Lowering Costs and Strengthening Our Local Economy

Growing up, I watched my mom work two jobs to help put herself through college, all while raising three kids largely on her own. I know that, right now, there are folks all across Minnesota – just like my mom – who are bending over backwards and working multiple jobs just to put food on the table. In Washington, I’m working every day to help lift those folks up and ensure their hard work pays off. That’s why, for the past several months, my top priority in Washington has been identifying and enacting solutions to bring down prices in our economy and reduce the inflation that is stretching families’ budgets thin.

I was proud to help lead the effort to pass the Lower Food and Fuel Costs Act, a bipartisan package of bills that will lower prices for families at the grocery aisle and the gas pump by giving America’s farmers the support and resources they need to thrive. That legislation included two of my bills – the Year Round Fuel Choice Act, which allows for the year-round sales of cheaper and cleaner biofuel alternatives, and the Strengthening the Agriculture and Food Supply Chain Act, which establishes a task force dedicated to shoring up the agriculture and food supply chains in order to prevent bottlenecks and lower food costs. I’ve also led efforts to enact a temporary gas tax holiday –  both at the state and federal level - which could lower prices at the pump by nearly fifty cents per gallon here in Minnesota! 

I was proud to champion these critical efforts in Congress – among others – to help get food on shelves faster, lower energy costs, support economic growth in rural America and ensure everyone can afford to put a good meal on the table. Finding ways to lower costs and strengthen our economy will always be at the top of my mind, because I know our job is never over until we can create an economy that works for every Minnesotan.