I kicked off my week with a couple business tours visiting with employees and workers to discuss issues including immigration, health care, regulations, and taxes.

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

Increasing Transparency and Accountability at Federal Agencies

We've all seen the news reports of extravagant spending done by federal agencies.  The most recent report was about the IRS spending $50 million on frivolous conferences, lavish hotels, and speakers.  This is an unacceptable waste of taxpayer dollars.  That's why I've introduced bipartisan legislation, with my Wisconsin colleague Ron Kind (D-WI), aimed at increasing the transparency, accountability, and fiscal restraint of federal agency conferences.  

The Transparency Requirements for Agency Conferences and Events (TRACE) Act addresses the common sense expectation that Minnesotans have of their government: employees of federal agencies should not waste taxpayer dollars on extravagant accommodations, unnecessary luxuries, or special perks when hosting or attending a conference. The bill will require a comprehensive report detailing the costs associated with an agency’s involvement in all conferences, retreats, seminars or other such events and require this information is made public 30 days before a conference begins. Increased transparency will reduce wasteful spending by federal agencies.

Bipartisan Lunch Looks For Ways Forward on Tax Reform 

I've visited more than 370 Minnesota companies and businesses. I value these opportunities to meet with workers, small business owners, and leaders because they provide real life stories about their challenges and successes.  One message I’ve heard loud and clear is the need for tax reform to create a healthier economy.  On Tuesday, I shared some of these Minnesota anecdotes and ideas from those visits at a small bipartisan lunch with other Senators and House Members who are also interested in moving forward on tax reform. For the past two years as a member of the Ways and Means Committee, I’ve been working on a plan to make the tax code simpler and fairer while strengthening our economy.  It's a plan that could create a million jobs in the first year alone. Instead of continuing to add to and tinker with our tax code to the benefit of special interest groups, we should replace our antiquated code with a simpler, flatter code that works for all Americans.

Taking Steps to Protect Our Service Members

This week, an amendment I cosponsored to protect service members from sexual assault passed in the House. The provision would prohibit military recruits with a history of sexual assault from entering our nation’s armed forces. This change is in addition to some other recent efforts I'm working on to eliminate sexual assault in the military and protect our service members.  It's time to change the military’s culture of inaction when addressing sexual assaults. READ more here.

Paulsen Pics

Rep. Paulsen shows off family photos from his family vacations to our national parks. Erik received the National Parks Conservation Association’s “Friend of the National Park” Award.