Peters Helps Advance Senate Appropriations Bill with Important Investments to Strengthen Public Safety, Economic Competitiveness, and Great Lakes Protections

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) helped the Senate Appropriations Committee pass the Fiscal Year 2025 Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, bipartisan legislation to fund Michigan priorities, high-impact local projects and federal programs that support manufacturing, the economy and environment, public safety and law enforcement as well as cutting-edge research.

"This bipartisan legislation advances critical projects in Michigan and across the country," said Senator Peters. "It will enhance public safety, boost economic competitiveness, and help safeguard our most important natural resources. It will also deliver on two of the priorities that Michiganders care about most: supporting local law enforcement and protecting the Great Lakes. I'm proud to have helped secure this funding and look forward to getting it across the finish line."

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives is considering their own funding bills. The Senate and House will then need to reach an agreement on a final funding bill and have it pass both chambers before being sent to the President to be signed into law.

The bill includes measures led and supported by Peters, including:

Strengthening Michigan's Manufacturing Sector

CHIPS and Science Act: The bill includes a significant increase in funding for science and technology programs to continue implementation of the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act that Peters helped craft and pass into law to help drive U.S. economic competitiveness. The funding provided in this bill for scientific research will ensure the U.S. remains competitive with the Chinese government and other foreign competitors in the fields that will dominate the global economy in the coming years, including artificial intelligence, quantum computing, microelectronics, and clean energy.

Trade Restrictions on Chinese EVs: Peters secured language in the bill to protect U.S. automotive manufacturing jobs. The bill recognizes the threat posed by the potential for highly subsidized Chinese-made vehicles to flood the U.S. market, which would threaten U.S. automotive manufacturing jobs and our national security. The bill directs the Bureau of Industry and Security to brief the committee within 90 days on the agency's progress on its Information and Communications Technology Services investigation into the national security implications of Chinese-made vehicles in the U.S. as well as plans to prevent Chinese companies from circumventing existing tariffs or utilizing the USMCA to gain a foothold in the U.S. market.

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST): The bill invests heavily in the National Institute of Standards and Technology. These resources will help NIST advance research in cutting-edge fields like carbon dioxide removal, artificial intelligence, quantum information science, and cybersecurity. NIST will also develop standards, tools, and tests to help ensure AI systems operate safely.

Supporting the Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center: The bill also includes $175 million for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) program - a program that has been a priority for Peters - which helps small and medium manufacturers grow their business and works to strengthen our domestic manufacturing supply chain. Last year, Peters announced the Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center, Michigan's Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) program, was awarded $400,000 in federal funding made possible by the CHIPS and Science Act. For every dollar of federal investment, MEP generates $26.20 in new sales growth for manufacturers and $34.50 in new investment. This translates into $4.9 billion in new sales annually.

Making Michigan Communities Safer

PAWS Act: Peters previously secured $3 million in FY2025 funding for the Emergency and Transitional Pet Shelter and Housing Assistance Grant Program, which was established by Peters' Pet and Women Safety (PAWS) Act. The grant program, administered by the Department of Justice, provides emergency and transitional shelter options for domestic violence survivors with companion animals. The Commerce-Justice-Science appropriations legislation encourages the Department of Justice to continue awarding grants under the program.

City of Flint Solar-Powered Pole Camera Project: Peters secured $135,000 in funding to support sustainable security measures throughout Flint that will enhance public safety.

Cure Violence Grand Rapids: Peters secured $500,000 in funding for Cure Violence, an evidence-based violence reduction and intervention program in Grand Rapids, to support the expansion of an evidence-based violence reduction and intervention program. Last year, the Senate passed Peters' bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the Project Safe Neighborhoods program - a nationwide law enforcement program that uses evidence-based and data-driven approaches to reduce violent crime.

Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety Patrol Vehicles: Peters secured more than $960,000 in funding for the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety to support upgrades to public safety vehicles to respond to service calls.

Westland Police Technology Upgrade: Peters secured $75,000 in funding to help Westland replace aging police car computer systems.

Portable Radio Communication Devices for Pinconning Police Department: Peters secured $26,000 in funding to help the Pinconning Police Department purchase radio systems critical to police communications.

DNA Analysis Technology for Van Buren County: This Peters secured $576,000 in funding for Van Buren County to purchase a system to rapidly process DNA throughout the region, helping to address a current DNA processing backlog and enabling crime to be solved more quickly.

CLEMIS Modernization and Transformation Project: Peters secured $2 million in funding for Oakland County to upgrade a management information system, which will result in improved community policing and greater transparency and oversight.

Marquette Police Department Portable Radio Upgrades: Peters secured $286,000 in funding for the Marquette Police Department to purchase portable radios critical to police communications.

Eastern Michigan University Police & Fire Leadership Training: Peters secured $750,000 in funding for Eastern Michigan University to expand leadership training for police officers and emergency responders throughout Michigan.

Patrol Vehicles Replacement for Aging Fleet: Peters secured $385,000 in funding for Houghton to replace an aging patrol vehicle fleet to continue to serve residents and protect their community.

Warren Police Department: Peters secured $38,000 in funding for the Warren Police Department to support the purchase of officer safety equipment to aid officers during traffic stops and investigations.

Howell Police Department Axon Fleet In-Car Camera System Implementation: Peters secured $146,000 in funding to support the purchase of in-car camera systems for the Howell Police Department.

