117TH CONGRESS IN REVIEW: Peters Continues to Deliver Results for Michigan, Authors and Passes More Bills Signed into Law than any U.S. Senator in Over 40 Years

DETROIT, MI – Over the past two years, during the 117^th Congress, U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) continued to deliver results for Michigan by authoring and passing 19 bills signed into law – the most of any U.S. Senator during a single Congress in more than 40 years – and helping to enact legislation that will improve the lives of Michiganders and the American people.

“Michiganders want leaders who will work across party lines to solve problems and help address issues impacting them and their families, and that’s how I have approached my work in the Senate,” said Senator Peters. “Working with my colleagues, we have passed into law legislation that is lowering prescription drug and energy costs, creating jobs and expanding domestic manufacturing, upgrading our roads and bridges, protecting the Great Lakes, strengthening the Postal Service and delivering long overdue VA benefits for our nation’s veterans.

“I look forward to building on these efforts and continuing to focus on the issues most important to Michiganders.”

Below is a recap of Senator Peters’ key accomplishments and efforts he supported in the 117^th Congress:

• AUTHORED AND PASSED 19 BILLS SIGNED INTO LAW, MOST OF ANY U.S. SENATOR IN A SINGLE CONGRESS IN 40 YEARS: In the 117^th Congress, Peters continued to build on his record of bipartisanship and effectiveness. Peters authored and was the principal sponsor of 19 bills signed into law – the most enacted into law by a U.S. Senator during a single Congress in more than 40 years, according to the Congressional Research Service and Senate Historical Office. This follows Peters’ work in the 116^th Congress (2019-2020), where he authored 10 bills signed into law – the most of any Senator in that Congress – and was recognized by the non-partisan Center for Effective Lawmaking as the most effective U.S. Senator for that two-year stretch, despite serving in the minority.
  
  
• LED HISTORIC EFFORTS TO STRENGTHEN NATIONAL SECURITY & IMPROVE GOVERNMENT AS CHAIRMAN OF THE SENATE HOMELAND SECURITY AND GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE: Under Peters’ leadership, the Committee continued its tradition of bipartisan cooperation to solve significant challenges facing the country. As Chairman, Peters authored and passed into law historic reforms to support the U.S. Postal Service, significantly enhance our cybersecurity defenses, improve our federal preparedness and response to natural disasters, and ensure government works in the best interest of taxpayers. Peters also led comprehensive investigations, including the first bipartisan investigation of the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol, an investigation into the rising threat of domestic terrorism, including white nationalist and anti-government violence, and an investigation into the federal government’s initial failures to prepare for and response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  
  

• LOWERED COSTS FOR FAMILIES & PASSED HISTORIC LEGISLATION TO TACKLE CLIMATE CHANGE: Peters helped pass the Inflation Reduction Act into law to lower health care and prescription drug costs for seniors on Medicare make landmark investments to tackle climate change, create jobs and incentivize domestic manufacturing, all while fighting inflation and reducing the federal deficit. Thanks to this historic law Peters helped enact, Michigan seniors on Medicare now will pay no more than $35 per month for insulin and will no longer have out-of-pocket costs for critical vaccines.
  
  

• INVESTED IN DOMESTIC MANUFACTURING & SEMICONDUCTOR PRODUCTION, LOWERING COSTS FOR CONSUMERS & STRENGTHENING NATIONAL SECURITY: Peters helped pass the CHIPS and Science Act into law to lower the cost of products American families depend on, bring high-quality jobs home, rebuild the U.S. semiconductor industry, and strengthen America’s national security. Peters led the charge with Senator Stabenow to successfully secure major support for the U.S. production of semiconductor technologies for the auto industry as part of this effort.
  
  
• SECURED BENEFITS FOR ALL GENERATIONS OF TOXIC-EXPOSED VETERANS: Peters helped pass historic, bipartisan legislation, the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act, to deliver all generations of toxic-exposed veterans the health care and benefits they earned for the first time in our nation’s history. Peters then met with local veterans in Flint, Grand Rapids, Traverse City, and Munising to highlight and raise awareness of these new VA benefits now available to veterans.
  
  
• INVESTED IN UPGRADING OUR NATION’S AGING INFRASTRUCTURE TO CREATE JOBS & STRENGTHEN MICHIGAN COMMUNITIES: Peters helped pass the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act into law, which is delivering for Michigan infrastructure, upgrading roads, bridges, and highways, expanding access to high-speed internet, investing in electric vehicle charging stations, and protecting the Great Lakes. The legislation also provided $1 billion for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), which is the largest investment in the program in history.
  
  

As Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Peters also secured a historic $500 million in the bipartisan infrastructure law for a program he created to help Michigan communities address the impacts of natural disasters, such as extreme flooding, shoreline erosion, and rising water levels. In 2021, Peters’ bipartisan Safeguarding Tomorrow through Ongoing Risk Mitigation (STORM) Act was signed into law, which helps states establish revolving loan funds for local governments to carry out mitigation projects that reduce natural disaster risk.

• SECURED FUNDING CRITICAL TO LAUNCH THE U.S. COAST GUARD GREAT LAKES CENTER OF EXPERTISE IN MICHIGAN: After enacting into law legislation to establish the U.S. Coast Guard Great Lakes Center of Expertise for Oil Spill Preparedness and Response, Peters secured federal funding for the Center and helped cut the ribbon at its grand opening at Lake Superior State University in Sault Ste. Marie. The Great Lakes Center of Expertise is studying the impacts of oil spills in freshwater environments and is affiliated with the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory in Ann Arbor and the Coast Guard.
  
