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Dear Friend,
Happy February! We’re counting down the days until the Congressional Hockey Challenge later this month, and there’s still a lot to do before I can lace up my skates. The Democrat-controlled House and Senate are currently staring down a potential government shutdown, yet another massive spending bill, and now a retirement on the Supreme Court.
Read on to hear about my priorities from last week and what’s to come this month…
Defending a Minnesotan Way of Life
Last week, the Biden Administration dealt a devastating blow to the livelihoods of thousands of Minnesotans. On Wednesday, the Department of Interior announced that they are canceling Twin Metals Minnesota’s long-held, properly obtained leases to mine in the Iron Range.
The project has incredible potential to re-invigorate mining in Minnesota and provide Americans a sorely needed domestic source of critical minerals. Critical minerals are a resource indispensable to America’s military, national infrastructure, and economy. They’re used in everything from cell phones to solar panels, and yet America is almost wholly reliant on imports from countries like China and Russia for much of our supply.
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| Congressman Emmer speaks in support of the project in a Congressional Western Caucus Forum on January 14, 2022 |
To make matters worse, our state stands to lose out on thousands of good-paying jobs related to the project. Sadly, this action is just one of the Biden administration’s attempts to cancel projects that provide jobs and domestic production of key resources—don’t forget, President Biden canceled the Keystone XL pipeline on his very first day in office.
This is a setback, but we’re not giving up on the potential for Minnesota’s mining future.
The So-Called "America Competes Act"
This week, the House of Representatives is considering the “America Competes Act.” This massive bill, which was supposed to help our nation stand up against the Chinese Communist Party, contains a laundry list of Democrat wish list items: it pours $8 BILLION in an unaccountable UN climate slush fund, which has already awarded $100 million to China and spends millions to study coral reefs.
The bill also does little to hold China accountable: the word “genocide” has been stripped from provisions on human rights in Xinjiang, and it includes no measures to enforce sanctions laws or bolster our national defense.
Ironically, one version of this supposedly anti-authoritarian bill contained a provision which would give the Department of the Treasury unchecked authority to block Americans’ digital currency worldwide. Just like last year’s Democrat attempts to allow the IRS spy on the financial transactions of millions of law-abiding Americans, this is another disturbing step towards digital authoritarianism.
I will keep a close eye on this legislation, and any other that threaten our basic right to financial privacy and freedom.
Celebrating School Choice Week
Parents are the first and last word when it comes to their child’s education. School choice is essential to ensuring that families can select education options that align with children’s needs and strengths, along with their family’s values.
Last week marked National School Choice Week, when parents and educators across the came together to reaffirm the importance of educational options for all K-12 students. These include traditional public schools, public charter schools, magnet schools, private schools, online academies, and homeschooling.
Research shows that school choice programs improve academic outcomes for all students, save money, reduce crime, and help students graduate high school and enroll in college. Additionally, the stress of virtual learning and curriculum concerns have made school choice more important than ever. 2021 was the best year ever for school choice, with a record number of states passing or expanding school choice.
Families and educators both benefit when students have the freedom to attend a school that fits their needs. I’m excited to see the importance of school choice be recognized.
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,
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