Press Releases
Peters Introduces Legislation to Bolster American Cyber Defenses & National Security
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, introduced a pair of bills to address vulnerabilities in America's cybersecurity defenses. The Continuity of Economy Act of 2020 would direct the President to develop a plan to ensure essential functions of the economy are able to continue operating in the event of a cyber-attack. The National Guard Cyber Interoperability Act of 2020 would enable the National Guard to provi… Continue Reading
06.11.20
Peters Announces Support for Policing Reforms
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) today announced his support for several Senate bills that would reform policing and improve officer training and increase accountability. He is also working to advance his bipartisan National Criminal Justice Commission Act that would assess the entire system and propose reforms to address the most pressing issues facing the nation's criminal justice system. He also is working on community policing legislation to that will help bridge the lack of tr… Continue Reading
06.10.20
Peters Joins Call for Greater Federal Resources to Support Nursing Homes during COVID-19 Crisis
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, joined his colleagues in calling on the Trump Administration to provide greater federal resources and guidance to support nursing homes and long-term care (LTC) facilities throughout the country as they continue to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. At least 9,600 nursing homes and LTC facilities across the U.S. have reported COVID-19 cases and more than 40,000 residents and wor… Continue Reading
06.09.20
Peters Convenes Homeland Security Committee Hearing on Federal Government’s Coronavirus Response Efforts
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, today helped convene a hearing to examine the federal government's COVID-19 response efforts and the Administration's strategy for procurement and distribution of personal protective equipment (PPE), diagnostic tests, and other medical supplies. "We have now lost more than 110,000 Americans to this pandemic - loved ones whose lives are irreplaceable," said Senator Peters. … Continue Reading
06.08.20
Peters, Stabenow Announce $5.6 Million for Saginaw Transit Authority Regional Services Through the CARES Act
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (MI) and Debbie Stabenow (MI) today announced that the Federal Transit Authority (FTA) is providing the Saginaw Transit Authority Regional Services (STARS) a $5.6 million grant. Peters and Stabenow helped secure this funding as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The funds will help ensure that STARS will remain operational during the Coronavirus pandemic. "While the Coronavirus has upended our daily lives, Michigand… Continue Reading
06.05.20
Peters, Stabenow Call on DeVos to Reverse Decision to Alter Title IX Policies Surrounding Sexual Harassment & Assault
DETROIT, MI - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (MI) and Debbie Stabenow (MI) called on Department of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos to reverse her final Title IX ruling on policies related to reporting and investigating sexual harassment and assault cases. In a letter to the Secretary, Peters and Stabenow joined their colleagues in underscoring for the Secretary that her decision will weaken protections for student survivors of sexual harassment and assault. The Senators also stressed that it would be… Continue Reading
06.04.20
Peters, Stabenow Champion Senate Passage of Needed Changes to Paycheck Protection Program for Small Businesses in Michigan
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (MI) and Debbie Stabenow (MI) announced Senate passage of H.R. 7010, the Paycheck Protection Flexibility Act, which will give small businesses in Michigan more time and flexibility to use the forgivable loans they have received due to the COVID-19 crisis. Stabenow and Peters are co-authors of the bipartisan Senate companion legislation, which was introduced last month. The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) provides forgivable loans to small businesses … Continue Reading
06.04.20
Peters & Johnson Call for Briefing on Role of Violent Opportunists in Exploiting Peaceful Protests
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Ron Johnson (R-WI), Ranking Member and Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, requested a briefing for committee members from the Department of Homeland Security on recent warnings that violent opportunists are attempting to exploit the protests across the country following the death of George Floyd. Others, including foreign adversaries and domestic extremists, are using social media platforms and making other … Continue Reading
06.03.20
Peters, Stabenow Announce Over $5.7 Million for Transportation Services in Battle Creek, Ottawa County Through the CARES Act
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (MI) and Debbie Stabenow (MI) today announced that the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is providing the City of Battle Creek a $4 million grant and the Harbor Transit Multi-Modal Transportation System in Ottawa County a $1.79 million grant. Peters and Stabenow helped secure this funding as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The funds will help ensure that these transit services will remain operational during the… Continue Reading
06.01.20
Peters Statement on the Recent Events Following the Death of George Floyd
DETROIT, MI - Following the unconscionable death of George Floyd and after speaking with Michigan community and faith leaders and law enforcement officials, U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) released the following statement: "In the aftermath of George Floyd's death - something that never should have happened - it is the responsibility of each of us to acknowledge that too many Americans - especially African Americans - are dying senselessly, and we must come together to stop it. "More than ever, … Continue Reading
05.29.20
Peters Joins Effort to Direct Nation’s Top Health Agencies to Publicly Share Information on Testing Supply Inventory
