Opinion by Congresswoman Fischbach in Wadena Pioneer Journal
I have been working hard fighting for the rights and safety of the American people, and especially for those in Minnesota’s 7th District. My colleagues and I have been holding the federal government accountable, working on common-sense pro-business and pro-family tax law, and using every avenue available to remove the gray wolf from the endangered species list.
According to the latest Gallup poll , immigration is the most important problem facing this country today, and it is easy to see why: The Biden Administration has let the situation at the border get completely out of control. I recently went back to the border to see the situation for myself. I talked with local law enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents to see their work and discuss the impacts of illegal immigration as well as the challenges they have been facing day in and day out. There have been more than eight million illegal crossings at the southern border since President Biden took office. That is larger than the entire state of Minnesota. It is irresponsible, negligent, and dangerous. And yet, the Administration is not willing to even use the word "crisis." House Republicans are holding the federal government accountable, starting with Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. He has refused to enforce federal immigration law, risking our national security, and lost the trust of the American people. The Committee on Homeland Security has found that the Secretary is "chiefly responsible for the chaos and devastation that has unfolded over the past three years" at our borders. That is why the House of Representatives voted to impeach Secretary Mayorkas for willfully and systemically refusing to comply with federal immigration laws and breach of public trust. I urge the Senate to move swiftly in their deliberation, and I will continue working to secure our borders, protect our national security, and hold this government accountable.
Minnesotans need and deserve tax relief to keep up with rising costs. I am proud to say that the House passed the Tax Relief for American Families and Worker's Act with overwhelmingly bipartisan support. This bill will reinvigorate the American economy, support working families, help small business productivity, and eliminate fraud and waste, saving over $70 billion in taxpayer dollars. In Minnesota, it will preserve $23 million per year in research and development-related wages. It will expand America's competitiveness with pro-growth economic policies like restoring expensing for investments in equipment, allowing businesses to expense research and development investments, and strengthening our competitive edge over China by removing double taxation on businesses that work in both the U.S. and Taiwan. It expands the amount of investment write-offs for small businesses and cuts unnecessary red tape.
Across the state, including at a wolf predation event I recently attended, I hear how the gray wolf has become a menace, and the animal’s population has long-since recovered since it was first listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in 1978. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services (FWS), under Democrat and Republican Administrations, has repeatedly attempted to delist the gray wolf administratively but has been challenged with politically motivated lawsuits. Most recently, these efforts have been blocked by a judge in northern California. I have signed onto the Trust the Science Act , which would delist the gray wolf and prevent the delisting from being eligible for judicial review. I have also co-signed a letter to House Leadership and Appropriations Committee leadership requesting that any Fiscal Year 2024 spending package include delisting the gray wolf under the ESA. As our letter states, ‘state governments are fully qualified to responsibly manage gray wolf populations and are better able to meet the needs of local communities, ranchers, livestock, and wildlife populations.' We cannot let an activist judge thousands of miles away decide what is best for Minnesota, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure the delisting of gray wolves.
I am always eager to hear from the 7th District about what Congress can be doing to empower its citizens. If you have ideas or if my office can help you with anything, please do not hesitate to contact my team in Washington, D.C., Willmar, or Moorhead.
