Hi Neighbors,
Happy Passover and a blessed holy week to those who are celebrating, and happy spring to all! I hope you’ll join me in reflecting on the importance of family, community, and working together to overcome adversity.
Right off the bat, I have some exciting news to share: you are now eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccine! All Minnesotans 16 and older can now register for a COVID-19 vaccine appointment. For now, demand will still exceed supply, and it may be frustrating and difficult to get an appointment. Vaccine shipments from the federal government will continue to increase over the coming weeks and safe, effective COVID-19 vaccines will be available at no cost to every Minnesotan who wants one. In the meantime, I urge you to ensure your information is up-to-date with your healthcare provider and to sign up for the Vaccine Connector so that you can get a vaccine as soon as possible.
As Minnesota works to get people vaccinated as quickly as possible, I am continuing to advocate for you and our community in D.C. From answering your questions, to introducing legislation, and getting things done, it has been another busy week:
As Minnesota works to get people vaccinated as quickly as possible, I am continuing to advocate for you and our community in D.C. From answering your questions, to introducing legislation, and getting things done, it has been another busy week:
Bipartisanship Breaks Through
Cooperation and collegiality can still get things done in Washington, and the best policy ideas are often the result of principled debate and thoughtful compromise. I have made working across the aisle a cornerstone of my approach as your representative in Congress. That’s why I am honored to share with you that I am a recipient of the Bipartisan Policy Center’s 2021 Legislative Action Award, which is given to members who foster bipartisanship when it is most needed. I was also humbled to be rated Minnesota’s most productive Representative in the 116th Congress by the non-partisan Center for Effective Lawmaking.
You wouldn’t know it from cable news, but more often than not, Democrats, Republicans, and Independents agree. We tend to agree on the issues that affect our country and the outcomes we all strive for; we just differ on how to get from point A to B. That is why I so enjoy being a member and Vice-Chair of the Problem Solvers Caucus, where together pursue common sense ideas for the common good. Two weeks ago our caucus presented our priorities to President Biden, which you can read about here. With the White House’s help, I am hopeful that we can find common ground and inspire a new era of collaboration in Washington.
Vaccine Briefing and Updates
Thank you to the more than 7,500 of you who joined me and Senator Tina Smith on our Vaccine Briefing call last week. If you were unable to join the conversation, or just want to listen again, you can do so here:
Senator Tina Smith, Commissioner Jan Malcolm, and I were so pleased that over 250 people asked questions, shared their stories, and told us about their concerns. We covered a lot of ground: we discussed the safety and efficacy of the vaccine, dispelled vaccine myths, and talked about what to do after you are fully vaccinated. I hope you enjoyed our conversation as much as I did!
Remember to RECYCLE
Last week, I reintroduced the RECYLE Act, a bipartisan, bicameral bill I wrote to improve our community and residential recycling programs by giving communities the tools to keep our lands, rivers, and lakes pollutant free. As we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, improving our recycling will only increase in importance. Demand for PPE and single-use plastics has increased waste by almost 30%, with much of it ending up in landfills. I am hopeful that together we can get this bill across the finish line, and begin to better our recycling programs.
Preserving our environment for future generations is an American issue, and plastic pollution is quickly becoming an environmental crisis. Recycling is one of the easiest ways to protect the environment, but confusion is all too often a barrier. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), nearly $9 billion of recyclable materials are thrown away each year. By learning to dispose of recyclable materials responsibly, we can both save money and protect our environment.
Training Tomorrow’s Workforce
Every American deserves access to a quality education, regardless of their resources or professional goals. We need to make workforce training more affordable and accessible for all, and I am committed to making that aspiration a reality. Especially after such a difficult year, we need thoughtful policies to get our economy back on track.
I was proud to join a coalition of bipartisan Representatives and Senators in introducing the Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act. My bill would increase access to high-quality workforce training and credentialing programs by permitting “529” savings plans to pay for job-training programs. Currently, students can only use these accounts to cover the costs of college, vocational school, or other institutions of higher learning. This common-sense reform will allow Americans with varying work experiences and career goals to finance their education and compete in a job market that increasingly rewards specialization and expertise.
Information For You
With so much happening in D.C., I want to make sure you are up-to-date on all of the things happening in Washington that may impact (or help) you:
- Economic Impact Payments are still being distributed, and you can check the status of yours by using the Get My Payment tool here
- The deadlines to file and pay most federal income taxes have been extended to May 17, 2021. Learn more, and file your taxes for free, here
- The Minneapolis VA Health Care System is now offering vaccines to all enrolled Veterans. If you are a Veteran, you can schedule an appointment by calling 612-467-1301 an weekdays between 7:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
- President Biden signed our Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Extension Act into law, extending the deadline for Minnesota small businesses to apply for relief to May 31, 2021
- Starting the week of April 6, 2021, the Small Business Administration (SBA) is increasing the maximum amount small businesses and non-profit organizations can borrow through its COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program from 6-months of economic injury with a maximum loan amount of $150,000 to up to 24-months with a maximum amount of $500,000
- If you represent a local government or nonprofit entity with a community project that is located in Minnesota’s Third District, or one that serves its residents, you may be eligible to apply for Community Project Funding, click here to learn more and apply by Friday, April 9th
I will have more exciting news to share in the next few weeks – but until then I hope you will stay connected with me and my team, and encourage your friends and family to sign up for the latest updates on the work I am doing for our community. Representation begins with listening, and I look forward to hearing from you.
Keep the faith and keep in touch,
Dean Phillips
Member of Congress