Dear Friend,

Last week our office connected with thousands of Minnesotans during our telephone town hall which focused on getting our students back into the classroom. It was a great discussion and I look forward to hosting future town halls on issues that are important to the residents of the Sixth District. Stay tuned to this newsletter for more information about the timing and topic of my next town hall.

Also last week (around 1am on Saturday morning) the House of Representatives voted on President Biden’s proposed $1.9 trillion spending package. Unfortunately, this legislation was billed as a COVID relief package, but only 9% of its funding was directed to public health measures and vaccine distribution. The rest is directed to a laundry list of partisan priorities with no input afforded to Republicans by Speaker Pelosi and House Democrats.

I, along with every Republican and two Democrats, voted against this package because we deserve better as a nation. Over the past year, the House came together in a bipartisan way to pass COVID-19 relief – 5 separate times! However, Democrats pushed this latest package through under a special procedure known as reconciliation, a process designed to bypass bipartisan support to get their legislation signed into law. American families and businesses weathering this crisis are still in need of relief, there’s no question about it. But this relief can and should be targeted to the businesses and communities that need it the most. You can read my full statement on my vote here.

This week in Washington is shaping up to be another busy one. I will be introducing bills to ensure access to mental health care and improve community relations between law enforcement and the citizens they serve. Keep reading for more information about what we accomplished last week and some exciting opportunities just over the horizon…

APPLY NOW: Young Women’s Leadership Program

Yesterday, we kicked off Women’s History Month. Each year my office hosts the Young Women’s Leadership Program (YWLP) to honor the outstanding women who make history every day in our community and help build up skills for their future success.

YWLP is a program where we invite high schoolers from Minnesota’s Sixth District to learn from women leaders from around our great state. The roundtable discussions will give participants the opportunity to hear and learn from accomplished women on their career experiences and provide advice to future generations.

Congressman Emmer hosting the Young Women's Leadership Program.

If you're a young woman in high school looking to get ahead, this program is for you. You will get a unique opportunity to learn from and engage with some of Minnesota's top female leaders. These women have done it before: negotiated their first salary, networked with colleagues in their field, successfully navigated and broken through traditionally male-dominated professions, managed the work/life balance, and so much more. Apply NOW through May 28th by clicking here!

Overall, the Young Women’s Leadership Program is a terrific opportunity for constituents to gain valuable leadership skills and career advice during a pivotal time in their lives. We will be conducting the program virtually and safely this summer.

Apply here by May 28, 2021

• WHO: Young women in high school (9th-12th grade) living in the Sixth Congressional District of Minnesota. 8th graders going into 9th grade and graduating 12th graders are welcome.
• WHAT: An opportunity to meet professional women working in the state of Minnesota. These leaders work in various career fields related to government, business, and education.
• WHEN:  Three events, one in June, July and August. Dates to be announced!
• WHERE: Virtually!

Ensuring Same-Day Service for Veterans

Last week, I introduced the Same-Day Accountability Veterans Enhancement (SAVE) Act to ensure the Veterans Administration (VA) has mechanisms in place to successfully offer same-day physical and mental health treatment to veterans in need.

In recent years Congress has reviewed a large amount of complaints from veterans regarding inadequate and delayed treatment. In response, the VA offered same-day services in all of its 166 medical centers. This initiative aims to provide prompt and improved care to our nation’s heroes. However, the Government Accountability Office has highlighted the need for oversight and metrics to make sure this care is properly provided to our veterans.

The SAVE Act would provide these accountability measures to ensure proper care. In addition, the SAVE Act places special attention on those who are in need of immediate mental health treatment.

Veterans deserve timely care, and it is Congress’ job to ensure it is provided. Far too often we hear of veterans falling through the cracks, and not receiving the care they deserve. I am committed to ensuring they receive same-day mental and physical health care to meet their needs when they need it. 

To learn more about this legislation, visit my website here.

Cementing the Legacy of Jim Ramstad

In memory of my friend Jim Ramstad, the House of Representatives passed a bill that I supported to rename the Wayzata Post Office after him.

Representative Jim Ramstad was a friend, a role model, and an incredible advocate for Minnesotans. His work on mental health care and addiction recovery are the inspirations for the work I do today. I hope to honor his legacy by serving Minnesotans with the same integrity that he did. Renaming the Wayzata post office for Representative Ramstad will continue to secure his rightful place in Minnesota history.

 Recently, I spoke on the House Floor to honor his memory. Watch here.

Jim was the real deal: a lawmaker whose passion for his work only made him more effective. But if you asked anyone who worked with Jim - his colleagues in the House of Representatives or the Minnesota Senate - they wouldn’t start with his work. They would tell you about how Jim was a tireless advocate for any person who needed help with recovery, no matter who they were.

Last Congress, I introduced legislation to increase access to mental health care, something I have long advocated for. Currently, a loophole called the IMD exclusion impacts Medicaid beneficiaries from seeking short-term inpatient care in mental health facilities with more than sixteen beds.

My bill will eliminate this arbitrary cap and allow a patient’s care to be determined by their needs and the guidance of their doctor - not a bureaucrat. Closing this loophole will mean that patients are able to receive the effective treatment they deserve, improving their outcomes and helping them heal.

I will be reintroducing this bill in Congress this week because we must ensure that anyone in need has the proper access to treatment for substance abuse and mental illness. I will continue my work in Congress to increase access to care and end the stigma associated with mental illness. I look forward to working with my colleagues to provide accessible, affordable care for all Americans.

Non-partisan legislation like this will directly impact Minnesota and improve mental health care treatment. I am more dedicated than ever following the passing of my friend and mental health advocate, former Representative Jim Ramstad to keep the fight for access to mental health care services open and expanding.

Supporting a Comprehensive Approach to Mental Health Care

COVID-19 has challenged those struggling with mental health or substance abuse challenges. Last week, I joined my colleague Representative David Trone to introduce the Behavioral Health Coordination and Communication Act, which will address the need for coordinated, evidence-based behavioral health care programs at the federal level.

Currently, over 40% of adults reported exhibiting a new symptom of a mental or behavioral health condition during the COVID-19 outbreak. Unfortunately, while the federal government has acknowledged the mental health crises we are facing – they don’t have a coordinated response to combat it.

This new legislation would create an Interagency Coordinator to address the currently disjointed federal efforts and foster constant communication among all relevant agencies and departments, with the goal of focusing the federal government’s approach to mental health and substance use disorders.

Our federal government needs strong coordination to successfully ensure treatment for those in need. We are in need of a unified approach to cut down on duplicative efforts and improve government efficiency in response to this crisis.

I’m committed to ensuring access to mental health care for all who need it. Read more 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,