Dear Fourth District Constituent,

 

This week I continued to hear directly from Minnesotans at town halls and community events across the Fourth District. Since April 12, I’ve had the opportunity to participate in several town halls in Saint Paul, Stillwater, and Oak Park Heights, as well as community and virtual conversations with the League of Women Voters, BWCA advocates and health care leaders. I continue to listen to my constituents—your voice matters, and your voice empowers me. 

 

 

 

 

On Earth Day, I reintroduced the Mississippi River Restoration and Resilience Initiative (MRRRI Act).This bill would establish a non-regulatory initiative to protect and restore the ecological health and resilience of the Mississippi River for current and future generations as well as the fish and wildlife that rely on the river and its floodplain.

 

The Mississippi is America’s greatest river. Over 20 million people get their drinking water from the river, and it provides jobs and supports billions of dollars in economic activity from its headwaters at Lake Itasca to the Gulf of Mexico.

 

 

The Animal Welfare Act (AWA) offers protections to animals that are used or intended for use in research, testing, experimentation, or exhibition, or bred and sold as pets. The AWA requires routine annual inspections of all licensed facilities that hold or use AWA-covered animals by the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). Currently, the AWA currently only covers certain warm-blooded animal species. Due to the exclusion of all cold-blooded animals, USDA’s APHIS Animal Care inspectors lack the authority to regulate facilities for the use, display, or breeding of cold-blooded animals. That leaves the federal government without a vital tool to protect these animals from adverse treatment.

 

I had the pleasure of announcing the winners of the 2025 Congressional Art Competition this week. The first-place winner is Rachel Lee of Roseville Area High School, for her oil on canvas piece entitled “No Appetite.” Her work will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol alongside winners from across the United States.

 

 

In second place is East Ridge High School’s Alyssa Wang, for her acrylic piece entitled “Sharing Melodic Dreams” whose work will be displayed in my D.C Office. Nitza Aily Rodriguez Benavides of Roseville Area High School took third place for her colored pencil, white pen, and wood support piece entitled “Asphyxia,” and her work will be displayed in my Saint Paul Office. 

 

The competition was open to Fourth District high school students and attracted dozens of entries which will be displayed during the 2025 Saint Paul Spring Art Crawl, April 25-27 in the Atrium Gallery of the Schmidt Artist Lofts in Saint Paul. Click here to view the gallery of all 2025 entries.

 

On Wednesday, Governor Walz delivered his State of the State address at the Capitol. Back in Washington, Elon Musk and Donald Trump are slashing critical services Americans rely on. Here in Minnesota, our leaders are taking a different approach. Governor Walz is dedicated to investing in our communities and making Minnesota the best state in the nation to start a family and raise kids. I will continue to stand by our Governor as he pushes back against the illegal and unconditional actions of the Trump administration. 

 

 

Saint Paul Opens Fire Station 7 on the East Side
On Tuesday, St. Paul opened the new Fire Station 7, its first new station in over a decade. This accomplishment is the result of years of hard work and collaboration with St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter, Senator Amy Klobuchar, and Fire Chief Butch Inks.

 

 

Fire Station 7 will not only protect the residents and businesses of St. Paul, but will also support our hard-working firefighters through improved health initiatives and access to state-of-the-art equipment. Strategically located on the East Side of the city, the new facility will better serve the needs of the community and will make life safer for residents and firefighters alike in my district.

 

On Thursday I had the privilege to recognize the outstanding young men and women from Minnesota’s Fourth Congressional District who have received appointments to our nation’s prestigious service academies. These students have demonstrated exceptional character, academic achievement, and a deep commitment to service. Their accomplishments are a reflection of the strength and values of our communities here in Minnesota, and I know they will make us proud as future leaders in the Armed Forces. Congratulations to each of you and your families — your dedication inspires us all.

The United States service academies represent the highest standard of leadership development and academic excellence in support of our nation’s defense. An appointment to these institutions is not just a personal achievement — it is a pledge to serve something greater than oneself. These students are preparing to step into roles of immense responsibility, and they do so with courage, integrity, and a deep sense of duty. 

 

REAL ID Deadline Approaching
REAL ID enforcement begins on May 7th. Your state driver’s license or ID must be a REAL ID to board U.S. domestic flights or enter certain federal buildings. An enhanced driver’s license, passport book, or passport card are also approved IDs for domestic travel. For more info, visit the Department of Driver and Vehicle Services.