Dear John,

Each May, we come together for National Police Week – a week to remember and honor the officers we’ve lost and to thank all those working bravely each day to keep us safe.

Most of us will never be able to truly understand the level of sacrifice and dedication exemplified by our police officers and their families. But I know that actions speak louder than words.

Just this week, I’ve been working to pass two pieces of bipartisan legislation to help Second District law enforcement recruit more police officers and support officers’ collective bargaining rights.

The first bill is the bipartisan Invest to Protect Act. This bill would invest in small and mid-sized police departments to ensure they have the funding to support community policing efforts. And the second, the Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act, would allow public safety employees and officers to form a labor union and collectively bargain for hours, wages and terms and conditions of employment.

In order to keep Minnesotans safe, we need to ensure our local police departments have the resources they need and that each officer is able to access the high-quality working conditions they deserve – and that’s what these bills will help do.

I’m grateful for all the law enforcement professionals who serve our communities each and every day.

Here's what else I've been up to this week:

Working to address the opioid crisis
Indigenous communities in Minnesota are disproportionately impacted by the opioid crisis. I’m proud to count Dave Wellstone of Pathfinder Solutions as a partner in the work to connect Minnesota's indigenous communities with the resources needed to prevent and treat substance use disorder.

Saying thank you to Second District law enforcement
Great to start off National Police Week on my way back to the airport and DC with the Shakopee Police Department! To every member of law enforcement in the Second District, thank you for your hard work and dedication to protecting our communities.

Highlighting the importance of supporting mental health
I was able to stop by the National Association of Broadcaster’s studio this week to film a public service announcement about the importance of supporting veterans’ mental health. Thank you to everyone at NAB for working to share this critical message!

Behind the scenes with Rep. Craig:

While I’ve been in DC for votes this week, my team has been traveling across the district to say thank you to the Second District law enforcement officers for their work to protect Minnesota’s communities. Here are a few glimpses into what my team has been up to! 

To wrap it all up, I just want to give one final thank you to all the brave men and women who sacrifice so much to keep our homes, schools and communities safe.

Until next time,
 

Angie Craig

Member of Congress