990 WORDS | 7.6 MINUTE READ 

Hi John,

With Thanksgiving around the corner, I'm reflecting on how thankful I am for my family, my friends, and the extraordinary community I have the honor to represent. However you plan to celebrate, I hope your Thanksgiving is filled with gratitude, good food, and even better company. Read on for my outlook on the crisis in the Middle East and important updates from the Minneapolis Passport Agency and from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS): 

Planting the Seeds of Peace

I believe that Israel has every right and expectation to target Hamas terrorists and dismantle their capability of destroying the State of Israel, but that response has taken an unacceptable toll on Palestinian civilians, many of whom are subject to Hamas terror – not supporters of it. Thousands of innocent lives have been taken, and access to food, water, and electricity has been severely limited.

The cycle of bloodshed is the result of persistent attacks by Israel’s neighbors and enemies on its fundamental right to exist and on its citizens, Jews, Muslims, and Christians alike, since its founding in 1948 after the Holocaust – as well as policies of oppression and illegal settlement on Palestinian lands that have only been exacerbated by the government of Benjamin Netanyahu.

I am pleased by the release of some hostages and a pause for humanitarian aid to reach Gaza this week, but it’s unacceptable that American citizens remain held by Hamas. The cycle of violence, which has claimed untold thousands of innocent Israeli and Palestinian lives, will not be addressed by leaders of the past who have been in positions of power for the better part of half a century. To end the bloodshed and plant seeds of peace, the following five steps must be taken immediately:

1. All 200+ people being held hostage by Hamas terrorists, including nine American citizens, must be immediately released.
2. Upon the safe release of hostages, an immediate and mutual ceasefire of large-scale military operations and indiscriminate terror must be initiated and upheld by both parties.
3. A multi-national peacekeeping force must be deployed to Gaza, to include trusted, regional nations best positioned to maintain security and support humanitarian and reconstruction efforts.
4. Concurrently, a multi-national coalition, including the United States, must unite to eliminate the Hamas militant terror organization and begin immediate investments in a democratic civil society in Gaza and the West Bank to empower a new generation of Palestinian leaders committed to peace, prosperity, and the development of a new Palestinian nation.
5. And finally, Israelis must call for elections and demand from their government a commitment to a future of mutual security, peace, and prosperity for both peoples.

Here to Help

As violence continues, my team and I are monitoring the situation in Israel and Gaza closely and are doing everything in our power to make sure Minnesotans return home safely. If you or someone you know needs assistance from the State Department to travel back from Israel or Gaza, please read the information below:    

• U.S. citizens seeking assistance from the State Department to travel back from Israel or Gaza, call the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem at 1-833-890-9595 or click this link to complete the crisis intake form.
• Latest security alerts and travel advisories can be found by visiting this page.
• While the security situation and staff availability are affecting flights, the Ben Gurion Airport in Israel remains open, click here for flight information.
• Americans across the Middle East should stay alert in locations frequented by tourists and enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program to receive information and alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency overseas.
• If you or someone you know needs support funds for emergency tickets, contact the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem.
• If you need additional assistance or have questions, please email or call our office at 952-656-5176. 

Important Updates from the Minneapolis Passport Agency

Passport processing times have been lowered for all new passport applications, processing times are now 7 to 10 weeks for routine passports and 3 to 5 weeks for expedited. Additionally, the agency has doubled the number of passport appointments they can offer daily. This availability means you can call the National Passport Information Center (NPIC) at 1-877-487-2778 and book an appointment in two business days. Often, there are same day appointments available for life and death cases that NPIC can book as well. If you need additional assistance or have questions, please email or call our office at 952-656-5176.  

Good News for Minnesota and Medicare

Last week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) approved Minnesota’s request to extend its Medicaid section 1115 Demonstration, the “Prepaid Medical Assistance Project Plus” (PMAP+), for five years beginning January 1, 2024, through December 31, 2028. CMS’s extension of the PMAP+ demonstration will allow Minnesota to continue to:

1. Provide Medicaid coverage for infants 12 months to 23 months of age with incomes above 275 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL) and at or below 283 percent of the FPL;
2. Provide Medicaid coverage for pregnant women during their hospital presumptive eligibility period; and
3. Waive requirements to redetermine the basis for eligibility for Medicaid Caretaker adults with incomes at or below 133 percent of the FPL living with a child or children age 18 years who are not fulltime secondary school students.

Thanks as always for reading and have a very happy Thanksgiving! I’ll be back with another update after the holiday, but in the meantime my offices will be closed after 1PM CT today and will return to normal business hours on Monday. 

Keep the faith and keep in touch,

Dean Phillips
Member of Congress

• Order FREE COVID-19 tests: Keep yourself, and those around you, safe by getting tested if you’re feeling sick or have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19. Order four FREE at-home tests for your family from USPS here. 
• 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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