Barrett Welcomes Secretary Duffy to Mid-Michigan to Meet with Transportation Leaders, Workers

Image August 13, 2026 Press Release Officials Tour Lansing Airport, Visit Dean Transportation Lansing, Mich. — Today, Congressman Tom Barrett welcomed U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy to mid-Michigan to meet with local leaders and workers, as well as to highlight the congressman and Trump administration’s joint efforts to invest in infrastructure, modernize air traffic control, and improve transportation for all Michiganders. The officials held a roundtable with local leaders, toured the Capital Region International Airport, and visited Dean Transportation in Lansing. Transportation issues have been a top priority for Barrett, who successfully secured $15.3 million for mid-Michigan infrastructure projects, supported the BUILD America 250 Act to maintain and strengthen federal infrastructure and transit funding programs, and led efforts to make air travel safer after the tragic January 2025 collision over Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C. “Whether flying across the country or driving to work across town, mid-Michiganders deserve safe, reliable transportation,” said Barrett. “That’s why I’ve been working in Congress and with the Trump administration to invest the people’s tax dollars in local infrastructure that makes a difference. I’m proud to have Secretary Duffy in Lansing to hear about the work our communities are putting in to fix our roads and bridges to continue making transportation safer and smoother.” “Michiganders are fortunate to have Representative Barrett advocating on their behalf in Congress. His leadership has helped deliver vital funding for aviation infrastructure projects, including an overhaul of LAN’s air traffic control system,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. “Together, we are building a stronger Michigan that will support not just jobs, but entire communities like Lansing for years to come.” Image At the Capital Region International Airport, Barrett and Duffy held a roundtable with Capital Region Airport Authority CEO/President Nicole Noll-Williams, Lansing Mayor Andy Schor, and other government, business, and education leaders involved in the transportation and infrastructure industry. Following the discussion, Barrett and Duffy toured airport facilities and equipment and took questions from press. Barrett recently secured a $7.8 million federal investment to help the airport replace its aging jet bridges . “We’re grateful to welcome Congressman Barrett and Secretary Duffy to the Capital Region International Airport (LAN) and appreciate the opportunity to have a meaningful conversation about the issues and opportunities facing our airport and our region. It was also a great opportunity to showcase some of the exciting development taking place at LAN and the role the airport plays in connecting Mid-Michigan to the rest of the country and the world,” said Nicole Noll-Williams, president and CEO of the Capital Region Airport Authority (CRAA). “We appreciate Congressman Barrett’s continued support of LAN and the region, and we’re grateful to have Secretary Duffy here to hear directly from our community and see the airport firsthand.” Image Barrett and Duffy then joined CEO Kellie Dean and President Patrick Dean for a tour of the headquarters of Dean Transportation, which provides transportation consulting and bus and shuttle services — including transporting students for many school districts throughout Michigan. “As we enter the back-to-school season, we’re grateful for the opportunity to showcase the work being done to keep students safe and to discuss how collaboration between transportation providers and policymakers can strengthen student transportation across the country,” said Patrick Dean, president of Dean Transportation. “As a family-owned and operated business, we are proud to highlight the work our team does daily.” Participants in today’s roundtable included, among others: U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy Congressman Tom Barrett Nicole Noll-Williams, President and CEO of the Capital Region Airport Authority Lansing Mayor Andy Schor Sarah Gonzales, Director of State and Local Government Affairs for Delta Air Lines Juan Hinojosa, Managing Director of Government Affairs for American Airlines Jeff Wafford, Director of Public Affairs for UPS Tim Daman, President and CEO of the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce Jim Holcomb, President and CEO of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce Brian Shoaf, Vice President of Public Policy and Business Advocacy for the Detroit Regional Chamber Patrick Dean, President of Dean Transportation Rob Benstein, Vice President & COO of the Capital Region Airport Authority John Shaski, Chairman of the Board for the Capital Region Airport Authority Debbie Groh, Board Member for the Capital Region Airport Authority Ron O’Neil, Director of Facilities Infrastructure and Maintenance for the Capital Region Airport Authority Bryan Budds, Director of the Michigan Department of Transportation Office of Aeronautics and the Michigan Aeronautics Commission Judd Herzer, Director of Mobility Research and Innovation at Michigan State University Tony Kruckeberg, Aviation Technology Program Director for Lansing Community College Dr. Sean Williams, Superintendent of Eaton Regional Education Service Agency Brad Funkhouser, CEO and Executive Director of the Capital Area Transportation Authority (CATA) Jon Cool, President of the Michigan Railroads Association Katy Delaney, Assistant Manager of the Detroit Airports District Office for the FAA Image Image Image Image Image