Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: United States Senator for Michigan Gary Peters

01.19.22

Peters Spoke on Senate Floor in Support of Passing the Freedom to Vote Act and John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to Secure Our Democracy

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) today spoke on the Senate floor to urge his colleagues to pass vital voting rights legislation – the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. Peters emphasized the urgent need to protect the right to vote for all Americans and safeguard our democracy – and highlighted how Michigan came dangerously close to a constitutional crisis following a free, fair and secure election in 2020.

“Nothing less than the very future of our democracy is at stake, and we must act or risk losing what so many Americans have fought for – and died for – for nearly 250 years,” said Senator Peters. “The right to vote, the right to self-governance, the right of the American people to choose and fire public officials – is our nation’s most foundational freedom.”

“The American people overwhelmingly support these commonsense measures – and they deserve to know where we stand,” Peters continued. “I proudly stand on the side of democracy, and I urge my colleagues to stand with me in passing the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.”

 

To watch video of Senator Peters’ remarks, click here. 

Below is the text of Senator Peters’ remarks, as prepared for delivery:

“Mr. President –

“Just over fourteen months ago, our nation stood on the brink of a constitutional crisis, as the former president and his followers attempted to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power and overturn the results of a free and fair election.

“Instead of accepting the will of the voters and upholding the foundations of our constitutional republic, President Trump and his followers engaged in a campaign of blatant disinformation and political interference. They attempted to coerce state and local elections officials to make false claims of widespread fraud, then use those claims to not certify election results and reject the will of the people.

“All to ensure the former president could stay in power at any cost.

“My home state of Michigan was at the very center of this battle in 2020, when our state Board of Canvassers met to certify the undeniable fact that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris won the state of Michigan and its sixteen electoral votes. But we came dangerously close to the kind of anti-democratic and authoritarian behavior the United States has long decried in other nations.

“It came down to one vote. Just one vote – from one Republican member of the Board of Canvassers. One canvasser who dared to withstand mounting political pressure for him to ignore the will of the people. One canvasser who chose to ignore blatant lies and disinformation. His one vote was all that stood between a secure, free and fair election – and a constitutional crisis.

“This one Republican board member knew his decision to follow the law would cost him his position on the board. He knew his physical safety would be threatened and yet he stood his ground.

“He fulfilled his constitutional duty and followed the will of the people of Michigan by certifying the election results. What was his reward for his courageous vote? Republicans quickly removed him from the board, sending a clear message and threat to those who would follow him.

“Despite failing to coerce enough officials to ignore the law and falsify election results, and despite losing one bogus challenge after another in federal courts, we all know that the former president didn’t stop his efforts there.

“No, instead, he rallied his supporters and incited them to attack the U.S. Capitol Building – the very citadel of our democracy – to disrupt Congress as we conducted the ceremonial certification of the results.

“Thanks to the brave actions of law enforcement officers, the National Guard, and so, so many others, our democracy withstood these unprecedented attacks on our constitutional republic.

“This attack shook the very foundation of our democracy and exposed cracks that shows that it’s more fragile than we ever thought possible.

“Despite all of this, I believe that we need to celebrate that the 2020 presidential election was secure, according to the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI. We should celebrate that we had record turnout even in a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic. And we should commend the election workers who made this feat possible.

“Instead, too many people – including too many of my Republican colleagues – have continued to sow doubt in the integrity of our electoral process, and these actions threaten the very bedrock of our democracy.

“Instead of condemning falsehoods and violence, there is a concerted effort underway in Michigan and all across our country to rewrite history, remove election officials, and rewrite state laws to limit voter participation.

“One of the bills that was introduced in the Michigan legislature would lock up absentee ballot drop boxes before Election Day. One city clerk called this idea crazy and said it makes no sense at all. I agree.

“Another bill would restrict the ability of state election officials to send out absentee ballot applications to voters. In fact, Michigan Republicans filed 39 bills in the state legislature to restrict voting rights.

“Nothing less than the very future of our democracy is at stake, and we must act or risk losing what so many Americans have fought for – and have died for – for nearly 250 years.

“The right to vote, the right to self-governance, the right of American people to choose and fire public officials – is our nation’s most fundamental freedom.

