WASHINGTON, March 12 -- The House Science, Space and Technology subcommittee on Research and Technology issued the following opening statement on March 11 by Chairwoman Haley Stevens, D-Michigan, at a hearing entitled "Time Change: Reauthorization of the National Institute of Standards and Technology": Welcome to this hearing of the Subcommittee on Research and Technology to explore the major areas of research at the National Institute of Standards and Technology. We look forward to learning mo  more

WASHINGTON, March 12 -- Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Michigan, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, issued the following news release: * * * - The USDA independent investigator will review a Forest Service grant after Ranking Member Stabenow and Chairman Grijalva raised concerns * * * U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, and Representative Raul M. Grijalva (D-AZ-3), Chai  more

WASHINGTON, March 13 -- The Government Accountability Office has issued a report on the 2020 census. The report (GAO-20-415) is entitled "Bureau Generally Followed Its Plan for In-Field Address Canvassing". The report was sent to Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wisconsin, chairman, Sen. Gary Peters, D-Michigan, ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-New York, chairwoman, Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, ranking member of the House Committee, Rep.   more

WASHINGTON, March 10 -- The Government Accountability Office has issued a report on the U.S. Postal Service. The report (GAO-20-354) is entitled "Expanding Nonpostal Products and Services at Retail Facilities Could Result in Benefits, but May Have Limited Viability ". The report was sent to Sen. Gary Peters, D-Michigan, ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on March 10, 2020. Here are excerpts of summaries associated with the report. What GAO Found:   more

WASHINGTON, March 12 -- Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Michigan, issued the following news release: The Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee advanced a provision led by Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-MI) that would require the Food and Drug Administration to prioritize the review of PFAS ingredients in cosmetics and personal care products. PFAS has been linked to very serious health diseases: kidney cancer, testicular cancer, thyroid disease, high cholesterol and ulcerative colitis, among many oth  more

WASHINGTON, March 11 -- Rep. Andy Levin, D-Michigan, issued the following news release on March 10: The House passed H.R. 3598, the bipartisan Federally Requiring Earned Education-Debt Discharges for Veterans Act (FREED Vets Act). Introduced by Representative Andy Levin (MI-09), and Representatives Conor Lamb (PA-17), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Guy Reschenthaler (PA-14) and Joe Courtney (CT-02), the legislation would require the U.S. Department of Education to automatically discharge federal st  more

WASHINGTON, March 10 -- Sen. Gary Peters, D-Michigan, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, issued the following news release: Bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, was signed into law to cut down on billions of dollars in wasteful government spending. The Payment Integrity Information Act of 2019 will help to rein in improper paymen  more

WASHINGTON, March 13 -- Sen. Gary Peters, D-Michigan, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, issued the following news release: * * * - Presidential approval of disaster declarations made under the Stafford Act would grant states access to $42.6 billion Disaster Relief Fund * * * U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), Patty Murray (D-WA), and Chuck Schumer (D-NY) led 29 of their Democratic colleagues in urging President Trump to immediately c  more

WASHINGTON, March 13 -- Sen. Gary Peters, D-Michigan, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, issued the following news release: * * * - The Safeguarding Tomorrow through Ongoing Risk Mitigation (STORM) Advances to Full Senate * * * U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Ron Johnson (R-WI), Ranking Member and Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, introduced bipartisan legislation to provide support for local   more

WASHINGTON, March 13 -- Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Michigan, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, issued the following opening statement on March 12 at a hearing titled "Agriculture Innovation and the Federal Biotechnology Regulatory Framework": Welcome to our witnesses and thank you for providing valuable testimony. Innovation is the foundation of American agriculture. From breakthroughs in plant breeding... to advances in crop rotation... land-g  more

WASHINGTON, March 10 -- Rep. Jack Bergman, R-Michigan, issued the following news release on March 9: Representatives Jack Bergman, Bruce Westerman, Rick Crawford, and Michael Guest submitted public comment to the Department of Interior, urging the Fish and Wildlife Service to move forward in the rulemaking process to provide depredation measures for cormorants in free swimming, wild fish areas and aquaculture facilities. The Congressmen wrote in part, "We urge the USFWS to collaborate with sta  more

