
Senator Gary Peters
Senator Gary Peters has represented the State of Michigan in the U.S. Senate since 2015. Gary is recognized as one of the most effective and bipartisan Senators, according to the non-partisan Center for Effective Lawmaking and the Georgetown Lugar Center. During the last Congress (2019-2020), Gary was recognized as the #1 most effective Senator in the U.S. Senate, despite serving as a member of the minority party – an achievement that hadn’t been accomplished since the non-partisan Center for Effective Lawmaking began collecting data over 50 years ago.
As Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, Gary has focused on combatting domestic terrorism and violent extremism. With recent surges in prominent threats and attacks on synagogues and other religious institutions in communities across the country, Gary convened hearings with senior law enforcement and national security officials that looked at the threat of violent extremism and terrorism against houses of worship and other public spaces. As Chairman, Gary has also convened hearings to examine the actions needed to address the rise of white supremacist, anti-government, and religiously-motivated violence.
Gary has also long-championed the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Nonprofit Security Grant Program, which helps protect houses of worship from rising threats – including providing resources to help congregations secure themselves against targeted attacks.
Gary volunteered for the U.S. Navy Reserve at age 34, where he earned a Seabee Combat Warfare Specialist designation and rose to the rank of Lieutenant Commander. After the September 11th terrorist attacks on our country, he volunteered again for drilling status and served overseas as part of his Reserve duty.
Gary has lived his entire life in Michigan and is a product of Michigan schools. He and his wife, Colleen, have three children.