Gary C. Peters

[{"question": "Ballotpedia survey responses", "answer_html": "<p>See also: <a href=\"/Ballotpedia%27s_Candidate_Connection\">Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection</a></p>\n<p>Gary Peters did not complete <a href=\"/Ballotpedia%27s_Candidate_Connection\">Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection</a> survey.\n</p>\n<div style=\"clear:both;\"></div>\n<div class=\"row\"><div class=\"col-xs-10 col-md-6 col-xs-offset-1 col-md-offset-3\"><p><a href=\"https://ballotpedia.org/Ballotpedia%27s_Candidate_Connection\"><img align=\"middle\" alt=\"Candidate Connection\" src=\"https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/8/88/Candidate_Connection_Logo.png\" width=\"90%\"/></a></p></div></div>\n<p>Gary Peters completed <a href=\"/Ballotpedia%27s_Candidate_Connection\">Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection</a> survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Peters' responses.</p>\n<p><span class=\"expand-all\">Expand all</span> | <span class=\"collapse-all\">Collapse all</span></p>\n<div aria-multiselectable=\"true\" class=\"panel-group\" id=\"accordion\" role=\"tablist\"><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-bio-65344-2020-08-02\" id=\"heading-bio-65344-2020-08-02\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse-bio-65344-2020-08-02\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-bio-65344-2020-08-02\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWho are you? Tell us about yourself.\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading-bio-65344-2020-08-02\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse-bio-65344-2020-08-02\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tMy family has called Michigan home for five generations. Raised in metro Detroit, I've spent my entire life in service to our state - as a businessman, in the military and now in public office. Like many Michiganders, my path wasn't traditional. After graduating from Alma College, I started raising a family and working full-time and put myself through night school. Early in my work as a financial advisor, I helped families plan for their retirement and save for their children's college education. Ultimately, my value of service led me to join the U.S. Navy Reserve, where I rose to the rank of Lieutenant Commander and then rejoined after the September 11th attacks. And now during my service in Congress, I've strengthened economic relief and fought for a more robust medical response for Michiganders during the coronavirus crisis. I'm proud to be ranked as one of the most effective and bipartisan members of the Senate where I've worked to give middle class families independent representation by fighting to protect access to health care and lower prescription drug costs, supporting small businesses, preparing Michigan for the jobs of tomorrow, and defending our Great Lakes.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-key-message-65344-2020-08-02\" id=\"heading-key-message-65344-2020-08-02\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse-key-message-65344-2020-08-02\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-key-message-65344-2020-08-02\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tPlease list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading-key-message-65344-2020-08-02\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse-key-message-65344-2020-08-02\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><ul><li><p>Bipartisan and Effective. I've made it my top priority to work across the aisle to get results and make government work for Michigan. That's why nonpartisan groups like the Center for Effective Lawmaking and the McCourt School of Public Policy have ranked me as one of the most effective and bipartisan members of the Senate, and I'm proud to have received the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Jefferson-Hamilton Award for Bipartisanship.</p></li><li><p>Fighting to Keep Washington Transparent and Accountable. Growing up, I was raised to believe you don't spend money you don't have. That's why I've run my office so frugally that I've returned over $2 million in taxpayer dollars to the U.S. Treasury. And I'm constantly working to keep Washington transparent and accountable. I've cut red tape, voted against congressional pay raises, passed legislation to eliminate millions in wasteful government spending and as the Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee, I've led investigations to hold government agencies accountable for improper spending and will continue to help make our government work better for Michigan.</p></li><li>Focused on Putting Michigan First. In the Senate, I've passed into law legislation to help lower prescription drug costs, expand skills training opportunities to fill good-paying jobs, secure relief during the coronavirus pandemic, and to protect our Great Lakes. I'm working to rebuild our economy by pushing to expand Made in America manufacturing and supporting our small businesses. And as a leader on national security and veterans' issues, my top priority is keeping Michigan safe. I've worked with both parties to pass into law legislation to strengthen our military, and take care of our veterans by expanding apprenticeship opportunities and ensure those who are struggling with PTSD have access to the care they deserve. </li></ul></span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse1-65344-2020-08-02\" id=\"heading1-65344-2020-08-02\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse1-65344-2020-08-02\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse1-65344-2020-08-02\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading1-65344-2020-08-02\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse1-65344-2020-08-02\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\t1) Ensuring Michigan Families Have Access to Quality, Affordable Health Care Coverage. I have worked to strengthen the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and lower prescription drug costs. I've also called for opening a special enrollment period to ensure Michiganders who've lost their jobs due to COVID-19 can more easily get access to health care. Now, as we continue to work through the pandemic we need to ensure programs like Medicare and Medicaid are adequately funded. <br/>\n<p>2) Rebuilding Our Economy. I'm working to rebuild our economy, create good-paying jobs in Michigan and strengthen our middle class. I've also been working on boosting manufacturing, taking back our supply chain from China, and supporting small business and expanding skills training programs. Previously, I worked in business for over two decades, so I understand the unique challenges that small businesses face. <br/>\n</p>\n3) Protecting the Great Lakes. I believe we need to invest in clean energy jobs and support measures to tackle the threat of climate change, which exacerbates current challenges in the Great Lakes like algal blooms and invasive species. I am committed to reducing carbon pollution, and building a clean energy economy that balances our economic needs and provides environmental justice. I'm proud to have helped pass legislation that provides funding to restore our Great Lakes, and passed my proposal to prevent and plan for a potentially catastrophic oil spill on the Great Lakes. \t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse2-65344-2020-08-02\" id=\"heading2-65344-2020-08-02\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse2-65344-2020-08-02\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse2-65344-2020-08-02\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading2-65344-2020-08-02\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse2-65344-2020-08-02\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tMy father served in World War II and was a public school teacher here in Michigan for decades. My mom was a nurse's aide and union steward. They instilled in me the importance of service, determination, fairness and integrity. And those values are what I carry with me as I fight for Michiganders - to solve problems, work across the aisle and get things done. Those values are critical to finding common sense, practical and bipartisan solutions to the challenges facing Michigan and our nation. As someone with a background in business, the military and local government, and as Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, I've always worked with people of varying backgrounds and know how important it is to put politics and partisanship aside to do what's right and deliver results. <br/></span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse3-65344-2020-08-02\" id=\"heading3-65344-2020-08-02\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse3-65344-2020-08-02\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse3-65344-2020-08-02\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat was your very first job? How long did you have it?