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.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, Reps. Dean Phillips (D-MN) and David Joyce (R-OH) and Sens. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Rob Portman (R-OH) introduced the RECYLE Act, a bipartisan bill that would lead to vast improvements in community and residential recycling programs.
Recycling is one of the simplest ways to protect the environment, yet consumer confusion often impedes efforts to reduce waste. In fact, according to the EPA, nearly $9 billion worth of recyclable materials are thrown away each year. The RECYCLE Act would fund education and outreach programs meant to increase recycling rates and share best practices across the country. Improved recycling is especially important as we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic. Demand for PPE and other single-use plastics has increased waste by an estimated 30%, with the majority of that waste ending up in landfills or the natural environment.
“Plastic pollution is one of the worst environmental crises in decades, yet across the country, people remain confused about how to dispose of materials responsibly,” said Rep. Phillips. “That’s why I worked with my colleagues on the RECYCLE Act, a bipartisan, bicameral bill that gives local communities the tools they need to keep our lands, rivers, and lakes pollutant free. Let’s get this bill to the President’s desk and prove once and for all that preserving our environment is an American issue, not a partisan one.”
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Dean Phillips (MN-03) along with Reps. John Curtis (R-UT), Tom Malinowski (D-NJ), Young Kim (R-CA), and Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), announced the reintroduction of the Foreign Advanced Technology Surveillance Accountability Act, a bipartisan bill that would counteract foreign governments who abuse cutting-edge technology to repress their citizens. If passed, this legislation would for the first time designate oppressive government surveillance as a human rights abuse. It would also require a report on whether countries have imported or unlawfully obtained biometric or facial recognition data from other countries.
“The right to privacy is fundamental, and we must ensure that right is protected in our increasingly interconnected world. New technologies provide a powerful tool for enabling a freer exchange of ideas, but they can also threaten our ability to control our private information,” said Rep. Phillips. “We must advocate for human rights, both at home and abroad. The Foreign Advanced Technology Surveillance Accountability Act will allow us to assess how foreign governments are using new technologies to threaten civil liberties, so that we can better address it going forward.”
“Modern technology is the direct result of innovation by democratic people and countries. However, in many dictatorships, technology has been misused to lessen the accountability of leaders and increase human rights abuses such as torture or unjust detention,” said Rep. Curtis. “My bill, the Foreign Advanced Technology Surveillance Accountability Act, brings the State Department’s Annual Report on Human Rights Practices into the 21st century to counter the growing adoption of advanced technology surveillance equipment by foreign governments.”
The accolade comes after recent research showing Phillips as the MN delegations’ most productive member.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Dean Phillips (MN-03) thanked the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) for presenting him with the 2021 Legislative Action Award, in honor of Phillips’ leadership and demonstrated commitment to crossing the partisan divide.
The BPC established the Legislative Action Award to acknowledge creative and courageous members who foster bipartisanship when it is needed most. After the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Phillips worked tirelessly to break through partisan gridlock and deliver relief for small businesses and families. He authored a law to make PPP loans widely accessible to struggling businesses, and his leadership on the Problem Solvers Caucus was the inspiration for the bipartisan COVID-19 relief package passed last December. For these successes and more, Phillips was rated the most productive Representative in the Minnesota delegation by the non-partisan Center for Effective Lawmaking.
“Throughout my 30-year career in business and philanthropy, I witnessed hundreds of organizations throughout the world—but none were so utterly dysfunctional as our Congress,” saidPhillips. “I recognize that the best policy ideas are the result of principled debate and thoughtful compromise and I am honored to receive the BPC’s Legislative Action Award. I will continue to pursue common sense ideas for the common good, inspire a new era of collaboration Congress, and restore Americans’ faith in government – especially as we emerge from a once-in-a-generation crisis.”
Congressman Phillips is the only member of the Minnesota delegation to win a Legislative Action Award from the Bipartisan Policy Center and a Jefferson-Hamilton Award for Bipartisanship from the Chamber of Commerce. According to the Lugar Center’s Bipartisan Index, Phillips is Minnesota’s most bipartisan member of the House of Representatives.
