By Keith Ellison
With almost two months as a Congressman behind me, I want to update you on the exciting things that have happened both in Washington, D.C., and the Fifth District of Minnesota. Both my district office and the Washington, D.C., office are up and running. My staff and I are working hard to ensure that the politics of inclusion and generosity are the genesis of everything we do.
I believe the American people sent a loud and clear message this past November. Our government is here for you, by you, and of you. I see a big part of my job is to make sure that the message of change and hope permeates the work I do—be it advocating for peace or working on environmental justice, poverty, health care, or civil and human rights issues.
Although it’s only been a few months, I already feel that our new agenda for America is making great strides. In record time—the first 100 hours of this Congressional session—we made history by passing a people’s agenda. Within those 100 hours, we passed a minimum-wage bill (the first in nine years), implemented the 9/11 Commission recommendations, and made education more affordable for all Americans by cutting in half the interest loan rate for future undergraduate students.
I am also extremely proud to carry the voices of the LGBT community here in Washington, D.C., and have been working hard to support progressive pro-family legislation. I have joined as a cosponsor of the “Hate Crimes” bill that would add sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, and disability to existing law regarding the authority of the federal government to investigate and prosecute crimes. This authority already exists for crimes committed because of a victim’s race, color, religion, and national origin. There is nothing “special” about wanting to live free of violence, and I’m proud to be an outspoken advocate for this bill. There were 159 co-sponsors in the last Congress, so I am hopeful we will be able to add a considerable number in this session.
I was also one of the first freshman members of Congress to sign on to the Military Readiness Enhancement Act of 2007, commonly referred to as the bill that will repeal the military’s antiquated “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. It saddens me that we still need to fight to make sure all Americans can participate in a life free of harassment and violence. As I’m sure you are aware, when one group is not allowed to fully participate, we all suffer. But until peace and full participation are secure in our society, I will continue to be a clear voice for justice on these issues.
While we’ve done a great deal to progress toward positive change, there are still challenges up ahead. Earlier this month, the President released his budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2008. As we know, the budget is more than just numbers; it’s a moral statement about who counts and who doesn’t, what are our priorities. In this light, it deeply disturbs me that the President’s budget threatens to endanger Minnesota’s 691,000 Medicare patients’ access to care, not to mention overlooks the already 86,000 uninsured children in Minnesota. The President’s budget will undoubtedly hurt Minnesota’s 407,000 veterans through Veterans Affairs funding cuts, and it zeroes out Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants at a time when tuition and fees at schools like the University of Minnesota have soared nearly 50 percent in just four years. A budget that diminishes the importance of health, children, veterans, and students will do nothing to bring prosperity to Minnesotans (or America), and we need to make sure the administration’s priorities are fully scrutinized as the budget process continues.
There’s more work to do here, and I sincerely hope to hear from you, Rainbow Rumpus parents. Please don’t hesitate to contact me to let me know how I’m doing or what issues are important to you. If you are planning a trip out to Washington, D.C., please contact my office or just stop by to say hi! With enough advance warning, my staff here in Washington can arrange a Capitol tour or just help you find your way around the city. However, I am in Minnesota virtually every weekend and intend to continue meeting with members of the community through town hall forums just as I have done in the past. Let me know if there’s an issue we can discuss at these forums or a community event I can attend.
I’m counting on you, Rainbow Rumpus parents, to continue your active involvement. Together we are building a future where the common good is the driving force behind how we govern in Washington and here in Minnesota.
Sincerely,
KEITH ELLISON
Member of Congress
District Office
(612) 522-1212
Washington DC Office
(202) 225-4755
