Hi Neighbors,
I’m checking in as the snow hits to tell you more about my week in Washington – and I’m happy to report that it was full of bipartisan work. Before I share the details, I want to remind you about our community conversation on affordable housing coming up next Friday. I encourage you to spread the word and I hope to see you there.
STANDING TOGETHER TO PROTECT THE BWCA
On Wednesday I joined Rep. Betty McCollum and some of my extraordinary constituents as we introduced legislation to protect the BWCA by permanently removing roughly 234,000 aces of federal wilderness lands and waters from sulfide-ore and copper mining. I’m very grateful to Rep. Francis Rooney and Rep. Fred Upton, our Republican partners on this important legislation, who shared their own Boundary Waters stories and remind us all that preserving our precious waters is an American issue, not a partisan one.
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| The Boundary Waters are an American treasure and the stories we share there should extend for generations to come. Click here to watch us introduce legislation to protect the BWCA. |
HOLDING BANKING REGULATORS ACCOUNTABLE
Back in November, I shared the good news that the Financial Services Committee unanimously passed my bill to hold big banking regulators accountable, and this week, it passed in the same fashion through the House. There’s a saying, that “Sunlight is the best disinfectant.” In these divided times, we can all agree that the regulators of big banks and our financial institutions have a duty to report their activity to Congress and the American people so we can avoid failures, protect taxpayers, and ensure stability in our financial system
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| Teamwork is important but often flies under the radar. Read more about my bipartisan Prudential Regulator Oversight Act, which passed the House this week, here. |
CONSTITUTIONAL TEAMWORK
Speaking of working together, I teamed up with Reps. Justin Amash (I-MI), Ken Buck (R-CO), Jared Golden (D-ME), Scott Perry (R-PA), Dean Phillips (D-MN), Chip Roy (R-TX), Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) to write this column for the Washington post, in which we assert Congress’s constitutional authority to declare war. At a time of divisive, angry partisanship, the call to do right by our service members, their families and the Constitution is one that can and should unite us. We differ in our politics, but we believe Congress should reconsider the 2001 and 2002 authorizations for use of military force (AUMFs). I invite you to read the full piece here.
Finally, I remind you that my office is always open for your feedback, questions, and ideas. To that end, mobile office hours are in Mound next week, and our community conversation on affordable housing will be in Maple Grove. And while we may be closing a little early today due to the snow storm, you can reach out anytime online by sending us a message here. Stay warm, be safe, and don’t forget that early voting for the 2020 Presidential Primary begins today in Minnesota!
Keep the faith and keep in touch,
Dean Phillips
Member of Congress