So during my time in the Minnesota Legislature, I worked with both Republicans and Democrats to pass more than 90 bills, many with bipartisan support. I passed legislation to extend health insurance for new moms and their babies from just 60 days to 12 months, and increased mental health access for Minnesotans by allowing psychologists to practice across state lines — and I worked across the aisle to get it done.
Now I want to take this common-sense, results-oriented approach to Washington. First, I’m focused on lowering costs for Minnesota families. We need to take on the high cost of housing and increase the supply of housing at all income levels, and make child care more affordable for families.
And as a doctor, I know what it’s like to see my patients struggle to afford the medication they need, so when I got to the Minnesota Legislature, I took on Big Pharma and passed legislation to help lower prescription drug costs in our state. But we need to do more, especially on the federal level. That means extending the $35 cap on insulin and the $2,000 annual cap on prescription drugs that was put in place for seniors to all Americans, and it means allowing Medicare to negotiate lower prices for more prescription drugs.
I believe everyone deserves to feel safe in their communities. We need to make sure our law enforcement officers have the resources they need to do their jobs well — that’s why I supported legislation providing $300 million in aid to local law enforcement, including police, fire and 911 departments, and I co-authored legislation to crack down on violent carjackings. We also need to take on gun violence, which is now the No. 1 killer of children in America. I helped pass universal background checks and extreme-risk protection orders in Minnesota, and now we need to take this issue on in Washington.
As the wife of an Army combat veteran, I know how important it is to ensure that our veterans have the resources and support they need. I was proud to pass legislation that provides 9/11 veterans and their families with service bonuses, and I will continue to advocate on behalf of veterans in Congress.
And as a mom of three, I’m focused on keeping our kids safe and building a better future for them. That means tackling the opioid crisis, taking on the social media companies that are hurting our children, fighting climate change, and protecting our lakes and rivers for generations to come.
