I hope you had a great Memorial Day weekend with friends and family. While the 3-day weekend is always great for backyard barbecues or picnics, it's important to take the opportunity to remember the brave men and women who have given so much to protect and defend our nation. Our freedom comes from those willing to answer the call to protect liberty and our way of life.

I believe we need to honor the commitment of our servicemen and women and keep the promises that were made to them. Sadly, a recent Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Inspector General report confirmed that veterans are not getting the care they deserve. Over 1,700 veterans were intentionally left off of the official waiting list at the Phoenix VA hospital—resulting in wait times that were five times longer than originally reported. This is shameful and unacceptable, which is why I called on a change of leadership at the VA to ensure that those responsible are held accountable.

Also, this week I was awarded the ‘Gold Mouse’ award for my creative use of social media to interact with my constituents through my weekly correspondence corner videos. In these video conversations I answer questions from you and provide a Congressional update. The videos were featured in a Roll Call article last month.

If I can be of help to you or your family, don’t hesitate to give my office a call. Join the conversation online by visiting my website, Facebook page, Twitter, and don't forget to watch my weekly video, Erik's Correspondence Corner.

STEM Winner Announced

Sam Schooler, a student at Edina High School won my inaugural Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Competition. The competition was open to all high school students, who were asked to create an innovative software application, or "app," for a computer, tablet, or mobile device. Sam received the top prize for designing and building his Smartphone application, "Runbow." Runbow, as described in Sam's video, is a game that involves keeping a white object on a colorful, scrolling trail by tilting the phone back and forth.

Fixing the Tax Code for Charities

The Ways and Means Committee took up and passed a package of bills to simplify and fix onerous tax provisions for charities and charitable foundations. The committee passed my legislation to simplify the tax code for private foundations so they don't have to spend valuable resources on accountants and lawyers instead of grantees and charitable causes. Over 1,400 charitable foundations in Minnesota donate more than $1 billion annually to a variety of causes.

Current law discourages foundations from giving large donations in times of need, such as after natural disasters or in tough economic times. We need to ensure charitable giving decisions are made based on the needs of our communities, not the tax code.

House Appropriations Bills Moving Forward

Congress is in the midst of passing its annual appropriations bills. With a $17 trillion national debt, getting Washington's fiscal house in order continues to be a top priority for me. The latest bill was the Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Bill that prioritizes funding for law enforcement and includes important provisions to fight human trafficking, help women who are victims of domestic violence, and combat cyber-intrusion activities. Overall, the bill saves $400 million in taxpayer money by cutting waste and reducing government overhead.

Erik with the 'Gold Mouse' Award for Citizen Engagement on Social Media

Congressman Paulsen speaking to the media about his anti-sex trafficking legislation

Erik with students who were recognized for creating 'apps' for this year's Congressional STEM Competition

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