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  • 9/30/2013

    Senior Health Fair

    I will be hosting a Senior Health Fair next week on Monday, October 7, 2013 from 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. at Normandale Community College which will provide important information and services for seniors. The fair will also feature seminars on Medicare and Identity Theft.

    • Bloomington Public Health nurses will offer flu shots for all who attend the fair. Please bring your insurance card or let us know if you do not have insurance. No one will be turned away.
    • Caseworkers for Medicare, Social Security & Veteran's Issues 
    • Senior housing and home health care agencies
    • Free disposal of unwanted prescription medications collected by the Hennepin County Sheriff’s office.

    All Seniors and their families are welcome!

    Event Location:

    Normandale Community College

    Partnership Center

    9700 France Ave. S

    Bloomington, MN 55431

    Contact my District office for more information 952-405-8510.

  • 9/13/2013

    Holding The Assad Regime Accountable

    This week I co-sponsored a resolution establishing a Syrian war crimes tribunal. The resolution, authored by Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), calls for an immediate ceasefire in Syria and directs the President to work with the international community and the U.N. Security Council to set up a tribunal to investigate war crimes committed by both the Syrian government and rebel groups in the war-torn country.

    Recent evidence shows the Syrian government has used chemical weapons against its own people. One hundred and ninety-one states have signed the Chemical Weapons Convention banning the use of chemical weapons because they are ‘determined for the sake of all mankind, to exclude completely the possibility of the use of chemical weapons.’

    The use of chemical weapons is reprehensible and goes against international moral standards. I oppose the President’s plan for military action in Syria. The appropriate course of action is for the United States to lead an international effort to prosecute those responsible for the use of chemical weapons for war crimes before an international criminal tribunal.

    Cooperation between the United States and the international community has led to successful prosecutions through war crime tribunals in the past, including 67 individuals in the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, 31 individuals in the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, and Charles Taylor in the Special Court for Sierra Leone. 

    Read the resolution, H. Con. Res. 51 here. 

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  • 9/9/2013

    U.S. Navy Commissions Newest Submarine: USS Minnesota

    This weekend, the U.S. Navy commissioned it’s newest submarine, the USS Minnesota. I recently marked the important occasion:

    Wednesday, July 31, 2013
     
    Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the commissioning of the newest United States Navy submarine: The USS Minnesota. The USS Minnesota will be commissioned on September 7th, and is only the third ship to be named after the great state of Minnesota. The last Navy ship to be named the Minnesota was commissioned in 1907 and later joined the active fleet during World War I.
     
    The USS Minnesota is the tenth Virginia- class submarine to be constructed for the Navy. The 377-foot long sub is capable of submerged speeds of nearly 30 miles per hour and can stay submerged for up to three months at a time. It has been built for increased firepower, maneuverability, and stealth and will be the most advanced warship of the Navy. 
     
    The Minnesota will be manned by a crew of 134 brave officers and enlisted personnel who will be led by Commander John Fancher.
     
    After more than 100 years, it is a tremendous honor for the state of Minnesota to be the namesake of another mighty ship. As the USS Minnesota sets its course around the globe, we must take this opportunity to thank the men and women who have sacrificed and bravely serve to keep us safe here at home. 
     
    Read more in the Congressional Record here. 
     
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  • 9/3/2013

    Celebrating Minnetonka as Google eCity of the Year

     

    Last week, I joined Google and other Minnesota business leaders at the General Store of Minnetonka to celebrate Minnetonka being named the 2013 eCity of Minnesota. The Google eCity Award recognizes the strongest online business community in each state. I joined TwinWest Chamber President Brad Meier, General Store owner Gail Bollis, State Senator Terri Bonoff, State Representative Yvonne Selcer, Minnetonka City Councilman Dick Allendorf, and representatives from Google to present the award.  
     
    The Minnetonka business community is showing they're using the web to not only sell locally but also to find new customers outside of Minnetonka's borders. The General Store is a perfect example of a small, family owned business using innovation and technology.
     
