As Member of Armed Services Committee, Peters Secures Investments to Bolster Michigan’s Defense Capabilities in National Defense Bill
WASHINGTON, DC – The Senate Armed Services Committee advanced the annual National Defense Authorization Act out of committee to strengthen U.S. national security, support our nation’s long-term strategic efforts to combat aggression by adversaries like China and Russia, and give our servicemembers a pay raise. As a member of the committee, U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) successfully authored and secured provisions in the bill to invest in Selfridge Air National Guard Base, hold the Department of Defense (DOD) accountable to clean up PFAS contamination in Michigan communities, and support Michigan’s robust defense sector. The bill will now advance to the full Senate for consideration. “This bill will help ensure Michigan continues to play an essential role in keeping our nation safe and secure,” said Senator Peters, a former Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve . “I was proud to secure investments in this bill to bolster our state’s defense capabilities and make sure Selfridge is prepared on day one to receive our new, next-generation tankers and fighter jets. I also fought to ensure the bill will hold the Department of Defense accountable to swiftly cleaning up PFAS contamination in Michigan communities.” The National Defense Authorization Act sets annual policy for the Department of Defense (DOD) and has been signed into law for more than 60 consecutive years. Peters led or supported the following provisions, including authorizing more than $200 million in funding for Michigan defense priorities: Investing in Selfridge Air National Guard Base & Michigan’s Defense Footprint $190 Million for New F-15EX Aircraft Hangar at Selfridge Air National Guard Base: Peters secured $190 million to construct a new, state-of-the-art F-15EX aircraft maintenance hangar at Selfridge to prepare for basing of the F-15EX fighter jets that were announced last year following years of persistent work and advocacy by Peters. $10 Million for Runway Improvements at Selfridge: Peters secured $10 million to support runway improvements at Selfridge to prepare for the base’s new missions. Bolstering F-15EX Production: Peters also secured a provision in the bill urging the Air Force to explore ways to increase production of the F-15EX fighter jets to support timely beddown at Selfridge, including authorities to improve stability in production and save costs for the Air Force. Secured Funding for Production of 15 New KC-46?Tankers: Peters secured funding for the production of 15 new KC-46A?tanker aircraft?in Fiscal Year 2027. This will help ensure the KC-46As announced for Selfridge remain on time for beddown in 2029. Addressing PFAS Contamination in Michigan Communities Requiring Action from DOD on PFAS Remediation: Peters authored a provision in the bill that directs DOD to initiate interim remediation actions at no fewer than 50 sites where DOD has delayed cleanup timelines. It also directs DOD to prioritize the expeditious completion of ongoing interim remedial actions. Peters’ provision would force DOD to get shovels in the ground on PFAS remediation work despite DOD’s significant delays on final cleanup timelines. Michigan communities are rightfully sick of waiting for PFAS cleanup efforts to be carried out, and this provision would require progress. Increasing Assistance for Community-Led PFAS Cleanup Efforts: Peters secured a provision in the bill to increase the annual and lifetime caps for grant funding available to facilitate local community engagement in PFAS cleanup efforts, because Peters recognizes that community input is key to ensuring these cleanups are done right. The Technical Assistance for Public Participation program – TAPP for short – aims to provide impacted communities with the resources necessary to understand the complexities of environmental cleanups and meaningfully participate in the remediation process. Peters’ provision helps ensure that annual funding for this program is sufficient to make a difference and that communities utilizing this funding are not stripped of the resource if DOD's cleanup timeline gets delayed by several years. PFAS Transparency Dashboard: In last year’s national defense bill, Peters secured a provision requiring DOD to create a public online dashboard displaying PFAS cleanup data, including funding and projected timelines. Unfortunately, many Michigan communities continue to face significant timeline delays without notice from DOD. Last fall, DOD announced delays at nearly 140 PFAS-contaminated military sites across the country, including six in Michigan. The delays were dated to March 2025, however, communities were not aware of the changes until the New York Times uncovered them in September 2025, raising concerns about DOD’s transparency. Peters’ provision in this year’s bill will require the Secretary of Defense to provide notice to local communities, including Restoration Advisory Boards, when there are updates to the online PFAS dashboard. GAO Review of PFAS Cleanup Contracting: Peters secured a provision directing the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to identify solutions for improving DOD contracting for PFAS cleanup work. Michigan communities have waited too long for DOD to cleanup PFAS contamination. This amendment would help identify what the Department can do to speed up this process while ensuring, importantly, that the cleanup is done right. Supporting Our Veterans & Servicemembers Pay Raise for Servicemembers: The bill authorizes a 3.6 percent pay raise for servicemembers. Peters believes providing our servicemembers with competitive pay is essential to ensuring they can afford housing, groceries, childcare, and other everyday necessities while serving our nation in uniform. Fair compensation also helps strengthen our military readiness, improves retention, and reduces financial hardship for