Dear Friend,

Last week’s tragic shooting at the Allina Health Clinic remains top-of-mind as we reflect on the incredible life of Lindsay Overbay and stand with Allina and the entire Buffalo community during this difficult time.

I want to thank our first responders for responding to this tragic incident and apprehending the individual responsible. As we keep all of the victims in our prayers and more information about this horrible situation comes to light, my office stands ready to assist. Please do not hesitate to reach out if me or my office can ever be of assistance to you or your family.

As we start a short but busy week, keep reading to learn more about our recent work for the residents of the Sixth District…

New Suicide Prevention Call Centers in Minnesota

Many in our community struggle with access to mental health care. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 outbreak has exacerbated this problem. For Minnesotans, four new call centers are coming online in Minnesota to help people who call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

This is great news for thousands of Minnesotans in need. When someone calls the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, the calls are often rerouted to local call centers to speak with individuals in the area. By expanding this access to four additional call centers, Minnesotans in crisis will be able to speak to fellow Minnesotans.

I have long advocated for better access to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. I have supported a 3-digit number for the hotline by signing on to the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act. For those struggling with suicidal thoughts, a number to call should be as easy as 911. Instead, the nation’s suicide hotline number is 10 digits — 800-273-TALK.

Last year, the Federal Communications Commission adopted rules to establish 9-8-8 as the new, nationwide, 3-digit phone number for Americans in crisis to connect with suicide prevention and mental health crisis counselors. This will begin on July 16, 2022, and will serve as the shortened hotline number going forward. This is a big step in providing better access for those in need of help.

If you or someone you know is in a crisis, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK. The free, confidential support service can be reached 24/7 at 1-800-273-8255.

Other crisis resources for Minnesotans include the Crisis Text Line (text “MN” to 741741) and calling **274747.

Crisis hotlines for specific communities include The Trevor Project at 866-488-7386 and the Minnesota Farm & Rural Helpline at 883-600-2670.

Protecting Your Retirement Savings

Many Americans nearing retirement age have been forced to consider an early retirement due to the COVID-19 outbreak. For those planning to live into retirement on assets like property and stocks, you may be shocked by the penalties incurred because taxes on capital gains are not indexed for inflation.

I introduced the Retirement Inflation Protection Act to bring relief, especially now, to those seeking a secure retirement after their many years of work. Creating this safeguard for retiring Americans’ hard-earned assets will enable them to retire more comfortably.

Long-term retirement savings have long served as a financial safety net that take a lifetime to build. When planning for the future, we never know what will come our way. But the government should not be a barrier to your financial success or stability.

It is unfair that retiring Americans are being hit with a big tax bill right when they need those savings most. My legislation will eliminate the tax on investment gains that are driven by inflation, giving Americans the financial security to retire on their own terms.

Read more about the Retirement Inflation Protection Act here.

Advocating for Broadband

Broadband is a critical piece of our infrastructure in Minnesota. As we work on a plan to address our nation’s infrastructure shortages, broadband development should be a top priority.

Recently, I wrote to President Biden urging him to prioritize broadband investments in underserved areas of rural America as part of any infrastructure proposal he presents to Congress.

Map provided by the FCC. The yellow on the map indicates no access to internet or broadband services. Visit this interactive map here.

There are many underserved communities in our nation that need 21st Century, high-speed broadband. As individuals work from home and children continue distance learning, internet access is more vital than ever. We must keep broadband at the forefront of our infrastructure investment and development plans.

Expanding Access to Social Security Services

Currently, Minnesota is one of only five states that have not granted the ability for individuals to apply for a new Social Security card online. To offer this service, the state government would need to implement the Internet Social Security Number Replacement Card (iSSNRC) project. Bipartisan legislation was introduced in the Minnesota state legislature last session, but it did not advance in either the House or the Senate. 

Last week I led a letter with my colleagues from Minnesota to Governor Walz and leaders in the State Legislature asking for them to prioritize this project. As seniors face difficulty accessing even the most basic of services as government offices remain closed due to COVID-19, we must take action to make these services available online.

Read my letter here.

ICYMI: Congress has only begun its study of financial technologies

As a member of the House Financial Services Committee and the former Ranking Member of the Task Force on Financial Technology, I have seen firsthand the increase of economic disparities during this pandemic. However, I am incredibly optimistic about the potential for fintech to bridge this gap.

There are too many Americans who are unbanked and underbanked because the traditional financial institutions have fallen short.

I wrote about the revolutionary impact fintech can have on our financial system for The Hill. Read my op-ed here.

Until next week, if you are in need of assistance or would like to share your thoughts with me, please write me an e-mail here.

To keep up with what we’re doing in Washington, follow me on Twitter and Facebook for more updates!

Sincerely,