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading3-65344-2020-08-02\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse3-65344-2020-08-02\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tMy first job was a newspaper route.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse4-65344-2020-08-02\" id=\"heading4-65344-2020-08-02\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse4-65344-2020-08-02\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse4-65344-2020-08-02\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat do you perceive to be the United States' greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading4-65344-2020-08-02\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse4-65344-2020-08-02\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tA critical challenge facing our country is rebuilding our economy and working to develop a comprehensive national strategic plan for American manufacturing to ensure Michiganders have good-paying jobs and addressing the glaring vulnerabilities in our medical supply chain. That's why I've put in the work of building relationships with my colleagues across the aisle to get the job done for Michigan, which is why I've been ranked as one of the most bipartisan and effective members of the Senate. \t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse5-65344-2020-08-02\" id=\"heading5-65344-2020-08-02\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse5-65344-2020-08-02\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse5-65344-2020-08-02\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tDo you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other senators?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading5-65344-2020-08-02\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse5-65344-2020-08-02\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tI'm proud to be ranked as one of the most bipartisan and effective members of the Senate. Those two things go hand in hand - to get things done, you have to find common ground. And that requires building relationships with other Senators across the political spectrum. \t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div></div>\n<div class=\"small\" data-nosnippet=\"\"><p><i><b>Note:</b> Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.</i></p></div>", "answer_text": "See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection\nGary Peters did not complete Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.\n\n\nGary Peters completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Peters' responses.\nExpand all | Collapse all\nWho are you? Tell us about yourself. My family has called Michigan home for five generations. Raised in metro Detroit, I've spent my entire life in service to our state - as a businessman, in the military and now in public office. Like many Michiganders, my path wasn't traditional. After graduating from Alma College, I started raising a family and working full-time and put myself through night school. Early in my work as a financial advisor, I helped families plan for their retirement and save for their children's college education. Ultimately, my value of service led me to join the U.S. Navy Reserve, where I rose to the rank of Lieutenant Commander and then rejoined after the September 11th attacks. And now during my service in Congress, I've strengthened economic relief and fought for a more robust medical response for Michiganders during the coronavirus crisis. I'm proud to be ranked as one of the most effective and bipartisan members of the Senate where I've worked to give middle class families independent representation by fighting to protect access to health care and lower prescription drug costs, supporting small businesses, preparing Michigan for the jobs of tomorrow, and defending our Great Lakes. Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office? Bipartisan and Effective. I've made it my top priority to work across the aisle to get results and make government work for Michigan. That's why nonpartisan groups like the Center for Effective Lawmaking and the McCourt School of Public Policy have ranked me as one of the most effective and bipartisan members of the Senate, and I'm proud to have received the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Jefferson-Hamilton Award for Bipartisanship. Fighting to Keep Washington Transparent and Accountable. Growing up, I was raised to believe you don't spend money you don't have. That's why I've run my office so frugally that I've returned over $2 million in taxpayer dollars to the U.S. Treasury. And I'm constantly working to keep Washington transparent and accountable. I've cut red tape, voted against congressional pay raises, passed legislation to eliminate millions in wasteful government spending and as the Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee, I've led investigations to hold government agencies accountable for improper spending and will continue to help make our government work better for Michigan. Focused on Putting Michigan First. In the Senate, I've passed into law legislation to help lower prescription drug costs, expand skills training opportunities to fill good-paying jobs, secure relief during the coronavirus pandemic, and to protect our Great Lakes. I'm working to rebuild our economy by pushing to expand Made in America manufacturing and supporting our small businesses. And as a leader on national security and veterans' issues, my top priority is keeping Michigan safe. I've worked with both parties to pass into law legislation to strengthen our military, and take care of our veterans by expanding apprenticeship opportunities and ensure those who are struggling with PTSD have access to the care they deserve. What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about? 1) Ensuring Michigan Families Have Access to Quality, Affordable Health Care Coverage. I have worked to strengthen the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and lower prescription drug costs. I've also called for opening a special enrollment period to ensure Michiganders who've lost their jobs due to COVID-19 can more easily get access to health care. Now, as we continue to work through the pandemic we need to ensure programs like Medicare and Medicaid are adequately funded. 2) Rebuilding Our Economy. I'm working to rebuild our economy, create good-paying jobs in Michigan and strengthen our middle class. I've also been working on boosting manufacturing, taking back our supply chain from China, and supporting small business and expanding skills training programs. Previously, I worked in business for over two decades, so I understand the unique challenges that small businesses face. 3) Protecting the Great Lakes. I believe we need to invest in clean energy jobs and support measures to tackle the threat of climate change, which exacerbates current challenges in the Great Lakes like algal blooms and invasive species. I am committed to reducing carbon pollution, and building a clean energy economy that balances our economic needs and provides environmental justice. I'm proud to have helped pass legislation that provides funding to restore our Great Lakes, and passed my proposal to prevent and plan for a potentially catastrophic oil spill on the Great Lakes. What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official? My father served in World War II and was a public school teacher here in Michigan for decades. My mom was a nurse's aide and union steward. They instilled in me the importance of service, determination, fairness