Dear Friend,

This week, our state experienced an enormous loss. Congressman Jim Hagedorn, who represented Minnesota’s First Congressional District, passed away Thursday.

Jim wasn’t just a colleague in Congress, he was a good friend. Those who were lucky enough to know him remember his great sense of humor and his steadfast loyalty. What I’ll remember most of all about Jim is his eagerness to serve. All Jim ever wanted was to give back to the people of the First District, the community he loved so much. I am so grateful he had that chance.

Jim and his family are in our hearts. The House of Representatives will honor Jim’s life and work in Congress, however an even greater memorial would be for all of us to live like Jim did: in happy service to the community he loved.

Town Hall Recap

I always welcome the chance to hear from my constituents about the issues that impact them and their families. It is even better when I can connect individuals in the Sixth District with experts that can help address these concerns. I am excited to announce that last week’s town hall featuring Local Taxpayer Advocate Wendy Rozinka was a great success, with more than 8,800 constituents participating!

We are amid a uniquely difficult tax filing season: in the past year, many Americans received atypical incomes, like Economic Impact Payments or Child Tax Credits, or experienced unemployment. All these factors have led to tax filing headaches for many of us. Wendy was an excellent resource for the event, providing tax filing tips and advice.

If you weren’t able to join us last week, my office can still serve as a resource for tax concerns. You can find some tips on my website here. My casework team also stands ready to assist; you can contact them at (763) 241-6848.

Making Tax Cuts Permanent for Working Americans

This economy has provided little relief for working families. Inflation has hiked prices to their highest levels in forty years, and for many Americans, wages are struggling to keep up. There has been a bright spot for lower and middle-income Americans: the relief offered by the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. I was a proud supporter of this legislation, which reduced taxes on small businesses and individuals alike and increased the standard deduction and family tax credits.

Now, we can see the results of this legislation in action. IRS data now shows that low-income filers received a tax cut of 16-26 percent, while middle-income filers saw tax cuts of 15-17 percent. This is substantial relief, which has empowered working Americans to enjoy a better quality of living and save for their futures.

I recently signed on as a cosponsor to my colleague, Representative Rodney Davis’s legislation to make these hugely beneficial tax cuts permanent. We must allow these reforms to fulfill their promises of lowering taxes, spurring economic growth, and sparking prosperity. You can read more about this legislation here. 

Inflation Hitting our Farms + Resources

Our farmers have faced enormous challenges over the past few years, from supply chain issues to COVID-19 to drought. While we are fortunate they have remained resilient, our ag community unfortunately has another hurdle to overcome: inflation.

Farmers are paying more for routine costs like weed-killing chemicals, crop seeds, fertilizer, equipment repairs and seasonal labor. Even higher commodity prices aren’t making up the difference. To make matters worse, as farmers are forced to charge more for their goods, costs will inevitably be passed on to consumers who will be forced to pay more at the grocery store.

While these conditions are deeply frustrating, I want to ensure that farmers in the Sixth District have every tool at their disposal to weather these challenging times.

Approaching National Program Deadlines

Spot Market Hog Pandemic Program (SMHPP)

Provides assistance to hog producers who sold hogs through a negotiated sale from April 16, 2020 through September 1, 2020, the period in which these producers faced the greatest reduction in market prices due to COVID-19

Deadline: February 25, 2022

Livestock indemnity Program (LIP) for 2021 Losses

Provides benefits to livestock producers for livestock deaths in excess of normal mortality caused by adverse weather or by attacks by animals

Deadline: March 1, 2022

Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) – General Signup

Helps producers and landowners establish long-term, resource-conserving plant species, such as approved grasses or trees, to control soil erosion, improve water quality, and enhance wildlife habitat on cropland

Deadline: March 11, 2022

Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) Programs

Provides future protections against market fluctuations

Deadline: March 15, 2022

Second Disaster Set-Aside (DSA) for Farm Loans

Permits a second DSA for COVID-19 and a second DSA for natural disaster for those who had an initial COVID-19 DSA

Deadline: May 1, 2022

Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) – Grassland Signup

Helps landowners and operators protect grassland, including rangeland and pastureland and certain other lands, while maintain the areas as working grazing lands

Deadline: May 13, 2022

Reach out to your local USDA Service Center to learn more about all available programs, and programs that have local or state level deadlines.

Farm Loan Flexibilities

To assist with loan-making activities that are critical for annual operation and family living expenses, term investments for equipment and livestock, emergency needs, and cash flow, the USDA’s Farm Service Agency expanded flexibilities to help producers with credit options, including

• Where not legally prohibited, FSA will accept FAX’d or scanned signatures from customers and lenders.
• FSA will follow the most current state or local guidance for use of online or virtual notary services.

FSA is currently relaxing the loan-making process and adding flexibilities for servicing direct and guaranteed loans to provide credit to producers in need.

Additionally, USDA has temporarily suspended non-judicial foreclosures, debt offsets or wage garnishments, and referring foreclosures to the Department of Justice. USDA is working with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to stop judicial foreclosures and evictions on accounts that were previously referred to the Department of Justice.

USDA extended deadlines for producers to respond to loan servicing actions, including loan deferral consideration for financially distressed and delinquent borrowers. In addition, for the Guaranteed Loan program, flexibilities have been made available to lenders to assist in servicing their customers.

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,