U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) toured the ongoing construction of the new Michigan Veteran Homes D.J. Jacobetti during his annual motorcycle tour across Michigan. Peters secured the $57.6 million investment needed to begin construction of the new facility, which was made possible through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) State Veterans Home Construction Grant Program. Peters toured the construction site alongside Chris LaJoie, Interim Administrator of the Michigan Veteran Homes D.J. Jacobetti, Ryan Engle, Director of Development and Strategic Engagement for Michigan Veteran Homes, and Jim Provost, Chair of the Marquette County Veterans Alliance.
“Veterans in Michigan and across our country made incredible sacrifices to defend our democracy, our freedoms, and our American way of life. We have a duty and moral obligation to support them when they return home, ensuring they can receive the quality care they earned in service. Maintaining safe, comfortable homes for our veteran populations across the state is a key part of that mission,” said Peters, a former Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve. “This new, state-of-the-art facility will ensure that our state’s veterans continue to receive the skilled nursing care they deserve.”
“Construction of the new D.J. Jacobetti veterans home represents an incredible commitment to our UP veterans,” said Chris LaJoie, Interim Administrator of the Michigan Veteran Homes D.J. Jacobetti. “We’re thankful for the support of partners like Senator Peters, who has been instrumental in securing the federal investment needed to begin construction of this state-of-the-art facility.”
“The new Michigan Veteran Homes D.J. Jacobetti represents a generational promise to those who’ve worn the uniform,” said Ryan Engle, Director of Development and Strategic Engagement for Michigan Veteran Homes. “We’re grateful for the state and federal leaders who’ve championed this cause and our state’s robust veteran population for years, including Senator Gary Peters.”
“The Marquette County Veterans Alliance thanks Senator Gary Peters for his persistent and continuous support for this much-needed replacement of the Michigan Veteran Homes D.J. Jacobetti,” said Jim Provost, Chair of the Marquette County Veterans Alliance. “Having access to private rooms, up-to-date technology, and expanded facilities, along with the outstanding medical, administrative, and support staff, will be greatly appreciated by local veterans and their families. We look forward to seeing the progress and completion of this project in the near future.”
State Veteran Homes are operated by state governments and partner with the VA to provide nursing home, domiciliary, and adult care services to veterans with special medical needs, including many elderly veterans. Federal funds provided by the State Veterans Home Construction Grant Program allow states to make critical facility upgrades or construct new facilities to serve aging veteran populations.
Peters has been committed to supporting our nation’s servicemembers and veterans, including by championing the State Veterans Home Construction Grant Program during his time in the Senate. Peters annually leads a group of bipartisan lawmakers in urging the Senate Appropriations Committee to provide robust funding for the program. Since his appointment to the Senate Appropriations Committee, Peters has also repeatedly helped secure robust funding for the grant program through the annual government funding laws.
Gerald’s Law, which was led by Peters and signed into law in 2024, updated this policy to ensure veterans aren’t penalized if they choose to spend their final days in the comfort of their homes or surrounded by loved ones. The Gerald’s Law Reauthorization of 2026 would extend this expanded benefit, which is currently set to expire in October 2026, through 2030.
In 2021, Peters was inducted into the Michigan Military and Veterans Hall of Honor for his efforts to support our nation’s veterans and military. In 2017, Peters was recognized as Legislator of the Year by the Vietnam Veterans of America for authoring the bipartisan Fairness for Veterans Act, which was signed into law as part of the national defense bill. The legislation requires veteran discharge review boards to give liberal consideration to petitions for honorable discharge status if the servicemember has been diagnosed with PTSD, TBI, or other related conditions connected to their military service. In 2022, Peters helped enact the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act – which delivered VA health care and benefits to all generations of toxic-exposed veterans and their survivors for the first time in our nation’s history.
Peters – an avid and longtime motorcycle rider – kicked off his “Thank you, Michigan” tour in Bay City. He will then make stops in Alpena, Marquette, Traverse City, Grand Rapids, and East Lansing. He will ride more than 1,000 miles across the state on this year’s tour – which is Peters’ 10th and last official motorcycle tour.
“I’ve always said the best way to travel across our state is on a motorcycle,” Peters said. “Representing Michigan in the U.S. Senate has been the absolute honor of my lifetime. So, this year’s tour is about saying thank you to all of the amazing people and communities I’ve been able to partner with during my career to help make Michigan an amazing place to work, live, and raise a family.”