and integrity. And those values are what I carry with me as I fight for Michiganders - to solve problems, work across the aisle and get things done. Those values are critical to finding common sense, practical and bipartisan solutions to the challenges facing Michigan and our nation. As someone with a background in business, the military and local government, and as Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, I've always worked with people of varying backgrounds and know how important it is to put politics and partisanship aside to do what's right and deliver results. What was your very first job? How long did you have it? My first job was a newspaper route. What do you perceive to be the United States' greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade? A critical challenge facing our country is rebuilding our economy and working to develop a comprehensive national strategic plan for American manufacturing to ensure Michiganders have good-paying jobs and addressing the glaring vulnerabilities in our medical supply chain. That's why I've put in the work of building relationships with my colleagues across the aisle to get the job done for Michigan, which is why I've been ranked as one of the most bipartisan and effective members of the Senate. Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other senators? I'm proud to be ranked as one of the most bipartisan and effective members of the Senate. Those two things go hand in hand - to get things done, you have to find common ground. And that requires building relationships with other Senators across the political spectrum.\nNote: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it."}, {"question": "Campaign website", "answer_html": "<p>Peters' campaign website stated the following:\n</p>\n<div style=\"height:400px;overflow:scroll;border:1px solid gray;margin:20px;padding:10px;\">\n<table data-nosnippet=\"\" style=\"border-collapse: collapse; border: none;background-color: transparent; auto; ;\">\n<tbody><tr>\n<td style=\"border:none; color:#B2B7F2;font-size:35px;font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-weight: bold; text-align: left; padding: 10px 3px;\" valign=\"top\" width=\"20\">“\n</td>\n<td style=\"border: none; padding: 4px 10px;\" valign=\"top\">\n<p><b>Protecting Michigan Families from Coronavirus</b><br/>\n<i>A MESSAGE FROM GARY:</i><br/>\nFor so many people, this is an incredibly uncertain and difficult time. The challenges the Coronavirus pandemic has brought are unprecedented, and we will have to work especially hard in the weeks ahead to fight this virus and the health and economic concerns it brings.\n</p><p>Michigan has been home to my family for five generations, and I’ve lived here my whole life. In difficult moments like this, I often think of how resilient the people of our state are — it’s just in our DNA. We’ve seen tough days before, and we will rise to meet this challenge and face it as we always have during times of turmoil: together.\n</p><p>And here is my promise to you: I will always stand up for Michigan. My number one priority is to keep you and your family safe, and I will never waver in my commitment to fighting for financial aid for working families, equipment to protect our doctors and nurses on the front lines and, now more than ever, working to expand access to affordable health care.\n</p><p>Stay safe. Stay strong. We will get through this together.\n</p><p><i>What Gary’s doing:</i>\n</p>\n<ul><li>Supporting Essential Workers: Gary is working to pass his proposal for a Heroes Fund to increase pay for essential workers on the frontlines of the pandemic.</li>\n<li>Providing Historic Unemployment Aid: Gary wrote, introduced and helped pass the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Act to expand unemployment benefits and get more aid for more workers over a longer period of time.</li>\n<li>Expanding Free Testing for Coronavirus: Gary introduced and passed the Free COVID-19 Testing Act to make sure all Americans have adequate testing capabilities.</li>\n<li>Protecting Small Businesses: Gary fought to secure additional relief for small businesses, including $60 billion for minority-owned businesses and community lenders while working to expand the funding available for small business loans and grants in the CARES Act.</li>\n<li>Getting Funding for Hospitals, Health Care Workers and Our Health Care System: Gary worked tirelessly to provide more critical funding for already overstretched hospitals and is continuing to fight to get health care workers the supplies they need to stay safe on the front lines of the pandemic.</li>\n<li>Bringing Manufacturing Back to Michigan: One of Gary’s top priorities is to bring back American manufacturing of PPE, critical drugs and medical supplies — that’s why he’s fighting to pass his legislation to strengthen and boost Michigan manufacturing.</li>\n<li>Holding Government Accountable: Gary is investigating the federal government’s response to the pandemic and fighting for *Michigan to get its fair share of relief, including demanding answers on how small business loans were misallocated to large corporations and ensuring hospitals and health care workers get critical funding.</li></ul>\n<p><b>Strengthening Michigan’s Economy</b><br/>\nGary knows that our economy is powered by middle-class families like the one he grew up in, and he knows to keep our state strong, we have to stand up for small businesses. Small businesses create two out of every three jobs, and Gary believes that protecting them means strengthening the backbone of our state.\n</p><p>After working for over 20 years in business, Gary understands the unique challenges that small businesses face. During his time in the Senate, he has cut red tape and fought to ensure small businesses have the resources to thrive. Additionally, he helped secure a bipartisan law that helps entrepreneurs understand patent laws to protect their intellectual property.\n</p><p>Gary knows that Michigan has the greatest workforce in the world, and we have to expand their opportunities for our state to thrive. That’s why he’s working to create jobs by fighting to ensure Michigan is a manufacturing hub, and is expanding access to workforce training and skilled trades programs that have literally built our state’s economy. Gary knows that for many families, a certificate that leads to a good job can mean just as much as any four-year degree and has passed bipartisan legislation to expand career and technical education, apprenticeship programs and trade school opportunities for high school students and veterans.\n</p><p><b>Expanding Access to Affordable Health Care</b><br/>\nGary knows that no one should have to make the impossible decision between paying their medical bills and putting food on the table. That’s why he was proud to vote for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and has opposed attempts to repeal it to protect the 1.7 million Michiganders with pre-existing conditions who depend on the ACA for protections.\n</p><p>Though Gary is proud to support the ACA, he’s also working for common sense fixes to make it work better for Michigan. That’s why he supported repealing the Cadillac Tax on high-cost employer plans to ease the burden on small business owners. He’s also working to expand coverage for middle-class families with solutions like a Medicare public option. \n</p><p>Gary knows that far too many seniors and others who rely on prescription medications are struggling to keep up with their skyrocketing costs. That’s why he helped lead and pass bills to get generic versions of insulin into the market more quickly, expand access to more affordable generic drugs and prevent big pharmaceutical companies from monopolizing the generic drug market. In addition, Gary helped introduce legislation that would allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices to keep costs low and make sure more Michiganders can afford their life-saving medications.\n</p><p><b>Protecting Public Schools and Education</b><br/>\nGary and his family are proud products of Michigan’s public schools. Through his father, a public school English teacher, Gary saw firsthand the importance of having access to quality education. That’s why he’s advocated for better education opportunities for all Michiganders, from pushing to make higher education more affordable to expanding access to technical, vocational and apprenticeship programs. Gary has prioritized fighting so everyone — no matter where they live — can have access to affordable education.