Dear Friend,

Last week, the House voted on an infrastructure package directing less than 10% to traditional infrastructure projects such as roads and bridges. This bill was linked to the upcoming “reconciliation” bill coming to the House floor this week. I joined Esme Murphy on WCCO on Sunday to discuss the current issues facing Washington right now.

Watch here.

This week, House Democrats aim to pass another multi-TRILLION-dollar spending bill. This will be the third bill they’ve passed in the last 11 months, each authorizing more than $1+ trillion in new spending. The current “reconciliation” bill under consideration this week will overwhelm future generations with debt and codify enormous social programs threatening to change the size and scope of our government forever.

With inflation at the highest rate in more than three decades and prices on everything from gas to food skyrocketing, the Democrats’ policies will further flood the economy with federal dollars and continue to drive up inflation at the worst possible time.

To that end, even as Americans struggle to afford everyday items, President Biden and Speaker Pelosi’s tax and spend plan is expected to result in $1.476 trillion in tax hikes – the largest in American history. Taxpayers at every income level will feel the impact of these increases, and many of our businesses on Main Street – the ones responsible for driving our economic recovery – will be hit the hardest.

In addition to rising prices on household items, this $1.75 trillion bill will advance policies making it more costly to heat our homes this winter. Proposed tax increases on natural gas will further strain Minnesotan’s budgets. Democrats are jettisoning an all-of-the-above energy strategy in the Build Back Better Act for out-of-touch energy investments, increasing consumer energy costs and putting our long-term energy security at risk.

I have and will continue to oppose these provisions that seek to make life more costly and more challenging for Minnesotans throughout the Sixth District. Unfortunately, these efforts are only the beginning of the radical policy changes House Democrats are pursuing. We have a long way to go, but we will stand strong against changes that will fundamentally alter the course of our nation and limit the opportunity of future generations.  

Recognizing National Rural Mental Health Day

This Thursday marks National Rural Health Day. In honor of this important event, I will be introducing a resolution to recognize this important issue. This resolution specifically expresses support for the designation of November 18, 2021, as “National Rural Mental Health Day.” 

As a former member of the House Agriculture Committee, I learned firsthand about the need to support our farmers and rural communities in Congress. Early in my time in Congress, I authored the Stemming the Tide of Rural Economic Stress and Suicide (STRESS) Act which provides farmers with additional mental health resources. This effort has resulted in millions of dollars issued for programs to address rural mental health access.

The STRESS Act funded the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network (FRSAN) to give states vital resources to provide mental health services for farmers, ranchers, and rural communities. Suicides within agricultural and rural communities began to rise due to a lack of mental health care and work-related stress. They have suffered in silence for far too long, but help is on the way.

Recently, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a grant of $500,000 that will be issued to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s Bend, Don’t Break Project. This project aims to connect farmers and rural Minnesotans with resources to help reduce stress, anxiety, and crisis situations. The program supports mental health counseling, farm advocates, marriage retreats, and a 24/7 Farm & Rural Helpline.

In addition to mental health care, I also advocated for telehealth services for rural communities. During the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth appointments became commonplace. I urged the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to continue to offer telehealth services beyond the challenges of the pandemic as a standard service for patients.

I believe telehealth is the future of health care and a practical necessity moving forward, especially for our rural communities. We must begin to integrate it when appropriate to serve everyone where they are. Minnesota is both an expansive state that will greatly benefit from telehealth, and a leader in developing medical breakthroughs that deliver timely and quality care.

Visit these links to learn more about my work in agriculture and health care.

Celebrating National Adoption Month

As the father of seven, I consider it my biggest fortune in life to be a father and watch my children grow into amazing individuals.

Unfortunately, not everyone is as lucky as our family. There are individuals across this nation struggling to complete their family and many children hoping to become a part of one.

That is why for National Adoption Awareness Month, I want to emphasize the importance of adoption and those who choose their forever families. During my time in Congress, I have had the chance to meet with many families who have successfully adopted children, and I hear all about their inspiring fights for family.

One shining example is the Molitor’s, who received an Angels in Adoption Award in 2016. You can read their story here. While I see stories across our district of outstanding Minnesotans seeking their forever family, I often think of Justine, who was desperately trying to adopt her daughter Eida despite multiple barriers. My caseworkers stepped in to help complete the process alongside her. You can read her story here.

Last year, I announced the honorees of the 2020 Angels in Adoption Award from Minnesota’s Sixth Congressional District, Markus and Sarah Yager. The Yagers were honored for their enduring fight and sacrifices to adopt their daughter, Olivia. You can read their story here.

My office is proud to assist in uniting these families during National Adoption Month and throughout the year. Our team is equipped to assist individuals working to adopt a child from overseas. If you are in need of assistance, please contact my casework team or call my district office at 763-241-6848

You can help as well! If you’re interested, you can raise awareness about the benefits of adoption, specifically for those children in foster care waiting for a permanent and loving family. Mark your calendar for National Adoption Day, November 20, help spread the word, and click here for more information.

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,