This week, Congress is returning to Washington to continue our work to combat Coronavirus, address major issues like police reform, and ensure economic opportunity for every American.

This past week, I worked to advance agriculture priorities for Minnesota, ensure tele-health services are available for Minnesotans across our state, and question the Federal Reserve Chairman. Take a look below for some of these and more!

Emmer on TV

Last week, I joined Agri-Pulse TV on their “Meet the Lawmaker” program to discuss my ongoing support for increased mental health resources for agricultural workers.

Recently, I introduced H.R. 7047 which will improve the disbursement of funds secured for the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network, which I worked to reauthorize in the 2018 Farm Bill – and will expedite the development of mental and emotional health resources for farmers and agricultural workers. The bill also provides additional funding for the program as farmers bear the uniquely stressful impact of the Coronavirus pandemic.

We also discussed the much-needed increase in rural broadband development. I have long supported the advancement of reliable broadband for our rural communities – just recently, the Broadband DATA Act, a bill I am a cosponsor of, became law. This important bill will strengthen data collection and make sure the maps the federal government uses to deploy broadband will accurately reflect the need in our communities.

National Dairy Month

Every year in June we celebrate National Dairy Month, and no state understands the importance of dairy better than Minnesota!

That’s because our state’s dairy industry includes nearly 500,000 cows and is one of the largest livestock sectors in the state. I am honored to represent the largest dairy producing county in the state of Minnesota: Stearns County. Our dairy farmers are some of the hardest working folks in the country.

Right now, they need our support more than ever. That is why I introduced legislation to provide flexibility to dairy farmers and allow the option for farmers to make a one-time update to their production history, which would allow for a more accurate representation of each producer’s operation. The Dairy Margin Coverage program is a critical tool, and this gives farmers the option of updating production history to better protect small farms who have committed their livelihoods to dairy farming.

Telehealth Services

I signed on as a co-sponsor of the Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies (CONNECT) for Health Act, which would waive current telehealth fees for Medicare recipients, including services in the home. It also eliminates geographic restrictions and includes the home as an acceptable site for mental health and emergency medical services.

DMV Access

Most counties throughout Minnesota continue to operate by appointment only. The average scheduled date is two weeks from when you contact your local DMV.

Information to note:

• If your driver’s license expired after March 12, 2020, you are considered legal to drive through August 31 due to a grace period issued as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic;

• If your driver’s license or ID card expires after the COVID-19 peacetime emergency ends; you do have an extension to renew;

Legislation signed on May 27 by Governor Walz extends the expiration date for driver’s licenses, ID cards and permits that expire the month after the month the peacetime emergency ends.

The peacetime emergency is currently extended to July 13.