\n</p><p>In addition, Gary has stood up to special interests that have tried to gut funding for public education. From the beginning, he opposed the nomination and confirmation of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos and has fought against her attempts to cut funding for Michigan’s public schools, including critical after school programs.\n</p><p>Gary is pushing to expand funding opportunities for technical and vocational education programs for Michigan high school students to help them realize their full potential and have the skills they need on the job. He’s passed legislation to lessen the burden of student loans and promote diversity in STEM fields, and he’s helped to secure a record amount of funding for Pell Grants to make higher education more affordable for all students, regardless of zip code.\n</p><p><b>Defending the Great Lakes and Environment</b>\nIn Michigan, the Great Lakes are central to our culture, economy and way of life. Gary grew up spending his summers on the Great Lakes and knows that we need to protect them for future generations.\n</p><p>Years before it was mainstream, Gary was working to combat climate change and defend our lakes by advocating for a Great Lakes drilling ban. While in the Senate, Gary authored and passed into law bipartisan measures to protect our lakes from catastrophic oil spills, and he successfully fought against budget cuts that would have eliminated Great Lakes funding, even helping secure historic Great Lakes funding to clean up contaminated lakes, beaches and waterways and prevent the spread of invasive species.\n</p><p>While areas like Flint and Detroit continue to struggle for clean and accessible water, Gary has taken action to uplift and support these communities by leading the fight to successfully pass emergency aid for Flint after the lead water crisis. He’s also helping to secure funding to expand Head Start for communities affected by lead water pollution and is a leader on cleaning up toxic PFAS chemicals, which have contaminated drinking water across the state. Gary helped convene the Senate’s first-ever hearing on PFAS, passed into law a ban on the use of PFAS firefighting foams on military bases, which has been a key source of PFAS contaminated water in our state, and he’s led efforts to establish clear standards on cleaning up and limiting exposure to these toxic chemicals.\n</p><p><b>Keeping Michigan Safe</b><br/>\nAs the Ranking Member on the Homeland Security Committee and a member of the Armed Services Committee, Gary’s top priority is keeping Michigan — and the people who defend us — safe. He has worked to ensure our troops serving overseas are cared for, including fighting to get them a pay raise and working to ensure our men and women in uniform have the best equipment to protect them. \n</p><p>He also knows that we have to take care of our servicemembers once they come home. That’s why he wrote and passed into law a bill to help ensure those who are struggling with PTSD have access to the care they deserve. Further, Gary wrote a bipartisan law to help expand apprenticeship opportunities for veterans using their GI bill benefits to ensure they have the skills needed for a good-paying job.\n</p><p>Gary is working with members of both parties to strengthen our military, keep America safe and secure our borders. He wrote and passed key security measures, led the passage of critical anti-terrorism legislation and voted for over $1 billion in enhanced border security. He passed into law his bipartisan bill to better secure our border against illegal crossings and illicit drug trafficking, and he coauthored a bipartisan bill to hire 4,000 more border security officers to fix a critical shortage in staffing. He also wrote and passed bipartisan legislation to hire hundreds of inspectors at our borders to stop contaminated products from entering and protect Michigan’s marketplaces and our nation’s food supply. \n</p><p>Gary is proud to be an independent voice for Michigan in the Senate, which means ensuring our laws are enforced and keeping our northern and southern borders strong and secure. He supports a comprehensive approach to immigration reform and common sense laws to strengthen border security.\n</p><p><b>Fighting For Women</b><br/>\nEmpowering and supporting women is personal to Gary — he’s a father to two daughters, a husband and a brother of two sisters. He’s fought for women throughout his career.\n</p><p>One of the first bills he cosponsored in Congress was the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act to ensure that women get equal pay for equal work, and he continues to champion efforts to combat pay discrimination. To build more opportunities for women in the workforce, Gary passed bipartisan legislation to help increase the number of women working in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields. \n</p><p>Gary understands the unique challenges women face in dealing with domestic abuse and violence. That’s why he supported the landmark Violence Against Women Act to reduce intimate partner violence and provide resources to ensure that more women can be safe and healthy. He also led passage of the PAWS Act to support domestic violence shelters in providing pet-friendly housing so the facilities can provide support for both survivors and their pets.\n</p><p>Gary has been endorsed by Planned Parenthood, NARAL and the National Organization for Women (NOW) as an advocate for reproductive freedom and the ability for everyone to make personal choices about their own bodies.\n</p><p><b>Standing Up For Agriculture and Rural Communities</b><br/>\nGary is a tireless advocate for Michigan’s farming and rural communities. He led the way to help protect our farmers from unfair foreign trade practices. In the Senate, he introduced bipartisan legislation to ensure our laws are enforced and that Michigan farmers — especially our cherry growers — are not disadvantaged by unfair trade practices. \n</p><p>He has also supported renegotiating unfair trade deals like NAFTA, and he fought to improve and voted for the bipartisan USMCA to help level the playing field for our farmers, workers and businesses. As the leading Democrat on the Homeland Security Committee, Gary fought hard to pass bipartisan legislation into law to hire hundreds of agricultural inspectors at our borders to stop contaminated products from entering and protect Michigan’s marketplace and our nation’s food supply. \n</p><p>When it comes to supporting those who live in our rural communities, Gary knows you can’t leave anyone behind. That’s why he’s working to expand broadband internet access to support telehealth, remote learning and precision agriculture. Given that so many rural Michiganders rely on the vital services the US Postal Service provides, Gary has led the fight to maintain the service’s funding, especially during the COVID-19 crisis.\n</p><p><b>Equity and Justice</b><br/>\nGary understands that African American and other underserved communities in Michigan are facing unique challenges. That’s why he’s focused on passing policies to empower these communities and uplift the work of local leaders and organizations. Whether working for immediate action to reform our broken criminal justice system, fighting to protect voting rights and expanding vocational training opportunities or working to address disparities in housing, health care and economic prosperity, Gary’s focused on building opportunities for everyone.\n</p><p>Gary is working with local community stakeholders including faith leaders, civil rights organizations and law enforcement groups to pass critical reforms to ensure greater oversight over law enforcement and to address racial disparities in policing. With the support of the NAACP, he introduced the bipartisan National Criminal Justice Commission Act to establish the first top-to-bottom review of our justice system in over 50 years and help set the agenda on critical reforms for our criminal justice system. He has also cosponsored national reforms like an outright ban on the use of chokeholds, accountability in the event of the use of deadly force by law enforcement and the requirement for fair and impartial independent investigations. Moreover, he supports measures to require federal law enforcement to clearly identify themselves and promotes the use of evidence-based practices to inform crime reduction programs.