     
    “Our ‘e-City Awards’ recognize the new ‘digital capitals’ of America,” said Scott Levitan, Google’s director of small-business engagement.  “We’re proud to recognize Minnesota's entrepreneurial-spirit—and the role that it plays in both creating jobs and sustaining the local economy.  With 97-percent of Internet-users looking for products and services online, it’s clear that success is about being connected.”
     
    Click here to learn more about Google’s eCities  http://www.google.com/economicimpact/ecities/ 
     
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  • 8/14/2013

    Benghazi a Year Later and Americans Still Deserve Answers
    It was a year ago in September when armed militias with ties to terrorist organizations attacked U.S. facilities in Benghazi, Libya, killing four Americans: U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens, State Department Information Officer Sean Smith, and two U.S. security officers – and former Navy SEALs – Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty.
     
    The American people deserve answers to why nearly a year after the attacks against our installations in Benghazi, Libya, the administration has not given the American people a full account of what happened the night of September 11th, 2012.
     
    Following this dastardly attack on American citizens, the House Committees on Armed Services, Intelligence, Judiciary, Foreign Affairs, and Oversight and Government Reform initiated immediate inquiries into issues within each Committee’s jurisdiction concerning the events surrounding the attacks.
     
    In the course of their investigations, the Committees have:
    • interviewed dozens of officials and individuals with first-hand knowledge of the events,
    • met with members of the military and diplomatic corps overseas,
    • and reviewed tens of thousands of classified and unclassified documents, cables, emails, and reports.
    Members of Congress have also traveled on fact-finding missions to foreign countries, including Libya.
     
    Some information that has come to light include the following discoveries:
    • Reductions of security levels prior to the attacks in Benghazi were approved at the highest levels of the State Department, up to and including Secretary Clinton. This fact contradicts her testimony before the House Foreign Affairs Committee on January 23, 2013.
    • In the days following the attacks, White House and senior State Department officials altered accurate talking points drafted by the Intelligence Community in order to protect the State Department.
    • Contrary to Administration rhetoric, the talking points were not edited to protect classified information. Concern for classified information is never mentioned in email traffic among senior Administration officials.
    A year later, we still don’t have the answers we need. These preliminary findings illustrate the need for continued examination and oversight by Congress. That's why when Congress returns into session, I will cosponsor legislation to establish a select committee to continue House committee action so we can protect our citizens abroad and ensure this never happens again.
     
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  • 8/8/2013

    House Passes Legislation to Rein in IRS Abuses

    It has been nearly three months since the IRS first revealed that they were purposefully targeting conservative-leaning individuals and groups for extra scrutiny, and still the American people do not have the answers they deserve.

    More appalling information continues to come forward. Just last week, the Ways and Means Committee obtained emails implicating embattled IRS official Lois Lerner -- who refused to testify before the Ways and Means and Oversight Committee -- and an attorney in the Federal Election Commission’s general counsel’s office in twice colluding to influence the record before the FEC’s vote in the case of a conservative non-profit organization. The emails suggest the discrimination of conservative groups extended beyond the IRS as we were initially told.    

    No taxpayer, regardless of political affiliation, should be unfairly targeted by a government agency.  

    It is wrong, and we must continue to push for answers so this will never happen again.  

    From what we have learned already, it is clear that the IRS is a broken agency that needs reform to restore the confidence of the American people. 

    We need answers on the nearly $50 million spent on conferences and seminars, including the infamous “Star Trek” parody video. We need answers to why the agency spent lavishly on hotel accommodations and even put their Deputy Commissioner up in a Presidential Suite during one retreat.

    We need answers to why the IRS is spending excessive amounts of money on executive travel. 

    And the American people deserve to know why, after all this has come to light, we should trust the IRS with 47 new powers and authority they will receive to implement the overhaul of our healthcare system.

    When Obamacare takes full effect next year, the agency will enforce most of the laws involved in the reform—even deciding who gets included in the health-care mandate.

