School has started, and I'm looking forward to visiting students and teachers in classrooms this fall.
On Wednesday, I received the Guardian of Small Business Award from the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), the organization's most prestigious award, for my strong support of the small business community. Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and I will continue to promote an environment that encourages entrepreneurs and small business owners to succeed.
Also, in case you missed it, even though the Olympics may be over, we're still remembering our athletes' awesome showings in Rio. Last week on the House floor, I congratulated Wayzata High School swim and dive coach David Plummer for his Olympic medals; David won the bronze medal in the 100-meter backstroke and a gold medal as a member of the 4x100-meter medley relay. Also, Olympic badminton player Paula Obanana swung by my Eden Prairie office to visit with Margaret Cavanaugh from my staff (click here to see the picture). Margaret helped Paula work towards and obtain her citizenship when she and her family moved from the Philippines so she could represent the United States in international badminton competition. Paula qualified for the 2016 Olympics in the women's doubles tournament with her partner Eva Lee. Congrats to both of them on their incredible accomplishments as the best in their sports!
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, and Instagram, and please watch the latest Erik's Correspondence Corner video.
Sincerely,
Erik Paulsen
Member of Congress
Innovation and Employee Ownership
Many innovative and big ideas for life-changing technologies come from startup businesses, so it's important to foster a business environment and tax code that helps entrepreneurial small businesses attract top talent. That's why I authored the Empowering Employees through Stock Ownership Act and am pleased to see it advance out of the Ways and Means Committee this week and to the House floor for a vote soon.
This bipartisan legislation will encourage innovation and enhance employee ownership by giving startup employees the ability to take advantage of stock options as part of their compensation without being burdened by an immediate tax liability that many employees are not able to afford. Currently, many rank-and-file startup employees at privately held companies miss out on a significant financial opportunity, because they don’t have the cash needed to pay the tax bill that comes with exercising their stock options. The bill provides employees the flexibility to defer their taxes and own a piece of the company and encourages economic growth in innovative new industries for top talented inventors and entrepreneurs.
Looking Out for Veterans
Our veterans deserve the best care possible, which is why we need to make sure the Department of Veterans Affairs is attentive to their needs. As of June, there were over 457,000 pending appeals by veterans seeking help with their health care needs, some of which have been waiting years to have their cases decided. There also continues to be instances of mismanagement and misconduct by VA employees who are not held accountable.
The House passed the VA Accountability First and Appeals Modernization Act last week, which I supported. It improves and reforms the benefit appeals process for veterans, which is currently slow, cumbersome, and outdated. It also will make it easier for corrective action to be taken when there are incidents of employees not fulfilling their responsibilities.
Expanding Direct Primary Care
This past week, I introduced new legislation with my colleague Congressman Earl Blumenauer of Oregon to increase access to primary care physicians for patients and families.
Direct primary care is an innovative and popular model of health care that is patient-centered, reduces costs, is easier for families to use, and ensures patients get the attention and treatment they need. Studies have found that this model is more effective and a better patient experience. Currently, patients have limited access to direct primary care, because it is considered a form of insurance coverage rather than a medical service. My bipartisan legislation changes that by clarifying the current tax and regulatory language so that patients will be able to utilize this model of high-quality health care with primary care physicians.
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Congressman Paulsen joins Veterans' Voices Awardees: Col. Don Patton from Edina, Lina Knox from Coon Rapids, and Robert Rivera from Edina |
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Erik accepts the NFIB's Guardian of Small Business Award for his work supporting Minnesota small businesses |
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Congressman Paulsen hosts a round table in Minnetonka on solutions to opioid abuse and misuse |
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Watch: Congressman Paulsen recently remembered the life and legacy of Jacob Wetterling and the Wetterling family's work for missing and exploited children. |
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