DETROIT, MI - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, helped introduce legislation directing federal agencies to compile and publicly share real-time information about testing supply inventory and shortages. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, hospitals, health care systems, nursing homes and first responders have struggled to obtain tests and other critical supplies needed to adequately protect public health and contain the spread… Continue Reading
05.29.20
Peters Welcomes Announcement that Paycheck Protection Program Will Dedicate $10 Billion for CDFIs
DETROIT, MI - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, released the following statement after the Treasury Department and Small Business Administration announced they will set aside $10 billion for Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) to participate in the Paycheck Protection Program. This announcement comes after Peters successfully secured $60 billion in dedicated funding for small community-based lenders, including CDF… Continue Reading
05.29.20
Peters Presses Department of Veterans Affairs on PPE Availability at Dingell VA Medical Center in Detroit
DETROIT, MI - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) is pressing for answers regarding the status of personal protective equipment (PPE) for frontline healthcare workers and patients at the John D. Dingell Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) in Detroit. In a letter to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Robert Wilkie, Peters asked a number of questions and expressed concerns about a report by the VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) citing low inventory of critical testing materials and PPE … Continue Reading
05.29.20
Following Push from Peters & Stabenow, International Trade Commission to Track Foreign Cherry Imports
DETROIT, MI -- U.S. Senators Gary Peters (MI) and Debbie Stabenow (MI) today announced that the U.S. International Trade Commission will begin tracking foreign imports in order to accurately measure the impact of trade on Michigan's tart cherry industry. The decision comes after the Senators urged the Commission to begin tracking this data. In January, the Senators blasted the Commission's decision not to impose tariffs against Turkish tart cherry exporters. Turkey has dumped low-quality dried … Continue Reading
05.28.20
After Push from Peters, Trump Administration Won’t Prematurely End National Guard Mobilizations
DETROIT, MI - 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, welcomed an announcement today from President Donald Trump that mobilizations for members of the National Guard who have served on the frontlines of the Coronavirus pandemic will be extended through mid-August. This decision comes after Peters successfully pressed the President not to impose a "hard stop" order that would have ended active duty … Continue Reading
05.28.20
Peters, Stabenow Announce Over $64 Million in Funding for the Detroit Department of Transportation Through the CARES Act
DETROIT, MI - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (MI) and Debbie Stabenow (MI) today announced that the Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT) will receive a $64,300,000 grant from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). Peters and Stabenow helped secure this funding as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The funds will allow the DDOT to more frequently disinfect buses, provide additional personal protective equipment to employees and continue transit service th… Continue Reading
05.28.20
Peters Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Expand Telehealth, Help Michiganders Receive Health Care
DETROIT, MI - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) announced the bipartisan Health Care Broadband Expansion During COVID-19 Act to direct $2 billion to help health care providers in Michigan increase their broadband capacity and expand telehealth services during the current public health crisis. Peters introduced this legislation along with U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), John Boozman (R-AR), Angus King (I-ME), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), and Ed Markey (D-MA) in … Continue Reading
05.27.20
Peters Introduces Bill to Slow the Spread of Coronavirus in Nursing Homes
DETROIT, MI - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, last week introduced a bill to provide $20 billion to help states, nursing homes and intermediate care facilities contain the spread of the Coronavirus. To date, more than 20,000 nursing home residents and workers have been killed by the virus. The Nursing Home COVID-19 Protection and Prevention Act would help states implement strategies to reduce the spread of COVID-19, purch… Continue Reading
05.27.20
Peters, Stabenow, Kildee Support Michigan’s Medicaid Waiver Extension Request for Flint
DETROIT, MI - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (MI) and Debbie Stabenow (MI) and U.S. Representative Dan Kildee (MI-05) today requested that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) extend a waiver expanding Medicaid support for Flint. In response to the Flint Water Crisis, CMS in 2016 approved a five-year Medicaid waiver that expanded Medicaid eligibility and coverage for residents up to 21 and pregnant women who have been exposed to lead. The lawmakers wrote to CMS Administrator Seema Ver… Continue Reading
05.27.20
Peters Introduces Bill to Increase Access to Capital for Financial Institutions that Support Small Business Owners, Consumers in Minority Communities
DETROIT, MI - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) today announced he introduced a bill that would increase access to capital for community investment institutions working to support small business owners and consumers through the Coronavirus pandemic in minority communities. The Community Capital Investment Act would establish a Treasury Department program to provide community investment institutions, such as Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), Minority Depository Institutions (MDIs)… Continue Reading
