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Hi John,

I hope you had a meaningful and restorative Thanksgiving and are staying safe (and warm) with winter having arrived in full force! I’m looking forward to seeing many of you at our next town hall meeting at 4 PM in Hopkins this Sunday, December 4th. If you are interested in attending, please RSVP here to save some time at the door – and, as always, if you cannot make it in person, feel free to follow along on Facebook. In the meantime, here’s a short (but sweet!) update from the past week:

Protecting Your Packages

From Black Friday to Cyber Monday, online shopping season is in full force, meaning billions of packages will be delivered to Americans’ doorsteps between now and the end of the year. Unfortunately, it’s estimated that one in every five Americans has had a package or delivery stolen, and, after hearing from too many families in our community who have been the victims of theft, I introduced the Porch Pirates Act with bipartisan support this past spring.

Every day 1.7 million packages are stolen or lost, costing consumers an estimated $9 billion annually. It’s time to fix this.

Porch pirates target orders delivered by private carriers like UPS, Amazon, and FedEx because they know online shoppers have little recourse to recoup losses under current law. My bill would help deter such piracy by simply applying the same penalties currently in place for the theft of United States Post Office (USPS) mail to the theft of deliveries from commercial and private carriers.

A few states have enacted stronger penalties for theft of non-USPS mail and packages, but most have not, leaving the majority of Americans unprotected. Now is the time to pass the Porch Pirates Act – and I am pleased to report that it's gaining bipartisan momentum in Washington, DC.

NEW: Virtual Office Hours

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. 

My team helped John get the veterans benefits he deserved, and we want to help you too.

My staff is holding virtual office hours so you can get the help you need in the comfort of your own home. Pre-register here to ensure my staff has the information they need to best assist you. Here are the details:

WHAT:
Virtual Office Hours

WHEN:
Wednesday, December 14, 2022
5:30 PM - 7:30 PM

WHEN:
Zoom (link to be provided upon registration)

If you cannot attend but need assistance with a federal agency, my outstanding team of constituent advocates will review your case and work with you to try to resolve your problem, whatever it might be. In addition to regular mobile and virtual 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, keep the faith, and I hope to see you in Hopkins on Sunday!

Dean Phillips
Member of Congress

✔️ H.R. 5788, the SERVICE Act of 2021

As a Gold Star Son, I believe it is imperative that we find the resources to ensure that veterans, servicemembers, and their families have access to the care they need. That’s why I am a proud cosponsor of H.R. 5788, the Service Act of 2021, which would create a pilot program through the U.S. Justice Department that gives grants to state, local, and tribal law enforcement officers to help support veterans in crisis.   

                                        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:

1. 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.
2. 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. 
3. 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.
4. Get your FDA-approved bivalent booster shot: Your decision to get a safe, free, and effective COVID-19 vaccine impacts our entire community. Everyone 12+ is eligible for the new booster, so visit https://mn.gov/booster to find yours.
5. Donuts with Dean: Welcoming Minnesotans to Washington is one of my favorite parts of this job. Let my office know if you'll be traveling to Washington, we'd love the opportunity share some conversation, and donuts, next time you’re in town!  

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