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NDAA Will Provide for our Military

July 25, 2017 by Editor in

Recently, the U.S. House of Representatives passed an incredible bill to uphold and ensure the national security of this great country. Through the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), we are one step closer to fulfilling our promise to the American people: to keep them and this country safe again.

Unfortunately, over recent years, our armed forces have been depleted and currently sit at the lowest levels of troops since World War II. Pilots are not able to get their necessary flight hours logged, and recent reports show that Marine and Air Force pilots have had to go to military museums to find parts to fix their planes because the funding and resources simply have not been available. This is unacceptable – especially when we live in an increasingly dangerous world.

Thankfully, the NDAA is crucial to ensure the United States military has the necessary tools and resources at their disposal. The NDAA will fill those gaps in military readiness so our troops are able to safely and efficiently execute their missions. And this bill will give our service men and women a pay raise that they so greatly deserve.

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Let’s Return to Regular Order

July 12, 2017 by Editor in

Last week we left Washington D.C. to return to our favorite states, celebrate Independence Day and spend time traveling the district. I must admit I prefer to spend time at home speaking with Minnesotans, but there is important work that needs to get done, so we are back in our nation’s capital this week.

While healthcare is certainly the topic of conversation across the country these days, Congress does know how to multi-task. One of the big things is we are working our way through the appropriations process – this is how Congress decides to spend taxpayer dollars. (If you are interested in fully diving into this subject, here is an Appropriations 101 primer for you.)

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Minding the Skills Gap

June 27, 2017 by Editor in

As you have likely heard me mention, manufacturing is one of the two main drivers of our economy here in Minnesota’s Sixth District. My staff and I interact with manufacturers from our district every week. One thing we constantly hear is concern about the ability to fill vacant positions, particularly when it comes to skilled production work.

Somehow, we have gotten to this place where most American students think the only path forward in life or the only way to be deemed “successful” is to go to a four-year university. With this mindset, kids graduating high school are seemingly avoiding two-year colleges, tech schools, union apprenticeships, or other training much to the detriment of the crucial trades that keep our country’s economy humming.
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Big Things Happening in Washington D.C.

June 13, 2017 by Editor in

Last week was a busy week in Washington, D.C. While the daily news may lead you to believe otherwise, there was certainly more going on in our nation’s capital than the testimony of former FBI Director James Comey. In fact, there were big things happening.

On Thursday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a major financial reform package called the Financial CHOICE Act. This legislation aims to overhaul Dodd-Frank, which was enacted seven years ago. While we can all agree something needed to be done after the financial crash in 2008, what we got was a one-size-fits-all, top-down regulatory regime stifling community banks and credit unions, hurting consumers, and damaging Main Street America. In total, Dodd-Frank handed down nearly 30,000 new regulations that account for almost $40 billion in compliance costs for our financial services industry – costs that have been handed down to you and me. Dodd-Frank wasn’t fixing things; instead, it was making them worse.

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Got Dairy? Minnesota Does!

June 7, 2017 by Editor in

Most Minnesotans know that our agriculture industry is a huge part of who we are as a state. In much of Minnesota’s Sixth Congressional District you typically don’t have to drive more than five minutes or so to pass a farm of some sort. We are the third largest pork producing state, are ranked fourth nationally in soybean exports, and are among the top ten exporters of dairy.

The men and women who work on our farms are some of the hardest workers I’ve ever met. Often getting up before dawn, working through dismal weather conditions, and rarely taking vacations, our farmers provide nutritious food, good jobs, and necessary revenue to our economy.

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