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September 10, 2021

Dear Friend:

I hope you had a great summer—the beginning of the fall season is nearly upon us! I have spent the past couple of weeks on the road across the district, visiting with business owners, farmers, residents in long-term care facilities, and others. It is truly a pleasure to meet constituents, hear the challenges they are facing, and take those concerns with me to Washington.

I want to share some photos from my recent travels with you, as well as some of the latest news from the district and Washington, D.C. As always, please let me know if there is anything I can do for you. I'd love to hear from you!

 

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Michelle Fischbach

Member of Congress

 

Power Grabs

Congress has been in recess for much of the past month, but we were called back to Washington for a couple of days to vote on more partisan legislation from House Democrats.

 

Democrats are using smoke and mirrors to push through TRILLIONS of dollars in new spending and an unconstitutional federal takeover of elections. Their budget resolution, written by Bernie Sanders, calls for the HIGHEST sustained spending levels in American history!

 

Watch my comments on the House floor:

 

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Texas Heartbeat Act

For nearly five decades, abortion has remained one of our nation’s biggest tragedies. But this week’s U.S. Supreme Court decision allowing the Texas Heartbeat Act to remain in effect—protecting unborn children from abortion after a heartbeat is detected—is incredibly encouraging, and I am optimistic.

 

But Speaker Pelosi wants to push through highly controversial, partisan legislation to enshrine their pro-abortion agenda into law – a move that is out of touch with the strong majority of Americans who oppose pro-abortion extremism.

 

As a co-chair of the House Pro-Life Caucus, I will continue to defend the right to life for all, from conception until natural death.

Vaccine Mandate

President Biden issued a sweeping mandate for employers across the country. I believe this is an attack on the civil liberties of every American. The federal government has no authority to force companies and their employees to be vaccinated.

 

Is this the “unity” President Biden promised? We’re still waiting.

 
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I was proud to be with Marcus Construction in Willmar as they received the Department of Defense Freedom Award. They are one of just 15 employers nationwide honored for their support of National Guard and Reserve employees and their families. Congratulations!

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It was wonderful to be at the groundbreaking of the new veterans home in Bemidji. Thanks to the incredible work of so many in the community, area veterans will soon be able to live and receive care much closer to home. Thanks to Beltrami Co. Commissioner Jim Lucachick for his work as chair of the Bemidji Veterans Home Task Force, as well as Beltrami Co. Veterans Service Officer Scotty Allison and so many others.

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I appreciate CEO Tom Schabel and the great employees at Alexandria Industries for the meeting & tour! We talked about the importance of manufacturing jobs for our rural communities, the need for workforce training to address skills gaps, inflation, and more. Thank you!

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It was great to visit the Hidden Bison Ranch, a family-owner bison ranch near Sauk Centre, for a tour and discussion. Thanks to the Minnesota Bison Association for inviting me and to the Meyer family for hosting!

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I visited Dorrich Dairy, a fourth generation dairy farm near Glenwood, for a tour of their robotic milking facility and a discussion on dairy industry priorities. Thanks to Senator Torrey Westrom and Representative Paul Anderson for joining us!

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I visited a broadband infrastructure project near Alexandria, which will bring high-speed internet to hundreds of unserved and underserved customers. The project is funded by the Minnesota Border-to-Border Grant Program with a local match. I was glad to support the Border-to-Border Grant Program when I served in the Minnesota Senate, and access to broadband remains a top priority for me in Congress. Thanks, also, to Senator Torrey Westrom and Senator Bill Ingebrigtsen for joining me!

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Thanks to the wonderful folks at the Willmar Home Depot, who hosted me for a tour and discussion. I learned about the store and company, and talked about workforce and supply issues. The enthusiasm of the employees, and their great customer service, was truly impressive!

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Thanks to Jeff and Kelsey at Thrifty White Pharmacy in Willmar for hosting me. We discussed legislative priorities, how Thrifty White serves area patients and health care facilities, and some of the technology in use at their pharmacies.

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I met with folks from Marvin in Warroad, including CEO Paul Marvin (virtually), Marvin Windows President Darrin Peterson, and Senior VP for HR Rick Trontvet. I was glad to be joined by Senator Mark Johnson and Representative John Burkel.

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Thanks to LaValley Industries in Bemidji for hosting me, Congressman Pete Stauber, Senator Paul Utke, State Senator Justin Eichorn, and State Representative Steve Green! They are an impressive team of innovators who help others solve their problems—and with their products, they send a piece of Bemidji around the world.

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It was wonderful to visit the Northwoods Pregnancy Center in Bemidji. They are doing amazing work helping women, men, and families facing unplanned pregnancies and other challenges. Thank you!

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I had a great time in Staples at the Central Lakes College Ag & Energy Center Field Day. A special thanks to CLC’s Dr. Hara Charlier, Keith Olander & Cory Detloff for putting on a great event.

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Programs like TigerPath at Hutchinson Public Schools are the future—providing students with the training and skills they need to succeed in a career they want, all in partnership with the Hutchinson Economic Development Authority and local businesses. This is such a critical component for developing a skilled workforce in our communities. Great to be joined by Representative Dean Urdahl!

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Thanks to CEO Kevin Wald and the folks at Ritalka's SpecSys, Inc. near Granite Falls for the great meeting and tour. We discussed the impacts of the workforce shortage, inflation, high costs of health insurance, and the importance of policy that reflects the needs of rural communities.

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I enjoyed being at Uponor’s facility in Hutchinson. They manufacture PEX pipes, which are used in residential & commercial plumbing and other areas. I was impressed by their investment in the community and their commitment to workforce training in the trades.

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Thanks to Mark Bertilrud, Betsy Theriault, and the board members of the Warroad Senior Living Center for the tour and discussion! They have truly set the standard for how a facility like this should be built and operated.

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We had a great turnout at our community town hall in Warroad! Thanks to all those who came out to join Senator Mark Johnson, Representative John Burkel, and me—and thanks to community leaders for organizing the event and hosting us.

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Thanks to U.S. Army Corps Lt. Gen. Spellmon for hosting me, Senator John Hoeven, and many other area officials for a tour of the Fargo-Moorhead flood diversion project. This project, more than a decade in the making, will provide permanent, reliable flood protection for the Red River Valley.

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I met with Elliot, Dennis, and JR Christensen for a tour of Elden's Fresh Foods in Alexandria. We had a discussion about the grocery industry and the importance of good economic and tax policies for sustaining local, family-owned businesses in rural areas.

 
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