In the News
Peters, Stabenow & Colleagues Urge Department of Defense to Restore National Guard Bonuses
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (MI), a former Lt. Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve, and Debbie Stabenow (MI) joined 28 of their colleagues in a bipartisan letter urging U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter to restore bonuses and benefits incorrectly awarded to National Guard soldiers in California through no fault of their own. The Department of Defense has sought to recoup the wrongly awarded benefits after an audit found that due to faulty paperwork, mistakes by recruiters, and… Continue Reading
10.29.16
Detroit Free Press: Senate bill aims to honor automotive history
by Mark Phelan
America's history of automotive invention could soon have federal recognition, thanks to a bill introduced by U.S. Sen. Gary Peters of Michigan. "We want to preserve the incredible heritage this country has of innovation and putting the world on wheels," Peters said of the National Historical Vehicle Register Act. "The auto industry represents the breadth of human ingenuity." He hopes the bill will be passed into law when Congress resumes after the Nov. 8 election. The law would recognize the… Continue Reading
10.28.16
Macomb Daily: Peters presents veterans with commemorative pins
by Macomb Daily
They were honored to serve and now their country is honoring them. During a ceremony at the U.S. Army Tank-Automotive & Armaments Command (TACOM) Detroit Arsenal in Warren, Sen. Gary Peters presented nearly 100 Vietnam War veterans from Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties with commemorative lapel pins in recognition of their service in the war. It's part of a national effort to honor the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War. "Michigan is home to more veterans from the Vietnam War than any o… Continue Reading
10.24.16
Oakland Press: Peters say region is in ‘fierce competition’ to keep autonomous vehicle development here
by Anne Runkle
Sen. Gary Peters (D-Michigan) understands that in the Motor City, people love their cars. They especially love driving them. It's not entirely surprising that they're a bit uncomfortable with turning over the steering wheel to a computer, Peters said. But, he said in a speech in Troy, the region is in "fierce competition" to capitalize on the rapid development of autonomous vehicles -- and the high-paying jobs that industry would bring. Speaking to members of Automation Alley, a technology b… Continue Reading
10.21.16
WDIV (NBC): Vietnam veterans receive special pin from Senator Peters
by Guy Gordon
More than 130 Vietnam veterans gathered to receive special commemorative pins, Friday, in honor of them and the 50th anniversary of the controversial conflict. Sen. Gary Peters hosted the ceremony honoring the war vets, and the event proved to be an emotional one. "It's one of the greatest moments of my life. It was worth the wait." said Stan Jr. who was with his 97-year-old father to share his pride. Landon Sitarskia, 13, accepted a pin for his grandfather, who died 5 years ago. Local 4's G… Continue Reading
10.21.16
Detroit News: Metro Detroit Vietnam vets honored with lapel pins
by Charles E. Ramirez
Warren - Air Force veteran Charles Dunn was on cloud nine Friday after a U.S. senator shook his hand and he was given a special lapel pin for his service in the Vietnam War. "I thought it was great," said Dunn, a 74-year-old from Westland. "I thought it was the greatest thing since peanut butter. I really did." Dunn served in the Air Force and was in Vietnam in 1966-67. He was discharged as an E-6, or technical sergeant. He was one of more than 100 Vietnam-era vets from across the Metro Detro… Continue Reading
10.21.16
Detroit Free Press: Michigan Vietnam War veterans honored with commemorative pin
by Christina Hall
U.S. Senator Gary Peters hands out lapel pins with an eagle and the words Vietnam War Veteran to Michigan vets Bruce Campbell served as a Navy corpsman, or medic, during the Vietnam War, running convoys and treating both wounded American soldiers and the Vietnamese. Like many Vietnam War veterans, the 69-year-old Holly man didn't talk about his war experiences when he returned home. About a year ago, he said, he started going for counseling and was diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder… Continue Reading
10.14.16
Detroit Free Press: Peters, Stabenow want answers on Great Lakes research
by Todd Spangler
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Sen. Gary Peters and a group of others from the upper Midwest are asking whether a new report on ocean research over the next decade could impact studies -- and research spending -- in the Great Lakes. Peters, D-Mich., led a group of Great Lakes senators writing to the National Science Foundation on Friday wanting to know what impact if any the recommendations made in the recent National Academy of Sciences report could have on research efforts in the Lakes. "The physical an… Continue Reading
10.07.16
C&G; Newspapers: Students tour factory for Manufacturing Day
by Brendan Losinski
When people think of manufacturing jobs, they might think of dark, foreboding factories that offer little except poor-paying manual labor jobs. However, there are those who are trying to show the world that this couldn't be further from the truth. This attitude is what led to the creation of Manufacturing Day, which takes place Oct. 7. It is a national effort to celebrate American manufacturing and inspire future generations to pursue jobs that make everything from machine parts to military air… Continue Reading
10.03.16
WZZM (ABC): Sen. Gary Peters promotes manufacturing in Grand Rapids
by WZZM (ABC)
GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. - Michigan Sen. Gary Peters was in Grand Rapids Monday, Sept. 3, to discuss the future of our state's manufacturing industry. Peters toured Wolverine Coil Spring and met with students from Innovation Central High School. He recently introduced legislation to promote science, technology, engineering and math educational opportunities. "If you're part of manufacturing, you will be a part of these transformational changes that will make life better for all of us," Peters said.… Continue Reading
