this fall as well as support vaccination of Head Start staff and families. "After facing … Continue Reading
07.02.21
Peters, Stabenow Announce Over $100,000 in Federal Funds for Capital Region International Airport
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (MI) and Debbie Stabenow (MI) today announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation will be awarding $111,940 to Capital Region International Airport. This Federal Aviation Administration grant will go towards improving the runways at the airport. The grant is possible because of the American Rescue Plan Act, which Senators Peters and Stabenow helped pass in Congress. "Ensuring safe and reliable air travel - particularly through our state's capi… Continue Reading
07.02.21
Peters, Stabenow Announce Over $2 Million in Federal Funds for Cherry Capital Airport
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (MI) and Debbie Stabenow (MI) today announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation will be awarding $2,095,000 to Cherry Capital Airport. This Federal Aviation Administration grant will invest in the safety of the airport by purchasing a replacement aircraft rescue and fire fighting vehicle and removing any road obstructions. The grant is made possible because of the American Rescue Plan Act, which Senators Peters and Stabenow helped pass in Con… Continue Reading
07.01.21
Peters Welcomes Nearly $36 Million in COVID Relief Funding To Help Michigan Small Businesses and Consumers in Minority Communities
DETROIT, MI - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) today welcomed news that the U.S. Department of the Treasury has awarded nearly $36 million to communities across Michigan through the Community Development Financial Institutions Rapid Response Program (CDFI RRP), which he helped secure in the December COVID relief package last year. These resources will provide necessary capital for CDFIs to respond to economic challenges caused by the pandemic, particularly in underserved communities. "I'm proud to… Continue Reading
