I am coming off a week well spent with folks across the 7th District. During one of my visits, I talked with wheat growers about several issues including how the crop insurance program has been helpful as they recover from extreme weather, but that they are worried about new requirements being proposed by my colleagues on the left. For example, this administration wants to focus on climate priorities, and those kinds of additional regulations and requirements are going to impact farmers’ ability to do their jobs. These regulatory burdens are simply not necessary. Some of these family farms have been here for over 100 years and do everything in their power to make sure they will have workable land for generations to come. They do not need Washington breathing down their necks. I will be working with my colleagues in D.C. to make sure we do not put any unnecessary requirements into farm programs.
Across Western Minnesota and the country, inflation and the supply chain are primary concerns, both in our personal lives as the prices of gas and groceries continue to force people to make hard decisions, and in business. The Southern Minnesota Beet Sugar Cooperative articulated this point very clearly in our meeting. On this front, the House is making some progress. Last month, the Ocean Shipping Reform Act was signed into law. Many of the adopted amendments include key provisions from my SHIP IT Act, which I introduced in March of this year. These provisions include authorizing the Coast Guard to expedite certain documents required to work at major ports, provisions supporting the usage of inland port infrastructure, and requiring a report that details the technological competitiveness of U.S. ports compared with its peer nations. People across the country are struggling with supply chain issues and there is no end in sight, which is contributing to the record inflation we are facing. My provisions included in this bill will help ease tensions and get goods onto shelves.
Visits like the ones I had this week are great opportunities for me to hear directly from constituents about how their operations are going, and what I can do to help at a federal level. In general, what I hear across the district is that the federal government would best serve by staying out of the way. I could not agree more.
This month is going to be a busy one in D.C. We will certainly be discussing the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), but Democrats are also trying to push through two very troublesome pro-abortion bills, the Women’s Health Protection Act, and the Ensuring Access to Abortion Act. We could also be discussing a reconciliation package, a semiconductors bill, and it is predicted the Majority will elevate many other pieces of legislation that will align with their agenda ahead of the August recess. I will continue to be a voice for Minnesota’s 7th district and fight for legislation that will help, not hinder, our communities and families. As always, I encourage you to reach out to my office with suggestions and if there is anything I can do to help.
