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938 WORDS | 7.2 MINUTE READ
Hi John,
However you celebrated Father’s Day and Juneteenth this year, I hope it was filled with love, family, and reflection. As I wrote to those gathered in Brooklyn Park to celebrate our newest federal holiday, Juneteenth both reminds us of how far our nation has come and how much we have yet to achieve. I was honored to play a small role in marking the occasion, and to join those across our community in celebrating all the dads, stepdads, adopted dads, and granddads who have enriched our lives.
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| I was blessed with two remarkable dads - Artie, who was killed in the Vietnam War in 1969, and Eddie, who we lost to cancer in 2011. I am forever grateful to each of them - my nature and my nurture - and to all the extraordinary fathers in our community. |
It has been another busy week with a lot of news - so let's get right to it:
Cutting Costs for Families
During one the most anxiety-ridden times in our modern history, we in Congress have a responsibility to transcend politics and show the country that we can work together to help people. Rising costs impact everyone, and instead of complaining and casting blame, we must take meaningful action to address them. That's why I was proud to help pass the bipartisan Lower Food and Fuel Costs Act last week. Many of you have asked for details, so here's how this bill fights inflation for working families:
- Expands U.S. biofuels investments and gives consumers the choice to purchase fuels that are cheaper than standard gasoline
- Deploys additional storage and dispensing equipment to increase availability of higher ethanol blends and other biofuels
- Moves forward with voluntary year-round sale of gasoline containing 15% ethanol — known as E-15 or Unleaded 88
- Increases competition and combats consolidation in the American meat industry
- Reduces input costs on fertilizer and improves access to precision agriculture
- Rebalances the U.S. cattle market and levels the playing field for small and medium-sized processors
- Provides new assistance to specialty and row crop producers who undertake USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service practice standards
- Creates an Agricultural and Food System Supply Chain Resilience and Crisis Response Task Force at USDA
By working together, a lot can be accomplished - and now, it’s time for the Senate to do the same. Addressing the rising costs of gas and groceries should be a shared goal, and I will keep fighting for commonsense solutions to help hardworking families struggling to make ends meet.
Fighting for Fiscal Responsibility
We all aspire to leave our country in better shape than it is in now, but the truth is, we’re on a dangerous fiscal path. Inaction on our growing national debt presents a very serious threat to our children’s livelihoods, and those of generations to come. Our obligation to pay off debt limits our ability to fully invest in the health, education, infrastructure, and future of America. I intend to make meaningful progress in addressing this during my time in Congress, and I'm proud to have been named a Fiscal Hero for a second time by the Committee For a Responsible Federal Budget.
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| I'm honored to be one of seven House Democrats to be named a 2022 Fiscal Hero. |
This is not a partisan problem, and both parties will have to provide principled and courageous leadership to get us out of it. As we work to tame inflation and promote economic growth, I call on people of all political perspectives to inject more fiscal responsibility into our national discourse.
Common Sense Climate Solutions
Speaking of legacies, I think often about the kind of world my generation will be leaving to our kids and to future generations. Climate change is real, and one that requires all of us, from both sides of the aisle, to solve. That's why I was thrilled to be a speaker at the American Conservation Coalition’s Annual Summit last weekend. Founded in 2017 by a group of Millennials who saw an ideological gap in the environmental movement, this nonprofit organization is dedicated to mobilizing young people around environmental action through commonsense, market-based, and limited-government ideals.
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| Speaking to young conservation-minded conservatives who want to address climate change and make our world a healthier place was one of the highlights of my week. |
I spoke about the importance of bipartisanship when it comes to climate change, my visions for a pro-climate future, and the importance of our youth activists and how they can best make a difference – and I left feeling more optimistic about our collective future.
Mobile Office Hours Return!
As your representative in Congress, I have made providing best-in-class constituent services a top priority. More than anything, that means helping you navigate federal agencies whenever you need our assistance. Whether it’s related to a passport or visa application, Social Security or veterans benefits, or anything else, my team and I want to help. As part of that ongoing effort, I’m excited to announce that mobile office hours are back!
In the weeks and months ahead, my staff will be hosting open office hours throughout our community, and everyone is invited to stop by, say hello, share an idea, or talk with my staff about how we can be of service. In fact, they’ll be at Westonka Library in Mound on Wednesday, June 29th from 3-6 PM. If you cannot attend but need assistance with a federal agency, my outstanding team of constituent advocates is here to help. In addition to mobile office hours, they are available to help you online, by phone or in person at my Minnetonka office Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM.
Keep in touch, and keep the faith,
Dean Phillips
Member of Congress
Bill of the Week
✔️ H.R. 4996,The Ocean Shipping Reform Act
Global supply chains are remarkably complex, and there is no magic solution to the issues we’re confronting. As members of Congress, however, we have a duty to investigate the challenges facing our small businesses and – using what we’ve learned – come together to address them. That's why I was proud to help pass the Ocean Shipping Reform Act, which was recently signed into law. This bill supports our shipping and supply chains by establishing reciprocal trade opportunities to help reduce the United States' longstanding trade imbalance with China and other countries.
Mobile Office Hours
If you’re struggling with a federal agency, or just not getting an answer from one, seek assistance from my team of constituent advocates online at phillips.house.gov/help or in person:
WHEN:
Wednesday, June 29, 2022
3:00 PM - 6:00 PM
WHERE:
Westonka Library (Meeting Room)
2079 Commerce Blvd, Mound, MN 55364
Resources For You
My team and I are here to serve every person and every corner of our community. I want to make sure you have the resources you need to succeed:
- Register to vote: Democracy doesn’t work without engaged citizens like you. Registering to vote in Minnesota is simple and secure. Check your registration status, see who is on your ballot, and make a plan to vote at MNvotes.org.
- Claim your Frontline Worker Bonus Check: Minnesotans who worked in essential jobs at the onset of the pandemic can now apply for one-time bonus checks. Applications are open until July 22nd, visit frontlinepay.mn.gov for more information.
- Find savings near you: From gas to groceries, and childcare to healthcare, I’m hearing from Minnesotans who are struggling to keep up with the rising costs of essentials. Visit phillips.house.gov/inflation to find lower prices near you.
- Nominate a Vietnam-era veteran: As a Gold Star Son and Member of Congress, I’m honoring Vietnam-era veterans in our area. Visit phillips.house.gov/Vietnam to nominate the veteran in your life for an official commemoration.
- 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.
- 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 eight FREE at-home tests for your family from USPS here.
- Get your FDA-approved vaccine: Your decision to get a safe, free, and effective COVID-19 vaccine impacts our entire community. Everyone 5+ is eligible, so visit mn.gov/covid to find yours.
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