I joined Speaker Johnson at the National Law Enforcement Memorial for a wreath-laying ceremony honoring the brave officers who gave their lives in the line of duty. 

Tragically, 363 new names were added to the memorial this year. One of those names was Felicia Reilly, a St. Paul police officer who became the first woman in the department to die after sustaining injuries in the line of duty. It was a privilege to lay a wreath by Felicia's name in honor of her courage and service to the state of Minnesota.

I made remarks thanking our nation's law enforcement at a press conference hosted by House Republican Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain. Watch my full speech HERE.

I attended a roundtable hosted by House Majority Whip Tom Emmer to hear from law enforcement groups on how House Republicans can continue to support police forces across America.

It was one of the greatest privileges of my life to serve my hometown of Duluth, Minnesota, as a police officer. During those years, I had the chance to get to know, serve, and earn the trust of the good people of the Northland.

But with this privilege came immense challenges. What many people forget about the profession of policing is that officers are often called into the worst moments of someone’s life.

I’ve been on the scene of fatal car crashes. I answered calls involving domestic violence, child abuse, sexual assault, and homicide. I’ve seen firsthand the devastation that drugs and addiction have inflicted on our young people. I’ve had to deliver death notifications to unsuspecting parents.

And I’ve been in countless life-and-death situations, and I survived two violent gun crimes. Nothing can truly prepare you for those moments, and they stay with you for the rest of your life. I know this rings true for all those who wear, or have worn, the badge.

This job is already difficult, so I’ve been deeply troubled to see that in recent years, law enforcement officers have also faced growing hostility from elected officials on the far left.

The reckless “defund the police” movement and other anti-law enforcement rhetoric pushed by individuals like Governor Tim Walz has only emboldened criminals, worsening the danger law enforcement officers face when they put on the uniform.

This is tragic, and it is unacceptable.

This National Police Week, I was proud to stand in solidarity with my House Republican colleagues in passing a number of bills this week reaffirming our support for law enforcement and providing them with the tools they need to safely do their jobs.

Elected leaders have a responsibility to encourage respect for law enforcement, compliance with lawful orders, and cooperation when officers are carrying out their duties. We know that when that responsibility is abandoned, the consequences can be catastrophic.

But above all, I was grateful for the chance to thank our law enforcement officers from the bottom of my heart for having the courage and integrity to defend our communities each day.

Whether they are a cop walking the beat, a detective solving crimes, or a correctional officer patrolling our prisons, these people make a great sacrifice to keep us and our families safe. 

Despite the challenges, the danger, and the criticism, they still answer the call to serve, and for that, we are so grateful. 

Cracking Down on Fraud

The past few months have been eye-opening for our state as we’ve learned that Governor Walz and Attorney General Ellison’s failures allowed $9 BILLION in Medicaid funds and $300 million in child nutrition funds to be stolen by fraudsters.

That’s your tax dollars, hard-earned money meant for vulnerable children, families, and people with disabilities, siphoned off by fraudsters while so-called leaders looked the other way.

And instead of properly prosecuting this fraud, we’ve seen Keith Ellison go easy on these fraudsters. Most recently, Keith Ellison cut a plea deal with a Somali fraudster who stole $11 million from Minnesota’s taxpayers.

Learn more about this insane plea deal HERE.

This fraudster will not do any jail time on the condition that he helps pursue his co-defendant who fled the country. But why was this criminal allowed his passport in the first place? And what does this leniency signal to other criminals who are thinking of committing similar crimes?

When state leaders won’t do their jobs, the federal government must step in. Thankfully, the Trump administration has taken the step of forming an Anti-Fraud Task Force to eliminate fraud. With the establishment of this Task Force, the message to the American people is loud and clear: if you commit fraud, you will go to jail.

So far, they’ve executed 22 search warrants against fraudulent day care centers in Minnesota, including the “Quality Learing Center.”

Alongside aggressive prosecution, the Task Force is preventing fraud before taxpayer money leaves the federal government. Agencies will now pay only when they are confident that a payment is legitimate and lawful.

I’m grateful to the Trump administration for taking these necessary steps to protect taxpayer money.

Congrats, Jack!

Every year, I have the privilege of hosting a Congressional Art Competition for high school students across Minnesota’s Eighth Congressional District.

Congratulations to Jack Erickson from Duluth for winning this year’s competition. Jack’s piece, "A Penny for Your Thoughts," was selected by a panel of judges for its technical proficiency and artistic excellence.

We are proud to submit this work to be displayed in the U.S. Capitol as part of the 2026 Congressional Art Competition exhibit. Great work, Jack!