10.03.16
Oakland Press: Peters cosponsors legislation to aid veterans affected by ITT Technical Institute closures
by Anne Runkle
U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-Michigan) announced that he has cosponsored bipartisan legislation that would provide relief for veterans whose Post-9/11 GI Bill educational benefits are affected by the permanent closure of for-profit schools. Recently, the Department of Veterans Affairs found that more than 6,800 veterans using their GI Bill benefits were enrolled nationwide in various programs at for-profit ITT Technical Institute, which operated campuses in Troy, Dearborn and Canton before it sudde… Continue Reading
10.03.16
WZZM (ABC): Sen. Gary Peters promotes manufacturing in Grand Rapids
by WZZM (ABC)
GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. - Michigan Sen. Gary Peters was in Grand Rapids Monday, Sept. 3, to discuss the future of our state's manufacturing industry. Peters toured Wolverine Coil Spring and met with students from Innovation Central High School. He recently introduced legislation to promote science, technology, engineering and math educational opportunities. "If you're part of manufacturing, you will be a part of these transformational changes that will make life better for all of us," Peters said.… Continue Reading
09.27.16
Detroit News: Editorial: Send Flint relief residents deserve
by The Detroit News
Members of Congress are holding up the government funding bill over whether they should include emergency money for Flint. Lawmakers, who are planning to include $500 million in disaster relief for recent Louisiana flood victims, are at odds about aid for Flint's man-made disaster. This isn't the time for a partisan slug-fest. A disaster is a disaster, no matter the cause. And what happened in Flint, with lead leaching into the drinking water, definitely counts as a disaster. The people of Flin… Continue Reading
09.26.16
WTVG (ABC): Lawmakers plan for extreme solar storm
by Ross Ellet
TOLEDO (13abc Action News) - When it comes to extreme weather, some storms are just out of this world. Solar storms that develop 93 million miles away could change our way of life. GPS, cell phones and electricity are things we depend on every day, but huge eruptions of plasma from the sun could shut down satellites and overpower the electric grid. "Realistically it will happen again" says Dr. Michael Cushing. Cushing is an associate professor of physics and astronomy at the University of Toledo… Continue Reading
09.23.16
Automobile Magazine: Bill Would Make Historic Vehicles a Federal Designation
by Todd Lassa
Historic automobiles, trucks and motorcycles would get the same treatment as landmark buildings recognized by the National Register of Historic Places under legislation U.S. Senator Gary Peters, D-Michigan, introduced Thursday. The bill would lend an official federal government stamp of approval to the Historic Vehicle Association's (HVA) growing list of such cars and trucks. Peters' bill also recognizes similar work on historic cycles by the American Motorcyclist Association. The insurance comp… Continue Reading
09.22.16
Detroit News: Editorial: House should move Flint relief bills
by The Detroit News
All that stands between Flint and the federal funds it needs to push ahead the rebuilding of its tainted water system is approval by the House of an aid bill that has already sailed through the Senate. That chamber should move the package quickly, and help Flint put its water crisis in the past. The legislation would send $100 million to Flint for its water infrastructure. While that's not enough money to fully replace all of the city's water lines, it would certainly help remove those most res… Continue Reading
09.21.16
Roll Call: Take Five: Sen. Gary Peters
by Alex Gangitano
Democratic Sen. Gary Peters, 57, talks motorcycles, his childhood paper route and Michigan's breweries. Q: What's your favorite hobby? A: My favorite hobby is riding motorcycles. When I go back to Michigan and get on a motorcycle, it's kind of my way of having an escape - to get away from cellphones, get away from any kind of communications, to have the wind blown in your face. When I was back in August, I did a motorcycle tour across Michigan and visited local communities and met with small b… Continue Reading
09.15.16
Detroit Free Press: U.S. Senate passes bill with $100 million for Flint
by Todd Spangler
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Senate passed sweeping legislation Thursday authorizing water-related projects around the nation, including at least $100 million to replace and repair lead water pipes in Flint. Passage of the Water Resources Development Act for this year had been widely expected since it had bipartisan support in the Senate. But with legislative days running out in an election year and much yet to be done - including passing legislation to fund the government - the bill and its Flint fu… Continue Reading
09.14.16
Detroit News: Lawmakers seek aid for wrongly discharged veterans
by Melissa Nann Burke
Washington - Federal lawmakers are trying to make benefits available to veterans who may have been discharged in error due to behavior stemming from trauma during their service. Veterans can be denied Veterans Administration health care and other benefits if they received dishonorable or less-than-honorable discharges. However, the military and veterans' advocates are finding that thousands of former service members had undiagnosed post-traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injuries at t… Continue Reading
09.13.16
Stars and Stripes: Veterans advocates, lawmakers fight for protection in NDAA against less-than-honorable discharges
by Nikki Wentling
WASHINGTON - Veterans service organizations are pressuring lawmakers working on the National Defense Authorization Act to include an amendment protecting servicemembers with mental illness from less-than-honorable discharges. Veterans advocates and lawmakers said Tuesday at a news conference outside the Capitol that about 22,000 veterans with mental illness have received less-than-honorable discharges, called "bad paper," since 2009. Those veterans lose out on Department of Veterans Affairs hea… Continue Reading
