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866 WORDS | 6.7 MINUTE READ
Hi John,
I'm checking in from Washington with an update from a busy week. Read on for more – including an invitation to my upcoming Community Conversation on Gun Violence Prevention!
Restoring Faith, Protecting Freedoms
Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court decided to extend a pause on a lower court decision that would have banned the use of an abortion medication known as Mifepristone. I've said it before, and I'll keep saying it: Mifepristone was safe and effective when the FDA approved it two decades ago, and it remains safe and effective five million patients later. Americans should remain free to access the health care they need without the courts politicizing medicine. Watch my full conversation with Kristen Walker on Meet the Press Now for more on all of that - and other important issues - below:
You're Invited
When it comes to gun violence, inaction is not an option - it's a dereliction of duty. Too many lives have been shattered by this epidemic, even as Americans from across the political spectrum overwhelmingly support common sense reform. We cannot let this violence become normalized, which is why I'm inviting you to join me and a panel of experts from the Violence Project, for a virtual, open-to-the-public, Community Conversation on Gun Violence. Click here if you’d like to ask our experts a question, and save the date!
WHAT:
Community Conversation on Gun Violence Prevention
WHEN:
Monday, May 8, 2023
6:30 PM - 7:45 PM CST
WHERE:
Zoom, click here to register.
WHO:
I’ll be moderating the conversation with the co-founders of the Violence Project - a nonpartisan research center, located right here in Minnesota, dedicated to reducing violence in society by using data and analysis to improve policy:
- Jillian Peterson, PhD: Co-founder and President, the Violence Project
- James Densley, PhD: Co-founder and President, the Violence Project
Pursuing Justice
Franklin D. Roosevelt once called for America to be the great arsenal of democracy. I agree that democracies, both new and mature, need to protect one another in the face of tyranny. In Ukraine, Vladimir Putin has used the Russian Army to commit war crimes, and we must do everything we can do to hold them accountable. That's why I joined my colleagues on the House Foreign Affairs Committee last week to hear from survivors of these atrocities and to reinforce our nation’s commitment to pursue and prosecute war criminals. These barbaric acts have no place in the civilized world, and I remain committed to bringing Russia’s war criminals to justice.
Fighting for our Fiscal Future
For more than eighty years, Congress has set limits for the level of debt the U.S. can accrue. I believe defaulting on our debt would have unimaginable consequences, which is why I support a short-term, clean increase in the debt ceiling followed by a comprehensive, good-faith, bipartisan review of all federal spending. Raising the debt ceiling does not authorize future spending, rather, it allows the U.S. to pay for spending decisions that were made in the past.
That's why I joined a bipartisan group of Problem Solvers Caucus members in introducing a bipartisan debt ceiling framework outlining steps we can take to avoid defaulting on the national debt and to advance a sustainable federal budget. This framework would suspend the debt ceiling for six months and allow the normal budget and appropriations process to work its course this fall and provide time to negotiate deficit stabilization proposals in discretionary spending. It's time for Congress to consider practical solutions to get us out of the problem that both parties created over the last quarter century.
Congressional Art Competition
Every spring, I host the Congressional Art Competition for high school artists in our community. I’m always so impressed with the talent of young people in our neck of the woods, and this year is no exception. Everyone’s invited to view these amazing works of art in-person from Monday, May 1st, through Thursday, May 4th at the Minnetonka Center for the Arts. They’ll be on display all week, and a panel of judges – local artists themselves – will select a winner for display in the halls of the U.S. Capitol Building alongside works of art from every congressional district in the nation.
Keep the faith, keep in touch,
Dean Phillips
Member of Congress
Bill of the Week
✔️ H.R. 734, Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act
The issue of transgender sports participation is deeply divisive, but those who are affected the most by this debate are young kids who often face ostracization, harassment, and threats of violence. In my view, policies that further exclude trans students from participating with their peers will only cause additional harm to these individuals without solving any real problem. That's why I voted no on H.R. 734, the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, which would impose a blanket ban on any person whose biological sex at birth was male from participating in an athletic program or activity that is designated for women or girls at any institution that receives federal funds.
Resources For You
My team and I are here to serve every person and every corner of our community. I want to make sure you have the resources you need to succeed:
- Energy Savings Hub: The U.S. Department of Energy has launched a one-stop shop for American families and consumers to access tools to cut energy costs through rebates and energy efficient upgrades. Click here for a list of green tax credits and other rebates.
- Look before you book: Do you have international travel plans on the horizon? Make sure you are prepared before you book! Visit https://travel.state.gov/ to check your passport expiration date, apply for a passport, and much more.
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