Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach

Finstad, Colleagues Condemn Hasan Piker’s Upcoming Appearance in Minnesota

Thu, 295 Oct 2026 12:00:00 EST

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Brad Finstad (MN-01) joined Congressman Tom Emmer (MN-06), Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach (MN-07), and Congressman Pete Stauber (MN-08) in issuing the following joint statement condemning the upcoming appearance of far-left political commentator Hasan Piker alongside Congresswoman Ilhan Omar (MN-05) and State Senator Omar Fateh:

“Hasan Piker has said America deserved 9/11, declared he would vote for Hamas over Israel, and described the Republican Party as the world’s largest terrorist organization. Antisemitism, hatred, and the glorification of terrorism and political violence have no place in Minnesota or anywhere in the United States. Hasan Piker has repeatedly made reprehensible statements that deserve unequivocal condemnation, not a platform alongside elected officials. It is deeply troubling that Congresswoman Ilhan Omar and State Senator Omar Fateh would choose to elevate someone with his record, and every elected Democrat in the State of Minnesota must join us in rejecting his hateful and violence-ridden rhetoric.”

Background:

In 2019, Piker said “America deserved 9/11.”
During an April 2026 Pod Save America appearance, Piker said he would vote for Hamas over Israel every time.
During the same podcast, Piker called the Republican Party “fascists” and the “biggest domestic terrorists in this country.”
Piker has repeatedly defended U.S.-designated terrorist organizations, including Hamas, the Houthis, Hezbollah, and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).
Piker has made derogatory remarks in reference to Orthodox Jews and Israelis on multiple occasions.
In a September 2026 Axios interview, Piker argued that America had caused more deaths through terrorism than al-Qaeda, comparing them “pound for pound.”
Piker has told his listeners to “kill [Florida Republican Senator] Rick Scott” and murder landlords.
Piker called Chinese communist leader Mao Zedong “one of the great leaders of this world.”

Original Article

Congresswoman Fischbach Earns A+ Scorecard Rating from Concerned Women for America

Wed, 294 Oct 2026 12:00:00 EST

Washington, DC - Representative Michelle Fischbach (MN-07) has earned an A+ score on the latest scorecard from the Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee for her commitment to defending conservative values, protecting life, and advocating for policies that support families across Minnesota and the nation.

"I am honored to receive an A+ rating from Concerned Women for America," said Rep. Fischbach. "Standing up for conservative values, protecting life, and supporting mothers, children, and families across Western Minnesota has always been part of my mission in Congress."

Concerned Women for America is the nation's largest public policy women's organization. Its mission is to advance conservative values, family autonomy, religious liberty and constitutional principles through education and advocacy in the legislative arena.

Congresswoman Fischbach, Otter Tail County commissioners discuss roads and ambulance service

Wed, 294 Oct 2026 12:00:00 EST

FERGUS FALLS, Minn. — U.S. Rep. Michelle Fischbach, R-Minn., met Wednesday, Oct. 21, with Otter Tail County Commissioners Kurt Mortenson and Wayne Johnson and County Highway Engineer Jodi Teich, and Administrator Nicole Hansen at the Government Services Center in Fergus Falls.

They discussed rural transportation infrastructure and emergency medical services. The commissioners thanked Fischbach for supporting the County Highway 128 project and shared concerns about current emergency medical service needs in the county's rural areas.

Roads keep the county working

Johnson chairs the Association of Minnesota Counties Transportation & Infrastructure Policy Committee. He stressed how much the county's economy depends on safe roads.

"Our roads are how Otter Tail County gets things done," Johnson said. "Farmers use them to get crops to market. Businesses use them to move goods. People in rural areas count on them to get to work every day. And our visitors use them to reach our lakes and towns. Good roads are not a luxury here. They hold up our whole economy."

Support for County Highway 128

Fischbach requested $4 million in federal Community Project Funding for the County Highway 128 project in fiscal year 2027. Community Project Funding lets members of Congress request funding for specific projects in their home districts. The project covers County Highway 128 between Trunk Highway 78 and County State Aid Highway 55, just south of the city of Ottertail.

