Press Releases
Peters Statement on Andrew Puzder’s Withdrawal for Consideration as Labor Secretary
WASHINGTON, DC - Below is a statement from U.S. Senator Gary Peters on the Andrew Puzder's withdrawal from consideration as Labor Secretary: "American workers deserve a Secretary of Labor who will stand up for them and their families and work to create and keep good paying jobs here in the United States. But Mr. Puzder's business practices and treatment of his own employees shows he would prioritize special interests over what's best for middle-class working families. Mr. Puzder's withdrawal is… Continue Reading
02.15.17
Peters Introduces Outsourcing Accountability Act
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) today introduced the Outsourcing Accountability Act which will help consumers identify which companies are sending jobs overseas by requiring publicly traded companies to disclose their total numbers of employees by location, including by state and by country. The legislation will also require companies to report the total number of employees and percentage change in employment numbers for each state and country where they have operations. U.S. Sena… Continue Reading
02.14.17
Peters Pays Tribute to Detroit Entrepreneur Mike Ilitch in Official Congressional Record
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) paid tribute to Mike Ilitch, founder of Little Caesars Pizza and owner of the Detroit Red Wings and the Detroit Tigers. Text of his remarks in the Congressional Record: Mr. President, I rise today to remember Michael "Mike" Ilitch of Detroit, Michigan, founder of Little Caesars Pizza and owner of the Detroit Tigers and Detroit Red Wings. Sadly, Mr. Ilitch passed away last week at the age of 87. Mr. Ilitch was enthusiastic about sports, passiona… Continue Reading
02.13.17
Sens. Peters and Thune Announce Joint Effort on Self-Driving Vehicles
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI) and U.S. Senator John Thune (R-SD), the chairman of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, today announced a joint effort to explore legislation that clears hurdles and advances innovation in self-driving vehicle technology. Peters and Thune offered the following joint statement on this new partnership: "More than any other automotive technology in history, self-driving vehicles have the potential to dramatically reduce the more than… Continue Reading
02.13.17
Peters, Stabenow Join Colleagues to Introduce Legislation Protecting Scientists from Government Interference
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow joined 26 of their Senate colleagues to introduce legislation that will protect scientists working for the federal government from political interference. The Senators introduced the legislation in response to recent reports that the Trump Administration placed gag orders on employees at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and halted public communication from other agencies, including the Department of Health and Human Service… Continue Reading
02.09.17
In Advance of His Meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Senators Urge President Trump to Address Japan’s Unfair Trade Practices in Auto Sector
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In advance of his meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Rob Portman (R-OH), Gary Peters (D-MI), Roy Blunt (R-MO), and Claire McCaskill (D-MO) wrote to President Trump asking him to make Japan's longstanding unfair trade practices in the auto sector a priority for the bilateral meeting. The Senators called on Trump to address Japan's use of currency manipulation, a practice that hurts American workers and p… Continue Reading
02.09.17
Peters Renews Efforts to Close the Rural Broadband Gap
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) joined a bipartisan group of Senators in urging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to adopt a Universal Service Fund (USF) Mobility Fund Phase II (MFII), which is aimed at providing broadband service to rural and underserved areas. The Senators sent a letter to new FCC Chairman Ajit Pai calling for the agency to prioritize new mobile broadband deployment in these areas as well as preserve and upgrade mobile broadband where it is currently a… Continue Reading
02.08.17
Peters, Stabenow Push for Answers About Price Hike for Lifesaving Anti-Opioid Drug
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow joined 29 other Senators in a letter pushing for answers from a leading pharmaceutical company about the dramatic price hike for a life-saving medication used to respond to opioid overdoses. Recent reports unveiled that drug maker Kaléo Pharmaceuticals, which manufactures an easy-to-use injector device containing the overdose-reversing drug Naloxone, raised its price from $690 in 2014, to $4,500 currently. While the Evzio … Continue Reading
02.08.17
Peters, Heller Introduce the Pet and Women Safety Act
WASHINGTON, D.C.-U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Dean Heller (R-NV) today announced they are reintroducing the Pet and Women Safety (PAWS) Act, bicameral, bipartisan legislation to protect victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and dating violence from emotional and psychological trauma caused by violence against their pets. Multiple studies have shown that domestic abusers often seek to manipulate or intimidate their victims by threatening or harming their pets, but accordi… Continue Reading
02.06.17
Sen. Peters’ Urges Colleagues to Oppose DeVos for Education Secretary
Peters: "The American people are making their voices heard, and they are telling the U.S. Senate that Mrs. DeVos is not the right choice" Peters: "Given Mrs. DeVos' history of supporting policies that undermine traditional public schools and the communities they serve, I do not think she would act in the best interests of American students" Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters spoke on the floor of the U.S. Senate today urging his colleagues to oppose the nomination of Betsy DeVos as Secr… Continue Reading
02.03.17