\n</p><p>Gary also knows that racial inequities in health care must be combatted by making care more affordable and accessible. In his work to expand access to affordable health care, Gary is a strong advocate of the Affordable Care Act and has passed legislation to help get lower-cost generic insulin and other generic medications to the market. Further, he cosponsored and passed the Maternal Health Accountability Act to create a grant program to help states track and reduce maternal deaths, which disproportionately impact Black women.\n</p><p>The need for clean water impacts every corner of the state, and Gary has championed policies to improve infrastructure so communities across our state have access to clean drinking water. To provide aid to Flint during the water crisis, Gary fought tirelessly for emergency assistance. He secured $100 million in emergency infrastructure for the city in addition to authoring legislation to require the government to investigate efforts to mitigate lead contamination. \n</p><p>Gary knows that uplifting Michigan’s urban areas and city centers has to be a priority. In Flint, he helped bring in $30 million for the Choice Neighborhoods Grant to replace the Atherton East public housing complex, plus nearly half a million dollars for Flint Community Schools to hire staff and improve the learning environment for students affected by leaded water. In Detroit, Gary supported the purchase of 59 new city transit buses and funding to revitalize Belle Isle. Gary has also secured funding for resources to keep communities and places of worship safe.\n</p><p>Gary is an advocate for the Minority Business Development Agency, and helped pass the Small Business Jobs Act to boost small businesses in and around Detroit through tax credits and access to low-interest loans. He has fought for and secured additional relief for minority-owned businesses and community lenders impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Gary is also an original cosponsor of the For the People Act, which would expand voting rights and reduce the influence of big money in politics. \n</p><p><b>Getting Results for Michigan</b><br/>\nGary has never been afraid to cross the aisle to get results and make government work for Michigan. That’s why nonpartisan groups like the Center for Effective Lawmaking, the Lugar Center and the McCourt School of Public Policy have ranked him as one of the most effective and bipartisan members of the Senate. He has been ranked the fourth most effective Democrat in the Senate and the 12th most bipartisan Senator overall, in addition to receiving the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Jefferson-Hamilton Award for Bipartisanship.\n</p><p>Throughout his time in the Senate, Gary has been a leader on bipartisan legislation to change the way we treat veterans with mental health issues, streamline government to save taxpayers millions of dollars and help ensure Michiganders have the skills they need to find good-paying jobs.\n</p><p>Last year, he championed the Great Lakes by securing historic funding for restoration projects and developing strategies to prevent and respond to catastrophic oil spills. He also wrote and passed a bill to expand apprenticeship opportunities for our veterans, ensuring those who serve our nation have prospects for good jobs when they come home to Michigan. \n</p><p>As a leader on the Homeland Security Committee, Gary passed into law his bill to hire hundreds of agricultural inspectors at our borders to stop contaminated products from entering the country. Further, he worked across the aisle to provide additional resources to religious institutions and houses of worship to increase security from domestic terrorist attacks.\n</p><p>And when it comes to making government work, for Gary, it’s personal. Growing up, he was raised to believe you don’t spend money you don’t have, and those are the values he brings with him to work every day. He’s run his office so frugally that he’s returned over $2 million in taxpayer dollars to the U.S. Treasury and passed legislation to cut red tape and streamline the government to save taxpayers’ millions. \n</p><p>Gary is constantly working to keep Washington transparent and responsible. Under his oversight, Gary has helped pass legislation to eliminate millions in wasteful government spending and has led investigations to hold government agencies accountable for improper spending.\n<sup class=\"reference\" id=\"cite_ref-quotedisclaimer_22-0\"><a href=\"#cite_note-quotedisclaimer-22\">[22]</a></sup>\n</p>\n</td>\n<td style=\"border: none; color: #B2B7F2; font-size: 35px; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-weight: bold; text-align: right; padding: 10px 1px;\" valign=\"bottom\" width=\"20\">”\n</td></tr>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"cquotecite\" colspan=\"3\" style=\"border: none; padding-right: 4%\"><cite style=\"font-style: normal;font-size: smaller; float: right;\">—Gary Peters’ campaign website (2020)<sup class=\"reference\" id=\"cite_ref-23\"><a href=\"#cite_note-23\">[23]</a></sup></cite>\n</td></tr></tbody></table>\n</div>", "answer_text": "Peters' campaign website stated the following:\n“ Protecting Michigan Families from Coronavirus A MESSAGE FROM GARY: For so many people, this is an incredibly uncertain and difficult time. The challenges the Coronavirus pandemic has brought are unprecedented, and we will have to work especially hard in the weeks ahead to fight this virus and the health and economic concerns it brings. Michigan has been home to my family for five generations, and I’ve lived here my whole life. In difficult moments like this, I often think of how resilient the people of our state are — it’s just in our DNA. We’ve seen tough days before, and we will rise to meet this challenge and face it as we always have during times of turmoil: together. And here is my promise to you: I will always stand up for Michigan. My number one priority is to keep you and your family safe, and I will never waver in my commitment to fighting for financial aid for working families, equipment to protect our doctors and nurses on the front lines and, now more than ever, working to expand access to affordable health care. Stay safe. Stay strong. We will get through this together. What Gary’s doing: Supporting Essential Workers: Gary is working to pass his proposal for a Heroes Fund to increase pay for essential workers on the frontlines of the pandemic. Providing Historic Unemployment Aid: Gary wrote, introduced and helped pass the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Act to expand unemployment benefits and get more aid for more workers over a longer period of time. Expanding Free Testing for Coronavirus: Gary introduced and passed the Free COVID-19 Testing Act to make sure all Americans have adequate testing capabilities. Protecting Small Businesses: Gary fought to secure additional relief for small businesses, including $60 billion for minority-owned businesses and community lenders while working to expand the funding available for small business loans and grants in the CARES Act. Getting Funding for Hospitals, Health Care Workers and Our Health Care System: Gary worked tirelessly to provide more critical funding for already overstretched hospitals and is continuing to fight to get health care workers the supplies they need to stay safe on the front lines of the pandemic. Bringing Manufacturing Back to Michigan: One of Gary’s top priorities is to bring back American manufacturing of PPE, critical drugs and medical supplies — that’s why he’s fighting to pass his legislation to strengthen and boost Michigan manufacturing. Holding Government Accountable: Gary is investigating the federal government’s response to the pandemic and fighting for *Michigan to get its fair share of relief, including demanding answers on how