Barrett Welcomes Secretary Burgum and Speaker Johnson to Mid-Michigan

Lansing, Mich. - Yesterday, Congressman Tom Barrett welcomed U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson to mid-Michigan to highlight the hard work of local residents in research, manufacturing, and construction.

Barrett and Burgum toured Michigan State University's Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB), which is receiving $125 million in federal investments Congressman Barrett secured earlier this year. They also both participated in the grand opening at LG Energy Solution in Lansing. Barrett and Johnson then toured the ongoing Tower on Grand construction, which will be a mixed-use skyscraper with housing and commercial units.

"Exciting things are happening every day across mid-Michigan that will continue to support new opportunities and growth in our communities - from cutting-edge rare isotope research to historic development that will make housing more affordable and revitalize our downtown," said Barrett. "In Congress, I've taken action to lower costs for Michigan workers, create opportunities for manufacturing and engineering, and make it easier to build affordable homes for Michigan families. It was great to have Secretary Burgum and Speaker Johnson here to see the progress happening in my district thanks to the innovation and work ethic of the people I have the honor to represent."

"Great to be hosted by Congressman Barrett in the Great Lake State to see firsthand the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB), which demonstrates the importance of investing in cutting-edge research, advanced technologies and preparing the next generation to strengthen America's energy future - innovation made possible with the help of the Working Families Tax Cuts Act," said Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum. "The U.S. needs more highly trained American workers capable of developing our domestic energy resources. Right here in Michigan, Michigan State University is playing a critical role in advancing that mission and helping drive innovation, workforce development and the leadership needed to deliver on the American Energy Dominance Agenda."

"It was great to be in Michigan today and tour the New Vision Lansing development that is bringing new investment and housing to Lansing," said Speaker of the House Mike Johnson. "Thanks to Republicans' Working Families Tax Cuts and the leadership of members like Congressman Tom Barrett, businesses are expanding and creating new jobs, working families are keeping more of what they earn, and we're seeing long-term growth in all 50 states that's raising wages for American workers. After four failed years of Bidenomics, Republicans are giving businesses the tools they need to grow and working families the relief they need to thrive."

Barrett and Burgum met with Dr. Thomas Glasmacher, the laboratory director, along with other scientists and skilled workers, at the FRIB, a user facility for the Department of Energy that conducts nuclear physics research that is critical for national security and also has applications for energy, medicine, industry, and more. The lab has contributed more than $1 billion to Michigan's economy since 2011, employs hundreds of workers from mid-Michigan, and purchases from hundreds of local suppliers. A government funding bill signed into law in January included $125 million Barrett secured for FRIB - $15 million to continue construction of its High Rigidity Spectrometer and $110 million for optimal operations and energy upgrades at the facility.

Barrett then attended a grand opening for LG Energy Solution's new Lansing plant, which will manufacture battery cells for energy storage systems. The facility now employs about 900 workers, with plans to hire more as production scales up.

Barrett and Johnson toured construction at Tower on Grand Lansing, part of the five-building New Vision Lansing development, which includes five new or renovated buildings in Lansing's Downtown and Old Town neighborhoods. Combined, the project will add nearly 600 residential units, as well as some commercial units.