Peters Led Efforts to Strengthen U.S. National & Homeland Security, Save American Taxpayer Dollars, Support Our Nation’s Veterans, Bolster American Manufacturing, and More
WASHINGTON, DC – Over the past two years, during the 118th Congress, U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) continued to deliver for Michigan. Peters was the author and principal sponsor of 15 standalone bills that were signed into law. Peters’ efforts throughout the 118th Congress will help address key issues impacting Michiganders, including making government more efficient and saving taxpayer dollars, strengthening U.S. national and homeland security, supporting our nation’s veterans and their families, protecting the Great Lakes, addressing PFAS contamination, and bolstering American manufacturing. Peters also worked to expand Michigan’s defense footprint by securing generational investments for Selfridge Air National Guard Base and other military installations across the state.
“Improving the lives of Michiganders by finding commonsense solutions to the problems we face will always be my top priority,” said Senator Peters. “I’m proud of the bipartisan legislation I enacted by working across the aisle, from making sure Michiganders’ taxpayer dollars are being spent efficiently to keeping our communities safe. I won’t stop fighting to deliver for the families in our state.”
Peters has been repeatedly named one of the most effective and bipartisan senators. During the 117th Congress, Peters was the author and principal sponsor of 19 bills signed into law, the most by a U.S. Senator during a single Congress in more than 40 years, according to the Congressional Research Service and the Senate Historical Office. Peters was also consecutively ranked the #1 most effective senator by the non-partisan Center for Effective Lawmaking for both the 116th Congress and 117th Congress.
Below is a recap of Senator Peters’ key accomplishments and efforts in the 118th Congress:
SECURING MAJOR INVESTMENTS IN MICHIGAN’S MILITARY FACILITIES & DEFENSE SECTOR
As Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and a member of the Armed Service Committee, Peters:
Secured Full Squadron of New KC-46A Aircraft Tankers for Selfridge: Last January, Peters announced that Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Macomb County will receive a full squadron of KC-46A aircraft tankers. The announcement came shortly after Peters led a bipartisan, bicameral group of Michigan delegation members in urging U.S. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall to select Selfridge for a new squadron of these next-generation tankers, which will operate at Selfridge for the next 50 years.
Established Northern Border Mission Center at Selfridge: Peters secured a provision in the annual national defense bill that was signed into law to strengthen security at our Northern Border. The provision, based on Peters’ bipartisan Northern Border Coordination Act, will expand the operations and duties of the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Northern Border Mission Center. Peters secured $3 million last March to establish and operate this Center at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, where it is collocated with current DHS components. The Center, which DHS is already working to set up, will coordinate with state, local, and Tribal governments, and other key stakeholders, to ensure DHS and its operational components are able to fulfill their security mission at the Northern Border.
Secured Record Funding for Exercise Northern Strike: In recent government funding legislation, Peters secured a record $24 million for Exercise Northern Strike. Northern Strike is the National Guard Bureau’s largest joint service, multi-component exercise that takes place annually at the National All-Domain Warfighting Center (NADWC), which is comprised of the Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center and the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center in Northern Michigan. Peters has championed support for Northern Strike, which enhances our military readiness and defense capabilities.
Secured Resources to Upgrade Michigan Armories to Better Accommodate Women Servicemembers: Peters secured nearly $26 million for the National Guard Bureau to modernize armories across Michigan to ensure they have adequate facilities for women servicemembers. National Guard armories provide adequate space for servicemembers to conduct trainings and carry out missions with access to the necessary equipment and logistical resources. While many armories were designed for an all-male force, women servicemembers now make up nearly 18 percent of the Michigan Army National Guard. In 2024, Peters visited National Guard Armories in Wyoming and Detroit to highlight the ongoing changes being made at those facilities.
