Senator Gary Peters Secures Key Provisions in Bipartisan Legislation to Support Michigan Communities

U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) helped the Senate Appropriations Committee pass the Fiscal Year 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, which includes vital provisions to support economic and workforce development initiatives, expand access to quality health care, and improve access to safe drinking water for Michigan families. The bill now advances to the full Senate.

Senator Peters spearheaded several key provisions in the legislation, including $1 million for the Detroit Public Schools Community District to upgrade technology at its Davis Aerospace Technical High School, $500,000 for the Jackson County Airport to bolster enrollment in its aviation technician training program, and $1.5 million for Saginaw Valley State University to support equipment and technology upgrades for its Lake Huron Environmental Sciences Research Station.

Other notable provisions championed by Peters include:

**Expanding Access to Career Technical Education:** $750,000 for the Kent Intermediate School District's Career Tech Center to increase enrollees in high-demand career fields.
**Recruiting Aviation Workforce:** $819,000 for Western Michigan University to purchase training equipment for qualified graduates.
**Improving Cybersecurity Education:** $606,000 for Northern Michigan University to construct an advanced cybersecurity classroom and laboratory.
**Providing Health Care Education and Job Training:** $1,226,000 for Central Michigan University to increase opportunities for students in rural areas to gain education in the health care field.
**Supporting Shiawassee County Career Readiness Center:** $267,000 for the Shiawassee Regional Education Service District to upgrade equipment used in its Career and Technical Education training programs.
**Bolstering Masonry Workforce:** $2 million for the Schoolcraft Community College District to create a collaborative learning model for students.

Senator Peters also advocated for opposing the elimination of funding for the Corporation of Public Broadcasting, citing its role in supporting local public television and radio stations that provide essential services, including emergency alerts and educational content, to Michigan communities.

The bill includes critical provisions to support Michigan communities, such as:

**Protecting Heating Assistance:** Rejecting the Trump Administration's calls to eliminate the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which provides critical assistance to help families with young children, people with disabilities, and seniors pay their energy bills.
**Improving Health Care Education in Mecosta County:** $1,950,000 for Ferris State University's Allied Health Science Facility to upgrade clinical and educational spaces.
**Strengthening Mental Health Support in Calhoun County:** $750,000 for the Calhoun County Community Mental Health Authority to provide community-based mental health support for youth and families.
**Supporting Local Educational Institutions:** $5 million for Project School Emergency Response to Violence (Project SERV) to support schools across the country in the aftermath of violent or traumatic events.

Statistics:

$11 million for the CDC's Injury Control Research Center (ICRC) to reduce preventable injury.
$260 million for the Department of Labor's Office of Wage and Hour Division to enhance workplace compliance and labor standards.
$231 million for the CDC's Influenza Planning and Response program to develop a nationwide response to zoonotic viruses, including bird flu.
$50,000 to support Tri County Area Schools' Early Childhood Center Revitalization Project to expand access to pre-school and early childhood special education.

Sources:

1. United States Senator for Michigan Gary Peters WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) helped the Senate Appropriations Committee pass the Fiscal Year 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act.