Press Releases
Peters Applauds Bill Authorizing New Coast Guard Icebreaker for the Great Lakes
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) today applauded the passage of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2015, which authorizes the design and construction of a new Coast Guard heavy icebreaker vessel to enhance icebreaking capability on the Great Lakes. The Great Lakes have seen record levels of ice cover over recent winters, limiting commercial shipping and other economic activity in Michigan's waterways. Last winter, ice cover on the Great Lakes contributed to an estimated 3.2 milli… Continue Reading
02.01.16
Peters, Kildee Meet with Community Leaders in Flint, Receive Update on Water Crisis
FLINT, MI - U.S. Senator Gary Peters and Congressman Dan Kildee today met with community leaders from Flint and representatives of various government agencies to receive updates on response efforts to the Flint water crisis. "What is happening in Flint has been a colossal failure on the part of the State, but I am committed to working on the federal level to help Flint overcome this crisis and move forward," said Senator Peters. "I was pleased to have Congressman Kildee join me as we heard first… Continue Reading
02.01.16
Peters Recognizes Black History Month
Detroit, MI - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) released the following statement to commemorate Black History Month: "Today marks the beginning of Black History Month, a time to celebrate the countless contributions African Americans have made to every aspect of our national life. As innovators, business leaders, elected officials, military service members, scientists, and educators, African Americans have played - and continue to play - a central role in shaping our history and paving the way for o… Continue Reading
02.01.16
Peters Visits Hurley Medical Center to Announce Legislation to Expand Head Start for Flint Kids
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) today visited Hurley Medical Center in Flint to announce new legislation he will be introducing along with Senator Debbie Stabenow to expand Head Start and Early Head Start enrollment for Flint kids exposed to lead. Peters was joined by Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, Director of Hurley Medical Center's Pediatric Residency Program, whose work exposed elevated lead levels in Flint kids last year. The Children's Head Start Intervention for Life and Developm… Continue Reading
01.29.16
Peters Discusses Need for Telehealth Services During Visit to Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids
GRAND RAPIDS, MI - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) today visited Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids to discuss his bipartisan Telehealth Innovation and Improvement Act, legislation that would expand access to health care by paving the way for Medicare to cover additional telehealth services. Last year, Spectrum Health launched a telehealth service called MedNow, which allows patients to virtually visit with a health care professional. Spectrum has completed 4,500 secure email and video visits with pa… Continue Reading
01.28.16
Senators Peters, Stabenow and Congressman Kildee Announce Legislation to Help Flint Families
WASHINGTON, D.C.- U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Congressman Dan Kildee (D-MI) today announced new legislation to help Flint families. First, the legislation provides up to $400 million in new federal emergency funding to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to help replace or fix the City of Flint's water supply infrastructure. Second, it establishes and funds a $200 million Center of Excellence on Lead Exposure to focus on the immediate and long-t… Continue Reading
01.27.16
Peters, Stabenow & Kildee to Introduce Public Notification Bill to Prevent Another Flint Water Crisis
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U. S. Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow and Congressman Dan Kildee announced that they will be introducing legislation to clarify the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) authority to notify the public if there is a danger from lead in their water system. The bill would direct the EPA to notify residents and health departments if the amount of lead found in a public water system requires action in the absence of notification by the State. The legislation also … Continue Reading
01.25.16
Peters, Stabenow & Kildee Call For Expanded Head Start for Flint Kids
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow and Congressman Dan Kildee announced they are sending a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) urging that Head Start be made available for every eligible child in the City of Flint. Last year, Congress approved an additional $135 million to expand the Early Head Start program, and the Members asked that the City of Flint be included in the expansion and that HHS provide technical assistance to community… Continue Reading
01.22.16
Peters, Kildee Call for Extension of ACA Open Enrollment Period For Flint Residents
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters and Congressman Dan Kildee today urged Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), Sylvia Burwell, to extend the open enrollment period to sign up for health insurance on the federal exchange for residents of Flint. They also called for the HHS to increase outreach in the City of Flint to better educate residents about available health care options. Quality healthcare is one factor that can help mitigate some of the adverse physical, cognitive and beha… Continue Reading
01.22.16
Peters, Stabenow, Kildee Urge Snyder to Request Small Business Administration Assistance for Flint
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Congressman Dan Kildee (D-MI) today sent a letter to Governor Snyder urging him to engage with the Small Business Administration (SBA) and request SBA disaster loans in response to the Flint water crisis. Depending on which type of SBA disaster declaration is requested by the Governor and issued by the President or SBA Administrator, eligible businesses, homeowners, renters and non-profit organizations im… Continue Reading