“We can protect that right and ensure every American has equal access to the ballot box, and we can do it by simply passing two bills before us.

“The Freedom to Vote Act will protect the rights of voters by facilitating registration, early voting, and vote by mail. It will set a standard to ensure that every citizen in every state has guaranteed rights.

“The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act takes additional steps to address the practices that have historically been used to discriminate against voters simply based on their race. 

“And despite some of the Republican arguments that I’ve already heard today, the Constitution is very clear. We’ve heard that from Article One of the Constitution and many times, Congress has continued to strengthen the voting rights of individuals.

“The Fifteenth Amendment clearly states that the right of citizens cannot be abridged by a state, and clearly states, and I quote, Congress shall have the power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation. And that’s just what Congress has done in passing the Voting Rights Act of ‘65, the Help America Vote Act, the National Voter Registration Act. Congress has done this in the past. We need to do it again.

“The American people overwhelmingly support these commonsense measures – and they deserve to know where we stand.

“And for that reason, after every Senator has had a chance to speak, the debate must come to an end and we must have an up or down vote on these bills.

“Mr. President, I believe history will not be kind to colleagues of mine who stand in the way of democracy.

“And make no mistake about it – we are at a pivotal moment in our nation’s history. Our democratic republic and our most treasured values are in danger. If we fail to act, we may lose them.

“Mr. President, I proudly stand on the side of democracy, and I urge my colleagues to stand with me in passing the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.”

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Source: United States Senator for Michigan Gary Peters

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Source: United States Senator for Michigan Gary Peters

01.19.22

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, introduced bipartisan legislation requiring the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to provide cybersecurity resources to commercial satellite owners and operators. Commercial satellites provide data and information used for navigation, agriculture, technology development, scientific research, and more. Industrial Control Systems – the technology involved in operating critical infrastructure networks like pipelines, and water and electric utilities – are also heavily reliant on commercial satellites. Peters’ legislation will help ensure these systems – which are critical to our national and economic security – are secure from online attacks.

“Hackers have already successfully attacked government satellites and it’s only a matter of time before they begin to more aggressively target commercial satellites. Vulnerabilities in these systems present an opportunity for foreign adversaries and cybercriminals to significantly disrupt American lives and livelihoods,” said Senator Peters. “It’s clear the government must provide more cybersecurity support to small businesses and other companies that own and operate commercial satellites before it’s too late. This bipartisan bill will help ensure these organizations – who often do not have enough resources – are able to protect their own networks.”

Experts have shown increasing concern that commercial satellite hacks could have dire consequences for the American people. The Department of Defense has also raised concerns about this threat and recently sponsored a competition for hackers to attempt breaching an active satellite. In 2014, American officials accused China of hacking a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather satellite. As commercial satellites become more pervasive, hackers could shut satellites down, denying access to their service or jam signals to disrupt electric grids, water networks, transportation systems, and other critical infrastructure. Peters’ legislation will ensure the United States is prepared to address these threats as hackers increasingly target commercial satellite systems.

The Satellite Cybersecurity Act will require CISA to develop voluntary satellite cybersecurity recommendations to help companies understand how to best secure their systems. Some of these resources will be specific to small businesses who own and operate commercial satellite systems. Additionally, the bill requires CISA to develop a publicly available, online resource to ensure companies can easily access satellite-specific cybersecurity resources and recommendations to secure their networks. The legislation will also require the Government Accountability Office to perform a study on how the federal government supports commercial satellite industry cybersecurity. It will also ensure a better understanding of how network vulnerabilities in commercial satellites could impact critical infrastructure.

As Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Peters has led efforts to increase our nation’s cybersecurity defenses. His bill to enhance cybersecurity assistance to K-12 educational institutions across the country was signed into law. Peters secured several provisions in the bipartisan infrastructure law to bolster cybersecurity – including $1 billion to help state, local, tribal, and territorial governments deter attacks from malicious cyber actors and modernize systems to protect sensitive data, information, and public critical infrastructure. Peters’ bills to bolster federal cybersecurity and require critical infrastructure owners and operators to report to CISA if they experience a cyber-attack, and other organizations to notify the federal government if they make a ransom payment have advanced in the Senate.

