Press Releases
Peters Statement on President’s Move to Withdraw from Trans-Pacific Partnership
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) released the following statement after President Trump signed an executive order to withdraw from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement. Last week, Peters cosponsored legislation requiring the President to withdraw from TPP. "We need fair trade policies that build a level playing field where American workers can compete and succeed. I have long opposed the TPP because it fails to address unfair labor practices and foreign currency… Continue Reading
01.19.17
Peters Statement Condemning Bomb Threats Against Jewish Community Centers
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Below is a statement U.S. Senator Gary Peters issued following the rise in bomb threats to more than 30 Jewish community centers across the country, including the Jewish Community Center of Metro Detroit: "I am extremely troubled by the rise in reported anti-Semitic threats and recent suspected plots to attack Jewish community centers in Michigan and across the country. Michigan has a proud tradition as a welcoming and diverse state, and I condemn these threats that seek to m… Continue Reading
01.19.17
Peters, Stabenow Applaud $50,000 Grant for Friends of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow today applauded a $50,000 grant to the Friends of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. The grant was awarded by the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation for the "Get Into Your Sanctuary" campaign, which supports sustainable tourism and encourages public engagement and stewardship of the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. "Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary is a rich and unique part of our Great Lakes history and ecosystem t… Continue Reading
01.17.17
Peters, Gardner, Booker & Wicker Reintroduce Bill to Improve Space Weather Prediction
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), Cory Gardner (R-CO), Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Roger Wicker (R-MS) announced today they introduced the Space Weather Research and Forecasting Act, legislation that would help improve efforts to predict space weather events and mitigate their impacts on Earth and in space. Space weather events, such as solar flares and coronal mass ejections, are caused by naturally occurring changes in emissions from the sun, and can result in costly and dangerous … Continue Reading
01.16.17
Peters, Stabenow Applaud National Parks Service Investment to Preserve Michigan Civil Rights History
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow today applauded the announcement of funding for two Michigan projects that will preserve and highlight the sites and stories of the Civil Rights Movement in Michigan. The Michigan State Historic Preservation Office will receive a $49,500 grant to conduct a survey of Detroit's African American Civil Rights History from 1900 to 1970, and Hamtramck Stadium will receive $50,000 to fund park pre-development to rehabilitate the historic si… Continue Reading
01.16.17
Peters Statement on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) released the following statement in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day: "As we honor the legacy of civil rights icon Martin Luther King, Jr., we remember his steadfast dedication to the pursuit of justice, equality and tolerance for people of all different backgrounds and beliefs, and celebrate his commitment to protecting our fundamental civil rights. Dr. King sought to bring Americans from all walks of life together to strengthen our count… Continue Reading
01.12.17
Sen. Peters Votes to Move Forward on General Mattis’ Nomination for Defense Secretary
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Below is a statement from U.S. Senator Gary Peters on today's vote in the Senate to pass legislation providing an exception to the limitation on being appointed Secretary of Defense within seven years of serving as an active duty commissioned officer of the Armed Forces. Defense Secretary nominee General James Mattis retired from the U.S. Marine Corps in 2013, short of the seven year requirement. "Our men and women in uniform and their families make immense personal sacrifice… Continue Reading
01.12.17
Senators Peters, Stabenow Urge Army Corps to Complete Brandon Road Study to Stop Spread of Asian Carp
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) sent a letter to Jo-Ellen Darcy, Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works), urging the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to release new plans for ways to prevent Asian carp and other aquatic invasive species from reaching Lake Michigan. The study will recommend specific measures to prevent Asian carp from getting beyond the Brandon Road Lock and Dam, a crucial chokepoint in the Chicago waterway system. Given the proxim… Continue Reading
01.12.17
Peters, Stabenow Applaud ITC Anti-Dumping Decision Against Foreign Built Washing Machines
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow applauded a recent ruling by the U.S. International Trade Commission that foreign manufacturers of washing machines were engaging in unfair trade practices, deliberately undercutting the Michigan-based Whirlpool Corporation. Last year, Senators Peters and Stabenow urged the Department of Commerce to move forward in addressing these dumping violations, which include selling artificially low-priced and Chinese manufactured washers in t… Continue Reading
01.11.17
Senators Peters, Stabenow Announce over $12.8 Million for Flint Mass Transportation Authority
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow today announced that the Flint Mass Transportation Authority will receive $12,800,000 to purchase 32 new Compressed Natural Gas transit buses and provide a workforce development training program for mechanics and drivers. The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Transit Administration. "Reliable, safe public transportation is critical for communities to grow and prosper. This grant will help Flint re… Continue Reading
01.10.17
Peters, Stabenow Applaud $200,000 Brownfield Grant for DTE Energy Rouge River Plant