Secured $37 Million for Manned/Unmanned Tactical Vehicle Lab in Southeast Michigan: As a member of the Armed Services Committee, Peters secured $37 million for the construction of a manned/unmanned tactical vehicle lab in Macomb County in the annual defense bill that was signed into law. This builds on funding Peters previously secured for the planning and design of this lab. This space will allow for more efficient testing of these in a System Integration Lab, located on Macomb County’s Defense Industrial Corridor. The work of this new center will be critical to the Army’s efforts to develop the next generation of unmanned ground vehicle technologies.
STRENGTHENING NATIONAL & HOMELAND SECURITY:
Elevated the Position of the Vice Chief of the National Guard Bureau: Peters passed a measure into law based on his Vice Chiefs Parity Act to elevate the position of the Vice Chief of the National Guard Bureau from a three to a four-star position. Elevating this position gives the National Guard Bureau a stronger voice in the Pentagon to advocate for Guard missions and equipment, as well as efforts to address quality of life issues affecting Guardsmen and their families. This will help improve representation and advocacy for the thousands of men and women serving in the Michigan National Guard.
Strengthened the U.S.-Kosovo Military Partnership: Peters’ Kosovo Defense Cooperation Enhancement Act was passed into law as part of the annual national defense bill. The law expands support for Kosovo’s military by allowing U.S. and Kosovo forces to train more closely. It also creates new opportunities for the Kosovo military to participate in multi-national exercises, increasing Kosovo’s defense capabilities and strengthening ties between our two nations. Peters joined a congressional delegation to Kosovo last year to promote democracy, stability, and cooperation in the region. Michigan is home to a vibrant Kosovar community.
Supported Michigan’s Armenian Community: Peters authored the bipartisan Armenian Protection Act, which passed the Senate passed unanimously. This bill would prevent the U.S. from providing security assistance to Azerbaijan for two years in response to their long blockade of the Lachin corridor that has caused a humanitarian crisis for Armenians in the region. Peters has been a strong advocate for Michigan’s vibrant Armenian community.
Bolstered Department of Homeland Security Joint Task Forces: Peters authored and passed a bill into law extending the Joint Task Forces authority, allowing DHS to establish joint operations using DHS personnel and resources to secure U.S. land and maritime borders, address homeland security threats, and establish regional operations to tackle ongoing homeland security challenges like drug smuggling and trafficking.
Supported Victims of Human Trafficking: Peters’ bipartisan legislation to enhance the Department of Homeland Security’s ability to combat human trafficking was signed into law. The law makes permanent and expands the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Victim Assistance Program that helps provide support to individuals impacted by human trafficking. It will also help to provide additional support to the dedicated HSI personnel who are working to combat these horrific crimes.
Equipping Women DHS Officers with Safe, Next Generation Body Armor: The Senate passed Peters’ bipartisan legislation requiring all agencies under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to provide female law enforcement officers with improved body armor tailored to an officer’s coverage, fit, and functionality needs.
Addressing Security Threats Posed by Drones: The Senate unanimously passed bipartisan legislation authored by Peters that would prevent authorities for the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI from expiring to ensure that drones that pose a threat to public safety can be safely disabled.
Improved National Airspace Integration for Drones: Peters helped pass the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization bill into law which included his UAS National Airspace Integration Act to ensure that FAA is carrying out a comprehensive strategy based on recommendations from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the Department of Transportation Inspector General to safely integrate drones into the national airspace, while reporting to Congress on its progress.
Strengthened Federal Building Security: Bipartisan legislation authored by Peters was signed into law requiring federal agencies to adequately respond to security recommendations issued by the Federal Protective Service (FPS) within 90 days to protect visitors and employees in federal buildings from a range of security threats.
PROTECTING THE GREAT LAKES AND CLEAN DRINKING WATER
Led Effort to Extend the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative: This Congress, Peters again led the effort to extend federal funding and protections for the Great Lakes. Peters introduced the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act of 2024 to reauthorize the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) through 2031 and increase the program’s annual funding levels from $475 million in 2026 to $500 million from 2027 through 2031.