"We appreciate Congresswoman Fischbach's support of the Highway 128 project and her work to help fund it," said District 3 Commissioner, Kurt Mortenson. "This funding is critical to getting this project done for the people who drive this road every day."

Learn more about the project at ottertailcounty.gov/project/ch-128-improvements.

Ambulance service in rural areas

Commissioners also expressed concerns about the stability of emergency medical services in the region. Ringdahl Ambulance’s recent notice to the state that it will not renew its license raises legitimate concerns about the potential loss of ambulance coverage in the Pelican Rapids service area and the impact on timely access to emergency medical care.

"We thank Congresswoman Fischbach for listening to our concerns about emergency medical services," Commissioner Johnson said. "When someone calls 911, they need to know if an ambulance will show up. Our residents deserve that confidence, no matter where they live in the county."

Original Article

Rep. Fischbach Joins Minnesota Republican Delegation to Demand Increased Election Security

Wed, 287 Oct 2026 12:00:00 EST

Washington, DC - Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach (MN-07) joined Minnesota’s Republican congressional delegation in sending a letter to Governor Tim Walz and Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon regarding the recent indictments of noncitizens voting in Minnesota’s elections and demanding election security.

"Only American citizens should vote in American elections, and these indictments prove why we need the SAVE America Act signed into law," said Rep. Fischbach. "I have pushed for voter integrity and voter transparency. Now Walz, Simon, and Minnesota Democrats must do the same."

Background:

On September 30, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that a federal grand jury indicted ten individuals for voter fraud, charging them with falsely claiming citizenship to vote in Minnesota’s elections, including the 2022 and 2024 general elections and the 2026 primary election. All of this follows over a year of requests from the DOJ for information on Minnesota’s voter lists and compliance with federal election guidelines.

Minnesota’s election laws have created an ideal environment for voter fraud. Over the last several years, Congresswoman Fischbach and Minnesota Republicans took the following actions to sound the alarm on Minnesota’s election security weaknesses:

On January 31, 2023, Congresswoman Fischbach joined Committee on House Administration Chairman Bryan Steil and the Minnesota Republican delegation in sending a letter to Secretary Simon asking how his office plans to investigate claims that DACA recipients and other noncitizens were voting in Minnesota’s elections.
On October 2, 2024, Congresswoman Fischbach again joined Chairman Steil and the Minnesota Republican delegation in sending a letter to Secretary Simon and Minnesota Department of Public Safety Commissioner Bob Jacobson to voice their concerns over reports that noncitizens in Minnesota have been receiving ballots.
On November 20, 2024, Congresswoman Fischbach and the Minnesota Republican delegation sent a letter to Secretary Simon demanding that his office take action to restore trust in Minnesota’s election process.
On December 23, 2024, Congresswoman Fischbach and the Minnesota Republican delegation sent a letter to Secretary Simon demanding transparency after it was confirmed that 20 ballots were likely illegally disposed of in Shakopee’s 10th precinct.

You can read the most recent letter sent to Governor Walz and Secretary Simon here.

Smith, Budzinski Lead Letter Urging the Admin to Support America’s Biofuel Industry

Tue, 286 Oct 2026 12:00:00 EST

Today, U.S. Representatives Adrian Smith (R-NE) and Nikki Budzinski (D-IL), led a bipartisan letter with 37 of their colleagues to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin and U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright urging the administration to maintain its commitments to America’s biofuel industry.

In the letter, the lawmakers ask the administration to uphold its commitment to American grown energy by proposing a supplemental rule that preserves the integrity of the Renewable Fuel Standard’s (RFS) biofuel volume requirements for 2026 and 2027 by October 16, 2026. They warn that delays would undermine much-needed market certainty for American farmers and biofuel producers while putting savings at the pump for American families at risk.

The lawmakers write: "The stakes for our constituents could not be higher. Biofuel demand keeps commodity prices competitive for farmers, sustains tens of thousands of rural manufacturing jobs, and delivers measurable savings at the pump for working families. E15 saves drivers an average of 30 cents per gallon compared to E10. B20 biodiesel runs approximately 11 cents cheaper than regular diesel. The 2026 and 2027 volumes in Set 2 were built to capture these cost-savings at scale, but SREs alongside a flawed reallocation approach would erase them."