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Source: United States Senator for Michigan Gary Peters

01.18.22

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, introduced bipartisan legislation that requires federal agencies to take disaster resilience into account when investing in and managing federal property and assets. The legislation builds off of a 2021 report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO), which found that over the past five years, the government spent billions of dollars to repair federal property damage resulting from natural disasters. As extreme weather events become more frequent, the bill will help ensure that federal property – such as hospitals, research centers, offices, and roads and bridges – can withstand worsening natural disasters and help save taxpayer dollars.

“Natural disasters, such as extreme flooding and wildfires, are only worsening due to climate change. As the largest property owner in the nation, the federal government must take action to mitigate the physical and financial damage caused by extreme weather events,” said Senator Peters. “This commonsense, bipartisan bill will make sure federal agencies are planning for the impacts of natural disasters when maintaining, updating, and purchasing property to ensure they are using taxpayer dollars as responsibly as possible.”

In September 2021, the GAO released a report evaluating how federal agencies are working to prevent or reduce damage to their property and assets caused by natural disasters. The report found that while some agencies have begun steps to incorporate disaster resilience, many still have not taken sufficient action to mitigate the effects of extreme weather. Studies have shown that resilience and mitigation spending saves taxpayers an average of $6 for every $1 invested. Peters’ legislation would not only save taxpayer dollars, but ensure federal property and infrastructure is able to withstand natural disasters as they continue to grow more frequent and worsen.  

The Disaster Resiliency Planning Act, which builds off of a recommendation from the GAO report, would require the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to provide federal agencies with guidance on how to incorporate natural disaster resilience into their asset management and investment decisions. The OMB would work in consultation with GAO and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to establish guidance, which will help federal agencies identify potential gaps in their disaster resilience prevention efforts. The legislation would also require the OMB Director to submit a report to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs detailing the guidance within a year. Finally, the legislation would require the OMB Director to brief the Committee on the implementation of guidance across agencies within two years.

As Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Peters has led several efforts to strengthen our federal disaster preparedness as extreme weather events become more frequent and severe. Peters secured $500 million in funding as part of the bipartisan infrastructure bill for a program he created to help states establish revolving loan programs for local governments to carry out mitigation projects that reduce the risk of shoreline erosion, extreme flooding, and other natural disasters. Peters also convened a hearing with disaster preparedness and response experts to hear how worsening natural disasters, including flooding, severe storms, and wildfires, continue to harm lives and livelihoods in Michigan and across the nation. Peters also released a report in 2019 highlighting needed action to protect the environment and relieve taxpayers of the financial burden posed by the growing effects of climate change in Michigan and across the country.

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Source: United States Senator for North Carolina Thom Tillis

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) and the republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee expanded their ongoing probe into the federal government’s policing of school board meetings to include the Department of Education. The broadening inquiry follows revelations of emails between National School Board Association (NSBA) officials that suggest a controversial association letter to President Biden was initiated by Education Secretary Miguel Cardona.

“Recent news that Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona was instrumental in the letter from NSBA comparing concerned parents to terrorist is deeply concerning,” said Senator Tillis. “It is appalling that anyone would request for the PATRIOT Act to be used against parents voicing their concerns at school board meetings, and I will continue to work with my colleagues on the Senate Judiciary Committee to investigate the origins of this letter and protect the rights of parents.”

The NSBA’s September 29, 2021, letter to Biden called on the government to consider using the PATRIOT Act and other anti-terrorism authorities against concerned parents at school board meetings. Days later, Attorney General Merrick Garland issued a memo mobilizing federal law enforcement to track parents who express opposition at school board meetings. Though the NSBA has since disavowed the letter, the Department’s guidance remains unchanged.

Recently released emails suggest the NSBA’s letter was prompted by a request from Secretary Cardona. In separate letters to the respective agencies, the committee lawmakers are seeking details on any coordination between and within the Education Department and Justice Department regarding the NSBA letter and other efforts to crack down on dissent among parents at school board meetings.

Read the letters to the Justice Department and Education Department. 

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Source: United States Senator for Florida Marco Rubio

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Rick Scott (R-FL) sent a letter to U.S. Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro to express support for a joint corridor project between the U.S. Navy and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) that would allow the public to access certain areas located on Naval Air Station Pensacola (NASP) while maintaining the base’s operational security. 
 
