Dear John,

What a week it’s been in Washington. I want to start by acknowledging my great friend and colleague, Senator Tina Smith, who announced this week that she will not seek re-election to the U.S. Senate.

Senator Smith is a true public servant who is focused every day on moving Minnesota forward. Her work to lower the cost of prescription drugs, broaden access to mental health care, fight the effects of climate change and expand economic opportunity in rural Minnesota will be felt for generations. And as women across the country continue to fight back against the attacks on our reproductive freedoms, her voice will be critical in the Senate over the next two years. I look forward to continuing to work with Tina to make life better for Minnesotans, and I am so grateful for her service to our great state and our nation.

There’s a lot going on in the news cycle right now, and that’s why I hosted a telephone town hall last night to hear from all of you and answer your questions. I’m grateful to the over 1,000 Minnesotans who took the time to join the conversation, ask questions and share their concerns. Thank you to Minnesota Farmers Union President Gary Wertish who joined as my special guest.

A major topic of discussion was the early actions of the current Administration and what they mean for the middle class, small businesses, family farmers and our democracy. Minnesotans are watching closely, and they – like me – are worried about lowering the cost of living, strengthening Social Security and Medicare and ensuring that our government is working for the people—not just the ultra-wealthy.

Please know that no matter what party is in the White House, I’m fighting for the same thing: commonsense, bipartisan solutions that put Minnesotans first. And I’ll always do my best to cut through the noise in Washington and stand up for our values. I’ll continue to bring your voices to Washington. If you ever need assistance or want to share your thoughts, my office is here to listen.

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

Laying the groundwork for a bipartisan farm bill

This week, the House Committee on Agriculture held its first hearing of the 119th Congress focused on the economic crisis in farm country. As the top Democrat on the Committee, I’m working across the aisle to get a farm bill that invests in our rural communities, strengthens the farm safety net and cuts red tape.

Standing up for federal workers

Federal workers dedicate their lives to serving the American people and they need our support. I spoke to labor leaders and advocates with AFGE this week to better understand what’s happening inside our agencies. 

As we navigate the recent attacks on the federal workforce, I am committed to standing up for our unions and protecting the essential agencies we rely on.   

Promoting homegrown biofuels

Investing in domestic biofuels is a critical piece of the puzzle when it comes to lowering costs at the gas pump and expanding opportunities for Minnesota producers. This week, I introduced a bipartisan bill to make E-15 available year-round. This commonsense legislation will move us toward the all-of-the-above energy policy we need, while helping us combat the climate crisis – and I’ll be working to get it signed into law

Behind the Scenes with Rep. Craig:

To cap off an eventful week – it's my birthday today! I’m feeling so grateful for my family and loved ones, and for the opportunity to represent all of you – and looking forward to another great year.

My mom sent these photos along with about 20 others to the family group chat this morning. Yep, that was me.

Until next time,
 

Angie Craig

Member of Congress