In addition to Smith and Budzinski, the letter was signed by U.S. Representatives Sharice Davids (D-KS), Ashley Hinson (R-IA), Emmanuel Cleaver (D-MO), Angie Craig (D-MN), Ann Wagner (R-MO), Eric Sorensen (D-IL), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), Randy Feenstra (R-IA), Zach Nunn (R-IA), Brad Finstad (R-MN), Darin LaHood (R-IL), Jim Baird (R-IN), Michelle Fischbach (R-MN), Mike Bost (R-IL), Robin Kelly (D-IL), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Kristen McDonald Rivert (D-MI), Mary Miller (R-IL), Wesley Bell (D-MO), Derrick Van Orden (R-WI), Mark Alford (R-MO), James Comer (R-KY), Jonathan Jackson (D-IL), John Rose (R-TN), Derek Schmidt (R-KS), Don Bacon (R-NE), Lauren Underwood (D-IL), Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.), Mark Messmer (R-IN), Rudy Yakym (R-IN), Shontel Brown (D-OH), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Mike Flood (R-NE), Haley Stevens (D-MI), Max Miller (R-OH), Julie Fedorchak (R-N.D.), and Donald Davis (D-N.C.).

Read the full letter here or below:

Administrator Zeldin and Secretary Wright:

The Set 2 Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs) are the strongest in the history of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), supporting a much-needed market for American farmers, feedstock processors, biofuel producers, and rural economies. Our constituents responded to that call to action with investment, expansion, and hiring across the biofuels value chain. Further, the administration’s commitment to reallocate the waived Small Refinery Exemption (SRE) volumes announced on August 31, 2026, reinforced this market signal.

We write today to urge swift action to propose a supplemental rule by October 16th which ensures obligated volumes are in line with those announced under Set 2 for compliance years 2026 and 2027. Until the supplemental rule process is complete, the market will not be able to fully respond, putting the momentum of the Set 2 RVO, and the lower fuel prices that homegrown biofuels provide for American families, at risk.

The stakes for our constituents could not be higher. Biofuel demand keeps commodity prices competitive for farmers, sustains tens of thousands of rural manufacturing jobs, and delivers measurable savings at the pump for working families. E15 saves drivers an average of 30 cents per gallon compared to E10. B20 biodiesel runs approximately 11 cents cheaper than regular diesel. The 2026 and 2027 volumes in Set 2 were built to capture these cost-savings at scale, but SREs alongside a flawed reallocation approach would erase them.

Now more than ever, our biofuels policy must deliver certainty for American farmers, feedstock processors, biofuels producers, and consumers. We stand ready to work with you in implementing a supplemental rule which is consistent with Set 2 projections, and encourage you to ensure that DOE conducts meaningful, transparent engagement with biofuel stakeholders on any methodology change for adjudicating future SREs.

Original Article

Congresswoman Fischbach Highlights Manufacturing Growth and Rural Infrastructure Needs in Stearns County

Tue, 286 Oct 2026 12:00:00 EST

Willmar, MN - Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach visited Stearns County to meet with Rotochopper leadership in St. Martin and city officials in Holdingford to discuss community development and priorities.

While in Holdingford, Rep. Fischbach met with city officials to discuss their water and wastewater infrastructure issues, including old treatment facilities and the expensive upgrades needed to meet state requirements. City officials said federal funding is needed to improve the water treatment plant and lift station, which can be addressed in future federal community funding requests made by the Congresswoman. Earlier this year, Rep. Fischbach was able to secure over $9 million in federal funding for eleven similar projects in the district, including $500,000 for Lake Henry.

At Rotochopper, Rep. Fischbach discussed the company’s continued growth, strong employee retention, and workforce development efforts, including its employee stock ownership program and partnership with a local technical college. The conversation also covered USMCA trade provisions and the company’s innovative manufacturing operations, including wind turbine blades and fiberglass recycling. These conversations are especially important because, as a member of the House Ways and Means Committee and its Trade Subcommittee, Rep. Fischbach works on trade policy that directly impacts Minnesotan manufacturers.

