(Editor’s Note: The following article was submitted to the Patriot by the Tom Emmer team).
Last week, we learned of the passing of Vice President Walter Mondale. Fritz was a son of Minnesota, a statesman, and a leader in American politics. Jacquie and I continue to pray for his family and loved ones during their time of grief.
The legacy of Walter Mondale lives on in the work I do every day. I am committed to serving my fellow Minnesotans, which is why, last week, I hosted a telephone town hall focused on issues impacting seniors. More than 6,200 constituents joined us for this virtual meeting which featured representatives from the Central Minnesota Council on Aging and the Metropolitan Area Agency on Aging, now known as Trellis. Together, we were able to provide resources on everything from Medicare and aging in place, to identifying and avoiding predatory scams.
Financial Technology
I have served on the Financial Services Committee since my first term in Congress. During my tenure on committee, I have become especially interested in financial technology or “fintech”.
This topic is quickly becoming a part of our everyday lives. This Congress, I was reappointed to serve as the Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Committee’s Task Force on Financial Technology (Fintech Taskforce) for the 117th Congress.
In that capacity during the 116th Congress, the Task Force worked on several new opportunities to expand access to our financial system for millions of Americans. We examined the role of fintech charters, mobile payments, cryptocurrency and blockchain technology, and the use of alternative data in facilitating greater financial inclusion.
Natural Resources
In Minnesota, we are blessed with beautiful lands and waterways that serve as a vital source of life and economic development. Preserving our natural resources is of the utmost priority and can be done in a way that does not hamstring our economy or eliminate good paying jobs.
One of the Biden Administration’s earliest and most concerning priorities does not seek to strike that balance. Instead, they have expressed their intentions to return to the sweeping and burdensome “Waters of the United States” rule (better known as WOTUS) which was developed during the Obama Administration. Many Minnesota businesses fell under the scope of WOTUS which sought to regulate economic activity around a broad swath of rivers, lakes, and in some cases, ditches and puddles.
The Trump Administration revised this rule and instituted the Navigable Waters Protection Rule. Issued in 2020, the Navigable Waters Protection Rule keeps our water and land clean without destroying businesses in the process. If President Biden reverses this updated rulemaking, the administration will leave farmers, ranchers, landowners, and businesses to face burdensome restrictions on their own property.
With these communities in mind, I am happy to support my colleague, Congresswoman Miller-Meeks from Iowa, in her efforts to protect the rule by supporting a resolution to uphold the Navigable Waters Protection Rule (NWPR) into law. This resolution would express the House of Representatives acknowledges clean water is a national priority and the 2020 rule should not be withdrawn or vacated.
