Tag: Rep. Phillips

Panel on sex trafficking in Minnesota a step toward new laws, policy

As the U.S. House of Representatives begins its summer recess, some members of Congress have headed back to their districts to gather information that will be used to craft future laws and policies.

Congressman Dean Phillips held a roundtable discussion about sex trafficking and sexual violence on Saturday in Minnetonka.

The panel included state health and public safety officials, as well as representatives from groups that work with survivors of sex trafficking and sexual assault.

View the complete July 27 article by John Nguyen on the MPR News website here.

Reps. Angie Craig, Dean Phillips Lead Effort To Lower Insulin Costs

Bill would provide emergency insulin and lower costs for Minnesotans

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Reps. Angie Craig (MN-02) and Dean Phillips (MN-03) introduced H.R. 4010, The Emergency Access to Insulin Act. This bill would increase insulin access for underinsured and uninsured patients, make insulin more affordable, and hold big drug companies accountable for jacking up insulin prices and making other life-saving drugs unaffordable for Minnesota families.

The price of insulin has increased by over 600% in recent years, leading Minnesotans to risk their lives by rationing their supplies. This bill, which is the House companion to U.S. Sen. Tina Smith’s Senate bill, would:

  • Provide states with federal grants to set up short-term emergency insulin supplies for uninsured and underinsured patients
  • Help patients find long-term affordable insulin options
  • Penalize big pharmaceutical companies for excessive price increases

“This is not an issue we have the luxury of waiting on. Minnesotans are dying because of the outrageous cost of insulin and other life-saving prescription drugs,” said Rep. Craig. “This bill provides real, immediate solutions to the skyrocketing cost of insulin, while also looking toward long-term fixes by holding big pharmaceutical companies accountable for their bad faith efforts to profit off the backs of working families. I’m proud to partner with my fellow Minnesotans on this critical effort.”

“Over the past two decades, Minnesotans have suffered from a 600% increase in insulin prices,”said Rep. Phillips. “That’s outrageous. Families should not be held hostage by big pharma’s predatory pricing practices. I’m proud to lead this bill with Congresswoman Craig and continue the fight for affordable and accessible health care. We owe it to everyone in our community who relies on this life-saving drug.”

Phillips, Problem Solvers Caucus Members Return From Bipartisan Visit to Southern Border

WASHINGTON – Last Friday, members of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus visited McAllen, TX to see facilities and conditions at the southern border. The trip was led by Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN) and Rep. Lloyd Smucker (R-PA). Members visited the Donna Holding Facility for family units and unaccompanied children, the Port of Entry in Hidalgo, a Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) living and learning center for unaccompanied minors run by the non-profit BCFS, and the McAllen Central Processing Center.

After the visit, the Members sat together to continue the Caucus’s discussions of potential solutions that members of both parties could support. Afterward, the group held a press conference that can be viewed here.

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Click here to view the full press conference that followed the group discussion Continue reading “Phillips, Problem Solvers Caucus Members Return From Bipartisan Visit to Southern Border”

ICYMI: Kendall Qualls Can’t Say Why He’s Running for Congress

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — Yesterday, Kendall Qualls filed paperwork to run for congress in Minnesota’s 3rd congressional district. In a story published in the Star Tribune, Qualls refused to answer any questions from the press about his run for congress, instead directing all inquiries to political consultant Gregg Peppin.

EXCERPT FROM THE STAR TRIBUNE:

Republican Kendall Qualls declared his intention to seek the suburban House seat in a statement of candidacy with the Federal Election Commission Tuesday.

Qualls declined to comment when reached by phone by the Star Tribune, saying he is referring all inquiries to his political consultant. The consultant did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party Chairman Ken Martin released the following statement in response:

Continue reading “ICYMI: Kendall Qualls Can’t Say Why He’s Running for Congress”

Rep. Phillips Votes to Pass Raise the Wage Act

WASHINGTON, DC – Rep. Dean Phillips (MN-03) today voted in favor of H.R. 582, the Raise the Wage Act, which passed the House by a vote of 233 to 199. The bill increases the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour gradually over seven years. It also includes a requirement, supported by Phillips, that the Government Accountability Office continue to monitor the impacts of the rising minimum wage, ensuring accountability for Congress and transparency for the American people.

“After Congress failed to act on wages for nearly a decade, I’m proud to be a part of the 116thCongress that is again taking meaningful action to help people who are struggling to get by,” said Phillips. “This bill would ensure that, as we move from $7.25 to $15 per hour, we remain vigilant in observing the impacts on our economy, on workers, and on small businesses. It also included a longer phase-in than originally proposed. For those reasons, I voted yes. Still, the legislation before us today was not perfect. I will continue to work with my colleagues to ensure any bill that ultimately becomes law is good for both workers and small businesses here and across the country.”

The Raise the Wage Act would deliver a long-overdue pay-raise to millions of working families who are currently experiencing the longest period in history without an increase in the federal minimum wage. As with nearly every other major piece of legislation passed by the House in this Congress, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has vowed to block a vote in the Senate.