“The security and protection of our military personnel, their families, and the vital national security assets operating at NASP are of the utmost concern,” the senators wrote. “No one understands this reality better than the Pensacola community. It is our job as public servants to find a way to protect the security of the installation while ensuring the opportunities that led to the close-knit relationship between the installation and community remain intact. The installation is home to numerous important cultural and historic sites, including the Barrancas National Cemetery, the National Naval Aviation Museum (NNAM), the Pensacola Lighthouse, and National Park Service historic sites. These sites also attract tourists from around the country who bring business to the local community.”
 
The full text of the letter is below. 
 
Dear Secretary Del Toro:
 
We write to express our support for a joint corridor project between the U.S. Navy and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) that would allow the public to access specific public interest areas located on Naval Air Station Pensacola (NASP) while preserving operational security. The corridor will provide a solution to improving security and protecting the critical training mission that NASP provides to our Navy, while simultaneously restoring the unique relationship the installation has enjoyed with the local community since its inception.
 
The security and protection of our military personnel, their families, and the vital national security assets operating at NASP are of the utmost concern. No one understands this reality better than the Pensacola community. It is our job as public servants to find a way to protect the security of the installation while ensuring the opportunities that led to the close-knit relationship between the installation and community remain intact. The installation is home to numerous important cultural and historic sites, including the Barrancas National Cemetery, the National Naval Aviation Museum (NNAM), the Pensacola Lighthouse, and National Park Service historic sites. These sites also attract tourists from around the country who bring business to the local community.
 
The proposed joint effort to develop a safe and secure corridor will include local, state, and federal resources, making it truly a multi-agency transportation partnership to the benefit of all. It will continue the FDOT’s history of partnering with the U.S. Department of Defense and other federal agencies on infrastructure projects. Through this necessary partnership between state and federal agencies, Pensacola, the State of Florida, and the Navy have an opportunity to reinforce their rich history of working hand-in-hand for Floridians.
 
We look forward to working with you to find a solution to this important issue. We appreciate your commitment to promoting security at NASP, and thank you for your attention to this important proposal.
 
Sincerely,

Source: United States Senator for Colorado Michael Bennet

Denver – Today, Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D) and John Hickenlooper (D), and Colorado Governor Jared Polis (D) called on Emerald X to keep the winter and summer Outdoor Retailer Shows in Colorado. 

In a letter to the show’s owner, Bennet, Hickenlooper, and Polis highlighted Colorado’s growing outdoor recreation community and continued commitment to protecting public lands and addressing climate change to support the state’s robust outdoor economy.

“Locating the Outdoor Retailer Show in Colorado has provided an excellent opportunity for the industry to connect to other businesses and potential customers from across the country,” wrote Bennet, Hickenlooper, and Polis in a letter to Emerald X. “Denver continues to be an incredible location for the Outdoor Retailer Show with world class amenities including the fifth busiest airport in the United States with 220 non-stop destinations, a modern light rail from the airport into the heart of downtown, and a vibrant downtown with myriad opportunities for visitors to enjoy.”

“The leaders of the outdoor industry have spoken with an articulate and strong voice that this cornerstone event belongs in a state that shares its values on public land and recreation. Colorado is the perfect match to continue as the home of the Outdoor Retailer Show. Thank you for your partnership over the years. We look forward to continuing to work together to expand the outdoor recreation industry in Colorado and across the West,” they concluded.

The show left Utah in 2017 after state leaders supported former President Trump’s decision to shrink Bears Ears National Monument. In February 2017, Bennet, then Governor Hickenlooper, and former U.S. Senator Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) sent a letter to the show’s owner, Emerald X, to encourage its consideration of Colorado as the new host for the popular recreation conventions. 

In July 2017, Bennet, Hickenlooper, and Gardner applauded the Outdoor Retailer’s decision to move its Outdoor Retailer trade shows to Denver. Beginning in January 2018, the shows hosted in Denver have included both a winter and summer Outdoor Retailer Show that have drawn industry leaders to Colorado. Both shows have served as a gathering for important efforts to protect Colorado’s public lands, including the launch of the CORE Act in January 2019. 

