Press Releases
Peters, Senate Dems Urge Congress to Work in Bipartisan Fashion to Address Devastating Impacts of Climate Change Ahead of Senator Cruz-Led Congressional Hearing to Continue Denying Climate Change
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, in advance of a controversial hearing designed to question the existence of climate change, U.S. Senators Gary Peters, Tom Udall, Brian Schatz and Ed Markey called on Republicans to work with Senate Democrats to take action to mitigate the devastating impacts of climate change. While leaders from over 190 countries are gathered in Paris to negotiate an international plan to address climate change, Senator Ted Cruz is holding a Space, Science and Competitiveness Subcommitt… Continue Reading
12.04.15
Peters Applauds Army Investigation into Wrongful Discharge of Servicemembers with Mental Health Disorders
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), a former Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve, today applauded the U.S. Army's announcement that they will conduct a thorough, multidisciplinary investigation into allegations that the Army has, since 2009, wrongfully dismissed more than 22,000 soldiers for misconduct after they returned from deployment and were diagnosed with mental health disorders. The Army's announcement comes after Peters joined 11 of his Senate colleagues in requesti… Continue Reading
12.04.15
Peters Applauds Passage of Highway Bill Including Vehicle-to-Infrastructure Technology Provision
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) applauded the passage of a five-year highway bill in the Senate last night that includes language from his bipartisan Vehicle-to-Infrastructure Safety Technology Investment Flexibility Act of 2015. The provision allows states to use existing surface and highway transportation funds to invest in vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communication technology that has the potential to help reduce traffic congestion and accidents. "As we upgrade our nation… Continue Reading
12.03.15
Peters, Stabenow, Miller Urge Obama Administration to Support Funding for Blue Water Bridge
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow (MI) and Rep. Candice Miller (MI-10) today wrote to Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson and Director of the Office of Management and Budget Shaun Donovan urging the Administration to make the expansion of a customs plaza for the Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron a high priority for funding in the Fiscal Year 2017 budget. Despite land being cleared and property demolished in Port Huron for the expansion, funding for the customs p… Continue Reading
12.02.15
Peters, Gardner Introduce Bill to Expand Access to Telehealth Services
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (MI) and Cory Gardner (R-CO) today introduced the Telehealth Innovation and Improvement Act, legislation that would expand access to health care in rural areas by paving the way for Medicare to cover additional telehealth services. Currently, Medicare covers limited telehealth services, setting a poor industry standard, discouraging innovation, and restricting access to specialized services. "Telehealth has revolutionized healthcare, helping more pati… Continue Reading
12.01.15
Senate Passes Peters, Stabenow Resolution Recognizing Rosa Parks’ Courage, Contributions to the Civil Rights Movement
WASHINGTON, D.C.- U.S. Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow applauded the Senate's passage last night of a bipartisan resolution to honor the 60th anniversary of when civil rights pioneer Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a white passenger on a Montgomery, Ala., bus. Parks' December 1, 1955 arrest sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which was a turning point in the fight for civil rights. She and her husband, Raymond, relocated to Michigan in 1957 where she lived until her death in 2… Continue Reading
11.20.15
Peters, Stabenow Urge Funding for Great Lakes Heavy Icebreaker
WASHINGTON, DC-U.S. Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow sent a letter to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Homeland Security calling for robust funding in the fiscal year 2016 appropriations legislation for the U.S. Coast Guard to design and build a new heavy icebreaker for the Great Lakes region. Heavy ice cover seen in recent winters has seriously impaired commercial shipping and economic activity in the Great Lakes. Last winter, cargo … Continue Reading
11.20.15
Peters Introduces Legislation to Encourage Charitable Foundation Investments to Boost Economic Recovery
WASHINGTON, DC-U.S. Senator Gary Peters announced today that he joined Republican Senator Cory Gardner (CO) to introduce the Philanthropic Facilitation Act, legislation to streamline the approval process for charitable foundations to expand investments in local communities, increase economic development and create jobs. In Michigan, private organizations like the Kresge Foundation, Skillman Foundation, Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Family Foundation and W.K. Kellogg Foundation have helped boost … Continue Reading
11.18.15
Peters Applauds $2.7 Million Project with University of Michigan for Study of Connected Vehicles and Fuel Efficiency
WASHINGTON, DC-U.S. Senator Gary Peters today applauded the announcement of a $2.7 million project with the University of Michigan's Mobility Transformation Center (MTC), the Transportation Research Institute and the College of Engineering to study how connected vehicle technology can make driving more efficient. The project was announced today by the Department of Energy's Vehicle Technologies Office. Connected vehicle technologies like vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2… Continue Reading
11.17.15
At the Urging of Senators Peters and Stabenow, Obama Administration Approves $1.35 Million to Help Upgrade Soo Locks
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow today applauded the Obama Administration for approving $1.35 million to review critical upgrades to the aging locks at Sault Ste. Marie. In June, the Senators called on Office of Management and Budget Director Sean Donovan to approve the Army Corps of Engineers' request to help replace the Davis and Sabin Locks with a lock of similar size to the Poe Lock. Currently, 70 percent of cargo vessels, including all of the large lake freig… Continue Reading
