PHOTOS: Senator Peters Kicks Off Annual Motorcycle Tour Across Michigan

KALAMAZOO, MI - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) kicked off his annual motorcycle tour across Michigan today with local unions members and retirees at IBEW Local 131 in Kalamazoo. Peters then rode to the Grand Valley Armory in Wyoming to highlight the facility upgrades being made to better accommodate women servicemembers. Peters - an avid and longtime motorcycle rider - was joined by guest riders on the tour. Peters will ride about 800 miles across the state on this year's tour, making additional stops in Traverse City, Sault Ste. Marie, and Sanford.

In Kalamazoo, Peters underscored the need to protect workers' right to collectively bargain for the wages, benefits, and job security they deserve. Peters also highlighted how the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Actthat he helped pass, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, is creating good-paying union jobs across the state by supporting projects to upgrade Michigan's critical infrastructure. Peters additionally helped pass the Inflation Reduction Act into law, which enacted some of the strongest labor protections to date, and is expected to create more than 1.5 million American jobs over the next decade by investing in clean infrastructure projects and onshoring U.S. manufacturing and supply chains.

"There's no better place to start this trip than in Kalamazoo," said Senator Peters. "This community is a great example of the work going on across Michigan to strengthen our communities, and to do it with union labor. IBEW Local 131 and other building trade unions in West Michigan are executing critical projects that create good jobs for Michiganders and boost our economy. I've always been proud to stand with unions and will continue doing everything I can to help working people throughout Michigan."

"We're grateful for Senator Peters' efforts to pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Inflation Reduction Act, and other historic federal investments that will protect and create good-paying jobs for union workers here in West Michigan and across our state in the coming decades," said Morris Applebey, Business Manager of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 131. "We're witnessing a labor movement in our country right now because Americans recognize that when unions are strong, everybody benefits. So, we're grateful for the Senator's continued work over the years to ensure that every American has the opportunity to organize their workplace and join a union."

Peters grew up in a union household, where his mother was a Service Employees International Union (SEIU) steward and his father was a member of the National Education Association (NEA). Peters is a proud cosponsor of and has urged Congress to pass the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, which would strengthen the federal laws that protect workers' right to form a union freely and fairly. During last year's motorcycle tour, Peters met with United Auto Workers (UAW) members in Lansing to show his support and discuss priorities that are important to autoworkers. Peters also joined UAW members on the picket line in Michigan as they negotiated for better wages, benefits, and job security. Following the UAW's historic contracts last fall, Peters led his colleagues in sending a letter to 13 non-unionized automakers urging them not to illegally block UAW unionization efforts at their manufacturing plants. Peters was joined by UAW Region 1 Director LaShawn English as his guest for President Biden's State of the Union Address earlier this year.

To download photos from Peters' event in Kalamazoo, click HERE.

Peters then toured the Michigan National Guard's Grand Valley Armory in Wyoming. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Peters secured nearly $26 million in federal funding last year for the National Guard Bureau to modernize armories across Michigan to ensure they have adequate facilities for women servicemembers. National Guard armories provide spaces for servicemembers to conduct trainings and carry out missions with access to the necessary equipment and logistical resources. Many armories were designed for an all-male force, however, women servicemembers now make up nearly 18 percent of the Michigan Army National Guard. Peters toured the armory's facilities to see where upgrades will be made to showers, bathrooms, and lactation rooms to better accommodate women servicemembers. Peters highlighted how the upgrades and similar improvements being made at other facilities will help bolster recruitment and Michigan's defense capabilities.

"It goes without saying that growing the number women in our Armed Forces will make us stronger, more equipped, and more prepared to tackle the challenges of the future. It's critical that women servicemembers have the same resources and opportunities as their male counterparts," said Senator Peters. "We need to make sure Michigan is at the forefront of those operations, which is why I fought to deliver this funding to ensure the Grand Valley Armory has the resources to make these needed updates. I'll continue working to support every servicemember's ability to effectively carry out their missions."

"The facility upgrades occurring throughout the state at Michigan Army National Guard armories represent our legislators dedication and commitment to our servicemembers," said Brigadier General Scott House, Deputy Commanding General of the 46 Military Police Command and Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Construction and Facilities Management Officer. "These are significant investments in time and funding that will result in drastic improvements to our facilities which will positively impact the lives of our servicemembers and their overall readiness."

As the son of a World War II veteran and a former Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve, Peters is committed to supporting our nation's servicemembers and veterans. As a member of the Armed Services Committee, Peters has repeatedly helped advance and pass into law strong national defense bills to bolster U.S. national security. Peters again helped craft and advance the annual legislation this year, where Peters secured funding and provisions to specifically support Michigan's military installations and robust defense sector, improve our nation's long-term strategic efforts to combat aggression by adversaries like China and Russia, and give our servicemembers a pay raise.

In 2021, Peters was inducted into the Michigan Military and Veterans Hall of Honor for his efforts to support our nation's veterans and military. In 2017, Peters was recognized as Legislator of the Year by the Vietnam Veterans of America for authoring the bipartisan Fairness for Veterans Act, which was signed into law. The legislation requires veteran discharge review boards to give liberal consideration to petitions for honorable discharge status if the servicemember has been diagnosed with PTSD, TBI or other related conditions connected to their military service. As of the fall of 2020, more than 1,500 veterans have had their discharges upgraded since his legislation was enacted. Last year, Peters helped enact into law the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act - which delivered VA health care and benefits to all generations of toxic-exposed veterans - and their survivors - for the first time in our nation's history.

To download photos from Peters' event in Wyoming, click HERE.

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