(Editor’s Note: The following column was submitted by Rep. Tom Emmer.)
We’re back for another week in Washington where I’ll continue my work to rein in the egregious federal overreach attempted by Democrat leadership.
As you’ve seen in the news, House Democrats have failed to produce a traditional infrastructure package separate from their big government, socialist spending plan. Democrats are at odds with one another as they try to decide how many “trillions” in new spending is enough.
We’re doing everything we can to push back against this reckless spending agenda, ensure we spend only what we have, and reinvest in the areas that need it most.
Republican Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy has been hosting roundtables to discuss some of the most outrageous provisions in the Democrats’ $3.5 trillion-dollar socialist spending legislation. I joined him to discuss a provision I wrote about in my newsletter just last week.
IRS Overreach
As you know, the Biden Administration put forth a proposal to require financial institutions and third-party providers to report a range of new data points on accounts with annual gross inflows and outflows totaling more than $600 to the IRS. Following pushback on this proposal, the Administration suggested it would increase the threshold from $600, to $10,000. But increasing the threshold still leaves Americans susceptible to reporting tremendous amounts of sensitive personal data to the IRS.
Now, after our persistence and hard work, it looks like they are abandoning that proposal altogether. We’re not out of the woods yet though, and we will remain vigilant against these types of overreaches that only serve to expand the size-and-scope of the federal government.
I’ve said it before, and I will say it again: You deserve to keep more of your hard-earned money in your pocket and the government should never spy on your transaction history.
Support for Farmers and Ranchers
During my first term in Congress, I served on the House Agriculture Committee where I had the opportunity to represent our farmers in the discussions in Washington. It was obvious to me that too many of my colleagues in D.C. had little experience with farm communities and failed to understand their needs.
One of these often-overlooked issues was the access to mental health services for rural Americans. Our farmers, ranchers, and agricultural workers experience overwhelming stress from long hours, social isolation, downturns in the market, low farm income, regulatory strains, and lack of treatment options. With this in mind, I authored the Stemming the Tide of Rural Economic Stress and Suicide (STRESS) Act to provide farmers with additional mental health resources. This effort was included in the 2018 Farm Bill and resulted in millions of dollars issued for programs to address rural mental health access.
Most recently, the United States Department of Agriculture invested nearly $25 million dollars for 50 grants throughout the country. As a result, Minnesota’s Department of Agriculture will be awarded $500,000 for their Bend, Don’t Break project which aims to connect farmers and rural Minnesotans with resources to help reduce stress, anxiety, and crisis situations. The program supports mental health counseling, farm advocates, marriage retreats, and a 24/7 Farm & Rural Helpline.
Our work to deliver for our farmers will continue. Over the past year and a half, they have experienced increased stress due to supply chain disruptions caused by COVID-19 and a difficult harvest season because of the drought. Now, more than ever, an increased investment in these resources is essential.
The agriculture community faces incredible financial and emotional challenges through their work, but they should never suffer in silence without access to the care they need. I’ll always advocate for our agricultural producers, farmers, and ranchers who feed and fuel our world.
Enroll Now: Medicare
Medicare Open Enrollment is currently underway and runs through Dec. 7th. In order to ensure you have the best coverage option, you should review your coverage before the enrollment period closes.
If you are in need of assistance navigating the process – please do not hesitate to call the Senior LinkAge Line at 800-333-2433.
The Senior LinkAge Line is a free service of the Minnesota Board on Aging. The Senior LinkAge Line is Minnesota’s federally designated State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). They provide free, non-biased help with all issues related to Medicare.
Their experts have joined me in the past for my senior forums and telephone town halls focused on seniors. They are outstanding individuals who can help you find the best coverage option for you!
