PHOTOS: Peters Kicks-Off Annual Motorcycle Tour in Muskegon

MUSKEGON, MI – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) kicked-off his annual motorcycle tour across Michigan in Muskegon today. Peters participated in a boat tour hosted by Grand Valley State University (GVSU) to view firsthand how the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) – which Peters has reauthorized, expanded and funded – has made clean up on Muskegon Lake possible. Peters was joined by representatives from GVSU, the West Michigan Regional Shoreline Development Commission and Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce.

Peters helped secure the single-largest-ever investment in the GLRI from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to accelerate the cleanup and restoration by 2030 of nine high-priority areas in Michigan whose lakes, rivers and watersheds flow into our Great Lakes – including Muskegon Lake. In 2020, Peters authored the law to reauthorize and expand the GLRI – which has been critical for cleanup and habitat restoration efforts in the Great Lakes and surrounding waters. In 2019, Peters secured a bipartisan provision that was signed into law to provide the first increase in GLRI support in a decade.

“As Michiganders, the Great Lakes are not only in our DNA but a critical resource for drinking water, economic growth and job creation,” said Senator Peters. “That’s why I was proud to help enact the single-largest-ever investment in our Great Lakes through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This investment is a game-changer for Michigan that will greatly expand restoration efforts to preserve and strengthen the Great Lakes for future generations. I was pleased to be in Muskegon today to kick-off my annual motorcycle tour and see firsthand how we can accelerate the completion of current projects and dramatically expand the ability to support new local partnerships thanks to this historic investment.”

“It was an honor to host Senator Peters in Muskegon today as he began his annual motorcycle tour across Michigan,” said Alan Steinman, Allen and Helen Hunting Research Professor, Grand Valley State University. “I’m grateful to Senator Peters’ strong support for keeping places like Muskegon Lake clean and applaud him for helping pass the bipartisan infrastructure bill into law – and for including significant resources vital to protecting the health of our Great Lakes and Michiganders.”

“The cleanup and restoration of Muskegon Lake demonstrates how the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative is a proven success – and I applaud Senator Peters’ leadership to bolster this critical program and deliver for Michiganders,” said Erin Kuhn, Executive Director, West Michigan Regional Shoreline Development Commission. “While we have made significant progress over the years, the passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and its record investment in our Great Lakes – thanks to the efforts of Senator Peters – will position us well for future investments and can lead to new developments here in Muskegon.”

“The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law makes much-needed investments in Michigan’s infrastructure – including the largest investment ever in our Great Lakes,” said Cindy Larsen, President, Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce. “I greatly appreciate Senator Peters’ work to make these investments a reality that will not only improve the health of our Great Lakes, surrounding waters, physical wellbeing – but also bolster our economic strength. This investment in our Great Lakes secured by Senator Peters will increase economic opportunity across the region, create jobs and improve the lives of Michiganders.”

To download photos from Peters’ stop in Muskegon, click here.

Peters then continued his motorcycle tour, traveling to Traverse City to announce the next steps for funding of the Safeguarding Tomorrow through Ongoing Risk Mitigation (STORM) Act, which Peters secured in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

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