WASHINGTON, March 13 -- Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Michigan, issued the following news release on March 12: At the moment, one of the important goals across the country is to take mitigation action to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Dr. Tony Fauci of The National Institutes of Health and one of the top infectious disease specialists in the world, says we must change behavior to stop this pandemic. Yesterday, Governor Whitmer encouraged people to not attend events with more than 100 people. Every on  more

WASHINGTON, March 13 -- Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Michigan, issued the following news release: With Coronavirus spreading across the state, many business, schools, events, and concerts have taken precautionary steps to keep our community safe. Below please find a list of major cancellations, closures, or suspensions across Michigan's 12th Congressional District. This list will be updated as more reports are made. In addition, the Michigan Government will also provide updates which can be found her  more

WASHINGTON, March 13 -- Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Michigan, issued the following news release: The Sergeant at Arms announced the US Capitol, House and Senate Office Buildings, and the Capitol Visitors Center will be closed to the public, including tours and meetings. The announcement anticipates the closures to remain in effect until at least April 1, 2020. Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-MI) is acutely aware of the importance of being available to her constituents, and state and local officials  more

WASHINGTON, March 13 -- Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Michigan, issued the following news release: Congressman Bill Huizenga (MI-02) announced changes to his office operations. Staff members serving West Michigan in the nation's capital will telecommute for the next week. In West Michigan, the Grandville Office will remain open for business but will employ social distancing measures. This means the office will not be conducting face to face meetings. In case of an emergency, staff will be in the Grandv  more

WASHINGTON, March 13 -- Rep. Brenda Lawrence, D-Michigan, issued the following statement regarding the first confirmed cases of the coronavirus, in Michigan: "As Coronavirus continues to spread, my top priority is protecting the health and well-being of the residents of the 14th District, as well as Americans across the country. "Public health and safety are of paramount importance, and we must be prepared to work together to develop a thorough and strategic plan to stop the spread of Coronavi  more

WASHINGTON, March 13 -- Rep. Andy Levin, D-Michigan, issued the following news release: Congressman Andy Levin (MI-09), vice chair of the House Education and Labor Committee, this week joined colleagues to introduce two pieces of legislation to aggressively support the coronavirus, or COVID-19, response effort and protect working people. "While the coronavirus will affect families of every background, I fear particularly for working people who are financially unable to miss work and whose jobs  more

WASHINGTON, March 13 -- Rep. Andy Levin, D-Michigan, issued the following statement on March 12: "The U.S. House of Representatives Sergeant at Arms today ordered limited access to the U.S. Capitol Complex, which includes my Washington office, starting this evening to prevent community spread of the coronavirus. I support this decision and appropriate social distancing to slow the spread as much as possible. "As such, my D.C. office will be closed and I have encouraged my staff to telework at   more

WASHINGTON, March 14 -- Rep. Andy Levin, D-Michigan, issued the following news release on March 13: Congressman Andy Levin (MI-09) wrote a letter signed by 56 of his House colleagues urging President Trump to use his authority under the Defense Production Act of 1950 for the production of vital medical supplies to meet the extreme demand during the coronavirus pandemic. A section of the letter reads: "During World War II, our country adapted to the demands of the time to produce mass quantiti  more

WASHINGTON, March 12 -- Rep. Paul Mitchell, R-Michigan, issued the following statement regarding the first positive coronavirus cases in Michigan: "As Michigan begins to confront the Coronavirus, it is important residents remain calm and practice the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) recommendations for containing the spread of the disease. "Last week, I supported an $8.3 billion emergency funding package to ensure state and local health departments are equipped with the resour  more

WASHINGTON, March 13 -- Rep. Paul Mitchell, R-Michigan, issued the following statement regarding the operational status of his Washington, DC and Shelby Township offices: "While my team and I have not exhibited symptoms of Coronavirus, we are taking the following step to proactively protect constituents and staff. To prevent exposure to COVID-19 (Coronavirus) my offices will be temporarily closing effective at 5PM today, March 12, 2020 and my staff will begin working remotely. Tomorrow a weeklo  more

WASHINGTON, March 13 -- Rep. John Moolenaar, R-Michigan, issued the following news release: With the number of Coronavirus cases in the United States growing, the office of Congressman John Moolenaar is taking additional steps in accordance with the public guidance made by national health officials. "These steps will promote public health during this serious time for our nation while ensuring that my team and I can continue the important work we do for Michigan and the 700,000 residents of Mic  more