small business loans were misallocated to large corporations and ensuring hospitals and health care workers get critical funding. Strengthening Michigan’s Economy Gary knows that our economy is powered by middle-class families like the one he grew up in, and he knows to keep our state strong, we have to stand up for small businesses. Small businesses create two out of every three jobs, and Gary believes that protecting them means strengthening the backbone of our state. After working for over 20 years in business, Gary understands the unique challenges that small businesses face. During his time in the Senate, he has cut red tape and fought to ensure small businesses have the resources to thrive. Additionally, he helped secure a bipartisan law that helps entrepreneurs understand patent laws to protect their intellectual property. Gary knows that Michigan has the greatest workforce in the world, and we have to expand their opportunities for our state to thrive. That’s why he’s working to create jobs by fighting to ensure Michigan is a manufacturing hub, and is expanding access to workforce training and skilled trades programs that have literally built our state’s economy. Gary knows that for many families, a certificate that leads to a good job can mean just as much as any four-year degree and has passed bipartisan legislation to expand career and technical education, apprenticeship programs and trade school opportunities for high school students and veterans. Expanding Access to Affordable Health Care Gary knows that no one should have to make the impossible decision between paying their medical bills and putting food on the table. That’s why he was proud to vote for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and has opposed attempts to repeal it to protect the 1.7 million Michiganders with pre-existing conditions who depend on the ACA for protections. Though Gary is proud to support the ACA, he’s also working for common sense fixes to make it work better for Michigan. That’s why he supported repealing the Cadillac Tax on high-cost employer plans to ease the burden on small business owners. He’s also working to expand coverage for middle-class families with solutions like a Medicare public option. Gary knows that far too many seniors and others who rely on prescription medications are struggling to keep up with their skyrocketing costs. That’s why he helped lead and pass bills to get generic versions of insulin into the market more quickly, expand access to more affordable generic drugs and prevent big pharmaceutical companies from monopolizing the generic drug market. In addition, Gary helped introduce legislation that would allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices to keep costs low and make sure more Michiganders can afford their life-saving medications. Protecting Public Schools and Education Gary and his family are proud products of Michigan’s public schools. Through his father, a public school English teacher, Gary saw firsthand the importance of having access to quality education. That’s why he’s advocated for better education opportunities for all Michiganders, from pushing to make higher education more affordable to expanding access to technical, vocational and apprenticeship programs. Gary has prioritized fighting so everyone — no matter where they live — can have access to affordable education. In addition, Gary has stood up to special interests that have tried to gut funding for public education. From the beginning, he opposed the nomination and confirmation of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos and has fought against her attempts to cut funding for Michigan’s public schools, including critical after school programs. Gary is pushing to expand funding opportunities for technical and vocational education programs for Michigan high school students to help them realize their full potential and have the skills they need on the job. He’s passed legislation to lessen the burden of student loans and promote diversity in STEM fields, and he’s helped to secure a record amount of funding for Pell Grants to make higher education more affordable for all students, regardless of zip code. Defending the Great Lakes and Environment In Michigan, the Great Lakes are central to our culture, economy and way of life. Gary grew up spending his summers on the Great Lakes and knows that we need to protect them for future generations. Years before it was mainstream, Gary was working to combat climate change and defend our lakes by advocating for a Great Lakes drilling ban. While in the Senate, Gary authored and passed into law bipartisan measures to protect our lakes from catastrophic oil spills, and he successfully fought against budget cuts that would have eliminated Great Lakes funding, even helping secure historic Great Lakes funding to clean up contaminated lakes, beaches and waterways and prevent the spread of invasive species. While areas like Flint and Detroit continue to struggle for clean and accessible water, Gary has taken action to uplift and support these communities by leading the fight to successfully pass emergency aid for Flint after the lead water crisis. He’s also helping to secure funding to expand Head Start for communities affected by lead water pollution and is a leader on cleaning up toxic PFAS chemicals, which have contaminated drinking water across the state. Gary helped convene the Senate’s first-ever hearing on PFAS, passed into law a ban on the use of PFAS firefighting foams on military bases, which has been a key source of PFAS contaminated water in our state, and he’s led efforts to establish clear standards on cleaning up and limiting exposure to these toxic chemicals. Keeping Michigan Safe As the Ranking Member on the Homeland Security Committee and a member of the Armed Services Committee, Gary’s top priority is keeping Michigan — and the people who defend us — safe. He has worked to ensure our troops serving overseas are cared for, including fighting to get them a pay raise and working to ensure our men and women in uniform have the best equipment to protect them. He also knows that we have to take care of our servicemembers once they come home. That’s why he wrote and passed into law a bill to help ensure those who are struggling with PTSD have access to the care they deserve. Further, Gary wrote a bipartisan law to help expand apprenticeship opportunities for veterans using their GI bill benefits to ensure they have the skills needed for a good-paying job. Gary is working with members of both parties to strengthen our military, keep America safe and secure our borders. He wrote and passed key security measures, led the passage of critical anti-terrorism legislation and voted for over $1 billion in enhanced border security. He passed into law his bipartisan bill to better secure our border against illegal crossings and illicit drug trafficking, and he coauthored a bipartisan bill to hire 4,000 more border security officers to fix a critical shortage in staffing. He also wrote and passed bipartisan legislation to hire hundreds of inspectors at our borders to stop contaminated products from entering and protect Michigan’s marketplaces and our nation’s food supply. Gary is proud to be an independent voice for Michigan in the Senate, which means ensuring our laws are enforced and keeping our northern and southern borders strong and secure. He supports a comprehensive approach to immigration reform and common sense laws to strengthen border security. Fighting For Women Empowering and supporting women is personal to Gary — he’s a father to two daughters, a husband and a brother of two sisters. He’s fought for women throughout his career. One of the first bills he cosponsored in Congress was the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act to ensure that women get equal pay for equal work, and he continues to champion efforts to combat pay discrimination. To build more opportunities for women in the workforce, Gary passed bipartisan legislation to help increase the number of women working in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields. Gary understands the unique challenges women face in dealing with domestic abuse and violence. That’s why he supported the landmark Violence Against