Dear Friend,

Hosting town halls is an excellent way for me and my office to hear directly from you. Over the past year, we have hosted several telephone town halls with experts from across the Sixth District to stay connected and share resources on important topics like taxes, education, and seniors’ issues.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and last week, we brought together experts from the Central Minnesota Mental Health Center and the St. Cloud VA to host a town hall focused on an issue that impacts Minnesotans and millions of Americans every day.

Together, we answered questions about mental health and provided resources to those in need. I am grateful to the more than 5,800 constituents who joined me! Stay tuned to this newsletter for information about my next town hall. To read more about my work on mental health care access, visit my website here.

Read on to learn more about our work this past month…

Remembering the Fallen

As many of us prepare to dust off the grill and gather with friends for Memorial Day, I hope that you will take some time to reflect on the importance of this national holiday and honor the lives of the men and women who answered the call of duty and paid the ultimate price in defense of our great nation.

Conflicts may end and time may pass, but the memory of our fallen soldiers will never be lost. We must always remember their sacrifice. If I know one thing to be true, it is this: we are the land of the free because of the brave. This coming Memorial Day, I hope you will all join me in honoring and remembering our fallen soldiers.

In Congress, we continue to work to recognize the members of our military who have put their country first. For our veterans, I introduced the Same-Day Accountability Veterans Enhancement (SAVE) Act to ensure the VA has mechanisms in place to offer same-day physical and mental health treatment to those in need.

This past week, the House passed an important bill to assist our service members with my support. Service animals have a proven track record of assisting veterans in need, which is why I was pleased to see the Puppies Assisting Wounded Servicemembers Act (PAWS Act) move through the people’s House on a bipartisan vote. This legislation directs the secretary of Veterans Affairs to issue grants to connect service dogs with veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. You can read more about this bill in the St. Cloud Times here.

As a father with two sons currently serving in the military, I recognize the uncertainty and sacrifice that so many military families face. I am committed to ensuring all of our sons and daughters in our nation’s armed forces have the resources and care they deserve during and after their commitment of service.

Leading on Financial Services

As a Member of the House Financial Services Committee, I have had the opportunity to serve on several important Subcommittees. Last week, I was named Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, which has jurisdiction of the oversight of agencies, departments, and programs related to the Financial Services industry.

In this role, I will be responsible for the oversight of several federal agencies: including the Federal Reserve, Department of Treasury, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), and more. The work of the Oversight and Investigations Committee is designed to hold our regulators accountable, and I look forward to serving alongside my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to ensure our financial services system remains transparent and prosperous.

While this is a new position for me, my work on financial technology and its ability to expand access to banking services to the underserved will continue. FinTech is an undeniable part of our future, and I look forward to expanding on our work and ensuring we establish clear and consistent regulations that allow innovation to flourish.

You can read more about our Subcommittee announcement here!

Just a reminder… The application for my annual Young Women’s Leadership Program for young women in high school closes this Friday! The Young Women’s Leadership Program is a terrific opportunity for high school girls 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!

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,