I hope you had a safe and happy Thanksgiving. As the holiday season continues, I hope you and your family remain healthy and optimistic for the future. It can be tough to find the silver lining of life during these challenging times, but amid the crisis, there is still a lot to be thankful for.

This week, Congress is back in session and there’s a lot to accomplish. Read on to learn more about the work we’re doing.

New Colleague

As we look ahead and prepare for the start of a new Congress in January, I look forward to serving alongside a longtime friend and now colleague, Congresswoman-elect Michelle Fischbach.

She joins a diverse and incredibly qualified class of freshman members of Congress. The House Republican Conference. is welcoming more women, veterans, and diverse Americans in background and experience than ever before. I look forward to serving alongside all of them in the 117th Congress!

Sexual Assault

When I first heard Abby Honold’s story, I was inspired by her strength and bravery. Abby Honold was a student at the University of Minnesota when she reported her rape to the police and investigators.

Following her assault, Abby was treated by a nurse who was trained in the Forensic Experiential Trauma Interview (FETI) method. The technique was what allowed Abby to remember and prevented re-traumatization. Ultimately, it ensured law enforcement could get the accurate information they needed to properly investigate and eventually, secure a prosecution while caring for Abby in the process.

Bearing her name, and inspired by her bravery, Sen. Amy Klobuchar and I worked together to introduce the Abby Honold Act in both chambers of Congress during the 115th Congress. The legislation was reintroduced during the 116th Congress and included as an amendment to the Violence Against Women Act.

The bill will create a grant program to train law enforcement agencies who are willing to participate in evidence-based, trauma-informed interview techniques. This will result in the prevention of re-traumatization of victims, improved communication between victims and law enforcement, and that accurate and complete information is retrieved.

Last week, I wrote to Attorney General William Barr and the Dept. of Justice urging them to implement this demonstration program and issue grants in order to promote trauma-informed training for law enforcement.

The Abby Honold Act is bipartisan legislation that the Dept. of Justice can take steps to implement right now and provide resources nationwide to expand training to care for victims of sexual assault.

Civil Air Patrol

The Civil Air Patrol has served an important purpose in our nation. Our U.S. Air Force knows that our civilian aviation resources are “always vigilant” and will step up whenever they are needed. The support they lend our military and our nation displays the deeply rooted American values that we cherish and enjoy. Their service to others, their commitment to education and their response to those in a state of emergency are what make America a community, and not just a nation.

This year, the Civil Air Patrol celebrates 78 years of volunteer service to our nation. I am a proud to be a Congressional Member in support of this organization, and I will continue to support their mission and vital volunteer work!

Minnesota Cattlemen

This week, I’ll be appearing at the Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association and the Minnesota Beef Council’s 2020 Cattle Industry Convention!

In the early days of the COVID-19 crisis, many Americans worried about whether they would be able put food on the table. Thanks to the hard work of our farmers, our food supply has remained stable. Like the rest of us though, our agriculture community has been hit hard by COVID-19, and opportunities like the cattle industry’s 2020 virtual convention give me chance to meet with farmers directly and learn about the issues they face. 

One issue I have long advocated for on behalf of our farmers was the delisting of the Gray Wolf from the Endangered Species Act. Last month, we got some great news when the Dept. of the Interior announced it would be delisting the Gray Wolf. This action was long awaited by many farmers who will finally be able to defend their livestock - and their livelihoods - from the Gray Wolf.

I also partnered with my colleague from South Dakota, Congressman Dusty Johnson as an original co-sponsor of the PRICE Act, to provide more opportunities for small processing operations while maintaining vigorous food safety standards. It also updates the Packers and Stockyards Act for greater transparency in the cattle markets. This nonpartisan legislation will help remove onerous regulatory barriers and improve competition in these markets.

I will always look for ways to support Minnesota’s cattlemen and our nation’s agriculture community as whole.