WASHINGTON, March 12 -- Rep. John Moolenaar, R-Michigan, issued the following statement: Last night, the state of Michigan announced the state's first cases of the Coronavirus. Congressman John Moolenaar made the following statement on the news: "The Coronavirus is a serious public health concern, and while the immediate risk is low, residents should follow the simple advice of public health experts to limit their risk and prevent the spread of the virus. "In Congress, I recently voted for  more

WASHINGTON, March 12 -- Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Michigan, issued the following statement on March 11: U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (MI-08) tonight publicly released a memo outlining her internal office plan of action to protect staff, constituents, and mitigate the spread of COVID-19 while maintaining high-caliber constituent services and legislative operations. Slotkin's office policy includes transitioning to an all-telework operation in her Washington, DC office, and a partially remote work opera  more

WASHINGTON, March 13 -- Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Michigan, issued the following news release on March 12: The U.S. House of Representatives voted on final passage of U.S. Representative Elissa Slotkin's (MI-08) bipartisan War Powers Resolution, sending it to the President's desk for signature. The House's vote approves a Senate version (S.J.Res.68), of Slotkin's War Powers resolution (H.Con.Res.83), which passed the House on January 9 with bipartisan support. Now that the House and Senate have ap  more

WASHINGTON, March 12 -- Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Michigan, issued the following news release on March 10: Following the passage into law of U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin's PFAS Monitoring Act, Slotkin testified before the Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior and Environment for increased funding to implement the expanded testing her bill requires, particularly in small communities. "I'm a former CIA officer and Pentagon official, so I look at the world through a lens of security," Slotkin said in   more

WASHINGTON, March 12 -- Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Michigan, issued the following statement on March 11 after the first two cases of coronavirus were confirmed in Michigan: "Yesterday evening, Governor Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) confirmed the first two cases of novel coronavirus in Michigan, one in Oakland County and one in Wayne County. "MDHHS, the Wayne County Health Department, and the Oakland County Health Department have done an excellent job prepa  more

WASHINGTON, March 10 -- Rep. Fred Upton, R-Michigan, issued the following news release: U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, today announced that local Kalamazoo hero Tiana Carruthers has been named as one of the 20 finalists for this year's Congressional Medal of Honor Society's Citizen Honors Award. On February 20th, 2016 in Kalamazoo, a gunman - who was driving an Uber at the time - opened fire on several innocent lives killing six people and severely wounding another two. Carruthers fearles  more

WASHINGTON, March 12 -- Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Michigan, issued the following statement statement in response to the first confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Michigan: "I am actively monitoring the real-time developments regarding the Coronavirus and its spread into Michigan. My staff and I have been in regular communication with federal, state, and local health officials and we stand ready to assist. "Just last week, Congress passed a bipartisan $8 billion emergency funding package to help e  more

WASHINGTON, March 12 -- Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Michigan, issued the following news release: Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-05) Chief Deputy Whip of the Democratic Caucus, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-12), and Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (MI-13) sent a letter to congressional leaders urging that any legislative relief packages to contain the spread of the coronavirus must include relief for Americans facing high water bills and water shutoffs. While the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prev  more

WASHINGTON, March 12 -- Rep. Daniel Kildee, D-Michigan, issued the following news release: Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-05) Chief Deputy Whip of the Democratic Caucus, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-12), and Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (MI-13) sent a letter to congressional leaders urging that any legislative relief packages to contain the spread of the coronavirus must include relief for Americans facing high water bills and water shutoffs. While the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Preve  more

WASHINGTON, March 14 -- Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Michigan, issued the following news release: This week, Congressmembers Rashida Tlaib (MI-13), Debbie Dingell (MI-12), and Dan Kildee (MI-05) sent a letter to congressional leadership urging that they include resources to protect residents facing high water bills and water shutoff as Congress considers legislation in response to the spread of the coronavirus. "Water shutoffs disproportionately impact cities with higher rates of poverty, unemploymen  more

WASHINGTON, March 12 -- Sen. Gary Peters, D-Michigan, issued the following news release on March 11: U.S. Senator Gary Peters' (MI) bipartisan legislation to expand apprenticeship opportunities for veterans is headed to the President's desk to be signed into law, after passing the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously. The Support for Veterans in Effective Apprenticeships Act - which Peters introduced with U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) - previously passed the U.S. Senate. Congres  more

