Hope you're enjoying summer and getting a chance to watch the Summer Olympics. We've had a handful of Olympians from Minnesota competing, including right here in our district. Congratulations to Wayzata High School swim and diving coach David Plummer for winning the bronze medal in the 100-meter backstroke! I also want to recognize Paula Lynn Obanana, who competed for Team USA in the badminton women's double tournament with her partner Eva Lee. You may have read in the Star Tribune how my office helped Paula Lynn work through bureaucratic red tape to obtain her citizenship. Read the story here. We're proud of David, Paula Lynn, and all of Team USA for their great showing in Rio!

 

Also, did you see that I am one of only 34 members of Congress from either party to get a bill signed into law this year? The Recovering Missing Children Act that I authored was signed by the President last month and will help reunite families by giving law enforcement critical and necessary tools in missing and abducted children cases. Getting things done is accomplished by working across the aisle in a productive, bipartisan manner, and I was pleased to see this important issue move forward.

 

As always, please let me know whenever I can be of assistance to you or your family. Join the conversation online by visiting my website, Facebook page, Twitter, Instagram, and please watch the latest Erik's Correspondence Corner video.

 

Mental health treatment is an incredibly important issue, and that's why I hosted a roundtable on how to improve the current system at my office this week. I gathered leaders in health care, education, law enforcement, as well as family members of patients to hear what we need to do to address gaps and blind spots that exist today.

 

Many patients and families struggle to navigate the chaotic patchwork of mental health programs to find access to quality care and instead end up in the criminal justice system. The bipartisan Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act, which I coauthored and passed in the House last month with bipartisan support, will overhaul how we approach mental health by focusing resources on evidence-based care, address the shortage of hospital beds, and empower caregivers to ensure they can get their loved ones the help they need. I've heard from Minnesota psychologists, psychiatrists, caregivers, and the National Alliance for Mental Illness Minnesota that the reforms in this bill will help patients.

 

The bill also provides crisis intervention training for police so they can effectively address situations involving mental health. I look forward to applying these ideas and continuing to work to make sure that patients, families, and other stakeholders have the resources to address mental health.

 

 

 

I am always impressed by the latest developments in life-changing and life-saving medical technology. As co-chair of the House MedTech caucus I am always working to ensure there are policies that encourage innovators to develop the next great medical device or technology.

 

Last week, I toured the ReSound headquarters and manufacturing facility in Bloomington. ReSound is a leader in hearing aid technology, and I was recognized by ReSound as a "champion for hearing aid innovation." I also stopped by the Maple Grove offices of Boston Scientific to hold a town hall meeting and received the "Winning Spirit Award" for my work on medical innovation. KSTP was along for the tour at ReSound and you can read more about my visit here.

 

 

 

Veterans make such huge sacrifices for our country, and it is inspiring when they display that same selflessness in their communities. Three veterans from our district, including one who I nominated, were recently named 2016 Veterans' Voices Awardees from the Minnesota Humanities Center for their exemplary community service. The veterans from the Third District are Army National Guard Veteran Lina Knox, M.A. from Coon Rapids; Army Colonel Donald G. Patton from Edina; and Air Force Veteran Robert J. Rivera, also from Edina.

 

Each of them have done incredible work in their communities, including bringing awareness to veterans' issues, managing local recreational sports leagues for both veterans and children, and preserving and educating military and veteran history. Honoring our veterans is so important, and these three are shining examples of our bravest men and women.