Multiple media reports speculated about funding for FRIB following a speech by Department of Energy Secretary Chu at the Detroit Economic Club on Wednesday, January 11 (WXYZ-TV, Detroit Free Press, Lansing State Journal).

U.S. Senators Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow, U.S. Congressman Mike Rogers, and Michigan Governor Rick Snyder, as well as several editorials (Detroit Free Press editorial, Lansing State Journal editorial) expressed their strong support for the FRIB Project.

Senator Levin issued this statement: "The federal government in 2008 made a decision to go forward with the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams after an extensive competition. The Department of Energy entered into an agreement with MSU that includes time schedules and funding commitments by both parties to bring FRIB into operation by 2018. MSU and the state of Michigan have met their commitments in this partnership, and it would be unconscionable if the federal government failed to live up to its commitments in meeting this critical national priority."

Senator Stabenow's statement said: “Michigan State is set to break ground on what will be a state-of-art, world class facility.  Thousands of construction and cutting-edge technology jobs are ready to be created this year.  MSU and the State of Michigan have already begun investing in this new facility based on bipartisan commitments to support the project and it would be absolutely unacceptable if the rug was pulled out from under them now.”

Senators Levin and Stabenow appeared with MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon on WJR to discuss FRIB and the reports of funding uncertainty and were quoted in many other radio, TV, and print reports.