01.21.16
Peters Statement on Recent Developments in Flint Water Crisis
Washington, D.C. -U.S. Senator Gary Peters issued the following statements regarding recent developments related to the water crisis in Flint. Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it had issued a Safe Drinking Water Act emergency order for Flint. In its announcement, the EPA also outlined additional actions for the State of Michigan to comply with federal standards, as well as internal actions the agency is taking to improve its future response to similar situation… Continue Reading
01.20.16
Peters, Stabenow & Weaver Discuss Flint Water Crisis With Department of HHS
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow and Flint Mayor Karen Weaver today met with Dr. Nicole Lurie, Assistant Secretary of Preparedness and Response at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), to discuss the ongoing water crisis in Flint, Michigan. The White House announced yesterday that Dr. Lurie has been designated to coordinate the federal response in Flint, and Dr. Lurie and her team are traveling to Michigan to work with state and local officials t… Continue Reading
01.19.16
Peters Statement on Gov. Snyder State of the State Address
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) today released the following statement in response to Michigan Governor Rick Snyder's annual State of the State Address: "The water crisis in Flint is an immense failure on the part of the State of Michigan to protect the health and safety of the City's residents, and the State must accept full responsibility for its actions that led to this catastrophe. While I was pleased to hear the Governor speak directly to the people of Flint, I believe the … Continue Reading
01.18.16
Peters Statement in Advance of Gov. Snyder State of the State Address
Detroit, MI - U.S. Senator Gary Peters issued the following statement in advance of Michigan Governor Rick Snyder's annual State of the State Address tomorrow: "As Governor Snyder prepares to deliver his State of the State address tomorrow, he should use this opportunity to outline concrete steps he will take to right the colossal wrong that has taken place in Flint as a result of inconceivably short-sighted decision making on the part of his Administration. "The effects of Flint's water c… Continue Reading
01.18.16
Peters Statement on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) released the following statement in commemoration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day: "Today, we honor the life and legacy of an American hero, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It is fitting that we celebrate Dr. King with a day of service considering that his commitment to helping others shaped our history in a way that few others are able to do. By relying on a deep sense of community and compassion, rather than hatred and violence, his message represe… Continue Reading
01.17.16
Peters Statement on Release of Amir Hekmati
DETROIT, MI - U.S. Senator Gary Peters released the following statement on Iran's release of Amir Hekmati, a former U.S. Marine from Flint, Michigan who has been held captive by the Iranian government since 2011. Iran had originally accused Amir Hekmati of espionage and sentenced him to death, but the Iranian Supreme Court threw out that charge and sentenced him to 10 years in prison instead. "I join the Hekmati family, the State of Michigan and the entire country in celebrating the release … Continue Reading
01.16.16
Peters Statement On President Obama Signing Emergency Declaration for Flint
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Gary Peters issued the following statement after President Obama signed an emergency declaration for Flint, Michigan. Yesterday, Senator Peters joined Senator Stabenow and Congressman Kildee in writing to President Obama in support of the State of Michigan's request for federal assistance. " I am grateful that the President has declared a state of emergency to help ensure residents have immediate access to safe drinking water. However, the families of Flint, part… Continue Reading
01.15.16
Senators Peters, Stabenow and Congressman Kildee Urge Governor Snyder to Accept Responsibility, Commit Resources for Flint Water Crisis
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Congressman Dan Kildee (D-MI) today sent a letter to Governor Snyder urging him to commit state resources to address the short term and long term damage from the Flint water crisis, including the establishment of a Future Fund for children exposed to lead poisoning. The letter also asks for assurances that the State will commit to repair the damaged water infrastructure, reimburse residents' water bills, … Continue Reading
01.15.16
Senators Peters, Stabenow and Congressman Kildee Urge President Obama to Provide Federal Assistance to Flint, Help State Meet its Responsibility to Families
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Congressman Dan Kildee (D-MI) today sent a letter to President Barack Obama urging him to support the State of Michigan's request for federal assistance in Flint. The letter reads in part: "Over the last several years, our Governor and state regulators have failed to meet their legal responsibilities to protect the public health and well-being of the people of Flint….In addition to the substantial… Continue Reading
01.15.16
Peters, Stabenow Announce Support for Great Lakes Habitat Restoration
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow today announced $497,507 in funding for the Great Lakes Commission to lead a regional partnership to restore habitats in the Great Lakes. The Commission will work with the West Michigan Shoreline Regional Development Commission to restore fish passage and habitat in Muskegon Lake. This funding comes from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. "Protecting the health and sustainability of the Great Lakes is a top conce… Continue Reading
