The past week was tragic and disappointing for every Minnesotan. The loss of George Floyd was unacceptable, and our state has been further divided by those who sought to damage and destroy the livelihoods our communities depend.

Justice must be delivered for George Floyd and his family, and I want to thank all of the men and women in law enforcement and our National Guard for working around the clock to restore order in and around our Twin Cities.

Agriculture Community

Last week, I introduced legislation to increase funding and expedite the delivery for the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network (FRSAN), a program I reauthorized and secured funding for through my STRESS Act last Congress.

May was Mental Health Awareness Month, but the needs of those grappling with mental health issues remain ever-present. Everyone deserves assistance during times of heightened need, and our rural communities have suffered without sufficient access for too long.

The new legislation I introduced, H.R. 7047 will improve the disbursement of funds secured for FRSAN and 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 a uniquely stressful impact of the current pandemic.

Nation’s Businesses

Last week, I traveled back to Washington, D.C. to vote on H.R.7010 - Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act of 2020.

As small businesses begin to reopen, they are still in need of relief to bridge the gap from their forced closures. The Paycheck Protection Program was the lifeline for many businesses across our nation, and we needed to extend the provisions this program offers and provide additional flexibility before it was too late for many of our Main Streets across America.

I was proud to be an original cosponsor of the original version of the Paycheck Protection Flexibility Act, which I voted for. This will extend the time businesses have to rehire employees, and allow for more businesses to qualify for the loan forgiveness program offered. The bill was adopted in the House 411-1 and will soon be considered by the Senate.