I’m looking forward to talking with you tonight during my free and open-to-the-public vaccine briefing call at 6:45 PM CT with U.S. Senator Tina Smith and Minnesota Department of Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm. We’ll get to as many of your questions about getting vaccinated against COVID-19 as possible, so I hope you’ll join the conversation by calling in at (855) 927-0897, streaming live on my website or on Facebook, or registering here to receive a call. Ahead of our call tonight, I wanted to give you a little more information about the important work my team and I did last week:
Immigration Close to Home
For decades, Liberian refugees have worked, owned homes, raised families, and paid taxes legally in Minnesota through the Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) program with no opportunity to become citizens. Our extraordinary Liberian community, along with Republicans and Democrats in Congress, worked so hard to finally secure a pathway to citizenship in 2019. We thought the hardest part of the journey was behind us, but it appears that unacceptable hurdles remain – in 2020, more than 2,300 newly-eligible Liberian DED recipients applied for citizenship, but only 91 were approved.
Last week, the House passed H.R. 6, the bipartisan Dream and Promise Act, to provide a path to citizenship for Dreamers and DED holders, but, until the Senate passes the bill as well, thousands of lives hang in the balance. In the meantime, I’m continuing to demand accountability and transparency for Minnesota’s Liberian community before time runs out again. Last week I sent a letter to the Biden Administration outlining steps we can take right now to improve the program and ensure that every eligible applicant receives fair treatment.
Meeting with Constituents
Representation begins with listening, and, this past week, I had the pleasure of hearing from constituents who are leading Minnesota towards better health care. My team and I spoke with Hennepin Healthcare leadership about the work they have been doing throughout the pandemic in COVID testing, treatment, and now vaccination. I also had the chance to meet with the Minnesota Hospital Association and health care leaders from across Minnesota to discuss the impacts of COVID-19 and the need to make high quality health care available to every Minnesotan. We discussed opportunities to make progress in the areas of telehealth and prescription drug pricing.
Hennepin Healthcare has been a leader throughout the pandemic
Clean Cars for Minnesota
It’s time for Minnesota to be a leader for climate action and clean energy, both in our region and in our country. Last week, I joined a growing chorus of voices in advocating for the proposed Minnesota Clean Cars rule, which would reduce pollution and ensure that Minnesotans have access to zero-emissions vehicles. The Clean Car rule would tackle the greatest source of greenhouse gas emissions in our state—preserving public health and saving Minnesotan taxpayers billions of dollars in the process. If approved, the Clean Cars rule would go into effect in 2024.
Passing the Violence Against Women Act
The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) is a landmark law that combats sexual assault and domestic violence. First passed in 1994, VAWA was reauthorized on a bipartisan basis in 200, 2005, and 2013 – until 2018, when it expired because the Senate failed to bring it forward for a vote. The House voted to reauthorize VAWAlast week, and I’m pleased to share that my amendment to ensure that women and children who face domestic violence can leave their abuser without losing their legal, non-immigrant status was included in the bill.
As your Congressman I always want to do my best to share information that relates to you, your family, and our community. From job opportunities in the district to contests in my office, I want to keep you in the loop.
Opportunity for student artists: The 2021 Congressional Art Competition has officially begun! High school students in Minnesota’s Third Congressional District are invited to create an original art piece and submit it by Saturday, April 17. The winning artwork will be displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol. Learn more at phillips.house.gov/art
Hiring in MN-03: The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is planning to hire 6,000 full- and part-time Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) across all airports in the coming weeks and months, including Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP). If you are interested in applying, you can find information here
Our vaccine briefing call tonight: Click here to learn how to join the conversation with me, Senator Tina Smith, Minnesota Department of Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm, and local health experts tonight. If you won’t be able to attend, or you’ll just want to listen to our discussion again, I promise to follow up next week with the recording of our conversation
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Vice Chair Dean Phillips (MN-03) and his colleagues on the Problem Solvers Caucus (PSC) sent a letter to President Joe Biden outlining an agenda for bipartisan, bicameral legislation in the 117th Congress.