Fischbach, MN GOP Delegation Slam Walz for Rejecting Federal Fuel Relief and Leaving Minnesota Farmers and Families to Pay the Price

Tue, 286 Oct 2026 12:00:00 EST

WASHINGTON, DC - Congresswoman Fischbach (MN-07) led Minnesota's Republican Congressional Delegation in sending a letter to Governor Tim Walz following his refusal to align Minnesota with President Trump’s Executive Order authorizing highway use of red dye diesel. The letter calls on Walz to rethink his decision and follow suit to help lower diesel costs for Minnesota’s truckers, farmers, and drivers.

President Trump’s order opens access to untaxed, lower-cost red dye diesel, cutting per-fill costs by roughly $60 for a standard tank. By addressing state-level enforcement and fuel testing, Minnesota could have unlocked meaningful savings for farmers and haulers. While neighboring North Dakota took proactive steps to provide relief to its producers, Governor Walz flatly rejected any effort to lower costs, leaving Minnesota’s agricultural producers and truckers at a disadvantage during peak harvest season.

"Governor Walz and Democrats have made their priorities crystal clear: they would rather choose petty political opposition than give relief to struggling Minnesota families and farmers," said Rep. Fischbach. "President Trump provided a way to slash diesel costs, and Governor Walz chose partisan obstruction over lower costs. Our farmers are in the field working around the clock to feed and fuel our country. Instead of helping them, the Walz administration is threatening them with penalties for using lower-cost fuel. It is an insult to our rural communities, and it proves once again that Minnesota Democrats would rather watch fuel prices skyrocket to save their egos than give hardworking Minnesotans a break at the pump."

The letter also points out that North Dakota announced it will not enforce fuel checks or penalize drivers using red dye diesel on highways. Governor Walz’s refusal to follow Trump or North Dakota directly hurts Minnesotans. By forcing local haulers to buy higher-priced clear diesel, Minnesota is bottlenecking cross-state harvest commerce and driving up transportation costs that will be passed on to everyday consumers at the grocery store.

Congresswoman Fischbach vowed to continue fighting for energy affordability measures and called out state leadership for continually turning its back on Minnesota’s rural economy.

Read the letter to Walz here.

Emmer, Minnesota Republican Delegation Confront Walz on recent Minnesota Fraud Report

Thu, 281 Oct 2026 12:00:00 EST

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Tom Emmer (MN-06), Congressman Pete Stauber (MN-08), and Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach (MN-07) joined Congressman Brad Finstad (MN-01) in sending a letter to Governor Walz on the recent findings of more fraud in Minnesota, this time on a Liberian government official who is connected to at least two dozen Minnesota group homes that have collected $36 million of taxpayer funds over the last ten years.

“Our state’s tax dollars are being siphoned off by the millions, and yet Governor Walz sits on his hands and refuses to do anything about it,” said Congressman Emmer. “This likely fraud scheme doesn’t just hurt Minnesota taxpayers, it hurts the vulnerable individuals in the group homes this Liberian national claimed to run. Tim Walz is without question the worst governor in America.”

Background

Recently, a Minnesota news outlet released the findings of their investigation into several group homes with reports of neglect and even investigations into the deaths of several residents. At the center of this investigation is Sekou Dukuly, a man who relocated to Africa from Minnesota in 2024 to become the director of Liberia’s government-owned port system while remaining the director of three Minnesota group homes.

You can read the letter sent to Walz in its entirety here.

Original Article

Rep. Fischbach Meets with Ag Leaders, Discusses Next-Gen Biofuels in Crookston

Thu, 281 Oct 2026 12:00:00 EST

Willmar, MN - Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach was in Crookston meeting with her Agriculture Advisory Committee and with the leadership team at 4H2. At the roundtable, members of the agriculture industry discussed pressing priorities, including rising input costs, the critical need for the Senate to pass the House-passed Farm Bill, and agricultural labor shortages. Rep. Fischbach shared that she recently joined Chairman GT Thompson as an original cosponsor of the Securing Agriculture's Workforce Act, a producer-backed bill designed to cut federal red tape and modernize the H-2A program by providing labor flexibility and financial predictability for local operations. Producers also discussed how severe state-level overregulation by the governor and attorney general has put Minnesota deer farmers under assault, placing local operations at a competitive disadvantage compared to those in surrounding states. Additionally, growers expressed gratitude for her leadership on a Section 301 investigation letter concerning the sugarbeet industry.

