DeanTeam,

Serving in Congress was never intended to be easy. It's a duty; one made even more challenging by the deep ideological divisions facing our nation. But when I return home to work in our community, listen to those I represent, deliver lawn signs, visit the Campaign Coffeehouse, and learn that over 90,000 members of our MN03 community received a personal postcard from one of our 500+ volunteers, it makes it all worthwhile. Your energy, enthusiasm, and hopefulness inspires my own determination to work with anyone on the shared mission for progress -- regardless of their political affiliation.

I extend my sincere gratitude to you for the incredible, thoughtful effort you contributed to an unprecedented campaign during an equally unprecedented time. I know it was a difficult year for everyone, and many of you have shared your personal stories and struggles with me. As I work with my colleagues in Washington to pass an emergency, bipartisan COVID relief package, please know that I hold you and your stories close to my heart.

Bringing relief to individuals, families, and small businesses hit hard by the pandemic has been my top priority. Over the summer, my bill to make urgent relief more usable for small businesses, the PPP Flexibility Act, passed nearly unanimously through a divided Congress and was signed into law by the president. It helped millions of small business owners keep their doors open and their employees paid, and it was all possible because Chip Roy (R-TX) and I put our differences aside and our constituents first. It was, and is, exactly how Congress should operate.

Now, after working tirelessly alongside my colleagues on the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus to bridge ideological divides and restore faith in government, we have crafted another relief package that served as the basis for the relief package we passed last night. It is not perfect, but Americans need immediate relief.

The pandemic has laid bare the inequities, injustices, and wounds our country has failed to address over many decades. It is now time for our country to come together, repair divisions, and unify towards the objective of being the best America possible.

Under the leadership of the Biden administration, we must tackle the pandemic, and rebuild an economy that works for everyone. We must provide quality, affordable, healthcare access to every American, and be fierce in our pursuit of racial equity. And we must take bold, aggressive action on climate for the sake of future generations.

My core mission is the restoration of Americans' faith in our government by increasing transparency, accountability, and creating a culture in Congress that rewards cooperation rather than condemning it. And I'm hopeful that the next four years present an opportunity to do exactly that.

It has been the honor of my lifetime to represent the community that raised me, and I am humbled to have been entrusted with that responsibility for another term. Keep the faith, my friends, and let's continue to demonstrate that optimism is a more productive tool than fear.

Dean