The agreement to host the shows in Colorado expires in June of this year. Bennet, Hickenlooper, and Polis are urging Emerald X to renew their contract and keep the shows here as Colorado aligns closely with the values and priorities of the outdoor industry such as the restoration of Bears Ears National Monument.

The text of the letter is available HERE and below. 

Dear Mr. Sedky and Ms. Nicholson:

We write to thank you for Emerald X’s partnership on the Outdoor Retailer Show since 2018 and to encourage you to keep both the winter and summer Outdoor Retailer Shows in Colorado.  

In 2017, we wrote to encourage Emerald X to move the Outdoor Retailer Show to Colorado because of the tremendous business opportunity for the outdoor recreation community and because of our ongoing commitment to protecting public lands that support a robust outdoor recreation economy in our state. We believe the last five years have proven that prediction correct. 

Locating the Outdoor Retailer Show in Colorado has provided an excellent opportunity for the industry to connect to other businesses and potential customers from across the country. Denver continues to be an incredible location for the Outdoor Retailer Show with world class amenities including the fifth busiest airport in the United States with 220 non-stop destinations, a modern light rail from the airport into the heart of downtown, and a vibrant downtown with myriad opportunities for visitors to enjoy. Our state-of-the-art convention center is within walking distance of 1200 hotel rooms and is undergoing a rooftop expansion that will provide 360 degree views of Colorado’s treasured landscapes by 2023. Our state looks forward to continuing a fruitful partnership with Emerald X, working alongside you to ensure years of successful events.   

Our state’s interest in supporting the outdoor industry and in hosting the Outdoor Retailer Show in Colorado has only grown over the last five years. Nine out of ten Coloradans participate in outdoor recreation every year. Across the state, we can thank the outdoor recreation industry for contributing $12.2 billion to Colorado’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), supporting 149,000 direct jobs, and contributing $6.4 billion in compensation in 2019.  Additionally, Colorado continues to rank first among US states for value added by snow activities, with snow activities accounting for $1.7 billion in 2019.

As a delegation, we see this biannual convening as a regular opportunity to engage with the industry on a shared vision for the future. We join forces to champion the public lands that make the outdoor recreation industry thrive while working together to fight climate change, an existential threat to outdoor recreation. The show has regularly served as a launching point for strategic discussions about how we can do more to protect public lands. We have all personally been to many Outdoor Retailer Shows in Denver. In fact, in 2019, we worked with OIA, the Conservation Alliance and the conservation community to launch the Colorado Outdoor Recreation and Economy (CORE) Act. The CORE Act, which is close to passage, would codify more than a decade of work in local communities to protect more than 400,000 acres in Colorado for outdoor recreation. 

In Colorado we take pride in working collaboratively to ensure that our public lands remain accessible for future generations. This was true when we encouraged you to move the show to Colorado in 2017 and it remains true today. Colorado places our public lands at the forefront of our state’s identity. Currently we are working with local leaders on legislation to protect key waterways and landscapes including the Dolores River Canyon as a National Conservation Area and to protect public lands in Gunnison County. We are also working to return millions of dollars in ski area revenue so it can be used for ski areas and recreation management nationwide with the SHRED Act. 

As a state, through the Keep Colorado Wild Initiative, we’ve restructured the funding of our state parks, lowering the cost while increasing revenue for not only our state parks but also for innovative conservation and recreation management efforts with federal land managers for the care of our lands, water and wildlife. We’ve also passed groundbreaking Outdoor Equity legislation that will make our outdoors more accessible and welcoming for Coloradans from all geographies and backgrounds – and in opening doors to the outdoors, this undoubtedly supports the long-term health and diversity of the industry as well. 

We have also supported the efforts of our state’s Ute Mountain Ute Tribe to protect the sacred landscape of Bears Ears as a National Monument, including its recent restoration by President Biden. We view this restoration as one of the most important steps taken by this new administration to both protect our nation’s public lands and restore our commitment to work with our nation’s tribes to deliver the justice they deserve.

The leaders of the outdoor industry have spoken with an articulate and strong voice that this cornerstone event belongs in a state that shares its values on public land and recreation. Colorado is the perfect match to continue as the home of the Outdoor Retailer Show. 

Thank you for your partnership over the years. We look forward to continuing to work together to expand the outdoor recreation industry in Colorado and across the West.

Sincerely,