ICYMI: Peters Joins Detroit Economic Club to Discuss Michigan’s Leadership in National Security, Advanced Manufacturing, and Innovation

DETROIT, MI – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) joined the Detroit Economic Club to discuss Michigan’s leadership in national security, advanced manufacturing, and innovation. In a fireside chat with the Detroit News’ Nolan Finley, Peters discussed the impact of recently imposed tariffs on Michigan businesses and suppliers as well as the future of Michigan’s auto industry. Peters also highlighted his work on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee to support the safe, responsible adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), strengthen U.S. cybersecurity, improve drone and counter-drone authorities, and expand Michigan’s role in Northern Border security.  

Below are key highlights from Peters’ remarks:  

Peters on impact of uncertainty surrounding scope of Trump Administration’s tariffs: “What we’ve seen with this Administration is things can change on a dime, pretty quickly, and that is also a part of the problem. If you’re trying to help an industry, to grow an industry… having some certainty is really important. Chaos is not good for business.”  

Peters on Michigan’s leadership in advanced manufacturing: “You cannot have a manufacturing sector in this country if you don’t have a strong and vibrant auto sector. Autos drive so much of manufacturing, no matter what you make.”   

Peters on expanding Michigan’s role in border security efforts, including by establishing the Northern Border Mission Center at Selfridge Air National Guard Base: “I want to make sure we’re coordinated...I was able to write legislation, pass it, and fund it, and it’s going to open on Selfridge Air National Guard Base... And that will coordinate all the operations across the Northern Border. It will happen here in Michigan... and that will help make sure we keep Selfridge as a viable military base for years to come.” 

To watch Peters’ full remarks at the Detroit Economic Club, click here.

The Detroit Economic Club (DEC) was formed in 1934 as a non-partisan, non-profit organization that promotes discussion and debate of important business, government, and social issues.  

Peters was recently rated the most effective U.S. Senator for the third time in a row by the nonpartisan Center for Effective Lawmaking, which released its biannual effectiveness ratings for the 118^th Congress (2023-2024). Peters was also rated the most effective Senator by the Center in the 116th (2019-2020) and 117th (2021-2022) Congresses. In the 118^th Congress, Peters earned the highest effectiveness score for a U.S. Senator ever recorded in the fifty years since the Center for Effective Lawmaking began tracking this data. He also becomes the first Senator in more than four decades to be named most effective three times in a row. Peters achieved this recognition by authoring 15 standalone bills that were passed and signed into law. He also authored 10 additional bills that were passed into law as part of larger legislative packages. 

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