Women Act to reduce intimate partner violence and provide resources to ensure that more women can be safe and healthy. He also led passage of the PAWS Act to support domestic violence shelters in providing pet-friendly housing so the facilities can provide support for both survivors and their pets. Gary has been endorsed by Planned Parenthood, NARAL and the National Organization for Women (NOW) as an advocate for reproductive freedom and the ability for everyone to make personal choices about their own bodies. Standing Up For Agriculture and Rural Communities Gary is a tireless advocate for Michigan’s farming and rural communities. He led the way to help protect our farmers from unfair foreign trade practices. In the Senate, he introduced bipartisan legislation to ensure our laws are enforced and that Michigan farmers — especially our cherry growers — are not disadvantaged by unfair trade practices. He has also supported renegotiating unfair trade deals like NAFTA, and he fought to improve and voted for the bipartisan USMCA to help level the playing field for our farmers, workers and businesses. As the leading Democrat on the Homeland Security Committee, Gary fought hard to pass bipartisan legislation into law to hire hundreds of agricultural inspectors at our borders to stop contaminated products from entering and protect Michigan’s marketplace and our nation’s food supply. When it comes to supporting those who live in our rural communities, Gary knows you can’t leave anyone behind. That’s why he’s working to expand broadband internet access to support telehealth, remote learning and precision agriculture. Given that so many rural Michiganders rely on the vital services the US Postal Service provides, Gary has led the fight to maintain the service’s funding, especially during the COVID-19 crisis. Equity and Justice Gary understands that African American and other underserved communities in Michigan are facing unique challenges. That’s why he’s focused on passing policies to empower these communities and uplift the work of local leaders and organizations. Whether working for immediate action to reform our broken criminal justice system, fighting to protect voting rights and expanding vocational training opportunities or working to address disparities in housing, health care and economic prosperity, Gary’s focused on building opportunities for everyone. Gary is working with local community stakeholders including faith leaders, civil rights organizations and law enforcement groups to pass critical reforms to ensure greater oversight over law enforcement and to address racial disparities in policing. With the support of the NAACP, he introduced the bipartisan National Criminal Justice Commission Act to establish the first top-to-bottom review of our justice system in over 50 years and help set the agenda on critical reforms for our criminal justice system. He has also cosponsored national reforms like an outright ban on the use of chokeholds, accountability in the event of the use of deadly force by law enforcement and the requirement for fair and impartial independent investigations. Moreover, he supports measures to require federal law enforcement to clearly identify themselves and promotes the use of evidence-based practices to inform crime reduction programs. Gary also knows that racial inequities in health care must be combatted by making care more affordable and accessible. In his work to expand access to affordable health care, Gary is a strong advocate of the Affordable Care Act and has passed legislation to help get lower-cost generic insulin and other generic medications to the market. Further, he cosponsored and passed the Maternal Health Accountability Act to create a grant program to help states track and reduce maternal deaths, which disproportionately impact Black women. The need for clean water impacts every corner of the state, and Gary has championed policies to improve infrastructure so communities across our state have access to clean drinking water. To provide aid to Flint during the water crisis, Gary fought tirelessly for emergency assistance. He secured $100 million in emergency infrastructure for the city in addition to authoring legislation to require the government to investigate efforts to mitigate lead contamination. Gary knows that uplifting Michigan’s urban areas and city centers has to be a priority. In Flint, he helped bring in $30 million for the Choice Neighborhoods Grant to replace the Atherton East public housing complex, plus nearly half a million dollars for Flint Community Schools to hire staff and improve the learning environment for students affected by leaded water. In Detroit, Gary supported the purchase of 59 new city transit buses and funding to revitalize Belle Isle. Gary has also secured funding for resources to keep communities and places of worship safe. Gary is an advocate for the Minority Business Development Agency, and helped pass the Small Business Jobs Act to boost small businesses in and around Detroit through tax credits and access to low-interest loans. He has fought for and secured additional relief for minority-owned businesses and community lenders impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Gary is also an original cosponsor of the For the People Act, which would expand voting rights and reduce the influence of big money in politics. Getting Results for Michigan Gary has never been afraid to cross the aisle to get results and make government work for Michigan. That’s why nonpartisan groups like the Center for Effective Lawmaking, the Lugar Center and the McCourt School of Public Policy have ranked him as one of the most effective and bipartisan members of the Senate. He has been ranked the fourth most effective Democrat in the Senate and the 12th most bipartisan Senator overall, in addition to receiving the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Jefferson-Hamilton Award for Bipartisanship. Throughout his time in the Senate, Gary has been a leader on bipartisan legislation to change the way we treat veterans with mental health issues, streamline government to save taxpayers millions of dollars and help ensure Michiganders have the skills they need to find good-paying jobs. Last year, he championed the Great Lakes by securing historic funding for restoration projects and developing strategies to prevent and respond to catastrophic oil spills. He also wrote and passed a bill to expand apprenticeship opportunities for our veterans, ensuring those who serve our nation have prospects for good jobs when they come home to Michigan. As a leader on the Homeland Security Committee, Gary passed into law his bill to hire hundreds of agricultural inspectors at our borders to stop contaminated products from entering the country. Further, he worked across the aisle to provide additional resources to religious institutions and houses of worship to increase security from domestic terrorist attacks. And when it comes to making government work, for Gary, it’s personal. Growing up, he was raised to believe you don’t spend money you don’t have, and those are the values he brings with him to work every day. He’s run his office so frugally that he’s returned over $2 million in taxpayer dollars to the U.S. Treasury and passed legislation to cut red tape and streamline the government to save taxpayers’ millions. Gary is constantly working to keep Washington transparent and responsible. Under his oversight, Gary has helped pass legislation to eliminate millions in wasteful government spending and has led investigations to hold government agencies accountable for improper spending. [22] ” —Gary Peters’ campaign website (2020) [23]"}, {"question": "2014", "answer_html": "<p>Peters' website listed the following issues:\n</p>\n<div style=\"height:400px;overflow:scroll;border:1px solid gray;margin:20px;padding:10px;\">\n<table data-nosnippet=\"\" style=\"border-collapse: collapse; border: none;background-color: transparent; auto; ;\">\n<tbody><tr>\n<td style=\"border:none; color:#B2B7F2;font-size:35px;font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-weight: bold; text-align: left; padding: 10px 3px;\" valign=\"top\" width=\"20\">“\n</td>\n<td style=\"border: none; padding: 4px 10px;\" valign=\"top\"><i><b>Jobs &amp; Economy:</b></i> We make things in Michigan, and Gary is proud of that tradition. Whether it’s investing in Michigan Main Street businesses, strengthening our automotive industry, expanding agricultural innovation, or promoting entrepreneurial talents, Gary will continue to lead the fight for Michigan’s economic future and a strong middle class in the U.S. Senate.