I hope you enjoyed Independence Day with your loved ones!
Our Founding Fathers came together over a common idea and built a nation where individuals from anywhere in the world can call home. You can read more (on my website) about what the fourth means to me and together, we can build on the promise of our nation’s founding as an example of what we can do when we’re united.
My staff and I remain hard at work, supporting the priorities of the Sixth District. Read on for a recap of what we accomplished last week.
Critical Infrastructure
One of my top priorities in Congress is making sure Minnesota has better roads and bridges. Unfortunately last week, the House voted on a partisan infrastructure package, H.R. 2. Rather than work together in a divided Congress, I am disappointed Nancy Pelosi decided to drive through a wish list of political, green new deal proposals.
Investing in transportation should be non-partisan. One of the first bills I re-introduced this Congress was an effort to further local control of transportation projects, the National Interchange/Intersection Safety Construction Program Act, which prioritizes funding for intersections and interchanges, improves safety, and increases local control over federal transportation dollars. This legislation does not increase spending or require additional appropriations. Instead, a portion of annual existing federal highway funds would be targeted for local entities to apply and compete.
In addition, I have been proud to announce many recent investments in Minnesota infrastructure. For example, Hwy. 10 needs improvements, and I have long advocated for funding to ensure they are made. Last month, the Department of Transportation finally funded this project and awarded $40 million dollars to assist with this project. In addition, the St. Cloud Airport recently received two separate awards to improve this important hub. These are the kinds of investment we need.
Your daily commutes to work, trips to the grocery store, and carpools to hockey games should not be complicated by congestion, potholes and infrastructure deficiencies. I believe the federal government and the state of Minnesota each have a responsibility to provide for the safety and reliability our roads and bridges, a mandate which – as a father, a coach, and an elected official – I do not take lightly.
Local officials know how to better handle the resources within their own communities than bureaucrats in Washington, D.C. I will continue to work with my colleagues in Congress and in the administration to send funds to local planners to improve our state’s roads and bridges through strategic local investment.
Tax Day
This year, tax day is July 15 and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has announced they will not be extending the deadline. However, you do have the option to request an individual filing extension. The postponement from April 15 to June 15, 2020 was an attempt to provide temporary tax relief in response to the COVID 19 pandemic.
Young Women’s Leadership Program
During my first term in Congress, I launched the Young Women’s Leadership Program to connect high school-age women with female leaders in Minnesota to help them learn what it takes to succeed as they navigate decisions regarding their education and their future careers. Due to COVID-19, we hosted our first virtual version of this program!
It was an honor to have Susan Holden, partner at SiebenCarey and former President of the Minnesota State Bar Association, as well as Jill Johnson of Johnson Consulting Services, who is also the author of Compounding Your Confidence, join our first session to share their experiences and mentor this group of young women.
Every year, my office begins accepting applications for this program until May, and the program kicks off in June with one session each month of the summer. If you or someone you know are interested in participating, you can learn more at my website.
USMCA
Last Wednesday, marked the first day of our new trade agreement with Mexico and Canada. USMCA was implemented and took effect, beginning a new chapter of free and open trade with our nearest neighbors and closest economic allies.
This agreement presents countless new opportunities for American farmers, producers, and manufacturers. USMCA modernizes the decades-old rules of trade between our three countries. It makes our agriculture community more competitive, provides regulatory clarity to Minnesota’s medical device industry, and will spur more than $68 billion in new economic activity and create more than 176,000 new jobs!
Improvements in USMCA also include the elimination of Canada’s Class 7 dairy pricing scheme, increased access to the Canadian market, improved market access for poultry and wheat producers, which will benefit many farmers throughout the Sixth Congressional District and Minnesota.
Protecting the Unborn
I have always supported the right to life and will do whatever I can to protect the unborn. I stand with the millions of pro-life Americans committed to defending our nation’s most vulnerable.
Last week, I signed on a letter to Attorney General Barr requesting the Dept. of Justice provide a written update on Planned Parenthood referrals, made by the House Select Panel on Infant Lives, following the release of new information from the Center for Medical Progress. The new revelations include recently unsealed sworn testimony from Planned Parenthood executives about the sale of body parts from aborted babies.
Five years ago, I was shocked, along with many Americans when the release of undercover videos exposed the monetization of baby body parts by Planned Parenthood. Since then, investigations and hearings followed, but the problem persists. This release of information from the Center of Medical Progress underscores the need for us to act and the American people deserve answers.
