Dear Fourth District Constituent,

 

As a candidate, Donald Trump promised he’d lower costs on ‘Day One.’ On Thursday, he announced tariffs that would amount to a $6 Trillion Tax Hike, one of the largest increases in taxes in American history. 

 

The Stock Market is currently in free fall because of Trump’s actions, wiping out more than $3 trillion in value yesterday alone. His misguided tariffs, based on middle school level math, are ruining our economy, evaporating retirement accounts, and driving us towards a recession. But President Trump says it's "going very well." In fact, he's spending the weekend hosting a Saudi-backed golf tournament in Mar-a-Lago with his billionaire donors. 

 

Tariffs are a form of tax. Foreign countries won’t pay these tariffs. American companies will pay the tariffs when they import foreign goods and will pass the increased price along to the American consumer, particularly when you buy groceries. Over the coming days and weeks, big corporations will line up to beg the President to issue an exemption to the tariffs to keep their businesses profitable. It happened with Trump’s 2018 tariffs, and it will happen again. But do you know who won’t be able to get a meeting on the golf course or in the Oval Office? Small business owners and individual consumers who will bear the brunt of these tariffs.

Not only will the President’s tariffs inflict financial pain on you, but they will also damage our relationships with our allies in Europe and Canada. Canada is an ally, a partner, and for many—a good neighbor. President Trump’s tariffs are reckless, unnecessary, and make no sense at all. As a Minnesotan, the only thing I want to argue with my Canadian neighbors about is who has the better hockey team and who can catch the most fish in the others’ waters.

 

If the recent layoffs and funding freezes made by the Trump Administration have impacted you or someone you know personally, I want to hear how these actions have affected you. House Democrats are challenging Trump and Musk in Congress, in the courts, and in our communities. By sharing your personal stories, I will be better able to fight to protect you. I strongly encourage you to Share Your Story.

 

Thank you Scotty Thompson for sharing your story. Scotty is a Social Security recipient who is worried about Elon Musk and Donald Trump's constant attacks on Social Security, including closure of Social Security offices and worker firings. She relies on Social Security to pay her rent and other necessities. I am committed to protecting Social Security and other benefits that Americans have earned from attempts by Elon Musk and Donald Trump to cut benefits of Social Securities recipients to give away cuts to billionaires like Musk. 

 

Real ID enforcement begins on May 7th. Your state driver’s license or ID must be a Real ID to travel by by air or car outside the US. An enhanced driver’s license, passport book, or passport card are also approved IDs for domestic travel. For more info, visit the Department of Driver and Vehicle Services.

 

 

Interested in applying to a US Service Academy? I will be hosting an event at Mounds View High School on Tuesday, April 15th at 6:30 pm with academy representatives to talk about the programs, opportunities, and life at the academies. We will also be discussing the Congressional nomination process. Learn more here.

 

Constituent Service Neighborhood Office Hours
In addition to serving constituents Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM, at my St. Paul office, my staff holds neighborhood office hours at a variety of locations across the Fourth District. Members of my staff will be available to meet with constituents seeking casework assistance on Tuesday, April 8th at 10am-12pm at the Shoreview Library, Small Conference Room, 4560 Victoria St N Shoreview, MN 55126.

If you need assistance with a federal agency, call my office to speak with a member of my staff. My staff and I are here to serve you, and we are happy to help you with any issues you may have that involve a federal agency. For more info, visit my website. 

 

Congressional Art Competition
The 2025 Congressional Art Competition is officially underway! I invite all high school students who live or attend school in the Fourth Congressional District to submit an entry. All entries are due in my Saint Paul office no later than 5:00 PM on Tuesday, April 15th. The entries will be displayed in the Atrium Gallery of the Schmidt Artist Lofts as part of the 2025 Spring Saint Paul Art Crawl, April 25-27, 2025. The winning entry from the Fourth District will be displayed as part of a national exhibit in the U.S. Capitol. Entries by the runners-up will be displayed in my congressional offices in Saint Paul and in Washington, D.C. For more details, visit my website.

 

Tax filing is underway. Free file is now open! Visit the IRS website to see if you are eligible for other free preparation and filing options.