Barrett Finishes Full Week of Engaging with Constituents Across Mid-Michigan, Including an Interactive Town Hall

Lansing, Mich. - This week, Congressman Tom Barrett (MI-07) met with manufacturing workers, builders, military service members, and engaged with thousands of other local residents during a week of meetings across mid-Michigan that featured an interactive town hall event.

On Tuesday, Barrett was joined by U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson for some of the week's visits. He also held a live interactive town hall with more than 14,700 constituents from across Michigan's 7th Congressional District.

"The best way to represent the people of mid-Michigan is to be where they are - seeing how they live, meeting them where they work, and listening to the challenges they face every day," said Barrett. "I've had the opportunity to meet with thousands of people across our communities, and those conversations continue to give me a better understanding of what matters most to the families, workers, and businesses I represent. I'll keep showing up, listening, and bringing their voices with me to Congress."

First, Barrett visited the Military Entrance Processing Station in Lansing, which tests and enlists new recruits for the U.S. Armed Forces. Barrett met with station leadership and swore in a group of recruits.

Barrett then went to Clock Mobility, which sells accessible vehicles, wheelchair lifts, and other mobility equipment for individuals with disabilities. He met with customers and staff and heard an update from Clock Mobility leaders about payment delays they have experienced when getting reimbursed by the Department of Veterans Affairs for veterans' vehicle modifications. Barrett's CRUISE Act, which passed the House Veterans' Affairs Committee earlier this year, would streamline the VA's payment system for vehicle modifications.

In downtown Lansing, Barrett then hosted Speaker of the House Mike Johnson for a tour of construction at Tower on Grand. The skyscraper project is part of the New Vision Lansing development, which is investing more than $300 million to build about 600 new housing units and revitalize Lansing's Downtown and Old Town neighborhoods.

Barrett also joined local residents and community leaders at the East Lansing Amtrak Station for CN Rail's America250 Hometown Whistle Stop Tour. Featuring two locomotives emblazoned with patriotic designs, the tour through four Midwest train stations highlighted CN's role in shipping products across the United States, including vehicles manufactured in Lansing.

During his live, interactive town hall over the phone and online, Barrett connected with more than 14,700 constituents, heard feedback, and answered tough questions about the USS Abraham Lincoln, data centers, North Korea, Medicaid, and more.

Finally, Barrett toured American Rheinmetall's Lansing facility to meet with the workers manufacturing advanced technology and strengthening America's defense industrial base.