The Congresswoman also visited 4H2 to view their cutting-edge direct ethanol fuel cell technology, which generates electricity without combustion, unlocking new markets for the ethanol industry across the transportation, portable power, and defense sectors. Rep. Fischbach reaffirmed her commitment to next-generation biofuel tech, highlighting her ongoing push for clear 45Z guidelines.

Rep. Fischbach Met with Farmward Cooperative to Discuss Energy Costs and Farm Infrastructure

Tue, 279 Oct 2026 12:00:00 EST

Willmar, MN - Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach met with Farmward Cooperative to discuss operations, grain handling, energy infrastructure, agricultural lending, and crop conditions across southern Minnesota. The conversation also covered federal policy priorities, including the GRAIN DRY Act and the 45Z tax credit. Rep. Fischbach has worked to provide greater certainty for farmers and biofuel producers through her work on 45Z and has advocated for policies that support domestic agricultural production and rural economies. Farmward representatives also discussed rising costs, regulatory uncertainty, weather conditions, concerns about the temporary diesel export ban, and the use of red-dye agricultural diesel for transport trucks.

Rep. Fischbach Met with Farmward Cooperative to Discuss Energy Costs and Farm Infrastructure

Tue, 279 Oct 2026 12:00:00 EST

Daines Urges ITC to Level the Playing Field, Defend American Sheep Producers

Tue, 279 Oct 2026 12:00:00 EST

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Steve Daines and Representative Celeste Maloy (R-Utah) today led a letter to the U.S. International Trade Commission Chairman urging strong support for U.S. sheep producers and relief from damages resulting from sheep imports to ensure U.S. producers are able to compete on a level playing field.

“As Members of Congress who proudly represent growers and processors in the American sheep industry, we write regarding the U.S. International Trade Commission’s (Commission) global safeguard investigation of lamb meat imports pursuant to Sections 201-204 of the Trade Act of 1974. During this investigation, we urge the Commission to carefully consider the data and testimony before it regarding the significant challenges faced by American sheep producers. And should the Commission make an affirmative determination in accordance with the statute, we urge the Commission to recommend a remedy that provides prompt and meaningful relief to the domestic industry.

The families behind America’s sheep farms and ranches have faced mounting pressures, including from rapidly increasing imports, which negatively impact our rural communities and domestic food production. The U.S. Trade Representative’s (USTR) July 13, 2026, letter directing the Commission to initiate the Section 201 investigation states that “import statistics indicate that lamb meat imports…have increased in recent years” and “[a]vailable information suggests that these imports have resulted in domestic industry lost sales, revenues, and market share as imported lamb meat significantly undersold the domestic like product.” USTR’s letter further states that “firms have exited the domestic industry entirely, and there have been domestic industry job losses, decreased capacity utilization rates, and struggles to maintain profitability,” they wrote in the letter.

Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Jim Banks (R-Ind.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), John Curtis (R-Utah), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), and Todd Young (R-Ind.) joined Daines in sending the letter.

Representatives Jodey Arrington (R-Texas), James Baird (R-Ind.), Brian Babin (R-Texas), Rob Bresnahan (R-Pa.), Cliff Bentz (R-Ore.), Jack Bergman (R-Mich.), Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), Kat Cammack (R-Fla.), John R. Carter (R-Texas), James Comer (R-Ky.), Angie Craig (D-Minn.), Jeff Crank (R-Colo.), Monica De La Cruz (R-Texas), Donald G. Davis (D-N.C.), Troy Downing (R-Mont.), Gabe Evans (R-Colo.), Brad Finstad (R-Minn.), Michelle Fischbach (R-Minn.), Vince Fong (R-Calif.), Russ Fulcher (R-Idaho), James Gallagher (R-Calif.), Adam Gray (D-Calif.), Glenn Grothman (R-Wis.), Harriet Hageman (R-Wyo.), Jeff Hurd (R-Colo.), Ronny Jackson (R-Texas), Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.), Morgan Luttrell (R-Texas), Tracey Mann (R-Kan.), Max Miller (R-Ohio), Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.), Burgess Owens (R-Utah), Frank Lucas (R-Okla.), David Rouzer (R-N.C.), David J. Taylor (R-Ohio), Marlin Stutzman (R-Ind.), David Valadao (R-Calif.), Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.), Roger Williams (R-Texas), Rudy Yakym (R-Ind.), Ryan Zinke (R-Mont.), and Michael Simpson (R-Idaho) also joined Daines in sending the letter.

