Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, today I rise to encourage the Speaker of the House to give expeditious consideration of the United States- Mexico-Canada Agreement. There is progress on this agreement being made. The country of Mexico, their senate just ratified it. Canada is looking to move very quickly, and it is critically important that we do the same.

Along those lines, 1,000 groups in this country: manufacturing, agriculture, transportation, and processing groups have written us and said: We need to get this deal done now.

In Minnesota, it is not just agriculture. It is machinery. It is manufacturing. It is medicine, and people like my friends at the Farm Bureau, AgriGrowth, poultry, dairy, pork; you name it, everybody wants it done.

If we can get this Mexico-Canada Free Trade Agreement with the United States done, we are going to build momentum for our deals with China, Japan, South Korea, Colombia, and the European Union.

We should be dropping down the barriers, expanding our trade, creating economic growth, creating high-wage jobs, and helping the American people and our consumers.

Madam Speaker, the best gummy bears I have ever tasted are made by a company right in southern Minnesota.

Last week, I visited Le Center and toured Maud Borup, a 112-year-old wholesale confections company that specializes in gourmet candy, baking kits, food gifts, and more.

Maud Borup started as a woman-owned brick-and-mortar candy shop in St. Paul before women even had the right to vote. Today it is a wholesale company continuing to offer opportunities for women. In fact, 96 percent of the more than 100 employees are women.

Maud Borup's president, Christine Lantinen, was recently named the 2019 Minnesota Small Business Person of the Year. Christine is an Army vet and an entrepreneur who is making a difference in her community.

We had the opportunity to discuss regulatory issues, healthcare reform, trade, and how Federal policies are affecting small businesses in Minnesota.

Madam Speaker, I thank Christine and everyone at Maud Borup for being a valuable part of Minnesota.

Mr. Speaker, last week, the Communist Government of Cuba announced that it is launching widespread rationing of food due to the grave economic crisis in their country.

Unlike citizens of Cuba, Venezuela, North Korea, and countless other nations, Americans know their grocery store shelves will be filled every day with an abundant supply of quality products at affordable prices, and that is thanks to the ingenuity and hard work of America's farmers and agribusinesses.

For Americans who lack the means to put food on the table, our taxpayers generously provide hundreds of billions of dollars for food stamps and other welfare benefits. Private entities such as churches and nonprofit food banks rely on the voluntary generosity of their members.

Yet it all starts with the supply of food. We could have fistfuls of $100 bills and EBT cards, but that wouldn't matter if the grocery store shelves were bare.

As Americans, we must always celebrate our system of free enterprise and our incredible agricultural producers. We are, indeed, the envy of the world.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Winona Health.

One-hundred and twenty-five years ago, Winona Health started with $4,500 to create the 18-bed Winona General Hospital. Certainly, Winona Health has grown over the years, but its focus on serving the community and providing quality health care has stayed the same.

Winona Health's high quality health care is a reflection of the hard work of its doctors, associate providers, staff and volunteers.

All Americans deserve access to quality, timely medical care. I'm thankful the residents of Winona and surrounding areas have a fine medical provider in Winona Health. Congratulations on 125 years.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 962, the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, legislation to block fourth-trimester abortions, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Madam Speaker, for the protection of life, I urge that the Speaker immediately schedule this important bill.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Jean Bye, President and CEO of Dotson Iron Castings in Mankato, Minnesota. Jean began her career with Dotson Iron Castings in the 1970s. With her strong work ethic, commitment to excellence and keen technical knowledge, she advanced in her career and held various management positions. In 2010, she became Dotson's President/CEO; the first woman and non-family member to run this century old manufacturer. Today, over 100 tons of ductile iron castings are melted daily, with 1,500 different metal castings produced for over 150 customers across the world.

In April, Jean was presented with The Manufacturing Institute's Science, Technology, Engineering and Production (STEP) Ahead Award, which recognizes women who have demonstrated excellence and leadership in their careers and serve as role models in inspiring young women to pursue careers in manufacturing.

Jean is known within the metalcasting industry. Since 2011, she has served on the Board of Directors of the American Foundry Society (AFS), the industry's trade association and will be concluding her successful term as AFS President at the end of April. She became the first woman in the association's over 100-year history to be chosen by her peers to serve in this role.

Madam Speaker, please join me today in congratulating Jean Bye on receiving the 2019 STEP Ahead Award and completing her term leading the metalcasting industry trade association. I wish her continued success.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the New Ulm Medical Center for being named the number one critical access hospital in the United States for 2019. This medical center, part of Allina Health, serves more than 13,000 New Ulm residents and countless more folks in southern Minnesota.

The New Ulm Medical Center has found positive ways to improve affordability and increase successful patient outcomes. Even when faced with serious health challenges, patients can thrive when they have access to affordable and conveniently located healthcare.

All Americans deserve access to quality, timely medical care. I am very pleased that residents in New Ulm, Brown County, and surrounding areas in southern Minnesota have such a fine institution of medicine to provide them.

Congratulations to New Ulm Medical Center, and thank you for serving our community.

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to recognize National Agriculture Week.

I grew up on a grain and livestock farm just outside of Truman, Minnesota, and have a deep appreciation for agriculture and all it does for our rural communities. Our ag-based economy is so critically important to our Nation and, of course, the State of Minnesota and southern Minnesota, which is our First District.

The people in southern Minnesota really appreciate our ag producers, our ag processors, our ag equipment dealers, and all the rest. I can tell you that in Minnesota's First District, one of the top crop and livestock districts in all the country, we actually were number two for hogs in the entire Nation.

Our First District is home to nearly 20,000 farmers. Considering that each farm produces enough food to feed about 165 people, the reach of our farmers goes throughout the United States and all around the world.

Mr. Speaker, I look forward to commemorating and talking about the value of agriculture and our farmers during this week and throughout this Congress.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to thank the residents of Minnesota's First District for the privilege and honor of serving them as their Representative in the House of Representatives.

As southern Minnesota's servant in Congress, I will work to keep America safe with secure borders and a military and foreign policy of peace through strength.

I will work to make America prosperous by transforming the Federal Government and implementing regulatory reform, individual tax reform, work for welfare, patient-centered medical care, merit-based immigration, and achieving U.S. energy independence.

I will work to protect our God-given U.S. constitutional rights, especially the right to life, the right of law-abiding Americans to keep and bear arms, and the right to religious freedom.

Lastly, I will work to sustain agriculture and our rural southern Minnesota way of life.

Madam Speaker, serving this body is humbling, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to restore America's greatness and reflect the views and values of the constituents of the First District of Minnesota.