U.S. Senator Gary Peters continues to fight for Michiganders this week launching an investigation into recent mail delays to make sure Michiganders can count on reliable service from USPS, passing a bipartisan bill which included his provisions to protect amateur and Olympic athletes, and advancing his bipartisan bill to improve the Department of Veterans Affairs’ caregiver program through the Senate.
Read more on Gary’s work for Michigan this week:
GARY CONTINUES TO BUILD MOMENTUM GOING INTO THE GENERAL ELECTION
With great voter enthusiasm across the state in Tuesday’s primary election, Gary was honored to receive the Democratic nomination to continue serving Michigan in the Senate — receiving more votes than any candidate or group of candidates ever in an August primary in Michigan history with over 1.17 million votes.
PASTORS AND CLERGY ENDORSE GARY DURING “PASTORS FOR PETERS” EVENT
Gary was honored to be joined by faith leaders from across the state to discuss their support for his reelection including his work to expand access to affordable health care, strengthen economic opportunities, and protect voting rights in recognition of the 55th Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act.
GARY IS FIGHTING TO SHED LIGHT ON TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S POSTAL SERVICE DELAYS
Gary launched an investigation into recent mail delays to make sure Michiganders can count on reliable service from the USPS, especially for social security checks, paychecks, and lifesaving prescription medicines.
MSNBC: Sen. Peters launches investigation into postal service slowdown
- “I think it’s incredibly important for the reasons that you mentioned. We have folks who rely on the Postal Service for checks, social security checks, paychecks, prescription medicines that are coming in. You mentioned how the VA is now realizing that these mail delays are impacting the ability to get essential drugs to veterans who require this. This is an incredibly important issue that we deal with.”
- “We have been trying to get information from the Postmaster General. It has been slow. We’ve got answers to some of the questions we asked. But there are huge gaps as well.”
- “I’m hearing from constituents all across the state of Michigan, my colleagues are hearing from their constituents all across the country that this is happening. This cannot occur during the middle of the pandemic…We need to get to the bottom of it and try to understand why they would put these changes in.”
- There are a lot of folks who believe the Trump administration basically wants to privatize the Post Office. They want to throw a wrench in the wheel so they can profit off of privatizing this service. This is the only agency or entity that actually delivers to every single address in the United States, no matter where you live.”
Detroit Free Press: Sen. Gary Peters opens investigation into USPS cuts, wants feedback on service
- U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., on Thursday asked individuals, businesses and groups to contact his office about issues with mail delivery as he opened an investigation into Trump administration cuts to the U.S. Postal Service.
- Peters, the top-ranking Democrat on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, which oversees the Postal Service, said he would be “working to get to the bottom of any changes that the new Postmaster General may be directing that undercut the Postal Service’s tradition of effective service.”
- “Unacceptable changes to service, made without oversight or public input, could harm seniors, veterans, small businesses and people in rural areas who often have less access to other services and rely on the Postal Service for access to medications, emergency information, and home supplies,” he said. “As increasing numbers of Americans plan to vote by mail in upcoming elections, the Postal Service must also ensure that any operational changes do not limit voter participation.”
Detroit News: Peters launches investigation into Postal Service delays
- Michigan Sen. Gary Peters, the top Democrat on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, said DeJoy, an ally and donor of President Donald Trump, has failed to provide answers about service delays “that are preventing Americans from receiving critical mail on time, including prescription drugs, business mail and mail-in ballots.’’
- The Senate inquiry comes as lawmakers increasingly focus on the Postal Service, which is reeling from mail delays and financial problems at a time when record numbers of mail ballots are expected in the November presidential election because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Washington Post: Senate Democrat Launches Inquiry Into Postal Service Delays
- Sen. Gary Peters (Mich.), ranking Democrat on the Senate’s Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, which has oversight of the Postal Service, said in an interview that he will begin an inquiry into the Postal Service’s recent operational “pivot,” as the agency has called it, under Louis DeJoy, a former logistics executive who took office in July.
- “If policies are being put in place right now to actually slow down the delivery of the mail, that would be outrageous,” Peters said in an interview. “ … I’m hearing from postal workers, folks who are actually in the post offices, that are saying that mail has been left sitting and processing facilities, sometimes for up to a week. They are doing things that they never did before. And then I’m hearing from constituents that their mail is being delayed in a way that they have not experienced in the past. That raises a lot of questions that need to be answered.”
Read more:
- WLNS: Peters launches investigation into Postal Service delays
- Fox 17: Sen. Gary Peters investigating U.S. Postal Service delays
- Click On Detroit: Michigan US Sen. Peters launches investigation into Postal Service delays
- MLive: Michigan senator investigating Postal Service delays related to mail-in ballots
- Associated Press: Congress urges Postal Service to undo changes slowing mail
- The Hill: House Committee Requests Hearing With Postmaster General Amid Mail-In Voting Concerns
GARY CONTINUES TO FIGHT FOR MICHIGANDERS AMID COVID PANDEMIC
Gary continues to work to get Michiganders the relief and resources they need in the next COVID relief package.
WZZM: Sen. Peters Wants To Keep $600 Enhanced Unemployment
- Sen. Gary Peters (D-Michigan) told us, “I continue to support $600 per week. If you look at the unemployment situation right now, there are many more people on unemployment than there are jobs available. If you look at job openings, four of five times the number of jobs are not open.”
MIRS: Top 5 Things Peters Wants In Next Coronavirus Relief Package
- “That’s simply unacceptable,” Peters said. “We have to speed up the delivery of these tasks. We’ve got to provide resources to do that. We can’t deal with the economic crisis until we deal with the public health crisis.”
- Peters added that small businesses need to get the resources to survive, which means another round of the Paycheck Protection Program, and an extension of the $600-a-week premium payment for the unemployed. The extra money will no longer be in the unemployment check of an estimated 500,000 unemployed Michigan workers.
GARY HELPS ENACT GREAT AMERICAN OUTDOORS ACT
Gary helped enact the Great American Outdoors Act that will work to protect Michigan’s Great Lakes and miles of national parks.
GARY PASSES LEGISLATION TO PROTECT COLLEGE AND OLYMPIC ATHLETES, ADVANCES VETERANS BILL
Gary helped pass bipartisan legislation in the Senate to reform the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee and protect Olympic and amateur athletes from abuse and worked to advance his bipartisan bill to improve the Department of Veterans Affairs’ caregiver program in the Senate.
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