Peters Secures Funding in American Rescue Plan to Vaccinate Michiganders at Ford Field

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, welcomed an announcement from the White House that federal funds he led the charge to secure as a part of the American Rescue Plan Act, will be directed to a vaccination clinic at Ford Field. The site, operated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), will accelerate vaccine distribution in Michigan.

“Vaccine distribution has rapidly increased under the Biden Administration and it’s critical we keep our foot on the gas to ensure Michiganders can get vaccines as soon as possible,” said Senator Peters. “I am thrilled that the recently enacted American Rescue Plan Act will deliver resources—that I secured—directly to the federal vaccination program at Ford Field. There is no question this historic legislation will continue to provide the help needed to get Michigan past this pandemic, and I will continue my efforts to ensure vaccines are widely available.”

“This new mass vaccination site is an important step forward in addressing the equitable distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine addressing historically underserved and those hardest hit communities. It has only been possible through our partnership with Michigan’s leaders in Lansing and Washington,” said Kevin M. Sligh, acting regional administrator of FEMA. “Our partners in Congress, especially Chairman Peters, and at the state level have been consistent champions for FEMA and our efforts, and have helped ensure we have the resources we needed to develop this and other sites.”

As Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, with oversight of FEMA, Peters was instrumental in securing funding for FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) as a part of the American Rescue Plan Act. The bill includes $50 billion for the DRF to support national vaccination efforts, including the operation of the vaccination site at Ford Field. Peters will continue monitoring FEMA’s efforts to ensure that the vaccine is widely available to every community as quickly and efficiently as possible, particularly in underserved communities.

As the top Democrat on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Peters has led several efforts to ensure development of the Coronavirus vaccine is rooted in science and transparency and that its distribution is efficient, swift and equitable. Peters previously pressed the Trump Administration for information on their preparations to meet the enormous challenge of coordinating the wide distribution of Coronavirus vaccines. He also released a report highlighting shortcomings in the Trump Administration’s vaccine distribution plans and providing recommendations to ensure that vaccines are safe, effective, trusted by the public, free, and widely available to every community – which included utilizing the Defense Production Act. Peters also introduced legislation to address shortages of medical supplies and personal protective equipment by encouraging domestic production.

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