Disaster Declaration for 7th District Counties

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has determined that several counties in Minnesota's Seventh District have suffered enough production losses that they warrant a Secretarial natural disaster designation. This designation means farm operators in the effected counties may be eligible for certain assistance from the Farm Service Agency (FSA). Farmers have until May 2025 to apply for emergency loans.

To find out if you are eligible for assistance and for more information, please visit the FSA website.

Protecting TANF Funding for Pregnancy Centers

The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program provides $16.5 billion in federal funding to states for direct cash assistance and non-assistance activities to provide assistance to needy families. The purpose of TANF is to allow children to be cared for in their home, end the dependency of needy parents on the government, reduce out-of-wedlock pregnancies, and encourage the formation of two-parent families. 

The Biden-Harris administration's Department of Health and Human Services has proposed a rule that could restrict states from using TANF funding for pregnancy centers, and encourages funding to go to facilities that provide abortions. I believe women who face an unexpected pregnancy should be able to safely go into a facility that is not going to push abortion on them and instead provide them with the education and support they need. Pregnancy centers offer a wide array of services and support for expectant mothers, fathers, and their families, and I have introduced legislation to ensure these facilities can continue to receive TANF funding.

The Ways and Means Committee spoke with expert witnesses TANF reform and what Congress can do to cut down on fraud and abuse in the program, and I asked these experts if they believed the services offered by pregnancy centers fell within the scope of TANF. The response was a resounding YES. 

You can watch my full conversation with Mr. Adolphson, the Policy Director for the Foundation of Government Accountability, here. He wisely points out that if there is any vague language in statute, bureaucrats will make the laws, and more responsibility should be given to the states.

Legislation to Overturn Federal Nursing Staff Mandate Passes Committee

Earlier this year, along with Congressman Greg Pence from Indiana, I introduced Congressional Review Act (CRA) to overturn the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) mandatory nursing staff ratio rule that would devastate nursing homes across the Seventh District.

This administration has been insistent on moving forward with this rule, despite the fact that a report commissioned by CMS itself found that there is no single staffing level that guarantees quality care. They also know that the new mandated ratio will force facilities to turn away patients or even close their doors altogether. This mandate is a half-baked, one-size-fits-none plan that will not solve the nursing staff shortage.

I’m glad to say that my CRA to stop the Harris-Biden misguided minimum nursing staff rule has passed out of the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Thanks for stopping by!

It's been great having so many groups from Minnesota come out to D.C. to meet with me about their priorities. The best way for me to make sure the legislation I'm working on reflects the needs of Minnesota's Seventh District is by talking directly with the people in the field.

Thank you for reading!

fischbach.house.gov

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