Dear John,

I hope you and your families enjoyed July 4th! The 4th of July is a day to remember and celebrate the sacrifice and dedication it took to build our nation - and how we must continue our work to protect our fundamental ideals of life, liberty & the pursuit of happiness for all.

I spent my week in the Second District surveying flooding across our district – from St. Paul Park to Grey Cloud Island to Savage, and meeting with constituents to hear from them about the issues they care most about. One issue that is top of mind for so many folks was inflation – especially at times of celebration like Independence Day.

According to our farmers, a group of 10 people can expect to pay $71.22 for their celebration this year, up 5% from last year and up 30% from five years ago. Ground beef, pork chops and chicken breasts account for 50% of total cookout costs. One package of hamburger buns will cost you $2.41, 7% more than 2023.

It is my duty as a Member of Congress to respond to the record-high costs, and that’s why I’m urging Speaker Mike Johnson to bring my bill – the Task Force to Stop Price Gouging Act – to a vote. My bill would create a federal task force to investigate corporate and government behavior that results in increased prices for American families and release a quarterly report with its findings. I’ve supported bipartisan bills in Congress to crack down on junk fees and ensure Americans know exactly what they’re paying for, and I’ll keep working across the aisle to find more solutions.

We’ve made progress in bringing down the cost of health care and prescription drugs for seniors, and I’m working to make E15 more accessible so Minnesotans have a cheaper option at the gas pump. But we’ve got to get costs down at the grocery store, and that’s why I’m so determined to get my bill passed.

Here’s what else I was up to this week:

Introducing Devin Norring and Cooper Davis Act

Tuesday in Hastings, I introduced the Devin Norring and Cooper Davis Act alongside Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Hastings Police Chief David Wilske and the Norring family. Devin Norring was 19 when he died after purchasing a pill using Snapchat. He thought he was buying Percocet, but it was 100% fentanyl.

My bill – which has support from Democrats and Republicans – will require social media companies and other communication service providers to alert federal law enforcement when illicit drug-dealing and distribution occurs on their platforms. They would face criminal and civil penalties if they fail to act.

The fact that this bill is needed at all is devastating, but we must fight back against the fentanyl crisis with every tool at our disposal, and that’s what our bill accomplishes. I am proud to lead this bipartisan push in the House and grateful to my co-lead, Republican Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, and Bridgette Norring for their advocacy. If we can save even one life, this will be worth it.

Meeting With Minnesota Bankers

Monday, I met with the Minnesota Bankers Association in my District Office to discuss the impact they have on Minnesota’s economy. Our local banks expand opportunities for farmers, small businesses, and homeowners to help them achieve their goals.

Visiting More Flooded Areas

I spent this week in the district surveying the flooding in Savage, Shakopee, St. Paul Park and Grey Cloud Island. The flooding continues to devastate family homes and cause significant economic challenges. After my visit, I encouraged the Administration to open up federal resources for all five counties in our district. So far, they’ve granted assistance to Le Sueur and Rice Counties, and I’ll keep pushing until Dakota, Scott & Washington Counties are added.

Behind the Scenes with Rep. Craig

It’s always great to be home in Minnesota for the July 4th celebrations– hope you all enjoyed time with friends and family. Cheryl and I spent it at parades and cheering on our Minnesota Lynx!

Until next time,
 

Angie Craig

Member of Congress