WASHINGTON, March 13 -- Sen. Gary Peters, D-Michigan, issued the following news release on March 12: U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, called for bipartisan, aggressive action to address the Coronavirus outbreak, including expanded testing and additional steps to keep the American people safe: "As the Coronavirus outbreak continues to threaten public health, our economy and the daily lives of Michiganders, we need   more

WASHINGTON, March 14 -- Sen. Gary Peters, D-Michigan, issued the following news release: * * * - Legislation Would Provide Free Diagnostic Testing and Related Health Care Services for Americans Receiving Tests to Confirm Coronavirus Infection * * * U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) introduced legislation that would expand access to free COVID-19 testing and urged the Trump Administration to address the nationwide testing shortage. The Free COVID-19 Testing Act, would waive cost-sharing for COVID  more

WASHINGTON, March 14 -- Sen. Gary Peters, D-Michigan, issued the following news release: * * * - Legislation Would Provide Free Diagnostic Testing and Related Health Care Services for Americans Receiving Tests to Confirm Coronavirus Infection * * * U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) introduced legislation that would expand access to free COVID-19 testing and urged the Trump Administration to address the nationwide testing shortage. The Free COVID-19 Testing Act, would waive cost-sharing for COVID  more

WASHINGTON, March 13 -- Sen. Gary Peters, D-Michigan, issued the following news release on March 12: * * * - Coronavirus Worker Relief Act Expands Current Disaster Unemployment Assistance Program To More Workers * * * U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) led introduction of the bipartisan, bicameral Coronavirus Worker Relief Act. The new bill, which Peters introduced with U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI), Todd Young (R-IN), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), and Mitt Romney (R-UT) would provide disaster unem  more

WASHINGTON, March 10 -- Sen. Gary Peters, D-Michigan, issued the following news release: Bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, was signed into law to cut down on billions of dollars in wasteful government spending. The Payment Integrity Information Act of 2019 will help to rein in improper payments - including duplicative, excessive, unnecessary and improperly documented payments - that ar  more

WASHINGTON, March 13 -- Sen. Gary Peters, D-Michigan, issued the following news release: As part of Senate Democrats' response to the coronavirus pandemic, Senate Homeland Security Committee Ranking Member Gary Peters (D-MI), Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR), Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and 20 colleagues today introduced legislation, the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Act, to provide federally-funded unemployment assistance to affected individuals.   more

WASHINGTON, March 14 -- Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Michigan, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, and Senator John Thune (R-S.D.), a longtime member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, introduced new bipartisan legislation to ensure that farmers can plant beneficial cover crops without facing crop insurance penalties when bad weather prevents them from planting their crops for the seas  more

WASHINGTON, March 13 -- Sen. Gary Peters, D-Michigan, issued the following news release on March 12: * * * - The Safeguarding Tomorrow through Ongoing Risk Mitigation (STORM) Advances to Full Senate * * * U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Ron Johnson (R-WI), Ranking Member and Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, introduced bipartisan legislation to provide support for local communities facing rising water levels, coastal erosion, and flooding that have pu  more

WASHINGTON, March 12 -- Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Michigan, issued the following news release on March 11: U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Roy Blunt (R-MO) joined the National Council for Behavioral Health to push for the passage of their bipartisan bill, the Excellence in Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Expansion Act, which renews and expands funding for Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs). The Senators also announced data from a new report outlining the success  more

WASHINGTON, March 14 -- Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Michigan, issued the following news release: In light of the ongoing outbreak of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow (MI) and Gary Peters (MI) urged the Trump Administration to open a special enrollment period to allow people without health insurance or short-term plans to purchase a health care plan through the health insurance marketplaces. Currently, about 27.5 million Americans lack health insurance - and even more are un  more

WASHINGTON, March 13 -- Rep. Fred Upton, R-Michigan, issued the following news release: U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, announced that he is requiring all staff members in his offices in Washington, D.C., St. Joseph, and Kalamazoo to telework starting today. Constituent services and case work will not be interrupted. The physical offices will be temporarily closed as the government continues to monitor the coronavirus outbreak. "As the coronavirus outbreak grows more serious, we need all h  more