Last week our office connected with thousands of Minnesotans during our telephone town hall which focused on getting our students back into the classroom. It was a great discussion and I look forward to hosting future town halls on issues that are important to the residents of the Sixth District.

Also last week, the House of Representatives voted on President Biden’s proposed $1.9 trillion spending package. Unfortunately, this legislation was billed as a COVID relief package, but only 9% of its funding was directed to public health measures and vaccine distribution. The rest is directed to a laundry list of partisan priorities with no input afforded to Republicans by Speaker Pelosi and House Democrats.

I, along with every Republican and two Democrats, voted against this package because we deserve better as a nation. American families and businesses weathering this crisis are still in need of relief, there’s no question about it. But this relief can and should be targeted to the businesses and communities that need it the most.

Young Women’s

Leadership Program

Monday, we kicked off Women’s History Month. Each year my office hosts the Young Women’s Leadership Program (YWLP) to honor the outstanding women who make history every day in our community and help build up skills for their future success.

YWLP is a program where we invite high schoolers from Minnesota’s Sixth District to learn from women leaders from around our great state. The roundtable discussions will give participants the opportunity to hear and learn from accomplished women on their career experiences and provide advice to future generations.

The Young Women’s Leadership Program is a terrific opportunity for constituents to gain valuable leadership skills and career advice during a pivotal time in their lives. We will be conducting the program virtually and safely this summer.

Service for Veterans

Last week, I introduced the Same-Day Accountability Veterans Enhancement (SAVE) Act to ensure the Veterans Administration (VA) has mechanisms in place to successfully offer same-day physical and mental health treatment to veterans in need.

In recent years, Congress has reviewed a large amount of complaints from veterans regarding inadequate and delayed treatment. In response, the VA offered same-day services in all of its 166 medical centers.

Veterans deserve timely care, and it is Congress’ job to ensure it is provided. Far too often we hear of veterans falling through the cracks, and not receiving the care they deserve. I am committed to ensuring they receive same-day mental and physical health care to meet their needs when they need it.

Jim Ramstad

In memory of my friend Jim Ramstad, the House of Representatives passed a bill that I supported to rename the Wayzata Post Office after him.

Rep. Ramstad was a friend, a role model, and an incredible advocate for Minnesotans. His work on mental health care and addiction recovery are the inspirations for the work I do today. I hope to honor his legacy by serving Minnesotans with the same integrity that he did. Renaming the Wayzata post office for Rep. Ramstad will continue to secure his rightful place in Minnesota history.

Mental Health Care

COVID-19 has challenged those struggling with mental health or substance abuse challenges. Last week, I joined my colleague, Rep. David Trone, to introduce the Behavioral Health Coordination and Communication Act, which will address the need for coordinated, evidence-based behavioral health care programs at the federal level.

Currently, over 40% of adults reported exhibiting a new symptom of a mental or behavioral health condition during the COVID-19 outbreak. Unfortunately, while the federal government has acknowledged the mental health crises we are facing – they don’t have a coordinated response to combat it.

This new legislation would create an Interagency Coordinator to address the currently disjointed federal efforts and foster constant communication among all relevant agencies and departments, with the goal of focusing the federal government’s approach to mental health and substance use disorders.

I’m committed to ensuring access to mental health care for all who need it.