Improved Transparency of FAA’s Transition Away from Firefighting Foams Containing PFAS: Legislation authored by Peters was passed into law requiring the Federal Aviation Administration to provide updates every six months on the implementation of its national plan to transition to PFAS-free firefighting foams.
Secured Provisions to Identify and Address Flood Risks Throughout Michigan: Peters secured major water infrastructure priorities for Michigan in the bipartisan Water Resources Development Act – which was signed into law on January 4, 2025. This included numerous new authorizations for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to work with Kalamazoo, Dearborn, Dearborn Heights, Cheboygan, Ludington, Marysville, and Grand Traverse County to identify and address flood and storm risks in their communities.
SUPPORTING OUR NATION’S VETERANS & THEIR FAMILIES
Improved Military Discharge Review Process: Building off of his Fairness for Veterans Act which became law in 2016, Peters passed a bill into law in 2023 as part of the annual defense bill to improve military Discharge Review Board compliance, helping to ensure veterans are receiving fair consideration when petitioning to change discharge status relating to traumatic brain injury and other invisible wounds of war.
Protected Burial Benefits for Military Families: Peters passed bipartisan legislation into law to ensure our military families can continue to be laid to rest together in Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) national cemeteries. This law grants the VA the authority to bury the spouse or child of a service member in the tragic case that their death precedes the servicemember.
Expanded Burial Benefits for Veterans: Peters led bipartisan legislation that was passed into law to expand eligibility for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) burial benefits to terminally ill veterans who pass away at a non-VA facility while receiving hospice care. The legislation, called Gerald’s Law Act, was named after late Michigan veteran Gerald “Jerry” Elliott of Kingsford who did not receive VA burial benefits after he passed away at home.
SUPPORTING MICHIGAN MANUFACTURING & WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
Strengthening U.S. Manufacturing Strategy: Peters led three bipartisan bills to strengthen U.S. manufacturing strategy that all passed the Senate unanimously this Congress. Peters’ Strengthening Support for American Manufacturing Act would authorize a study by the National Academy of Public Administration on how to maximize effectiveness across the U.S. Department of Commerce’s various manufacturing programs. Peters’ National Manufacturing Advisory Council for the 21st Century Act would establish a National Manufacturing Advisory Council within the U.S. Department of Commerce to enhance federal manufacturing policy and serve as a bridge between the manufacturing sector and federal government. The Senate also unanimously passed Peters’ Securing Semiconductor Supply Chains Act which would direct the Department of Commerce’s SelectUSA program, in collaboration with other federal agencies and state economic development organizations, to develop strategies that would attract investment in U.S. semiconductor manufacturers and supply chains.
Expanded Financial Support for Maritime Students: Peters authored and passed into law his CADETS Act, expanding the Student Incentive Payment Program eligibility for financial assistance to cadets who attend one of the six State Maritime Academies and commit to a post-graduation service obligation to include any qualified student who will meet the age requirements for enlistment in the U.S. Navy Reserve at their time of graduation. This law will encourage more cadets to continue serving our country after graduation, strengthening Michigan’s robust maritime sector and national security.
Bolstered Aviation Workforce: Peters’ Promoting Women in Aviation Act was passed into law to codify a Women in Aviation Advisory Board as a Federal Advisory Committee to make recommendations about addressing pilot shortages and strengthening the national aviation workforce by improving recruitment, retention, and promotion of women.
Supported Michigan Aviation Workforce Training: Peters’ Workforce Development Grant Technical Assistance Act was passed into law to provide technical assistance to Michigan schools and public-private partnerships applying for workforce development funds through the FAA to train pilots, aviation maintenance technicians, or aviation manufacturing workers.
Building an Artificial Intelligence Workforce Pipeline: Peters introduced the bipartisan AI and Critical Technologies Workforce Framework Act to require the National Institute of Standards and Technology to develop a workforce framework that defines AI and other emerging and critical technology jobs and the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform them. The bill aims to ensure that individuals have the roadmap needed to find good-paying jobs and that schools, universities, training programs, and employers can educate, train, and employ the best and brightest in the workforce of the future.
