Tag: 3rd Congressional District

Phillips Improves Support for Gold Star Military Families with Bipartisan Defense Bill Amendment

WASHINGTON, DC – Rep. Dean Phillips (MN-03) announced today that his bipartisan plan to support Gold Star Families has been added to the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The “Cheryl Lankford Memorial to Improve Assistance for Gold Star Spouses and Other Dependents” amendment will help keep bereaved military families from slipping through the cracks and ensure that dependent children can easily access the benefits they are owed.

When a military member dies, the surviving family is visited by a Casualty Assistance Officer who advocates for the family, answers questions, logs complaints, and assists with processing benefits. However, if a Gold Star Spouse dies and leaves behind dependent children, the military does not provide any help at all. Phillips’s amendment would provide, at the request of the children or guardian, a Casualty Assistance Officer to support eligible dependents if the spouse of a deceased servicemember also passes away. Continue reading “Phillips Improves Support for Gold Star Military Families with Bipartisan Defense Bill Amendment”

Rep. Dean Phillips (CD3) Update: How to Vote During the Coronavirus

Hi Neighbors,

The right to vote is fundamental, and no American should be forced to choose between their health and their right to vote. As COVID-19 cases continue to rise, I want to ensure you know how to safely vote on August 11th and November 3rd.

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In our nation’s history, we have never failed to hold regularly scheduled elections – even in times of war, natural disaster, and economic crisis. This year will be no different. Minnesota is doing everything possible to ensure our elections are safe, secure, accessible, and fair. This includes offering multiple accommodations to ensure that every Minnesotan can participate in our democracy: Continue reading “Rep. Dean Phillips (CD3) Update: How to Vote During the Coronavirus”

LETTER: Dean Phillips will continue to work across the aisle

To the Editor:

Over the last several weeks there have been letters attacking Dean Phillips, our Congressman for the Third District, and praising his current opponent Kendall Qualls.

Each letter made vague statements about how we deserve leaders who are focused, disciplined and honest. Well, we currently have someone who has all these things and more – Dean Phillips.

He holds numerous town hall meetings, he listens to us, he responds to our concerns. I can not think of one promise he has not attempted to fulfill (very difficult in the current Congress). I strongly feel that if the letter writers want to attack him and praise his opponent they should at least be detailed in your statements. Be specific. What do you not like and why? What does Qualls stand for on the important issues of the day I think you will come up very short? Dean has attempted and will continue to work across the aisle.

Frank Moriarty
Plymouth
July 14, 2020

Rep. Phillips: COVID-19 Testing Locations Near You

Hi Neighbors,

Given the recent rise in coronavirus cases across the nation, I wanted to make sure you know where you can get tested right here in Minnesota. If you have been in contact with someone who has tested positive or have common symptoms associated with coronavirus (fever, cough, and shortness of breath), you should immediately isolate yourself from others and get tested. We’re in this together, and getting tested is simple and safe. Here’s how…

The bipartisan CARES Act ensures that COVID-19 tests are covered by insurance. If you have questions about your coverage, call your insurance company prior to getting tested, and if you feel you’ve been incorrectly billed for a test, my office is here to help. Sites might require an appointment before you arrive, so call ahead to see what your nearest testing site requires:

CLICK HERE TO FIND CORONAVIRUS TESTING SITES IN MINNESOTA

We WILL overcome this together, but we’re not out of the woods yet. Many people with coronavirus are asymptomatic carriers spreading the disease without knowing they have it. We all have a role to play in keeping our neighbors and businesses safe, healthy, and thriving so please wear a mask, stay at least six feet apart from others, and wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Continue reading “Rep. Phillips: COVID-19 Testing Locations Near You”

As Minority-Owned Businesses are Hit Hard by Pandemic, Rep. Phillips Strengthens Bill to Promote Economic Equity for New Businesses

WASHINGTON, DC — Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN) announced during a hearing of the House Financial Services Committee today that he will strengthen his bill, The New Business Preservation Act (H.R. 6403), by including aggressive changes to benefit women and minority entrepreneurs. Phillips’s bill authorizes the Treasury Department to partner with states to make equity investments in new businesses alongside private venture capital companies, with special consideration given to women- and minority-owned enterprises. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) leads the companion bill in the Senate.

“The COVID-19 pandemic will surely precipitate the failure of far too many businesses, and the hurdles to securing capital are terribly high – especially for women and minority entrepreneurs,” Phillips said. “New businesses account for a disproportionate share of innovation, economic growth, and job creation and are critical to our nation’s ability to weather and recover from the economic blow inflicted by coronavirus. We must take action today to ensure a thriving, equitable business landscape tomorrow.”

 

Watch Below: Rep. Phillips, Experts Talk Economic Equity in Financial Services Diversity and Inclusion Hearing

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Phillips made his comments during an exchange at a hearing focusing on the state of the American economy of the House Financial Services Committee’s Diversity and Inclusion Subcommittee, which included panelists representing the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and U.S. Black Chambers, Inc.

Startups are typically ineligible for financing of their business operations or growth by way of loans or other credit facilities from banking companies due to a lack of operating history, collateral, or current earnings and cash flow, or the business’s overall risk profile.

Under the program created by the New Business Preservation Act, the Treasury Department would make an initial investment of $1.5 billion in federal funds allocated to states in portion to each state’s percentage total population and attention it typically receives from venture capital firms.  There would be another $5 million allocated to states in a second round of funding to support companies that perform well.