Read the full letter HERE.

Original Article

Congresswoman Fischbach Hosts Bayer Employee Town Hall

Mon, 278 Oct 2026 12:00:00 EST

Willmar, MN - Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach visited Bayer in Redwood Falls to tour the facility and host an employee town hall. The discussion focused on pressures facing farmers, the importance of maintaining strong domestic and international markets, and the need for regulatory and legislative certainty. Employees and Bayer leadership also discussed seed technology, crop protection, renewable fuels, and the impact of temporary diesel export policies on agricultural operations. Bayer leaders also discussed the Farm Bill and thanked Rep. Fischbach for her work to pass a strong Farm Bill through the House.

Congresswoman Fischbach Hosts Bayer Employee Town Hall

Mon, 278 Oct 2026 12:00:00 EST

Willmar, MN - Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach visited Bayer in Redwood Falls to tour the facility and host an employee town hall. The discussion focused on pressures facing farmers, the importance of maintaining strong domestic and international markets, and the need for regulatory and legislative certainty. Employees and Bayer leadership also discussed seed technology, crop protection, renewable fuels, and the impact of temporary diesel export policies on agricultural operations. Bayer leaders also discussed the Farm Bill and thanked Rep. Fischbach for her work to pass a strong Farm Bill through the House.

Finstad Leads Minnesota Congressional Delegation in Letter Urging USDA Action on Virus-Related Turkey Losses

Mon, 278 Oct 2026 12:00:00 EST

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Brad Finstad (MN-01), member of the House Committee on Agriculture, led members of Minnesota’s Congressional Delegation in sending a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins regarding the significant loss Minnesota turkey growers have experienced from avian metapneumovirus (aMPV). Specifically, the letter urges USDA to recognize qualifying aMPV-related turkey mortality as eligible for assistance through the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP), USDA’s program that pays farmers and ranchers for animal deaths or injuries above normal levels.

Avian metapneumovirus resulted in the loss of over 2.2 million birds in 2024 alone and has continued to severely impact Minnesota flocks. As the leading turkey-producing state, the spread of aMPV raises serious concerns about the impact on the poultry sector.

The letter reads:

Dear Secretary Rollins:

We write to renew and emphasize our request that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) allow turkey growers to utilize the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) to recover a portion of the devastating losses caused by avian metapneumovirus (aMPV). We further ask USDA to provide a process for growers to submit applications retroactively for eligible losses incurred in 2024 and 2025.

Based on the merits of turkey grower claims, veterinary expert opinions, and the program’s eligibility standards, it is unclear why the USDA has deemed aMPV as ineligible under LIP. Avian metapneumovirus is transmitted via vectors, and growers had no commercially available vaccine to protect their flocks during the years in question. Due to this, producers could not reasonably prevent these losses despite following recommended biosecurity practices and working closely with their veterinarians.

The rapid spread of aMPV hit small and independent growers especially hard, with some sustaining repeated losses before an effective vaccine became commercially available. These losses were beyond normal mortality and were caused by circumstances outside the growers’ control.

USDA’s National Appeals Division has issued decisions establishing significant administrative precedent regarding the eligibility of aMPV-related losses under LIP. These decisions recognize that aMPV can and should qualify as an eligible disease when producers provide sufficient evidence demonstrating that the disease directly caused mortality beyond normal levels. USDA should apply that reasoning consistently and fairly to similarly situated growers rather than requiring each producer to pursue a lengthy and costly individual appeal.