Supporting Construction of New Lock at the Soo: Peters secured $264 million in federal funding to support ongoing construction of a new lock at the Soo Locks to ensure this critical infrastructure remains open for commerce on the Great Lakes. The Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie serve as a gateway for nearly 80 million tons of goods and raw materials that supply the region's manufacturing, mining, and agricultural industries. Previous reports have indicated that if the Soo Locks were to suffer a long closure for any reason, it could lead to a national recession and jeopardize millions of jobs. The new lock project will help ensure this never happens.
IMPROVING FEDERAL DISASTER PREPAREDNESS & RESPONSE
Supported Firefighters and Emergency Responders: Peters’ Fire Grants and Safety Act was signed into law, reauthorizing key federal grant programs that help support fire departments across the country. The bill reauthorizes the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program, the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program, and the United States Fire Administration (USFA). These programs are used by local fire departments to address staffing needs, purchase equipment, develop fire training and education programs, and improve emergency medical services.
Reducing Confusion for Disaster Relief Applicants: Peters authored a bill that was signed into law to create one application deadline for two Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) programs that individuals use for disaster assistance. The law ensures that both the Disaster Unemployment Assistance Program (DUA) and Individuals and Households Program (IHP) has the same deadline, making it easier for applicants to apply for assistance when rebuilding their lives after a disaster.
Simplifying Application Process for Federal Disaster Assistance Programs: Peters authored a bipartisan bill that passed the Senate to establish a universal application across federal agencies for disaster survivors, helping to streamline the process and reducing the burden on disaster survivors.
IMPROVING GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY & SAVING TAXPAYER DOLLARS
Reusing Federally Owned Property: Peters passed a bill into law to ensure federal agencies are reusing excess federal property, including office supplies, automobiles, and heavy machinery, before buying new products in order to save taxpayer dollars.
Improved Oversight of Federal Grant Programs: Peters’ bipartisan Financial Management Risk Reduction Act was signed into law, helping to safeguard taxpayer dollars by making audit data more accessible and increasing opportunities to identify potential misuse of federal grant programs.
Holding Federal Agencies Accountable for Performance Goals: Legislation authored by Peters was signed into law to ensure federal agencies are effectively carrying out their missions for the American people. The law requires the White House Office of Management and Budget to regularly conduct reviews of agency performance and ensure they are following strategic plans.
Strengthened National Safety System for Commercial Drivers: Peters’ bipartisan bill was signed into law to safeguard funding for the Commercial Driver’s License Information System (CDLIS). The CDLIS is a crucial, nationwide computer system that ensures commercial drivers have only one license and one complete driver record.
Improved Efficiency of Legislative Process: Peters passed bipartisan legislation into law to help eliminate procedural delays and improve efficiency in the legislative process. The law provides the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) with timely access to the information they need to complete their analysis of the budgetary impacts of legislation, which is required prior to almost all votes in the Senate.
SUPPORTING TRIBAL COMMUNITIES IN MICHIGAN
Resolving Longstanding Land Claims for Upper Peninsula Tribe: The Senate unanimously passed Peters’ Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Land Claim Settlement Act to settle the longstanding land claims of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC) and clear the title of current landowners in the community.
Improving Access to FEMA Fire Assistance for Tribal Governments: Peters’ bipartisan legislation requiring FEMA to accept requests from Tribal governments to receive a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) Declaration was passed in the Senate. FEMA does not currently have the authority to accept FMAG requests from tribes, impeding their ability to access federal resources for wildlife management.
HONORED TRAILBLAZING MICHIGANDERS
Peters led several bills that were signed into law to honor trailblazing Michiganders and their extraordinary contributions to our state, including:
HELPED MICHIGANDERS OBTAIN BENEFITS & RESOLVE ISSUES WITH FEDERAL AGENCIES
Peters’ office continued to assist Michigan families and small businesses in their effort to receive benefits from 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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