Peters Visited Camp Grayling to Observe Exercise Northern Strike and Meet with Top Michigan and Defense Department Officials, Then Rode to Sanford to Highlight the Need to Better Support Communities in the Wake of Disasters Like 2020 Midland Flood

SANFORD, MI – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) concluded his annual motorcycle tour across Michigan today. Peters first rode to Camp Grayling where he welcomed top U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) officials to showcase Michigan’s first-rate military facilities and defense capabilities. Peters then rode to Sanford where he was joined by local leaders to underscore the importance of supporting communities in the wake of natural disasters. Peters made stops in Kalamazoo, Wyoming, Traverse City, and Sault Ste. Marie before concluding his tour in Sanford. Peters – an avid and longtime motorcycle rider – rode about 800 miles across Michigan on this year’s tour. 

At Camp Grayling, Peters welcomed U.S. Under Secretary of the Army Gabe Camarillo to Camp Grayling – a key component of the National All-Domain Warfighting Center. Peters and Camarillo observed Exercise Northern Strike – the National Guard’s largest joint service, multicomponent training exercise – which takes place annually in Michigan and helps strengthen our nation’s military readiness and warfighting capabilities. The group viewed various training scenarios, including exercises for defense against unmanned aerial systems. Peters underscored how Michigan’s military facilities are critical to our nation’s defense. 

“It was great to have Under Secretary Camarillo in Michigan today to witness firsthand the world-class facilities and training available here at Camp Grayling,” said Senator Peters, a former Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve and member of the Armed Service Committee. “Michigan plays a critical role in our national defense, and I’ll continue working to bring top military leaders to our state to showcase these contributions and unique abilities. I’ll also keep fighting to deliver the federal resources our state needs to support our servicemembers and keep Michigan’s military installations on the cutting-edge.” 

Peters has been a longtime supporter of the National All-Domain Warfighting Center, which includes both Camp Grayling and the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center. During the 2022 summer iteration of Northern Strike, Peters welcomed U.S. Army Secretary Christine Wormuth to Camp Grayling and U.S. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall to Alpena to view the operational capacities of the bases and discuss how Michigan’s military facilities are critical to our nation’s defense. As a member of the Appropriations Committee, Peters secured $23.5 million in funding last year to support Exercise Northern Strike. Peters secured an increase in funding for Northern Strike in this year’s defense appropriations bill, which would provide a record $24.1 million for Exercise Northern Strike if signed into law.  

In January, Peters announced that the U.S. Air Force selected Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Macomb County to host a new squadron of twelve KC-46A refueling tankers – next-generation tankers, which will be deployed by the Air Force for the next 50 years. 

To download photos from Peters’ visit to Camp Grayling, click HERE. 

In Sanford, Peters highlighted the need to pass his Disaster Assistance Simplification Act which would simplify the application process for federal disaster recovery assistance. Peters’ bill would establish a universal application across federal agencies for those seeking federal assistance to recover from natural disasters such as severe storms, floods, wildfires, and more. Currently, individuals must fill out separate and detailed applications depending on what agency they need help from – a process that can take weeks or even months. Peters’ legislation, which passed the Senate last year, would significantly streamline this process to reduce the burden on disaster survivors.    

“Thanks to the resilience and grit of this community and its leaders, Sanford continues to fight, not just to come back, but to come back stronger. They have shown us what it means to come together in the wake of a disaster,” said Senator Peters. “Throughout my time in the Senate, it has been a top priority of mine to get our communities the resources they need to recover from natural disasters, and to simplify the overcomplicated and often confusing application process for federal disaster relief. I’ll keep working to see my bill become law to better support communities like Sanford moving forward.” 

“Recovering from a flood is a difficult task from an emotional point of view, from a personal loss point of view, as well as funding and rebuilding a whole town. These bills are extremely important because it will help simplify the paperwork required to gain help from FEMA,” said Dolores Porte, Village of Sanford President. 

“In the wake of disaster, communities depend on federal support to rebuild stronger than before. The rate and success of this process is critical to local businesses and workers,” said Tony Stamas, President and CEO of the Midland Business Alliance (MBA).“These commonsense bills will help communities effectively recover after some of their darkest days, and I’m grateful to Senator Peters for his continued efforts to support Michiganders and the business community here in Midland County and across our state.”   

Peters also authored legislation signed into law earlier this year that merged the application deadlines for two key Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) programs that provide federal disaster assistance to individuals. Peters’ law helps prevent confusion for disaster survivors and aims to reduce the burden on people who need to rebuild their lives after disasters.