Rep. Tom Barrett's Newsletter, 4 May 2025
From: "Congressman Tom Barrett" MI07TBIMA@mail.house.gov To: jpjackson01@****.com Date: May 4, 2025 12:15:53 PM
News from Representative Tom Barrett
It’s been a busy week in Washington fighting for mid-Michigan families. I wanted to start this week’s Barrett Briefing by recognizing Military Appreciation Month, which we celebrate during the month of May. This is a special opportunity for us all to come together and recognize the heroic men and women who wear the uniform and defend our freedom. To all who serve: thank you.
This week is also National Small Business Week. From family farms to Main Street, small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and no one works harder to grow jobs and build community. As your voice in the People’s House, I will keep fighting to get Washington’s red tape out of your way so you can grow and prosper!
In case you missed it, here are few of the highlights from this week in Washington: New Legislation To Serve You
I introduced two bills this week to deliver real results for veterans across our nation. The first one, the bipartisan TRANSPORT Jobs Act that I introduced with Rep. Hillary Scholten (D-MI), would help veterans launch careers in the supply chain and transportation industries. No one is better trained or more mission-focused than our veterans, so I’m proud to lead this bill to finally tear down the roadblocks that stand between those who served and the jobs that need doing in our economy.
The second bill I introduced is called the Veterans Hearing Health Expansion Act, which would make it easier for veterans to access timely hearing aid services. Veterans deserve timely, high-quality health care no matter where they live. Expanding the VA’s community care program to include hearing aid specialists, when it already covers other specialists, is a commonsense way to achieve that goal. This bill is a simple fix that will make a big difference, especially for rural veterans.
Making Progress In Committee
This week, we also made major progress on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, where we voted our portion of the reconciliation package out of committee. This package is focused on results, not gimmicks, and will:
Modernize air traffic control; Strengthen the Coast Guard and its presence on the Great Lakes; Make electric vehicles pay their fair share for road improvements; and Cut over $10 billion in wasteful spending.
I also participated in a hearing on the Highway Trust Fund to help craft long-term solutions for fixing Michigan’s roads and bridges. If you’ve driven through a pothole around here, you know it's time to finally fix our roads. On The Floor
Meanwhile, I was proud to join my colleagues in the House to pass 14 bipartisan bill this week that will:
Protect families; Crack down on hidden fees; Strengthen supply chains; and Secure America’s communications infrastructure.
I also voted to repeal several federal regulations that hurt farmers, restrict recreation, and limit your freedom to drive the car or truck that works for your family. These decisions should be made by the people, not some Washington bureaucrats.
At the end of March, I was glad to welcome VA Secretary Doug Collins to Michigan, where he traveled with me to listen to local veterans' concerns and see firsthand the facilities that serve them. Improving care at the VA has always been, will continue to be, one of my top priorities.
I am grateful to Secretary Collings for making the trip, which he wrote about in a new op-ed for the Detroit Free Press. You can read about his perspective on efforts to modernize veterans’ health care, expand access, and cut red tape here.
There’s still a lot of work to do, but I am proud of the work my office is doing. It’s an honor to bring your voice to Washington. As always, my team and I are here to help. Please don’t hesitate to contact us for help with a federal agency, scheduling a tour of the U.S. Capitol, and so much more.
To: Representative Tom Barrett, 5 May 2024
Rep. Barrett:
In your newsletter of 4 May 2025 you boast of a bill you're sponsoring to help veterans get jobs in the supply chain and transportation industries. Within a month, those industries will be devastated by Trump's tariff policies. The ports are predicted to be empty, the trucking and railroad industries will be idle. Inflation will skyrocket, shortages will abound. In the face of all that, your bill is meaningless. You need to act to oppose Trump's disastrous trade policies before your efforts mean anything.
You also mention your work strengthening the antiquated air traffic control system. Does this include re-hiring the hundreds of air traffic controllers Trump fired? How did those firings help safety? Is your loyalty to Trump so profound that you will do nothing in the face of such arbitrary actions?
Do better,
John Jackson