Dear John,

It was a busy and frustrating week in Washington as the Democrats desperately closed out the 117th Congress with more bloated spending and bad policy.

With control of both chambers of Congress, the Democrats had nine months in 2022 to pass appropriations and fund our government, but they couldn’t get the job done. They passed a three-month extension and still didn’t do the work. So they resorted to ramming through their $1.7 trillion budget, which they released in the middle of the night with more than 4,100 pages that no Member could possibly read in its entirety. This Democrat-led Congress has spent way beyond its means, adding to inflation and debt. This is no way to govern, and I don’t know how any Member could support this process or this bill.

Hope is on the horizon. Earlier this week, Leader McCarthy pledged, “When we take the majority, we won’t allow Senate bills to come up unless they move through committee. We won’t allow them to do an omnibus again.” It is a top priority for House Republicans to curb wasteful government spending and restore confidence in the committee process.

If you tuned into last week’s roundup, you read about my efforts to rename local post offices after fallen Minnesota National Guardsmen. I am delighted to announce that both the House and Senate passed the bill to honor Charles Nord (Perham), James Rogers (Winsted), and Kort Miller (Avon). The bill will land on the president’s desk, only needing his signature to become law.

In Moorhead, 70 trains pass through the town every day, causing frequent traffic disruptions. Thankfully, a solution is coming: $26.3 million in federal funds have been awarded to the city of Moorhead for a railroad underpass planned for 11th Street in the downtown area. This project will substantially improve traffic flow, and I look forward to it benefiting Moorhead's community.

As always, please contact my office if there is anything we can help with. Thank you for your continued support!

Merry Christmas!