servicemembers and their families. Improving Fairness and Efficiency for Discharge Review Boards: Peters secured a provision to prevent DOD from reducing personnel who are assigned to military service review agencies. Peters also secured a provision in the bill requiring each military department to submit a report to Congress on current backlogs of applications, staffing levels, and resource needs, and their plans to reduce any backlog of applications to Military Discharge Review Boards. The boards are administrative panels authorized to review and potentially upgrade a veteran’s discharge. These upgrades can help veterans access vital benefits, including healthcare. This provision will help provide additional transparency to the discharge process and require plans to modernize systems and improve efficiency. This effort builds on Peters’ bipartisan legislation that was signed into law to help veterans who may have been erroneously given a less than honorable discharge from the military due to negative behavior resulting from mental traumas such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Supporting Michigan’s Defense Sector $5 Million for Michigan State University’s Autonomous Ground Vehicle Research: This funding will support Michigan State University’s (MSU) work with the Army to develop and deploy autonomous ground vehicles. Supporting Navy Ship Production: Peters secured a provision that would support construction of the Navy’s new cable laying and repair vessel program, which would?assist shipyard workers in Michigan including at Fincantieri Marinette Marine. With forty percent of their workforce being Michiganders, this critical provision will support additional work for this key shipyard. Increasing Production and Improving the Capability of the Collaborative Combat Aircraft :?Peters secured language in the bill to scale production and expand the capabilities of autonomous Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA). Peters has pushed for and secured language to support the development and integration of CCAs, including during a hearing with the former Secretary of Defense and a hearing last year with the current U.S. Air Force Secretary. As a member of the Appropriations Committee, Peters has also secured language to help position Selfridge as a potential location for CCA fielding. He led a provision included in past government funding legislation requiring a report regarding basing criteria of CCAs. This report will include an evaluation of whether existing Air National Guard bases with fighter missions, such as Selfridge, may be appropriate locations for the basing of CCAs. Strengthening U.S. Cybersecurity and Advanced Technology Capabilities Moving Department of Defense to Anti-Phishing Hardware or Software: Peters secured provisions in the bill requiring the Department of Defense to adopt phishing-resistant hardware or software across the Department. In 2022, the Office of Management and Budget mandated that all civilian agency staff, contractors, and partners use only phishing-resistant authentication hardware or software. However, DOD has not yet begun to consider adoption or implementation of the same initiative. Leveraging AI Tools to Strengthen National Defense: Peters secured a provision directing DOD to develop a strategy to leverage artificial intelligence tools to accelerate the development of medical countermeasures against chemical and biological threats. Soldier Digital Lifecycle Modernization Initiative: Peters secured a provision to help establish a pilot program to modernize digital experiences for soldiers, beginning with recruiting. The initiative creates a single digital profile that follows soldiers from first contact through enlistment, connects existing recruiting systems, automates paperwork, and lays the groundwork in-service and veteran support. The program is expected to reduce administrative burdens and increase enlistment completion rates. Holding Trump Administration Accountable Preventing Political Retaliation Against Military Officers: The bill requires written justification and congressional notification before officer promotions can be delayed or withheld. It also prohibits retaliatory security clearance reviews and mental health examinations. Protecting Military Whistleblowers: The bill clarifies that nondisclosure agreements cannot strip servicemembers of their right to make protected communications. Accountability for Trump’s Unauthorized Wars: The bill requires a full accounting of how Trump’s military actions in Iran, the Caribbean, and elsewhere have harmed U.S. military readiness and withholds travel funds for the Secretary of Defense until Congress receives the execute orders, unredacted civilian casualty investigations, and unedited strike videos. Banning Insider Trading and Prediction Market Manipulation in Defense Contracting: The bill prohibits DOD contractors from trading stocks based on inside information. It also bans the use of prediction markets in defense contracting. Supporting U.S. Security Interests Around the World Support for Israel’s Defense Against Emerging Threats: Peters secured funding in the bill to help increase U.S. collaboration with Israel to develop emerging defense technologies to meet the warfare challenges of the future. Support for Ukraine in War Against Russia: The bill extends and increases funding for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative. It also directs the Secretary of Defense to provide intelligence support to Ukraine for military operations to defend or recover internationally recognized Ukrainian territory. Maintaining U.S. Force Posture: The bill prohibits reducing U.S. forces in Europe below 76,000 or surrendering the Supreme Allied Commander Europe position until the Secretary of Defense provides an assessment to Congress. It also requires a certified assessment to Congress before any reduction below 28,500 troops on the Korean Peninsula, a region that is critical to U.S. strategic defense in the Indo-Pacific. ###
