Gary Peters

Bio:  Elected in 2014, Senator Gary Peters is honored to represent the State of Michigan in the U.S. Senate. Throughout his career in public service, Peters has been a strong, independent voice for Michigan’s middle class families and small businesses. He has focused on uniting our communities by fighting for the things that we all agree on—a stronger economy, good-paying jobs, a secure retirement and a fair chance for everyone to succeed.

For more than 20 years, Peters worked as an investment advisor, helping families save for their retirement and provide for their children’s college education. First elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2008, Peters fought to ensure the survival of the auto industry and worked to hold the bad actors on Wall Street that caused the recession accountable.

In the 114th Congress, Peters serves on the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee; the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee; the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship; and the Joint Economic Committee.

Born in Pontiac, Michigan, Senator Peters has lived his entire life in Oakland County. He and his wife, Colleen have three children: Gary Jr., Madeleine and Alana.

Military Bio:  Senator Gary Peters volunteered for the U.S. Navy Reserve at age 34 and served for over a decade in units at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, including the Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 26. He earned a Seabee Combat Warfare Specialist designation and rose to the rank of Lieutenant Commander. His reserve duty included time in the Persian Gulf region during Operation Southern Watch. He was awarded the Navy and Marine Corp Achievement Medal and the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal among others. After the September 11th terrorist attacks on our country, he volunteered again for drilling status.

Legislation:  As a former Lt. Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve and the son of a World War II veteran, standing up for our nation’s military and our veterans is a personal priority for Senator Peters. In the U.S. Senate, Peters has introduced bipartisan legislation to honor our military and veterans, including a tax credit for businesses that provide differential pay to military reservists and National Guard members called to serve on active duty, which was permanently extended in 2015.

He also introduced the bipartisan Fairness for Veterans Act, which was signed into law as part of the National Defense Authorization Act, to support veterans coping with the invisible wounds of war caused by post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). The legislation gives liberal consideration to veterans petitioning to upgrade a less than honorable discharge due to behavior resulting from mental traumas. A less than honorable discharge renders servicemembers ineligible for certain benefits, including Post-9/11 G.I. Bill educational benefits and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) home loans.