May 18, 2014

Dear Friend,

As we've all been waiting for spring to truly arrive, I've been visiting Minnesota companies and classrooms. I spoke at the Chanhassen Rotary Club Scholarship Breakfast where local high school students were awarded college scholarships for their service and also addressed the Eden Prairie Chamber of Commerce where small businesses continue to lead the way!

In Washington, the House passed important bipartisan legislation by an overwhelming vote to modernize and streamline charter school programs. Minnesota pioneered the charter school movement and continues to be a leader in innovation in education. Watch me speaking on the House floor in favor of the Success and Opportunity Through Quality Charter Schools Act. The legislation was also praised in a recent Star Tribune Editorial.

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


Erik Paulsen
Member of Congress

Permanently Extending R&D Tax Credit

The United States is the only country in the world that allows important parts of our tax code to expire regularly. One of these provisions is the Research and Development (R&D) tax credit. While the R&D tax credit has been extended on a temporary basis since 1981, businesses can't plan for the future when Congress extends it for short term periods or even retroactively. I believe it's time to make this tax provision that promotes innovation permanent. Thankfully, the House recently voted to make the R&D tax credit permanent to give more certainty to American employers so they can compete globally. For example, by extending the provision permanently, a Congressional scorekeeper estimates that American companies will expand their research and development by 10%. Watch me at a recent press conference speaking on what extending the credit means to Minnesota businesses and employees.

 

Bringing Home Kidnapped Nigerian Girls

The recent news that the terrorist group Boko Haram kidnapped nearly 300 young girls in Northeast Nigeria has captured the global conscience. Boko Haram, which roughly translates to “Western education is forbidden,” took the girls simply because they were attending school. The group now threatens to sell them into slavery or marriage. A despicable act like this deserves condemnation and action by the international community. While I applaud the efforts of the administration to send resources to the Nigerian government to help find these girls, more can still be done. I recently spoke on the House floor to call on adding Boko Haram to the United Nations Security Council’s al-Qaeda sanctions list to put additional international pressure on this terrorist group and decrease their influence in the region.

 

Congressman Paulsen spoke to 6th graders at Westonka's Grandview Middle School

 

Congressman Paulsen joins the Chanhassen Rotary scholarship winners

 

Erik welcomes Minnesota small brewers who were visiting Washington to tout their growth and the jobs they provide

 

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