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow today applauded an announcement from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that Wayne County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority will receive a $200,000 Brownfield Grant to fund a cleanup and redevelopment plan for DTE Energy Rouge River Power Plant in downtown River Rouge. "I applaud this grant, which will help attract private investment in the community, stimulate the economy with new jobs and improve the health of River R… Continue Reading
01.09.17
Peters Statement on Meeting with Secretary of Transportation Nominee Elaine Chao
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), a member of the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee and co-founder of the Smart Transportation Caucus, released the following statement after meeting with Elaine Chao, the nominee for U.S. Secretary of Transportation: "I appreciated the opportunity to meet with Elaine Chao and discuss a number of transportation issues critical to Michigan and the nation. During our meeting, I was able to raise the importance of connected and automated v… Continue Reading
01.06.17
President Signs Peters-Gardner American Innovation and Competitiveness Act into Law
Washington, DC - President Obama today signed into law the American Innovation and Competitiveness Act, a bicameral, bipartisan legislative compromise originally introduced by Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Cory Gardner (R-CO), along with John Thune (R-SD), and Bill Nelson (D-FL). The first major update to federal research and technology policy to originate in the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee in more than a decade, this legislation maximizes basic research opportunitie… Continue Reading
12.23.16
Sen. Peters’ Fairness for Veterans Amendment Signed into Law
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, President Obama signed into law a bipartisan provision introduced by U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) to help veterans who may have been erroneously given a less than honorable discharge from the military due to negative behavior resulting from mental traumas such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). The Fairness for Veterans amendment, which Peters authored, was included in the final National Defense Authorization Act conference report t… Continue Reading
12.23.16
Peters Statement on United Nations Security Council Resolution Vote on Israel
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) today released the following statement ahead of the United Nations Security Council's vote regarding Israel: "I am concerned that one-sided actions against Israel at the United Nations would undermine any future efforts to bring Israelis and Palestinians to the table. We need to focus on achieving a two-state solution that would bring peace and security to Israel and a future Palestinian state. The resolution currently being considered by the Unite… Continue Reading
12.21.16
Peters Tours Omega Plastics, Holds Roundtable with Local Manufacturers
CLINTON TOWNSHIP, MI - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (MI) today toured Omega Plastics in Clinton Township and held a roundtable with local manufacturers to highlight bipartisan legislation he introduced, which was unanimously approved by Congress, to improve advanced manufacturing by strengthening the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) - a public-private partnership dedicated to providing technical support and services to small and medium-sized manufacturers. "Small and mid-sized manufacture… Continue Reading
12.20.16
President Signs into Law Peters, Heitkamp, Heller Bipartisan Bill to Give Small Businesses & Startups a Seat at the Table
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), and Dean Heller (R-NV) today announced that the president signed into law their bipartisan bill to make sure small businesses and startups have a voice when new federal rules are written on how they can raise funding and access the resources they need to succeed. "Michigan is home to over 850,000 small businesses, which hire locally, give back to their communities, and boost economic growth across the state," said Peter… Continue Reading
12.19.16
Sen. Peters to Join Senate Armed Services Committee
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Gary Peters announced he has been appointed to the Senate Committee on Armed Services for the 115th Congress, subject to ratification by the Democratic Caucus. Peters will also continue to serve on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee; Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee; and the Joint Economic Committee. "As a former Lt. Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve, I am proud to be carrying on Michigan's strong military tradit… Continue Reading
12.19.16
Peters Visits Huron Area Technical Center in Bad Axe to Highlight Bipartisan Legislation to Make College More Affordable & Accessible
BAD AXE, MI - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) today toured the Huron Area Technical Center (HATC) in Bad Axe and highlighted bipartisan, bicameral legislation he introduced to expand options for high school students to obtain college credit, making higher education more affordable and accessible while improving high school and college graduation rates. Peters' Making Education Affordable and Accessible Act (MEAA) would expand access to dual and concurrent enrollment programs and early/middle colle… Continue Reading
12.16.16
Peters-Gardner American Innovation and Competitiveness Act to be Signed into Law
WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. House of Representatives today approved the American Innovation and Competitiveness Act, a bicameral, bipartisan legislative compromise originally introduced by U.S Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Cory Gardner (R-CO), along with John Thune (R-SD), and Bill Nelson (D-FL), that maximizes basic research opportunities, reduces administrative burdens for researchers, encourages scientific entrepreneurship, and promotes oversight of taxpayer-funded research. The legislation a… Continue Reading
