Congressman Paulsen Supports JOBS Act, Skates in Charity Hockey Tourney

JOBS Bill Passes in The House

With unemployment still unacceptably high, it's important that Washington put partisanship aside to help get Minnesotans back to work. This week, I was proud to support the passage of the bipartisan Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act. This important legislation will help get American small businesses, job creators, and entrepreneurs off the sidelines by removing costly regulations and making it easier for them to access capital. I had the opportunity to hear from several Minnesota small businesses that agree this bill will go a long way in giving them the tools they need to innovate, grow, and hire. 

Read more on the JOBS Act here. 

Protecting Minnesota Waterways from Invasive Species

Minnesota has some of the greatest lakes and waterways in the country. We use them for commerce and recreation, and enjoy them year-round with our families. We have all read recently in the news of invasive Asian carp spreading up the Mississippi River, threatening the ecosystem and economy.

This week, I joined members of the Minnesota delegation in introducing legislation that would help protect Minnesota’s waterways from the spread of Asian carp. The bill would study and allow the Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam in Minneapolis to be closed as one measure to combat the spread of this invasive fish. These carp can grow up to 110 pounds and consume 5-20% of their body weight each day. The diet of Asian carp overlaps with the diet of native fish, meaning the carp compete directly with native fish for food. We've already seen the devastating effects of other invasive species like Eurasian Watermilfoil and Zebra Mussels. The Great Lakes' $7 billion recreation and fishing industry is now clearly threatened by the Asian carp.

Learn more about the legislation and my efforts on the issue here.

Chatting with Seniors in our Community

On Tuesday morning, I held a live tele-town hall meeting with 1,200 seniors in our community. The hour long conversation let me hear thoughts on important issues such as the economy, rising gas prices, taxes, Medicare, and jobs.

The participants on the call also voted in a survey about their views on the Keystone XL pipeline. This energy project would bring Canadian oil to the United States and create 20,000 jobs. I support construction of the pipeline to reduce our dependence on foreign oil.

On A Lighter Note - Charity Congressional Hockey Game

On Sunday, I brought Minnesota's long, proud hockey tradition to Washington by skating in the 4^th annual lawmakers versus lobbyists Congressional Hockey Challenge charity event. The event raised more than $150,000 for three charities and gave members on both sides of the aisle another opportunity to build upon relationships that will aid all of us as we tackle the serious issues facing our country.

Check out more on the game here.