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WASHINGTON, DC – The Senate Armed Services Committee advanced the annual National Defense Authorization Act out of committee to strengthen U.S. national security, support our nation’s long-term strategic efforts to combat aggression by adversaries like China and Russia, and give our servicemembers a pay raise. As a member of the committee, U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) successfully authored and secured provisions in the bill to invest in Selfridge Air National Guard Base, hold the Department of Defense (DOD) accountable to clean up PFAS contamination in Michigan communities, and support Michigan’s robust defense sector. The bill will now advance to the full Senate for consideration. “This bill will help ensure Michigan continues to play an essential role in keeping our nation safe and secure,” said Senator Peters, a former Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve . “I was proud to secure investments in this bill to bolster our state’s defense capabilities and make sure Selfridge is prepared on day one to receive our new, next-generation tankers and fighter jets. I also fought to ensure the bill will hold the Department of Defense accountable to swiftly cleaning up PFAS contamination in Michigan communities.” The National Defense Authorization Act sets annual policy for the Department of Defense (DOD) and has been signed into law for more than 60 consecutive years. Peters led or supported the following provisions, including authorizing more than $200 million in funding for Michigan defense priorities: Investing in Selfridge Air National Guard Base & Michigan’s Defense Footprint $190 Million for New F-15EX Aircraft Hangar at Selfridge Air National Guard Base: Peters secured $190 million to construct a new, state-of-the-art F-15EX aircraft maintenance hangar at Selfridge to prepare for basing of the F-15EX fighter jets that were announced last year following years of persistent work and advocacy by Peters. $10 Million for Runway Improvements at Selfridge: Peters secured $10 million to support runway improvements at Selfridge to prepare for the base’s new missions. Bolstering F-15EX Production: Peters also secured a provision in the bill urging the Air Force to explore ways to increase production of the F-15EX fighter jets to support timely beddown at Selfridge, including authorities to improve stability in production and save costs for the Air Force. Secured Funding for Production of 15 New KC-46?Tankers: Peters secured funding for the production of 15 new KC-46A?tanker aircraft?in Fiscal Year 2027. This will help ensure the 12 KC-46As announced for Selfridge remain on time for beddown in 2029. Addressing PFAS Contamination in Michigan Communities Requiring Action from DOD on PFAS Remediation: Peters authored a provision in the bill that directs DOD to initiate interim remediation actions at no fewer than 50 sites where DOD has delayed cleanup timelines. It also directs DOD to prioritize the expeditious completion of ongoing interim remedial actions. Peters’ provision would force DOD to get shovels in the ground on PFAS remediation work despite DOD’s significant delays on final cleanup timelines. Michigan communities are rightfully sick of waiting for PFAS cleanup efforts to be carried out, and this provision would require progress. Increasing Assistance for Community-Led PFAS Cleanup Efforts: Peters secured a provision in the bill to increase the annual and lifetime caps for grant funding available to facilitate local community engagement in PFAS cleanup efforts, because Peters recognizes that community input is key to ensuring these cleanups are done right. The Technical Assistance for Public Participation program – TAPP for short – aims to provide impacted communities with the resources necessary to understand the complexities of environmental cleanups and meaningfully participate in the remediation process. Peters’ provision helps ensure that annual funding for this program is sufficient to make a difference and that communities utilizing this funding are not stripped of the resource if DOD's cleanup timeline gets delayed by several years. PFAS Transparency Dashboard: In last year’s national defense bill, Peters secured a provision requiring DOD to create a public online dashboard displaying PFAS cleanup data, including funding and projected timelines. Unfortunately, many Michigan communities continue to face significant timeline delays without notice from DOD. Last fall, DOD announced delays at nearly 140 PFAS-contaminated military sites across the country, including six in Michigan. The delays were dated to March 2025, however, communities were not aware of the changes until the New York Times uncovered them in September 2025, raising concerns about DOD’s transparency. Peters’ provision in this year’s bill will require the Secretary of Defense to provide notice to local communities, including Restoration Advisory Boards, when there are updates to the online PFAS dashboard. GAO Review of PFAS Cleanup Contracting: Peters secured a provision directing the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to identify solutions for improving DOD contracting for PFAS cleanup work. Michigan communities have waited too long for DOD to cleanup PFAS contamination. This amendment would help identify what the Department can do to speed up this process while ensuring, importantly, that the cleanup is done right. Supporting Our Veterans & Servicemembers Pay Raise for Servicemembers: The bill authorizes a 3.6 percent pay raise for servicemembers. Peters believes providing our servicemembers with competitive pay is essential to ensuring they can afford housing, groceries, childcare, and other everyday necessities while serving our nation in uniform. Fair compensation also helps strengthen our military readiness, improves retention, and reduces financial hardship for servicemembers and their families. Improving Fairness and Efficiency