In case you missed it, Oakland County veteran Rick Donovan penned an op-ed praising U.S. Senator Gary Peters’ bipartisanship that has delivered results for Michigan’s veterans – in particular he highlights Gary’s bill that was recently signed into law that will expand apprenticeship opportunities for veterans.
The op-ed comes after Gary was named the 3rd most bipartisan Democrat and 12th most bipartisan Senator in the first year of the 116th Congress.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:
The Oakland Press: Senator Gary Peters bipartisanship getting things done for Michigan vets
- It seems that now more than ever, political partisanship can quickly take over the process of getting things done, but U.S. Senator Gary Peters has demonstrated time and again that he will work with anyone to get things done for Michiganders — particularly for our veterans. In fact he was recently ranked as one of the most bipartisan members of the senate.
- Gary has dedicated much of his life to service, he’s served in the U.S. Navy Reserve and continues to serve Michiganders as our U.S. Senator. And in his first term in the senate, he’s already the lead Democrat on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and a member of the Armed Services Committee. But Gary’s service is not just about committee assignments, it’s about getting things done no matter which political party you are a part of – and I have seen that work firsthand.
- His work to recently pass a bipartisan bill that was signed into law to expand GI Bill approved apprenticeship opportunities for veterans shows just how dedicated Gary is to getting things done for the people of Michigan. And thanks to Gary’s work on this bill, more veterans will be able to do what I’ve done and expand opportunities to other sectors of our economy.
- Almost 25 years ago I was able to use my Montgomery GI Bill as I trained to become a union sheet metal worker in southeast Michigan as I leveraged my earned education benefits as a veteran of Operation Desert Storm. Because of an articulation agreement between my unions training center and a local community college, along with the evaluation of the training I received in the military, I was able to simply take the five classes of residency requirement at the community college to obtain my Associate’s degree. From that, I was able to further my education as I worked and earned a meaningful wage from day one of my apprenticeship, and eventually earn a Bachelor’s degree as well.
- These types of opportunities are so important to improving veterans’ lives not only 25 years ago but even more so today, and I’m glad to see people like Gary willing to listen to Michiganders and continue to put in the necessary work to expand these programs and build pathways for more people. While my example is through the skilled union construction trades. Gary realizes that this pathway is also a proven model for other sectors of the economy. Sectors to include healthcare, information technology, manufacturing and agriculture to name a few.
- Gary is doing what needs done by leading, and being a part of conversations with all partners, and stakeholders to bridge gaps and create pathways to skilled trades careers and opportunities like the path I took. These conversations and actually doing something about them, are the conversations and action we in Michigan and our country need right now more than ever. Conversations not only over the phone, a Town Hall and soon coffee. Yet, more importantly taking these conversations all the way to Washington D.C. to the Senate, House chambers.
- Gary has also been working non-stop to pass the bipartisan Veterans Assistance Helpline Act, which would create an assistance hotline with live operators for veterans to be able to access the benefits they earned protecting our country. And in a time of such uncertainty amid this pandemic, Gary has not stopped fighting for our veterans. He was successful in ensuring veterans and recipients of the Supplemental Security Income program automatically receive their stimulus checks.
- Gary has consistently proven that he’s committed to the goal of putting Michigan and putting our veterans’ community first. And while there’s always more work to be done, he has always been someone who is willing to work with anyone to get results for Michigan.
- To me, that’s the definition of leadership and what I want to see from the people representing our great state of Michigan and our veterans.
