Hi Friends,
As we near the end of a historic week in Washington, I want to remind you how much I value your thoughts, ideas, and even criticisms. I am working hard to serve our country, our community, and you.
CONNECTING WITH YOU
On Monday, more than 120 Minnesotans joined me for a community conversation on fiscal responsibility in Minnetonka. With a federal budget deficit exceeding $1 trillion and annual federal interest payments topping $400 million, we’re on a dangerous fiscal path. That’s why I wanted to hear from experts, and you, before returning to Washington to vote on bipartisan spending packages that will fund our government for the coming year. We need to inject a little more fiscal responsibility into our national discourse, and I’m on a mission to bring more of your hard-earned dollars back to Minnesota.
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| If you weren’t able to join us on Monday, I invite you to watch our full community conversation on fiscal responsibility here. |
PUSHING PAST PARTISANSHIP
Serving you in Washington is the best job I have ever had and I take my oath to the Constitution very seriously. I participated in secure depositions, attended public hearings, read the evidence, and consulted Constitutional lawyers – both liberal and conservative – in the lead up to Wednesday’s historic impeachment vote. I voted for both articles of impeachment because I believe that the evidence relative to obstruction of Congress and abuse of power warrants a trial in the Senate. Impeachment isn’t about partisanship, it’s about preserving the presidency. That is why I led a group of freshman Democrats in advocating for Representative Justin Amash, a Republican-turned-Independent, to be of the impeachment managers. As the process moves forward, I will continue to advocate and hope for a fair, open, and reasonable trial, and I invite you to read my full statement on impeachment by clicking here.
ENDING THE YEAR WITH ACTION
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| I joined Esme Murphy on WCCO this week to talk about the momentous days ahead. Click here to watch, and read to learn how things played out. |
It was a busy legislative week in Washington. I voted in favor of Congress’s bipartisan end-of-the-year spending and trade agreements, and I am very proud that many of our Minnesota priorities were included, such as…
- Protecting our neighbors: When President Trump extended Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) for our Liberian community for one year in March, I promised to find a legislative fix that would prevent the need for more extensions. I am proud that the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) included an amendment that finally offers DED holders a well-deserved pathway to citizenship. Liberian DED holders are here legally, pay taxes, and are the bedrock of our health care industry. They are our neighbors and a vital part of Minnesota, and I’m honored to celebrate with them this week.
- After two decades, a solution for WAFTA: My amendment aimed at cleaning up a polluted former missile site in Minnesota that impacts 11 Third District communities was also included in the final version of the NDAA. Minnesota communities have been trying to clean up this site since the 1990’s, and we’re finally making some headway.
- A strong, bipartisan USMCA deal: The House passed our strong and enforceable USMCA deal yesterday. This agreement is a win for Minnesota farmers, businesses and workers, and exactly how good governance should work.
- Tax relief for Minnesota: I helped lead in the House as we passed the Restoring Tax Fairness for States and Localities Act, which makes the tax code more equitable for Minnesotans by repealing the 2017 cap on SALT deductions and returns money to the federal deficit. Click here to read more about the bill.
In between, I expressed my commitment to strong environmental protections for the BWCA, monitored developments on a court case that has major implications for your health care, heard from Minnesotans who are struggling to pay for their lifesaving medications, and met a few Minnesotans at Donuts with Dean in Washington.
My offices in Minnesota and in Washington will be closed next week. I wish you and your family a meaningful holiday season, and remind you that optimism is just as contagious as fear.
Keep the faith and keep in touch,
Dean Phillips
Member of Congress