Huron Daily Tribune: Sen. Peters pushes dual enrollment opportunities during Thumb visit

BAD AXE — U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) toured the Huron Area Tech Center on Monday morning, after meeting with officials to discuss dual enrollment opportunities.

Peters is currently sponsoring bipartisan, bicameral legislation to increase grant funding for dual enrollment.

Dual enrollment can offset college financial aid requirements significantly, Peters said.

Lane Walker, assistant principal at the tech center, said that debt management and financial literacy are important aspects of any college education, and Peters agreed.

“Before they let you sign on the dotted line for a federal loan,” Peters said, such training should be available during the loan application process.

Huron Intermediate Superintendent Joe Murphy and Director of Career and Technical Education Clark Brock were also among officials that told Peters of college credits available at the tech center.

“Every student that comes through our doors is earning college credit at one level or another,” Brock said.

Transferability is also something that the tech center looks at, Brock said.

Dual enrollment classes at the tech center are offered through Mid Michigan Community College.

Peters said the legislation would 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 is also working to secure a Michigan driverless car industry, he later told the Tribune during a meeting at its office.

Although California would also like to host such an industry, Peters said Michigan offers four seasons, including snow and ice on roadways for vehicle testing.

“I want to make sure it’s in Michigan,” he said.

Although California has Silicon Valley, Michigan hosts research centers for General Motors, Toyota and Nissan, with a Honda research center in northern Ohio.

Peters is also working on legislation to require that Medicare pays for telehealth services, which, he said would benefit rural areas.

Telehealth allows physican contact through phones, devices, computers and teleconferencing.

“Telehealth has revolutionized healthcare, helping more patients receive life-saving treatment, and we must ensure that people living in rural areas have equal access to the care they need,” said Sen. Peters.

In order to reach that goal, he said, effort must be put into rural Internet access.

He added that he hopes for bipartisan action in Washington next year on infrastructure that would include broadband and wireless access.

Peters also stopped at the Harbor Beach Coast Guard Station and the Croswell Michigan Sugar plant later in the day.