This past week, we said goodbye to a brave member of the Greatest Generation. Arleigh Birk, Minnesota’s last known survivor of the horrible attack on Pearl Harbor, passed away just two days before his one hundredth birthday.

Arleigh was a 21-year old Navy gun director aboard the USS Honolulu when Pearl Harbor was attacked on Sunday, December 7, 1941. As enemy forces dropped bombs, Arleigh courageously returned fire. His ship suffered damage during the attack, and he was transferred to the USS Denver, where he went on to fight numerous battles throughout the Pacific theatre.

Following his service, Arleigh moved to Minnesota’s Iron Range, where he became a local legend. He often attended local events to honor the Americans lost on that infamous day. I had the chance to get to know Arleigh a little over the years as I also attended many of those events with my family.

My son, Levi, and I with Arleigh at the funeral of Dante Tini. I am glad my son also had the chance to meet this American hero.

Arleigh lived an inspiring life, so last week, I honored him on the floor of the House of Representatives. While Areigh may be gone, his legacy of service, sacrifice, and courage will live on in our hearts and minds forever.

Watch my full speech HERE.

Coronavirus Update

I recently received an update from the White House on the coronavirus, which originated in Wuhan, China. The coronavirus is currently spreading from person to person in China, and limited spread among close contacts has been detected in some countries outside China, like the United States. While experts agree that the current risk to the American people remains low, we must remain vigilant and do everything possible to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

As the White House continues their aggressive response to the coronavirus, Congress must work together to bring forward a supplemental bill that gives this Administration all the tools necessary to prevent the spread of this respiratory disease. This is not a partisan issue, and I remain committed to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to combat this threat.

Today, I along with my colleagues on the Problem Solvers  Caucus attended a meeting on the coronavirus with Vice President Pence.

In the meantime, we can all play a role in keeping our communities healthy. Taking part in every day preventative actions, like washing your hands, avoiding touching your face, and saying home when you are sick, are all key to slowing the spread of this disease.

To learn more about the coronavirus, click HERE.

My Commitment to Working Families

For too many families in Minnesota, accessing quality and affordable child care has become nearly impossible. In fact, Minnesota is one of the most expensive states for child care with the average annual cost of infant care at $16,087. This issue not only harms parents’ ability to rise in the workplace, but it also prevents many from even entering the workforce at all.

As child care costs continue to skyrocket, we must give Minnesota’s families solutions to help address this issue. That’s why I recently introduced the bipartisan Improving Child Care for Working Families Act. This legislation would increase the cap on the employer-sponsored Dependent Care Assistance Plan from $5,000 to $10,000, allowing families to set aside a larger portion of their pre-tax income for child care expenses. Learn more about this legislation HERE.

The affordability and accessibility of child care is an issue that I have made a priority this Congress and will continue to lead on. Recently, I also introduced bipartisan legislation that would increase access to child care in rural areas. Learn more about this legislation HERE.

Calling All Artists

I am pleased to announce that my office is currently accepting submissions for the Congressional Art Competition. Congress holds this competition annually to encourage and recognize the artistic talents of students across the nation.

Every day, when I walk the halls of Congress, I pass by the winning artwork on display from last year’s competition. I am in awe of the talent on display and am incredibly excited to see what students from Minnesota’s Eighth Congressional District come up with for this year’s competition.

If you are a high school student in Minnesota’s Eighth Congressional District and are interested in having your artwork displayed in the United States Capitol, click HERE to learn more.

Week in Review

Once again, I am incredibly grateful to everyone who takes the time to meet with me and my staff. See a few more highlights below.

I started off the week by visiting Peter Wood's logging company based in northern Minnesota. During my tour of Wood Forest Products, I learned more about daily operations and how their work maintains the health of Minnesota’s forests.

On Tuesday, I met with the Minnesota Broadcasters to learn more about different issues impacting the industry.

On Wednesday, I had the honor of meeting with Major General Jon Jensen, Brigadier General Shawn Manke, Lieutenant Colonel Jason Hull, and Lieutenant Colonel Brian Winter of the Minnesota National Guard. We covered a variety of topics, including the tragic accident that claimed the lives of three guardsmen a few months ago.

I also met with the Civil Air Patrol and had the chance to thank them for their service. During the meeting, I was presented with certificate naming me a Congressional Squadron Member!

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On Thursday, I had the pleasure of meeting with Sam Moose of the National Indian Health Board to talk about healthcare on Minnesota’s reservations.

I also sat down with EveryLife Foundation for Rare Diseases to discuss the importance of newborn screening.

At a House Small Business Committee Hearing on the importance of infrastructure improvements for small businesses, I highlighted the need to responsibly source Minnesota’s God-given natural resources to help build our nation’s infrastructure. During this hearing, I was pleased to hear testimony from Todd Rothe, President of J.R. Jenson Construction Company, which is located in the Twin Ports area.

I had a great meeting with Pediatric Congenital Heart Association members to talk about the importance of increased funding for Congenital Heart Disease Research.

Unfortunately, I was unable to attend Arleigh Birk’s funeral because of the Congressional voting schedule, so I was glad my staff could attend and pay our respects.

In Grand Rapids, a member of my staff showed our support for the law enforcement community by attending the Itasca K9 Fundraiser.

In Duluth, my team attended the Duluth Construction Career Night. I was encouraged to hear that so many high school students attended to learn more about the incredible opportunities available in the building and construction trades.

A member of my team also attended the Duluth Seaway Port Authority’s monthly meeting.

Once again, I appreciate you staying up to date with the work I am doing for Minnesota’s Eighth District. It is an honor to represent you in Congress. For more information, visit my website, Facebook, and Twitter pages.

Sincerely,

Congressman Pete Stauber