  
• SUPPORTED FUNDING FOR HIGH-IMPACT LOCAL PROJECTS ACROSS MICHIGAN: Peters helped secure federal funding for a number of high-impact public local projects across Michigan through the annual government funding bills, including to improve public safety, upgrade and build more resilient infrastructure, and strengthen skills training programs. For a full list of projects Peters supported in the 117^th Congress, click here and here.
  
  
• HELPED CONFIRM RECORD NUMBER OF QUALIFIED JUDGES INCLUDING FROM MICHIGAN TO THE FEDERAL BENCH: Peters helped confirm 97 judges to serve in the federal judiciary, including voting to confirm now-Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court – the first African-American woman to hold this position. Peters supported the nominations of and helped confirm the following judges from Michigan:

1. Judge Shalina Kumar as U.S. District Court Judge for the Eastern District of Michigan
2. Judge Jane Beckering as U.S. District Court Judge for the Western District of Michigan
3. Judge F. Kay Behm as U.S. District Court Judge for the Eastern District of Michigan
4. Judge Stephanie Dawkins Davis to serve on the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
   
   
• DELIVERED CRITICAL RELIEF TO SUPPORT MICHIGAN FAMILIES & BUSINESSES DURING THE PANDEMIC: Peters helped pass the American Rescue Plan into law to deliver COVID-19 relief to Michiganders. The package included funding to accelerate vaccine distribution, help schools reopen safely, and support small businesses. Peters’ office also helped Michiganders, small businesses and communities access federal support and COVID relief. The bill also reauthorized and provided federal funding to the State Small Business Credit Initiative, including dedicated funding for minority-owned businesses, which helps small businesses grow and create jobs. Peters previously led the effort to reauthorize the program in the Senate and championed the original language creating the program in the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 as a member of the House of Representatives.
  
  

• LED EFFORTS TO STRENGTHEN & SUPPORT MICHIGAN AUTO INDUSTRY THROUGH CHAIRMANSHIP OF SENATE COMMERCE SUBCOMITTEE: As Chairman of the Commerce Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, Maritime, Freight, and Ports, Peters led numerous efforts to support Michigan autoworkers and manufacturers and cement Michigan’s leadership in mobility innovation in the 21^st century. In March 2022, Peters led a field hearing at the Detroit Regional Chamber to examine how Congress can help bolster U.S. innovation for electric and autonomous vehicles by increasing domestic production of semiconductor chips and other technologies, while also delivering economic, environmental, and safety benefits for the American people. Peters also led a hearing to examine ocean supply chain challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic that continue to impact businesses and families across the country through delays and price increases and a hearing assessing the future of the American auto industry and how it can continue driving job growth, transform mobility and improve safety. In addition, he held a subcommittee hearing on ways to strengthen America’s supply chain and support the freight industry and the thousands of workers that work in it.
  
  
• BROUGHT KEY MEMBERS OF THE ADMINISTRATION TO MICHIGAN: Peters facilitated or hosted numerous visits by key Administration officials in Michigan to meet with Michiganders and discuss solutions to pressing challenges:
  
  
1. U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo
2. U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas
3. U.S. Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall
4. U.S. Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth
5. U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks
6. Then-U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Chris Magnus
7. Director of the U.S. Census Bureau Robert Santos
8. Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Jen Easterly
9. National Cyber Director Chris Inglis
   
   
• SECURED MAJOR INVESTMENTS IN MICHIGAN’S DEFENSE FACILITIES: In both 2021 and 2022, Peters helped pass into law bipartisan, annual national defense legislation and secured multiple provisions in each bill to invest in Michigan’s military facilities. Peters secured a total of $138 million in investments in Michigan’s defense facilities, including:
  
  
1. $59 Million to Enhance Battle Creek Facilities: Peters secured $49 million in funding that will go toward constructing a new, state-of-the-art training facility at Battle Creek for Marine Corps reservists as well as a new vehicle maintenance facility, which will help extend the life of the vehicles they house. This funding will help ensure a Marine Corps presence at the Battle Creek unit for decades to come. Peters also secured $10 million to construct a new main gate and entrance facility to Battle Creek Air National Guard Base.
2. $28 Million for Selfridge Hangar & Maintenance Facilities: Peters secured $28 million in funding for a new A-10 hangar and maintenance facility at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Harrison Township. This investment will help keep A-10s flying at Selfridge for decades to come by ensuring that we’ve got the state-of-the-art infrastructure necessary to fly, maintain and train on A-10s.
3. $23 Million for Alpena Aircraft and Maintenance Facility & New Testing Designation: Peters fought for and secured $23 million in funding to go toward a new, state-of-the-art, 5th generation aircraft hangar and accompanying maintenance facilities at the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center. This funding will ensure that Alpena is capable of hosting the most modern aircrafts and that the facility can continue to serve as a premier training venue for our servicemembers and play a vital role in our national security.
4. $12 Million to Enhance Southfield Army Reserve Facility: Peters pressed for and secured $12 million in funding to help construct new maintenance facilities at the Army Reserve unit in Southfield, which will allow servicemembers who serve as mechanics to maintain and extend the lifespan of military vehicles and enable them to utilize the latest equipment and facilities.
5. $16 Million for Construction of a National Guard Readiness Center at Camp Grayling: Peters secured $16 million in funding to construct a state-of-the-art Readiness Center at Camp Grayling which will provide our Guardsmen with the latest facilities to help conduct training while integrating advanced technologies.

• HELPED MICHIGANDERS OBTAIN BENEFITS & RESOLVE ISSUES WITH FEDERAL AGENCIES: Peters’ office continued to assist Michigan families and small businesses obtain benefits and resolve issues involving the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Social Security Administration (SSA), Medicare, and others.

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