Warren Police Department: Peters secured $38,000 in funding for the Warren Police Department to support the purchase of officer safety equipment to aid officers during traffic stops and investigations.

Genesee County IGNITE Program: Peters secured $500,000 in funding through the Inmate Growth Naturally and Intentionally Through Education (I.G.N.I.T.E.) Program for the Genesee County Sheriff's Office to support recidivism reduction programming.

Preventing Violence Against Women: The bill contains the highest funding level ever for the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) and its lifesaving programs. Grants from OVW programs support training for police officers, state domestic violence and sexual assault coalitions, rape prevention programs, homicide reduction initiatives, domestic violence hotlines, women's shelters, transitional housing, and rural support services. In addition, Peters secured language in the bill directing the Department of Justice to develop best practices, in consultation with Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) community-based organizations, for the investigation and prosecution of violence against MENA women.

Improving Police-Community Relations: The bill provides funding for State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance and Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Office grant programs which aim to strengthen police-community relations. The bill also provides funding to train law enforcement on how to appropriately respond to situations when individuals are mentally ill or disabled.

Addressing Substance Use Disorder in Our Communities: The bill provides significant funding to help our communities and first responders address substance use disorders, including opioids, and to address drug trafficking.

Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Program: Peters helped secure increased funding for the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program. This program is critical to the 250,000 abused or neglected children who have highly trained and extremely dedicated advocates appointed on their behalf, and to the nearly 400,000 child victims who are still waiting for the presence of a consistent, caring adult to speak for their best interests in the courtroom and in the community. This funding will help improve outcomes for every abused and neglected child, as was the intention of Congress when it enacted the Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990.

Investing in Sustainable Solutions to Protect Michigan's Environment, Natural Resources

Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory: Peters secured language in the bill recognizing the importance of continued support for the work of the Great Lakes Center of Expertise for Oil Spill Preparedness and Response, which examines the impacts of oil spills in freshwater environments and develops effective responses. Peters-led efforts made the Great Lakes Center of Expertise a reality. Peters authored and passed legislation into law establishing the Great Lakes Center of Expertise in 2018, and then successfully secured $4.5 million in total to kick-start the initiative the following year. Peters then announced the Great Lakes Center of Expertise will be headquartered in two Michigan locations to maximize research and operational capabilities. As a member of the Appropriations Committee, Peters has continued to secure funding to support the Center's work.

Improving the Census Process to Ensure Michigan Communities Are Accurately Represented

Census Bureau: Peters helped secure a significant increase in funding for the U.S. Census Bureau. The census and other key federal surveys are tied to important outcomes for communities in Michigan and across the country, including federal resources for education, health care and infrastructure. The bill provides $1.58 billion for the Census Bureau, fully funding the budget request. The resources allocated by this bill will give the Census Bureau the tools it needs to prepare for the 2030 Census, produce critical economic data, and ensure the public can access high-quality data that keeps pace with the needs of our nation. This funding is essential to ensuring the Bureau does not fall behind on crucial preparations and can control long-term costs. The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, which Peters chairs, is responsible for conducting oversight of the Census Bureau. Peters previously convened a hearing in downtown Detroit to examine impacts of the 2020 Census on Michigan. Peters also convened a hearing in 2021 with senior federal officials to examine how lawmakers can work to improve operations at the Census Bureau. Peters has also pressed the Census Bureau to ensure it addresses 2020 Census undercounts and improves annual population data.

Investing in Science, Innovation, and the STEM Workforce

Michigan Technological University AI Program: Peters secured $2.5 million in funding from the Safe and Secure AI Manufacturing Implementation Program for Michigan Technological University to support research into and deployment of AI standards and practices to support small and medium manufacturers.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA): The bill provides $25.4 billion for NASA, which is a $559 million increase above fiscal year 2024. The bill includes funding Peters secured to support the Artemis Mission, which will send Americans - including Michigander Chistina Koch - back to the Moon as well as, eventually, to Mars. The Artemis Mission is supported by the Michigan aerospace manufacturing supply chain, which creates good paying manufacturing jobs across the state.

AI Scholarship for Service Act: Peters secured language in the bill underscoring the importance of attracting, educating, and retaining a strong pipeline of students and workers from diverse and nontraditional backgrounds in STEM fields, particularly in artificial intelligence (AI). The bill directs the National Science Foundation to work quickly to implement Peters' AI Scholarship for Service Act, which passed as part of the CHIPS and Science Act in 2021 and would support the training and recruitment of the next generation of qualified workers in AI.

Implementation of Peters' PROSWIFT Act: Peters secured $5million for the pilot program Peters created through his Promoting Research and Observations of Space Weather to Improve the Forecasting of Tomorrow (PROSWIFT) Act. The program aims to strengthen our nation's ability to predict severe space weather events and mitigate their harmful impacts on Earth - work being spearheaded at Michigan's own Universities.

Improving Access to Reentry: Peters secured language in the bill directing Residential Reentry Centers, where individuals often go between prison and full return to their communities, to better collect ID-related data. A 2022 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report found that opportunities exist to better assist incarcerated people with obtaining ID documents prior to release. Peters' language requires an assessment from BOP regarding the feasibility of contracting with additional state DMVs to provide identification document services to qualifying individuals prior to release.

National Marine Fisheries Services: The bill recognizes the threat posed by the concentration of PFAS detected in fish tissue. The bill directs NOAA to conduct fish tissue sampling and monitoring of PFAS to evaluate the impacts on aquatic health.

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