Peters Statement Opposing Mick Mulvaney for Director of the Office of Management and Budget
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) released the following statement opposing the nomination of U.S. Representative Mick Mulvaney to be the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Peters voted against Mulvaney's nomination on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. "Social Security and Medicare are sacred promises that Michigan seniors rely on to retire with dignity after working their entire lives. During the campaign, President Trump promised… Continue Reading
02.02.17
Peters Statement Honoring Black History Month
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) issued the following statement to commemorate Black History Month: "In celebration of Black History Month, we recognize the importance of diversity to the fabric of our country. African Americans have made significant contributions to our society - from serving in our armed forces and starting innovative businesses to making scientific breakthroughs and fighting for equal rights. This month, we honor the stories and legacies of the many African A… Continue Reading
02.01.17
Sen. Peters’ Remarks on Secretary of State Nominee Rex Tillerson
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters spoke on the floor of the U.S. Senate last night about why he will not support the nomination of Rex Tillerson as Secretary of State. Watch his remarks here. Below are his remarks as prepared for delivery: "Mr. President, I rise to express my opposition to the nomination of Rex Tillerson as Secretary of State. The position of Secretary of State was one of the original four Cabinet positions created by President George Washington. Even after we decla… Continue Reading
02.01.17
Peters Statement Opposing Sen. Jeff Sessions Nomination for Attorney General
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Gary Peters issued the following statement in opposition of Senator Jeff Sessions' nomination to be U.S. Attorney General: "The U.S. Attorney General is responsible for protecting the civil rights of all Americans, and I do not believe that Senator Sessions' past positions and comments are consistent with carrying out that duty. He has denigrated respected civil rights organizations like the NAACP. He also fiercely opposed legislative efforts to protect voting ri… Continue Reading
02.01.17
Peters to Serve as Ranking Member of Federal Spending Oversight Subcommittee
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), a member of the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee, today announced he will serve as Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Federal Spending Oversight and Emergency Management. The Subcommittee is tasked with ensuring the federal government operates effectively and that tax dollars are used efficiently. The Subcommittee also holds jurisdiction over the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), ensuring the federal government… Continue Reading
02.01.17
Peters Statement on President Trump’s Supreme Court Nominee
WASHINGTON, DC-U.S. Senator Gary Peters issued the following statement on President Trump's nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch, who currently serves on the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States: "Just as President Obama did, President Trump has a constitutional responsibility to nominate Justices to fill vacancies on the Supreme Court, and the U.S. Senate has a constitutional responsibility to consider those nominees. For 293 days… Continue Reading
01.31.17
Peters Announces Armed Services Subcommittee Assignments
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), a member of the Armed Services Committee, announced that he will serve on three subcommittees overseeing key components of Michigan's military installations and growing defense manufacturing industry. Peters was named to the Subcommittee on Airland, which oversees the National Guard and military reserves, as well as the Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities and the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces. "Our country is facing new and evolvi… Continue Reading
01.30.17
Peters, Colleagues Urge Clarification from Homeland Security Secretary on Executive Order Restricting Refugee Admissions to United States
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) today joined his colleagues on the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee in a letter requesting a meeting with Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary John Kelly amid troubling reports that he and key members within DHS were not appropriately involved with the crafting and implementation of President Trump's latest Executive Order restricting refugee admissions to the United States. In the letter, Peters and his colleague… Continue Reading
01.28.17
Peters Statement on Trump Executive Orders Suspending Refugee Program, Effectively Implementing Religious Test
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters released the following statement condemning President Trump's executive orders restricting refugee admissions to the United States: "As a member of the Senate Homeland Security and Armed Services Committees, my top priority is ensuring we're doing everything we can to keep Americans safe. But I am also proud to represent vibrant Muslim and Arab American communities that are integral to Michigan's culture and our economy. "One of America's founding - an… Continue Reading
01.26.17
Peters, Stabenow Demand Trump Exempt Entire VA from Hiring Freeze
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters, a former Lt. Commander in the Navy Reserve, and U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow joined a group of 53 members of Congress to demand President Trump exempt the entire VA and all veterans seeking federal jobs from his executive order that freezes federal hiring. The Senate and House Members say Trump's hiring freeze will have devastating impacts on veterans and their families. "A hiring freeze at VA will delay veterans' access to health care and resolution o… Continue Reading
