The Federal government's first priority is the safety and security of the American people. And, the terrorist attacks in Paris, France are a sober reminder that there are those in the world that wish to do us and our allies harm. With evidence that groups like ISIS are exploiting refugee programs throughout the West in order to embed their fighters in these countries and carry out terrorist attacks, I believe it's important that we conduct an extensive review of the protocols used by the federal government in refugee admissions. The FBI has also told Congress they do not have the necessary intelligence to properly vet refugees from Syria, which is why I supported legislation passed by the House with strong bipartisan support to pause our Syrian refugee program and add additional levels of scrutiny to the acceptance process.

During my telephone town hall meeting on Tuesday, I asked, "Should the Federal government pause relocating Syrian refugees to the United States to ensure that we have an adequate vetting process in place?" The results of the poll are below:

On the economic front, there continues to be frustration and worries about the sluggish recovery we've seen since the recession ended in June 2009. This has been especially difficult for the millennial generation (people born between 1982 and 2000) who are entering the workforce with high student debt and tend to be underemployed. This week, the Joint Economic Committee held a hearing on millennials in the modern economy to highlight policies and issues of interest to the millennial generation. Watch me ask questions of those who testified, including my colleague, Rep. Elise Stefanik, who is the youngest woman ever elected to Congress, about the obstacles and opportunities that her generation faces. Video is available here.

Finally, I attended the unveiling of the 2016 National Park Service coins to celebrate the Park's 100th anniversary next year. I authored the new law to mint these coins, which will raise money to preserve and protect our national parks with no costs to taxpayers.

Have a great week and if I can be of help to you or your family, please give my office a call. Join the conversation online by visiting my website, Facebook page, Twitter, Instagram, and please watch my latest Erik's Correspondence Corner video.

Helping our Veterans

For nearly a century, November 11 has been a special day to celebrate the service and sacrifice of our veterans. What first began as Armistice Day to remember the veterans that served in World War I, has now become Veterans Day and a time to honor all of those who served our country in the military. Supporting our veterans should be more than a one day affair, however. You can read a column I wrote in the Eden Prairie News about what I'm doing to for veterans, including addressing the problems at the VA.

It's also inspiring to know that our young people are looking to sign up and serve our great nation. Last weekend, my office interviewed students interested in a Congressional nomination to one of our country's military academies. Many of these students have a myriad of options to choose from after high school, and it's gratifying to know that many are interested in the academies.

Giving Families Access to Life-Saving Blood Banking

New medical breakthroughs are giving hope to countless families that have a loved one that suffers from serious and deadly diseases. The use of stem cells of umbilical cord and placenta blood and tissue to replicate and differentiate cells that can be used to treat illnesses is one process that is being used successfully to treat diseases like leukemia and lymphoma. And there's evidence this could be used against other illnesses like cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, and Parkinson’s disease. However, in order to work, families would need to bank blood and tissue after the birth of a child -- an expensive proposition.

I've introduced legislation, the Family Blood Cord Banking Act, that would allow families to use funds from their Health Savings Accounts and Flexible Spending Accounts to pay for this banking. Giving more flexibility to patients to pay for this process could be a lifesaving opportunity for someone diagnosed with a serious disease.

Meeting with Women Executives and Leaders

The organization 'All in Together' is a non-partisan collaboration that seeks to empower women to drive meaningful change through civic, social, and political avenues. This week, I met with a group of their members who visited Washington. I discussed my legislative priorities and why it's important to be civically engaged in their communities. As the father of four daughters, I enjoyed the opportunity to meet with influential women that are really making a difference in business and leadership.

Congressman Paulsen meets with women executives and business leaders from All in Together.

Erik unveiling a new 'Old Faithful' coin as part of the National Park Service's 100 year anniversary in 2016.

Congressman Paulsen recognizes the philanthropy of Minnesota's Bruce Dayton who passed away recently.

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