U.S. Senator Gary Peters is working relentlessly to ensure that Michganders have the resources they need throughout the Coronavirus crisis. From leading in the Senate to protect U.S. organizations developing vaccines and treatments from Chinese government-backed hackers, to securing federal funds for health centers to support testing activities and the purchase of personal protective equipment — Gary is getting things done and putting Michigan first.
Read below on Gary’s work for Michigan this week:
GARY IS WORKING TO FIGHT AGAINST HACKERS TARGETING ORGANIZATIONS DEVELOPING VACCINES AND TREATMENTS FOR COVID-19
Gary, the top Democrat on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, wrote a letter to President Trump asking him to address concerns around Chinese government-backed hackers targeting U.S. organizations developing vaccines and treatments for the COVID-19 virus.
The Hill: Officials warn Chinese hackers targeting groups developing coronavirus treatments
- Peters asked that Trump direct both CISA and U.S. Cyber Command to prioritize cybersecurity protections for hospitals and medical research groups. He also asked that “Department of Defense capabilities” be used to respond to state-sponsored hackers, noting that attacks on health care groups “put the lives of Americans who are seeking care at risk.”
- “The United States must communicate a strong message to China’s government that this behavior is unacceptable,” Peters wrote. “The Administration should use public pressure and the threat of sanctions and additional indictments to deter future Chinese government attacks against research institutions.”
GARY NAMED ONE OF MOST BIPARTISAN SENATORS
It was announced this week by the non-partisan Lugar Center, that Gary ranks as the 3rd most bipartisan Democrat and 12th most bipartisan Senator in the first year of the 116th Congress. The Bipartisan Index, produced by The Lugar Center and Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy, measures how often a member of Congress introduces bills that succeed in attracting co-sponsors from members of the other party, and how often they in turn co-sponsor a bill introduced from across the aisle.
GARY CONTINUES TO FIGHT FOR FRONTLINE WORKERS
Gary continues to fight for Michigan’s front line workers through the ‘Heroes Fund’ which would give workers an extra $13 an hour and up to $25,000 for the rest of this year.
WZZM: Sen. Peters pushing pay raise for frontline workers
- Senator Gary Peters wants essential workers to get a raise during the pandemic.The Democrat proposed legislation that is called the Hero Fund. The bill would give those workers an extra $13 an hour and up to $25,000 for the rest of this year. It would be federal money, not paid by the employers.
- “It’s also the janitors who are cleaning hospital rooms to make sure that it’s sterile and be used to help treat patients. It means people working in grocery stores and our food supply chain, our postal workers, our first responders, ” he said. “These are folks who genuinely need hazard pay because they are doing essential jobs and put themselves and their families at risk.”
GARY IS GETTING MICHIGAN HOSPITALS NEEDED RELIEF
Gary recently announced that $14.4 million in federal funds will be awarded to 39 health centers across Michigan to support testing activities and the purchase of personal protective equipment.
The Detroit News: Michigan hospitals getting $900M in fed COVID-19 aid
- Michigan Democratic Sen. Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow announced Friday that $14.4 million in federal funds will be awarded to 39 health centers across the state for testing operations.
- The funding will support the testing activities that best suit each center, including the purchase of personal protective equipment, training, public service announcements, test kits, laboratory upkeep, notification of infected people and expansion of walk-up and drive-up operations.
- “From the onset of this pandemic, it has been clear that we must dramatically increase our testing capabilities and access to testing,” said Peters, the ranking minority member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.
Read more:
- Marquette Mining Journal: Health center getting federal funding
- MLive: Michigan receives $14 million to help combat coronavirus testing shortfall
- Upper Michigan Source: Over $14M in Federal Grants awarded to Michigan Health Centers to increase COVID-19 testing
GARY FIGHTING FOR MICHIGAN’S AUTO SUPPLIERS
This week, Gary led a bipartisan group of Michigan congressional delegation members in calling on U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to direct existing COVID-19 relief funds toward auto suppliers in need of cash.
Read more in the Detroit News: Michigan lawmakers request COVID-19 relief funds go to auto suppliers
GARY DISCUSSES IMPORTANCE OF SPECIAL ACA OPEN ENROLLMENT PERIOD ON MSNBC
Gary joined Reverend Al Sharpton on MSNBC Saturday where he discussed the need for a special health care enrollment period and why it’s important specifically for underserved and communities of color in Michigan who have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic, to have access to affordable, quality health care.