The program will be self-sustaining, with returns on investment reinvested in new businesses in future years. The bill also contains strict oversight measures, requires private investors to shoulder risk, and insulates investment decisions from political considerations.

Phillips plans to strengthen the mission of diversity and inclusion within the bill by adding provisions that would:

  • only fund startups that are majority owned or majority managed by women and/or minorities in areas of the country currently receiving the lionshare of national VC investment—like Silicon Valley, NYC, and Boston.
  • require at least 50 percent women and minority representation on the boards of venture funds who choose to participate in the 1-to-1 match in these highly sought after cities
  • among the other 47 states, require at least 50 percent women and minority representation in the governing investment bodies which determine where funds will flow
  • require annual reporting on diversity representation within the state’s venture capital industry

Read More From The Wall Street Journal: Nearly 70,000 Tech Startup Employees Have Lost Their Jobs Since March

Q&A: How Dean Phillips Tried To Fix PPP

A conversation about the precarious state of our economy and society with Minnesota’s most business savvy member of Congress.

Dean Phillips was elected to Congress representing Minnesota’s Third District less than two years ago. The consensus-focused businessman and philanthropic leader gained national attention in recent weeks when he co-authored the Paycheck Protection Flexibility Act, designed to fix problems in Congress’ Paycheck Protection Act which made it impossible for many small businesses to access. Few members of Congress are as keenly aware of the risks and opportunities in a pandemic economy as Phillips. TCB spoke to him about that and other issues from a conference room at the back of the Linden Hills location of Penny’s, the small coffee shop chain he co-founded in 2016.

Was it possible for a country of our size and geographic and ideological diversity to develop consensus on the pandemic, or was it a pipe dream?

We could have done it better and plans were in place to do it better. Something as simple as mask-wearing, that science indicates stops the spread . . . one person and one person only is responsible for the national division on masks, and that’s the president. It has political elements and the GOP tends to follow his lead. Conversely had he worn a mask, I think transmission would have been exponentially less. There’s no question that more thoughtful leadership would have resulted in better management and better preparation. The world is looking at us with dismay. Continue reading.

Minnesota employers got $10.2 billion in emergency pandemic aid

132 employers in Minnesota, from private schools and law firms to restaurants, received at least $5 million.

From car dealers to construction companies, Minnesota employers hauled in $10.2 billion through the popular Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), ranking the state No. 15 in the U.S., according to data released Monday by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

The program, which is credited with lowering unemployment this spring, helped employers bring back more than 51 million jobs in the U.S. at a time when the economy was crashing. But many employers have been critical of the program, especially retailers and restaurant owners, who say the government essentially pressured them into rehiring furloughed workers at a time when they were still shut down and unable to generate much if any revenue.

Congress has now agreed to extend the program, which was due to expire on June 30, until Aug. 8 to allow business owners a chance to apply for more than $130 billion in remaining funds. Altogether, 4.9 million employers have received a total of $521 billion in relief through the program.

The loans are forgivable as long as employers spend at least 60% of the funds on payroll, down from 75% in the original bill. The formula was changed through bipartisan legislation co-sponsored by U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minn. Continue reading.

Phillips Broadband Plan Passes In House Infrastructure Package As Pandemic Pushes Minnesota Students, Families, Businesses To Do More Online

Phillips hears from city leaders struggling to access broadband, moves plan to connect more communities

WASHINGTON, DC – Last week, Rep. Dean Phillips (MN-03) helped pass H.R. 2, the Moving Forward Act, aimed at rebuilding America’s infrastructure. The legislation includes an amendment authored by Phillips to help suburban communities access highspeed broadband as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic pushes Minnesota schools, businesses, and consumers to do more online.

In frequent communication with Minnesota mayors and city administrators, Phillips learned that a lack of provider competition and a donut hole in federal broadband grants has left many communities in Minnesota’s Third District unable to access adequate broadband deployment. Smaller suburban cities and towns, such as Chaska, Chanhassen, and Medina, do not qualify for rural broadband grants, leaving local leaders few options to secure highspeed broadband for their residents. Continue reading “Phillips Broadband Plan Passes In House Infrastructure Package As Pandemic Pushes Minnesota Students, Families, Businesses To Do More Online”

Amid peaking pandemic and attacks on Americans’ care, Phillips votes to lower RX prices, reduce premiums, protect pre-existing conditions

Phillips: “We tolerate – even condone – a system that places profit over people. It’s costing us billions of dollars, bankrupting thousands of families, and surely costing lives. Americans are getting ripped off and we can do

WASHINGTON, D.C. – As COVID-19 cases reach record numbers and the Trump Administration continues its attempt to gut existing health care law, Rep. Dean Phillips (MN-03) joined a bipartisan House majority in voting to pass the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Enhancement Act. The legislation represents the largest overhaul of American health care in more than a decade and expands Medicaid coverage, caps premiums for American families, negotiates lower prescription drug prices, strengthens protections for pre-existing conditions, bans junk plans, and promotes equity in health care.

After the vote, Phillips took to the House Floor, urging the Senate to join in protecting Americans’ access to affordable, high-quality health care and lifesaving medications. In a passionate speech, Phillips shared the story of his daughter’s battle with childhood cancer, and invited his colleagues in Congress to do their jobs and build a health care system that places people over profit and benefits every American no matter their age, race, gender, zip code, income, or condition:

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Click here to watch Phillips’s remarks about the urgent, personal, and patriotic need for Congress to fix our health care system. Continue reading “Amid peaking pandemic and attacks on Americans’ care, Phillips votes to lower RX prices, reduce premiums, protect pre-existing conditions”