I kicked off the past week speaking to the Bloomington Chamber of Commerce about tax reform and helping small businesses. Later in the week, the President released his budget, and I met with quite a few Minnesotans who came to Washington to visit and share their thoughts and ideas on issues.

We hit an important landmark on Tuesday when the 218^th Representative signed on to support my bill to repeal the medical device tax. Read more about what we're doing to save 35,000 jobs in Minnesota.

As always, please feel free to contact me if I can assist you or your family in any way. Join the conversation online by visiting my website, Facebook page, Twitter, and don’t forget to watch my weekly video,Erik’s Correspondence Corner.

ATTENTION - Job Fair this week!

I know that finding a job in this economy can be a challenge, and I want to help. Please join your friends and neighbors in taking advantage of my free Job Fair on Friday, April 19 at Normandale Community College from 1pm - 4pm.

Learn more about my upcoming Job Fair by visiting my website at www.paulsen.house.gov.

NOTE FOR VETERANS: My Job Fair will open an hour earlier at Noon to dedicate additional time to helping our Veterans!

More Trade Opportunities for More Jobs

This week, I helped chair a bipartisan meeting between members of the House Ways and Means Committee and our counterparts in the European Union (EU) to discuss enhancing the trade relationship between the U.S. and the EU’s 27 member states. Read more about how a robust Transatlantic trade agreement with the EU will help shore up the U.S. economy.    

Restoring Flexibility in Healthcare

In March, I authored legislation with Senator Johanns of Nebraska to repeal new restrictions placed on health savings accounts (HSA) and flexible spending accounts (FSA) that went into effect from the President’s health care law. A $2,500 FSA contribution cap went into effect this year. Another restriction of the law, already in effect, prohibits HSA and FSA participants from using their own health care dollars in their accounts to purchase over the counter medicines without a prescription. It defies logic for Washington to restrict and deny the flexibility so many American families need to manage their own health care needs.

Forbidding families from using money they have set aside to purchase affordable over-the-counter medications, such as Claritin and Tylenol, not only wastes the time and money of families and individuals, but also places an additional burden on doctors and health professionals. I'm working to find ways to promote and protect programs that help lower the cost of healthcare and allow individuals to make better healthcare choices.

This week, we wrote a newspaper column on the importance of restoring flexibility and protecting patient-centered healthcare. Read it HERE.

In Case You Missed It  

MinnPost: Brace yourself: Congress might actually get something done

A quick read on what I’m doing on tax reform.

Paulsen Pics

Joined my Minnesota colleagues in a friendly hotdish cook off. Find my recipe HERE.

Met with students from Chaska's World Learner School in the Capitol.

Helped chair a bipartisan trade meeting between members of Congress and our counterparts in the EU.