for Discharge Review Boards: Peters secured a provision to prevent DOD from reducing personnel who are assigned to military service review agencies. Peters also secured a provision in the bill requiring each military department to submit a report to Congress on current backlogs of applications, staffing levels, and resource needs, and their plans to reduce any backlog of applications to Military Discharge Review Boards. The boards are administrative panels authorized to review and potentially upgrade a veteran’s discharge. These upgrades can help veterans access vital benefits, including healthcare. This provision will help provide additional transparency to the discharge process and require plans to modernize systems and improve efficiency. This effort builds on Peters’ bipartisan legislation that was signed into law to help veterans who may have been erroneously given a less than honorable discharge from the military due to negative behavior resulting from mental traumas such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Supporting Michigan’s Defense Sector $5 Million for Michigan State University’s Autonomous Ground Vehicle Research: This funding will support Michigan State University’s (MSU) work with the Army to develop and deploy autonomous ground vehicles. Supporting Navy Ship Production: Peters secured a provision that would support construction of the Navy’s new cable laying and repair vessel program, which would?assist shipyard workers in Michigan including at Fincantieri Marinette Marine. With forty percent of their workforce being Michiganders, this critical provision will support additional work for this key shipyard. Increasing Production and Improving the Capability of the Collaborative Combat Aircraft :?Peters secured language in the bill to scale production and expand the capabilities of autonomous Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA). Peters has pushed for and secured language to support the development and integration of CCAs, including during a hearing with the former Secretary of Defense and a hearing last year with the current U.S. Air Force Secretary. As a member of the Appropriations Committee, Peters has also secured language to help position Selfridge as a potential location for CCA fielding. He led a provision included in past government funding legislation requiring a report regarding basing criteria of CCAs. This report will include an evaluation of whether existing Air National Guard bases with fighter missions, such as Selfridge, may be appropriate locations for the basing of CCAs. Strengthening U.S. Cybersecurity and Advanced Technology Capabilities Moving Department of Defense to Anti-Phishing Hardware or Software: Peters secured provisions in the bill requiring the Department of Defense to adopt phishing-resistant hardware or software across the Department. In 2022, the Office of Management and Budget mandated that all civilian agency staff, contractors, and partners use only phishing-resistant authentication hardware or software. However, DOD has not yet begun to consider adoption or implementation of the same initiative. Leveraging AI Tools to Strengthen National Defense: Peters secured a provision directing DOD to develop a strategy to leverage artificial intelligence tools to accelerate the development of medical countermeasures against chemical and biological threats. Soldier Digital Lifecycle Modernization Initiative: Peters secured a provision to help establish a pilot program to modernize digital experiences for soldiers, beginning with recruiting. The initiative creates a single digital profile that follows soldiers from first contact through enlistment, connects existing recruiting systems, automates paperwork, and lays the groundwork in-service and veteran support. The program is expected to reduce administrative burdens and increase enlistment completion rates. Holding Trump Administration Accountable Preventing Political Retaliation Against Military Officers: The bill requires written justification and congressional notification before officer promotions can be delayed or withheld. It also prohibits retaliatory security clearance reviews and mental health examinations. Protecting Military Whistleblowers: The bill clarifies that nondisclosure agreements cannot strip servicemembers of their right to make protected communications. Accountability for Trump’s Unauthorized Wars: The bill requires a full accounting of how Trump’s military actions in Iran, the Caribbean, and elsewhere have harmed U.S. military readiness and withholds travel funds for the Secretary of Defense until Congress receives the execute orders, unredacted civilian casualty investigations, and unedited strike videos. Banning Insider Trading and Prediction Market Manipulation in Defense Contracting: The bill prohibits DOD contractors from trading stocks based on inside information. It also bans the use of prediction markets in defense contracting. Supporting U.S. Security Interests Around the World Support for Israel’s Defense Against Emerging Threats: Peters secured funding in the bill to help increase U.S. collaboration with Israel to develop emerging defense technologies to meet the warfare challenges of the future. Support for Ukraine in War Against Russia: The bill extends and increases funding for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative. It also directs the Secretary of Defense to provide intelligence support to Ukraine for military operations to defend or recover internationally recognized Ukrainian territory. Maintaining U.S. Force Posture: The bill prohibits reducing U.S. forces in Europe below 76,000 or surrendering the Supreme Allied Commander Europe position until the Secretary of Defense provides an assessment to Congress. It also requires a certified assessment to Congress before any reduction below 28,500 troops on the Korean Peninsula, a region that is critical to U.S. strategic defense in the Indo-Pacific. ###
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