Hi Neighbors,
On Monday we celebrated Flag Day, commemorating the 244th anniversary of the day when the Stars and Stripes became the official symbol of the United States of America.
Our flag is older than the House of Representatives, it’s older than our two political parties, and it even predates our Constitution. On this Flag Day, I reflected on our nation’s founding values – the values that transcend politics and inspired the great American experiment. Those include the freedom of speech (and the freedom to criticize speech), the rejection of tyranny and oppression in all of its forms, and the notion that a diverse yet like-minded group of people can be united around those principles.
A Bipartisan Infrastructure Plan
Republicans, Democrats, and Independents all agree that we need to invest in our infrastructure. Yet partisan gridlock continues to prevent progress, frustrate principled members of Congress, and further erode the American people’s faith in their government.
While others obstruct, divide, and disengage, the Problem Solvers Caucus and I worked together to develop a bipartisan, physical infrastructure solution. Our ever-growing group of 29 Democrats and 29 Republicans is committed to bringing people together and getting things done, and we won’t give up.
Our “Building Bridges” Framework calls for $1.25 trillion invested over eight years to rebuild our crumbling physical infrastructure, create new jobs, and jump-start our economy. The plan includes new funding for:
- Roads and bridges
- Airports, waterways, and ports
- Transit and passenger rail
- Clean water
- Broadband access
- Clean energy and climate resiliency initiatives
- And more
You can our full framework here and read a section-by-section summary of our proposal here.
Rewarding Compassionate Capitalism
I was raised in a family that believed business was a means to an end. And that end was not how much wealth we could accumulate, but rather how much we could share with those who made it possible. Throughout history, America’s most successful companies have been those with a sense of social responsibility and an underlying belief that shareholders, executives, and workers ought to rise and fall together.
With that in mind, I joined my friend Rep. Chrissy Houlahan and leaders from the business and non-profit sectors to discuss the path toward a more equitable, sustainable and prosperous economy – and to launch a new Congressional Stakeholder Capitalism Caucus dedicated to that cause. Our mission is to demonstrate that capitalism can be a force for good and to advance policies that provide greater opportunities for workers, increase profits for businesses, and improve communities.
Here’s to Seeing You Soon!
There are two things above all others that I am looking forward to this summer. Number one: visiting the State Fair in all of its glory. And number two: seeing all of you again!
My staff and I are fully vaccinated and hard at work preparing our Minnetonka office to welcome visitors once again soon. I am especially eager to convene you all for our first in-person(!) town hall in more than a year, stay tuned for more details this summer.
Happy summer, everybody. I hope you are as excited and hopeful for the future as I am.
Keep the faith and keep in touch, 
Dean Phillips
Member of Congress
More Resources For You
My team and I are here to serve every person and every corner of our community. I want to make sure you have the resources you need to succeed:
- Apply for affordable broadband: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently announced that, starting on May 12th, people can apply for the Emergency Broadband Benefit. This new program will help families reduce the costs of broadband by providing a monthly discount for broadband service for eligible households. You can learn more here and apply here.
- Get your vaccine (now open to everyone 12 and up): You can get help making a vaccine appointment by inputting your ZIP code at www.vaccines.gov or texting it to GETVAX (438829).
- Track your check: Economic Impact Payments are still being distributed; check the status of your payment using the IRS Get My Payment tool.
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