Accordingly, we respectfully request that USDA:

Formally recognize qualifying aMPV-related turkey mortality as eligible for assistance through LIP;
Direct the Farm Service Agency to apply the precedent established through the National Appeals Division consistently across aMPV claims;
Establish a retroactive application or reconsideration process for qualifying losses sustained in 2024 and 2025; and
Provide clear guidance to county FSA offices and turkey growers regarding the documentation needed to support these applications.

This relief would not make producers whole, but it could provide a critical lifeline to Minnesota farm families who have endured losses beyond normal mortality through no fault of their own. For some small and independent growers, this assistance may determine whether their operations, and the opportunity for the next generation to continue farming, survive.

Providing this assistance also aligns with the administration’s priority of reducing food costs for American families. Disease-related losses reduce domestic production, increase costs throughout the supply chain, and threaten the long-term availability of an affordable source of protein. Helping growers remain in business through programs designed to provide this type of assistance strengthens our domestic food supply and protects consumers from further price pressures.

Minnesota is the nation’s leading turkey-producing state, and its family farms are an important part of our rural communities and agricultural economy. We urge USDA to act quickly and use every available administrative authority to ensure these growers are treated fairly and have meaningful access to the assistance Congress intended LIP to provide.

Thank you for your consideration. We stand ready to work with you, the Farm Service Agency and Minnesota’s turkey industry to develop a fair and workable process.

Sincerely,

Brad Finstad, Member of Congress
Amy Klobuchar, United States Senator
Angie Craig, Member of Congress, Ranking Member, Committee on Agriculture
Michelle Fischbach, Member of Congress
Tina Smith, United States Senator
Pete Stauber, Member of Congress
Betty McCollum, Member of Congress
Kelly Morrison, Member of Congress

CC: Kurt Blomgren, Minnesota FSA Executive Director

Original Article

Rep. Fischbach Met with Southern Minnesota Beet Sugar Cooperative to Discuss Industry Issues

Fri, 275 Oct 2026 12:00:00 EST

Willmar, MN - Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach met with Southern Minnesota Beet Sugar Cooperative leadership and growers in Renville to discuss challenges facing the sugarbeet industry. Producers highlighted rising fuel costs, weed-resistance challenges, and increasing international competition. The group discussed the need for additional federal assistance for crop losses and urged for consideration of weather-related aid in future policy discussions. Producers also urged U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Jameson Greer to address foreign treasuries dumping sugar into the U.S. market. Rep. Fischbach has already joined colleagues in urging USTR and USDA to address these unfair foreign trade practices affecting American sugar producers.

Rep. Fischbach Met with Southern Minnesota Beet Sugar Cooperative to Discuss Industry Issues

Fri, 275 Oct 2026 12:00:00 EST

Congresswoman Fischbach Met with Lac qui Parle County Officials to Discuss Local Concerns

Thu, 274 Oct 2026 12:00:00 EST

Willmar, MN - Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach met with Lac qui Parle County officials and local law enforcement in Madison to discuss pressures facing rural counties. Officials highlighted staffing limitations and rising administrative costs tied to SNAP requirements. The conversation focused on the need for clearer federal guidance and delayed program implementation timelines to reduce strain on rural counties. Rep. Fischbach also toured the county’s new law enforcement center, which brings together the Sheriff’s Office, County Jail, Dispatch Center, Community Corrections, Family Services, and Emergency Management.

Congresswoman Fischbach Met with Lac qui Parle County Officials to Discuss Local Concerns

Thu, 274 Oct 2026 12:00:00 EST

Congresswoman Fischbach Discussed Rural Telehealth and EMS Access in Ortonville

Wed, 273 Sep 2026 12:00:00 EST

Willmar, MN - Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach met with Avel eCare and local EMS providers in Ortonville to discuss the important role telehealth-enabled EMS plays in rural Minnesota. The group highlighted how virtual care can improve emergency response, reduce unnecessary transports, and increase survival rates. The discussion also emphasized the need for sustainable funding, including Medicare reimbursement for treatment-in-place services, and the growing reliance on telehealth-enabled EMS across rural communities. Rep. Fischbach is a cosponsor of the CONNECT for Health Act which would make key Medicare telehealth flexibilities permanent and has continued to advocate for expanding access to telehealth in rural communities.