    But it doesn’t stop there. The IRS will have the right to levy a penalty against businesses and individuals who don't provide or acquire insurance. 

    IRS officials have even acknowledged the huge problems these major new responsibilities will create for the agency. Treasury Inspector General official, J. Russell George, testified before the House Appropriations Committee earlier this year that there will be problems in implementing the healthcare law.

    How can we trust an agency so inept and untrustworthy to manage this massive overhaul of our health care system?  

    It used to be that Minnesotans were afraid of the IRS because the tax code was so convoluted and complicated. Even today when 9 out of 10 individuals hire someone else to do their taxes, they’re afraid all the t’s may not be crossed and the I’s dotted. M. Speaker, the fear of our complex and burdensome code is something the Ways and Means Committee has been working on for more than two year to fix. 

    But sadly, today, Americans fear an audit not just because the tax code is too complex, but because we have an agency that is acting politically in targeting people and groups they don’t like.  

    This is wrong – it’s unacceptable – and we will get answers. 

    Last week, the House considers a package of bills to begin to rein in the abuse and instill accountability back to the IRS. I’m a co-sponsor of four bills to prevent the IRS from implementing Obamacare, keep regulations from overburdening our small businesses and families, ensure agency employees under investigation for serious misconduct don’t draw a taxpayer funded paycheck, and to ensure we can prosecute those employees at the IRS who had a hand in targeting Americans based on their personal beliefs.

    The American people deserve answers to these questions and they deserve real reforms – reforms implemented so the American people can have a restored faith that they have a government that works for them.  

    That begins with instituting meaningful changes to both how the agency operates and to the tax code the agency is trying to enforce.   

    While traveling around my district, I have often heard from constituents about their fear of being audited by the IRS. 

    It’s time for action.

    Congress will continue to investigate the IRS’s actions and get to the bottom of this so we can ensure no American is ever targeted again.  

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  • 7/24/2013

    Paulsen Films PSAs

    Recently, I took time to film two important public service announcements on the topics of cancer prevention and supporting our returning service members -- two issues that are near and dear to my heart. Take a look:

    Click HERE to watch my PSA on Cancer Prevention
    Click HERE to watch my PSA on Supporting Our Returning Vets

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  • 7/22/2013

    Rep. Paulsen Recognizes Maple Grove as Newest "Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Community"

    Today, I took time to commend and congratulate the city of Maple Grove in becoming Minnesota’s newest Beyond the Yellow Ribbon community. The combined efforts of Maple Grove, the people and businesses of its community and the Minnesota National Guard have helped ensure that our military members and families have a strong support structure right in their community. 

    WATCH my speech HERE.

    Beyond the Yellow Ribbon is a unique program formed by the Minnesota National Guard to support the thousands of service members who have served Minnesota since 9/11. This program works to provide resources and support to service members and their families. As a Yellow Ribbon city, Maple Grove has gone above and beyond in supporting our troops and delivering a compassionate attitude to the many men and women who serve this great country. 

    I am honored to represent Maple Grove, its community partners and the Minnesota National Guard to help ensure that when our military members come home, they come all the way home. 

     
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  • 7/19/2013

    Paulsen Discusses Promoting National Parks and Combating Sex Trafficking

    In this week’s edition of Erik’s Correspondence Corner, I answer a question sent in from Maggie in Edina on the issue of combating sex trafficking in Minnesota. Also this week, I take a question emailed in from Betsy in Bloomington on protecting our National Parks.

    WATCH this week's Installment HERE

    Each week, I receive thousands of letters, emails, tweets, Facebook posts, and phone calls from constituents voicing their opinions. Through this video series, I regularly responds to constituent correspondence on a variety of topics. 

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  • 7/17/2013

    Paulsen Receives "Friends of the National Parks" Award

    It was an honor to receive the National Parks Conservation Association’s “Friends of the National Parks” award for my work to preserve and protect our national treasures. I had a chance to share a few family photos from recent trips to our nation's parks. Learn more here. 

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