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896 WORDS | 6.9 MINUTE READ
Hi John,
However you celebrated Father’s Day and Juneteenth this year, I hope your holiday weekend was filled with love, family, reverence and respect. Juneteenth commemorates the end of a shameful era of history and reminds us of how far our nation has come and how much we have yet to achieve. May we continue down the path of forming a more perfect Union that illuminates a more just and equitable future for all.
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| My dads, granddads, and great-granddads served our country, raised families, built businesses, shared success, and experienced all the joys and tragedies of life. I'm forever grateful to each of them, and to all the extraordinary fathers in our community. |
Before you read on, I want to address the horrific crash that took the lives of five young women last weekend in Minneapolis. My heart breaks for their loved ones, and I can't stop wondering why people who are clearly dangers to society can keep wrecking havoc with impunity. These woman and their families deserve justice, and our community deserves solutions. It's time for a community conversation about improving safety and increasing accountability so we can prevent these tragedies from happening in the future.
It's Time for Reform
Last week, the Department of Justice released a report confirming what we have long suspected: reformation of the Minneapolis Police Department is essential and urgent. Acknowledging the pain and anger the people of the Twin Cities metro have endured is a first step, but now, it’s time for action. As the city begins negotiating a court-enforceable consent decree with the Department of Justice, I will continue to monitor the situation and look forward to the development and implementation of a more accountable, equitable, and community-driven public safety strategy. And, I remain committed to building safer communities for all by advancing bipartisan public safety measures like my Pathways to Policing Act, legislation that aims to repopulate our police departments with a diverse new generation of principled public servants.
We shouldn’t be afraid to engage in tough conversations and take meaningful action; we should be afraid not to. We all must take steps to open our hearts and minds and root out racism, hatred, violence. At the same time, we should provide the tools and support for law enforcement agencies to attract and retain the best and brightest Americans to serve and protect the communities in which they live.
Going Nuts for Minnesota
Last year, I helped lead the push for Bloomington's 2027 World Expo Bid. From our thriving industry to our culture of radical hospitality, hosting would give Minnesota a chance to showcase all the things our great state has to offer. That’s why I was honored to join Secretary Blinken, U.S. Department of State officials, foreign ambassadors, and some extraordinary Minnesotans at Blair House last week to encourage the international community to choose our state as the 2027 World Expo host. Today, the Bureau International des Expositions in Paris (BIE) - the government organization in charge of World Expos - announced that BIE Member States have chosen Belgrade, Serbia as the host country with the theme “Play for Humanity: Sport and Music for All'.
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| Although Minnesota was not selected, I had fun passing out salted nut rolls and introducing Minnesota to the international community. |
A Memorable Day
Last week, I was honored to have Mercedes Lozano, a 2023 Foster Youth Delegate, spend part of her day shadowing me around Capitol Hill. We discussed her incredible advocacy work, dove into the legislative process, and discussed how Republicans and Democrats can come together to pass legislation that improves lives. I am inspired by her determination to help bring change to our nation’s foster care system, and look forward to supporting her efforts in Congress.
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| All my gratitude to Mercedes for spending part of her day with me. Keep up the great work! |
Donuts with Dean
Welcoming Minnesotans to Washington is one of my favorite parts of this job. That's why I was thrilled to host a group of remarkably engaged constituents at the Capitol last week for another “Donuts with Dean” gathering, which my team and I hold on Fridays when the House is in session. After some great conversation, we ended our time together with a tour of the Capitol.
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| Meeting with this extraordinary group was the highlight of my week. There’s nothing like a dose of Minnesota nice to brighten my day! |
If you will be traveling to Washington, DC, we'd love the opportunity share some - conversation - and donuts – while you’re in town! Click here for more resources that might be helpful in planning your next visit to our nation’s capitol.
Keep the faith, and keep in touch,
Dean Phillips
Member of Congress
 Bill of the Week
✔️ H.J.Res.44, the ATF's Stabilizing Brace Rule
Stabilizing braces, which enable people to easily turn a concealable pistol into a deadly short-barreled rifle and have been used in several mass shootings in recent years, must be more stringently regulated as part of our mission to end gun violence. That's why I recently voted no on H.J.Res.44, a resolution that would repeal a 2023 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) rule which clarifies that certain short-barreled firearms with attached stabilizing braces should be regulated as short-barreled rifles rather than merely as pistols. Notably, this rule does not affect stabilizing braces that are designed and intended for use by individuals with disabilities.
 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:
- Donuts with Dean: Welcoming Minnesotans to Washington is one of my favorite parts of this job. We'd love the opportunity share some conversation, and donuts, next time you’re in town! To reserve your spot at an upcoming event, please complete this form, including all attendee information and the date of your preferred session.
- 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.
- The Congressional app challenge is back: Calling all middle and high school coders - are you innovative, creative, and driven to solve problems? Then the Congressional App Challenge is for you! Registration is open, so head to my website to learn more.
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