 

Phillips to Lead Problem Solvers Caucus on a Bipartisan Visit to the Southern Border

WASHINGTON, DC – Members of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus will be visiting the southern border of the United States in the Rio Grande Valley on Friday, July 19, 2019. Among the facilities the Caucus members will be inspecting are points of entry, a border patrol station, and a centralized processing center. Caucus members will also be inspecting the physical U.S.-Mexican border and will participate in briefings and discussions with experts on the ground. Reps. Lloyd Smucker (R-PA) and Dean Phillips (D-MN) are co-leading the Problem Solvers Caucus’s visit.

“Like so many Americans, I remain deeply concerned about the humanitarian crisis at our border that is affecting so many children and families. It’s important that members of the Problem Solvers Caucus are able to speak with experts on the ground during their inspection of the facilities there,” said Rep. Josh Gottheimer.

“We care deeply about the people caught up in the broken immigration system.  As a result, we need to come together to find a solution to this crisis that can be signed into law,” said Rep. Tom Reed.  “We, as a caucus, and more broadly, as a nation, need to have the hard discussions on this matter in order to find consensus that ensures the safety of our border and fair treatment of all immigrants, legal and illegal.” Continue reading “Phillips to Lead Problem Solvers Caucus on a Bipartisan Visit to the Southern Border”

Rep. Phillips and Dem House colleagues stand up for clean water

There’s a reason that Minnesota is called the Land of 10,000 Lakes: Our waterways form an unmistakable part of our Minnesotan identity. For generations, Minnesota’s waters and natural resources have provided us clean water to drink, unpolluted air to breathe, and beautiful landscapes that we enjoy with our families and friends. But now these resources are under attack in Washington.

Last week President Donald Trump tried to greenwash his record by claiming that he wants America to have “the cleanest water.” In reality, his administration has launched a relentless assault on Minnesota’s waters, outdoors and communities. Seeking to boost the profits of corporate polluters, Trump and his industry-friendly cronies have gutted crucial protections for our natural resources.

Thankfully, Minnesota and our elected representatives are not standing idly by. Just last month Reps. Dean Phillips, Angie Craig, Betty McCollum and Ilhan Omar stood up against Trump’s reckless agenda by supporting strong funding for programs that strengthen our outdoors and communities. The budget passed by the House of Representatives protects our clean water, and seeks to ensure that communities across Minnesota can enjoy safe drinking water, vibrant lands and wildlife, and beautiful waterways in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.

View the completeJuly 17 commentary by Deanna White on the MinnPost website here.

Phillips Amendment to Clean Up Polluted Minnesota Missile Site Included In Defense Bill

Local fire chief’s concerns about harmful pollutants led to Phillips amendment

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Rep. Dean Phillips (MN-03) announced that an amendment he authored – aimed at cleaning up a former missile site in Watertown, MN that left the area contaminated with harmful pollutants – has been included in the House’s FY 2020 defense bill.

The grounds were the location of an anti-aircraft missile site until 1972. In 1974, it was jointly purchased from the military by 11 local communities – Mound, Chanhassen, Chaska, Eden Prairie, Excelsior, Long Lake, Maple Plain, Mayer, St. Bonifacius, Victoria and Watertown. The 11 communities established the Western Area Fire Training Academy (WAFTA), a joint agreement between their local volunteer fire departments. The grounds were used to conduct fire training exercises for the group for over a decade, until it was discovered that the site was contaminated with harmful pollutants left over from the Nike missile program. Since the 1990’s, WAFTA has attempted to return the site to the military with the hope that it will be cleaned of pollutants.

During his tour of all 36 cities in the 3rd District, Phillips was made aware of the problem by the Mound fire chief Gregory Pederson, who also serves as the President of WAFTA. Pederson had requested action from 3rdDistrict representatives for nearly two decades with no success. After hearing Chief Pederson’s story, Phillips introduced an amendment to the FY 2020 defense bill that requires the Army to report on a plan to decontaminate polluted sites like the one in Watertown. Continue reading “Phillips Amendment to Clean Up Polluted Minnesota Missile Site Included In Defense Bill”

Rep. Phillips Statement On Emergency Aid Package To Address Humanitarian Crisis At The Border

Phillips: “Partisanship can wait. These children cannot.”

WASHINGTON, DC – Rep. Dean Phillips (MN-03) released the following statement today after the House passed emergency funding to address the humanitarian crisis at the border:

“Earlier this month, I visited the border at McAllen, TX and saw the humanitarian crisis there in person. I saw children and families kept in overcrowded cages and sleeping on the floor. I saw mothers with infants sitting on concrete in 107 degree heat. I saw limited access to restrooms, and kids without blankets or toothbrushes. Even worse, our Administration is arguing in court to keep it that way. With such ineffective and failed leadership, it falls on Congress to act.

Since I returned from the border, I have spent every day working to inspire colleagues on both sides of the aisle to take action and provide aid to these suffering children. Today, Congress did just that. This is an urgent crisis and the funding bill that passed today was the quickest and best way to make sure these children get relief.

Continue reading “Rep. Phillips Statement On Emergency Aid Package To Address Humanitarian Crisis At The Border”