11.13.15
Peters Statement on Paris Terror Attacks
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) released the following statement after the attacks in Paris: "Tonight our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families and loved ones following the horrific terrorist attacks in Paris. We mourn alongside the entire country of France in the wake of this inhumane violence. As Americans, we must stand united with the people of France and provide our help and support to our oldest ally in this time of need." ###… Continue Reading
11.13.15
Peters, Dingell Announce Legislation Promoting Vehicle Innovation at Leggett and Platt Commercial Vehicle Products
WASHINGTON, DC - Today U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) and U.S. Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-12) visited Leggett and Platt Commercial Vehicle Products in Taylor to announce new legislation, the Vehicle Innovation Act that will be introduced in the House of Representatives next week. The bill will promote investments in research and development of clean vehicle technologies to create more fuel-efficient vehicles, reduce our nation's dependence on foreign oil and support American auto manufactur… Continue Reading
11.11.15
Peters Statement Honoring Veteran’s Day
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) today released the following statement in recognition of Veteran's Day and the proud men and women who have bravely served our nation: "On Veteran's Day, we honor the immense contributions and sacrifices of America's veterans, including the more than 650,000 veterans who call Michigan home. For generations, our veterans - and their families - have answered the call of duty and served our country with bravery and honor. As a nation, we are grateful… Continue Reading
11.06.15
In Advance of Veterans Day, Dingell, Peters & Stabenow Introduce Legislation to Award Long-Overdue Medal of Honor to Ypsilanti Vietnam Veteran
WASHINGTON, DC - Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-12) and U.S. Senators Gary Peters (MI) and Debbie Stabenow (MI) today introduced legislation that would allow Major Charles S. Kettles of Ypsilanti to be awarded the Medal of Honor. The bill was introduced following a request from the Ypsilanti Rotary Veterans History Project to review Major Kettles' actions during the Vietnam War. Upon review, Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter determined that Major Kettles' actions merited the nation's highest … Continue Reading
11.05.15
Senators Peters, Stabenow, Congressman Kildee Call for Newly Elected Canadian Prime Minister to Stop Storage of Nuclear Waste on Great Lakes
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Congressman Dan Kildee (D-MI) today urged newly elected Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to take action to stop nuclear waste from being buried less than a mile from Lake Huron. In a letter to the Prime Minister, Sens. Peters, Stabenow and Rep. Kildee urged the new Canadian government to not approve permits necessary to construct a proposed nuclear waste site in Kincardine, Ontario. The previous Can… Continue Reading
11.04.15
Peters Calls for Full Investigation into Wrongful Discharge of Servicemembers with Mental Health Disorders
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), a former Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve, today joined his colleagues in calling on the Pentagon to conduct a full U.S. Army Inspector General investigation into recent allegations that the U.S. Army has, since 2009, wrongfully dismissed more than 22,000 soldiers for misconduct after they returned from deployment and were diagnosed with mental health disorders. In a letter addressed to Acting Under Secretary of the Army, Eric Fanning,… Continue Reading
11.02.15
Peters Recognizes National Veterans Small Business Week
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), a member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship and a former Lt. Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve, today released the following statement recognizing the week of November 2-6 as National Veterans Small Business Week: "America's servicemembers are leaders on the frontlines of battle and in their communities back home. The skills, motivation and training these men and women develop through their military service make them s… Continue Reading
10.30.15
Peters Offers Assistance with Applications for SBA Disaster Recovery Loans
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) today encouraged small businesses across Michigan that have been affected by excessive rain and cooler than normal temperatures that began on April 1, 2014 to contact his office if they need help applying for a disaster assistance loan through the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Currently, the SBA's Economic Injury Disaster Loans program is available to eligible Michigan farm-related and nonfarm-related entities that suffered financial los… Continue Reading
10.29.15
Peters, Stabenow Call for Extension of Perkins Student Loan Program
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow today joined a bipartisan group of Senators in sending a letter urging Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Minority Leader Harry Reid to take up and pass a one-year, no-cost extension of the Perkins Loan Program, which expired on October 1st. The Perkins Loan Program provides low-interest loans to help students with exceptional financial need pay for their education. The U.S. House of Representatives passed a one-year extensio… Continue Reading
10.28.15
Peters Cosponsors Legislation Strengthening U.S.-Jordan Defense Cooperation
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) today announced that he has cosponsored the United States-Jordan Defense Cooperation Act, bipartisan legislation that will strengthen American military cooperation with Jordan. Along with Israel, Jordan is a key U.S. ally in the Middle East and is currently taking part in airstrikes against ISIS in both Iraq and Syria as a member of the Global Coalition to Counter ISIL. "As ISIS continues to sow instability in the Middle East and pose a serious thr… Continue Reading