“You wouldn’t know it from cable news,” said Rep. Dean Phillips (MN-03), Problem Solvers Caucus Vice-Chair, “but more often than not Democrats, Republicans, and Independents agree on the core issues that affect our country. We agree that our infrastructure should be the best in the world, that health care costs are out of control, and that a healthy economy means prosperous businesses and rising wages. The Problem Solvers Caucus thrives because it recognizes that bipartisanship doesn’t come from Congress—it comes from the American people. With President Biden’s help, we can fulfill that mandate, find common ground, and inspire a new era of collaboration in Washington.”
Now with 56 members, evenly divided between Democrats and Republicans, the Problem Solvers Caucus remains committed to finding bipartisan solutions to the major issues we face today. The PSC’s priority agenda for the 117th Congress – listed here in full – is succinctly summarized below.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Wednesday, the House of Representatives will vote to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act, a landmark law that combats sexual assault and domestic violence. Included in the bill was an amendment authored by Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN) that would ensure that women and children immigrants who face domestic violence can leave their abuser without losing their legal immigration status.
“No one—and I mean no one— should be forced to stay in an abusive relationship because they fear deportation,” said Rep. Phillips. “My amendment to the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act would create a pilot program for victims of domestic abuse to apply for independent immigration status. It is that simple, and it is that important.”
Initially passed in 1994, the Violence Against Women Act was reauthorized on a bipartisan basis in 2000, 2005, and 2013. The law expired in 2019.
Remarks as Prepared:
I rise today in support of my amendment and the underlying bill.
No one—and I mean no one— should be forced to stay in an abusive relationship because they fear deportation.
Under current law, if a woman travels to the United States of America with someone on a temporary visa and that relationship turns abusive, they are trapped.
My amendment to the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act would create a pilot program for victims of domestic abuse to apply for independent immigration status
Due to significant implementation problems, only 91 Liberian DED recipients newly eligible for citizenship had applications approved in FY 2020
WASHINGTON, D.C. – As the House of Representatives takes up immigration reform this week, Rep. Dean Phillips (MN-03) sent a letter to the heads of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) urging the Biden Administration to improve the program that provides a pathway to citizenship for Liberian refugees living in America on the Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) program.
“For decades, Liberian refugees have worked, owned homes, raised families, and paid taxes legally in Minnesota through the DED program with no opportunity to become citizens,” said Rep. Phillips. “Our extraordinary Liberian community, along with Republicans and Democrats in Congress, worked so hard to finally secure a pathway. We thought the hardest part of the journey was behind us, but it appears that unacceptable hurdles remain. Congress and the Biden Administration must come together to ensure that every eligible applicant for the LRIF program receives fair treatment and full transparency.”
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Dean Phillips (MN-03) kicked off the 2021 Congressional Art Competition, calling for submissions from high school students across Minnesota’s Third District. The Congressional Art Competition has been a nationwide tradition since 1982, meant to showcase the creativity and talent of America’s young artists.
Submissions received by April 17th will be evaluated by a panel of distinguished judges, and the winning submission will be prominently displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year. In addition, members of the public will be invited to vote online for the People’s Choice award, the winner of which will be hung in the Congressman’s Washington, DC office.
I’m checking in after a momentous week – and I’m not referring to the amazing March weather we’re enjoying, though, that feels pretty momentous too.
Help is on the Way
Over the weekend, the Senate amended and passed President Biden’s American Rescue Plan, a comprehensive COVID relief package that will get vaccines in arms, money in pockets, children in schools, and workers in jobs. Like most Americans, I believe it’s in our common interest to tackle the public health and economic crises brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic with bold solutions. Congress must meet the moment, which is why I’ll be voting to send the Senate’s version of the American Rescue Package to President Biden’s desk when it comes back to the House of Representatives for a final vote today.