<br/>\n<p><i><b>Health Care:</b></i> Medicare has helped make health care affordable for thousands of Michigan seniors, and Gary is committed to ensuring it can be relied upon for generations to come. He has consistently opposed the Republican Ryan Budget Plan to privatize Medicare and end the guaranteed benefit for our seniors, and will continue to fight against any efforts to cut such a vital program.\n</p><p>America needs more than just a sick-care system. We need to move towards a results-driven, sustainable, health care system that puts the well-being of our families first. Gary will work in the U.S. Senate to make sure health care reform continues to move forward in a practical, common-sense way.<br/>\n</p><p><i><b>Military &amp; Veterans:</b></i> The son of a World War II veteran, Gary was instilled the importance and value of service. When he was 34 years old, Gary felt compelled to serve his country and joined the U.S. Navy Reserve. After the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Gary volunteered and served again. Trained as a sharpshooter in pistol and rifle and as a Seabee Combat Specialist, Gary eventually rose to the rank of Lieutenant Commander.\n</p><p>When our veterans file claims with the VA, they shouldn’t be subjected to staggering backlogs. Gary is working with his colleagues to reduce the backlog at the VA and get our veterans and their families the benefits they’ve earned.\n</p><p>All of us are indebted to the men and women that serve our nation. And Gary will continue to fight for Michigan’s service men and women, veterans, and their families.<sup class=\"reference\" id=\"cite_ref-quotedisclaimer_22-1\"><a href=\"#cite_note-quotedisclaimer-22\">[22]</a></sup>\n</p>\n</td>\n<td style=\"border: none; color: #B2B7F2; font-size: 35px; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-weight: bold; text-align: right; padding: 10px 1px;\" valign=\"bottom\" width=\"20\">”\n</td></tr>\n</tbody></table>\n</div>", "answer_text": "Peters' website listed the following issues:\n“ Jobs & Economy: We make things in Michigan, and Gary is proud of that tradition. Whether it’s investing in Michigan Main Street businesses, strengthening our automotive industry, expanding agricultural innovation, or promoting entrepreneurial talents, Gary will continue to lead the fight for Michigan’s economic future and a strong middle class in the U.S. Senate. Health Care: Medicare has helped make health care affordable for thousands of Michigan seniors, and Gary is committed to ensuring it can be relied upon for generations to come. He has consistently opposed the Republican Ryan Budget Plan to privatize Medicare and end the guaranteed benefit for our seniors, and will continue to fight against any efforts to cut such a vital program. America needs more than just a sick-care system. We need to move towards a results-driven, sustainable, health care system that puts the well-being of our families first. Gary will work in the U.S. Senate to make sure health care reform continues to move forward in a practical, common-sense way. Military & Veterans: The son of a World War II veteran, Gary was instilled the importance and value of service. When he was 34 years old, Gary felt compelled to serve his country and joined the U.S. Navy Reserve. After the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Gary volunteered and served again. Trained as a sharpshooter in pistol and rifle and as a Seabee Combat Specialist, Gary eventually rose to the rank of Lieutenant Commander. When our veterans file claims with the VA, they shouldn’t be subjected to staggering backlogs. Gary is working with his colleagues to reduce the backlog at the VA and get our veterans and their families the benefits they’ve earned. All of us are indebted to the men and women that serve our nation. And Gary will continue to fight for Michigan’s service men and women, veterans, and their families. [22] ”"}, {"question": "2012", "answer_html": "<p>The campaign issues below were highlighted on Peters' campaign website.<sup class=\"reference\" id=\"cite_ref-24\"><a href=\"#cite_note-24\">[24]</a></sup>\n</p>\n<div style=\"height:400px;overflow:scroll;border:1px solid gray;margin:20px;padding:10px;\">\n<ul><li><b>Bridging the 8 Mile Divide to Unite the Greater Detroit Region</b></li></ul>\n<p>Excerpt: \"Investing in a regional transit system to serve all... Ending the foreclosure crisis by helping families stay in their homes... Connecting local workers with local employers.\"<sup class=\"reference\" id=\"cite_ref-25\"><a href=\"#cite_note-25\">[25]</a></sup>\n</p>\n<ul><li><b>Healthcare</b></li></ul>\n<p>Excerpt: \"In Congress, Gary stood with President Obama and voted to pass the historic Affordable Care Act despite continual attacks from the Tea Party. Gary also successfully helped expand health care coverage to over 4 million low income children and pregnant women.\"<sup class=\"reference\" id=\"cite_ref-26\"><a href=\"#cite_note-26\">[26]</a></sup>\n</p>\n<ul><li><b>Jobs and the Economy</b></li></ul>\n<p>Excerpt: \"In Congress, Gary led the fight to save our auto industry, worked to expand small business lending to spur new job creation, and he's always stood up to Tea Party proposals to gut the social safety net for families facing tough times.\"<sup class=\"reference\" id=\"cite_ref-27\"><a href=\"#cite_note-27\">[27]</a></sup>\n</p>\n<ul><li><b>Proud Democratic Fighter for Michigan</b></li></ul>\n<p>Excerpt: \"As our Congressman, Gary Peters has worked to protect collective bargaining rights and fought for policies that put middle class families ahead of billionaire special interests.\"<sup class=\"reference\" id=\"cite_ref-28\"><a href=\"#cite_note-28\">[28]</a></sup>\n</p>\n<ul><li><b>Accountability and Reform on Wall Street</b></li></ul>\n<p>Excerpt: \"As part of this work, Peters helped create the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau - the first agency dedicated entirely to protecting regular Americans from abusive and predatory lending practices. And when corporate executives rewarded themselves with taxpayer funded bailout bonuses, Gary Peters led the fight to hold them accountable by writing and passing a bill to reclaim this money.\"<sup class=\"reference\" id=\"cite_ref-29\"><a href=\"#cite_note-29\">[29]</a></sup>\n</p>\n</div>", "answer_text": "The campaign issues below were highlighted on Peters' campaign website. [24]\nBridging the 8 Mile Divide to Unite the Greater Detroit Region Excerpt: \"Investing in a regional transit system to serve all... Ending the foreclosure crisis by helping families stay in their homes... Connecting local workers with local employers.\" [25] Healthcare Excerpt: \"In Congress, Gary stood with President Obama and voted to pass the historic Affordable Care Act despite continual attacks from the Tea Party. Gary also successfully helped expand health care coverage to over 4 million low income children and pregnant women.\" [26] Jobs and the Economy Excerpt: \"In Congress, Gary led the fight to save our auto industry, worked to expand small business lending to spur new job creation, and he's always stood up to Tea Party proposals to gut the social safety net for families facing tough times.\" [27] Proud Democratic Fighter for Michigan Excerpt: \"As our Congressman, Gary Peters has worked to protect collective bargaining rights and fought for policies that put middle class families ahead of billionaire special interests.\" [28] Accountability and Reform on Wall Street Excerpt: \"As part of this work, Peters helped create the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau - the first agency dedicated entirely to protecting regular Americans from abusive and predatory lending practices. And when corporate executives rewarded themselves with taxpayer funded bailout bonuses, Gary Peters led the fight to hold them accountable by writing and passing a bill to reclaim this money.\" [29]"}]