Jobs and the Economy - U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar

Minnesotans believe in hard work, fair play, and personal responsibility. We believe that no matter where you come from, if you work hard, you can achieve your dreams, give the gift of education to your children, and have security in your later years.

My grandpa was a miner, working 1,500 feet underground in the iron ore mines in Ely. He didn’t graduate from high school, but he and my grandma saved money in a coffee can in the basement to send my dad and his brother to college. My dad went on to be a sportswriter and a newspaper columnist. My mom was a second-grade teacher who, at age 70, was still teaching a classroom of 30 second graders. I grew up in a middle-class suburban neighborhood, and I knew I’d always have to work hard to get where I wanted to go.

That’s why I'm committed to working for economic policies that benefit all Americans and give everyone an opportunity to succeed. This means having a laser focus on jobs, wages, affordable health care, education, child care, family leave, housing, and retirement, in addition to infrastructure, homegrown energy, and fiscal responsibility.

We need big economic goals, long-term vision, and job growth—a competitive agenda for America. We need to be a country that thinks, that invents, that makes stuff, and that exports to the world. Minnesota has always been a national leader in innovation and now more than ever innovation will be the key to moving our economy forward.

As Minnesota’s U.S. senator, I will continue to focus on these priorities:

Promoting a competitive economy, long–term economic growth, and good–paying jobs. As a member of the Senate Commerce and Joint Economic Committees, my focus has been on moving our economy forward by strengthening the fundamentals that lead to sustained economic growth. We must continue developing a vision for long-term growth. To make that happen, we must first double-down on economic basics like education, science, technology, entrepreneurship, research, and innovation. We also need a strong commitment to updating and enhancing our current policies and programs to focus on training the next generation of workers to compete in a global economy. We must increase our emphasis on exports, including for small and mid-sized businesses. Our tax policies should be aimed at both encouraging economic growth and giving a fair shot to all Americans, not just the wealthiest. We need to responsibly reduce red tape, pass immigration reform, make transportation and child care more affordable, and support small businesses. We need to invest in rebuilding our nation’s infrastructure, support iron ore mining on the Iron Range, and promote tourism if we are going to have long-term growth and a vibrant economy.

Revitalizing America’s innovative edge. Innovation has always been a powerful force in the American economy. This is particularly true in Minnesota, a state that brought the world everything from the pacemaker to the Post-It Note. That’s why innovation has been the centerpiece of my work in Washington, where I have consistently advocated for a stronger commitment to federal and private-sector research and development. To ensure American leadership in technological innovation and improve the United States’ global competitiveness, we must invest in our nation’s manufacturing industry, including our semiconductor industry. That is why I advocated for and helped pass the CHIPS and Science Act. The law promotes U.S. manufacturing to ensure that American companies continue to lead on innovation in the 21st century. It includes critical investments to bolster domestic semiconductor production, train a new generation of scientists and engineers, and maintain our position as the leader in scientific research and development. Through this law, Minnesota companies and research institutions are applying for funding to build, expand, or modernize domestic facilities and equipment to make semiconductors right here at home. In June 2023, I brought Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo to Minnesota to talk to a group of Minnesota leaders representing semiconductor manufacturers, higher ed, unions, skills training institutions, and more.
Opening up new markets abroad for U.S. producers. Ninety-five percent of the world’s potential customers live outside of the United States, yet only about one percent of American businesses export. Ensuring that our businesses and farmers, small and large, are able to capitalize on potential opportunities in overseas markets is more important than ever. This includes policies aimed at fair trade and enforcement, positive global engagement, and export help for small businesses.

Canada is Minnesota’s largest trading partner, and in January 2020 I voted to approve the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) on trade. Given the agreement’s additionally negotiated pro-labor and environmental changes, as well as its elimination of a provision that would have benefitted pharmaceutical companies at the expense of consumers, I supported the USMCA. It provides much-needed stability and economic opportunity for American farmers, producers, and consumers. A North American trading bloc is also an essential strategy to compete with China on a global scale.

Keeping markets competitive. Competition is the bedrock of a strong, dynamic economy that fosters new business growth and creates jobs for millions of Americans. But America’s markets are not as competitive as they once were, and we are seeing rising levels of monopoly power across our economy. We see it not only in the dominance of the big digital platforms but also in industries as diverse as pharmaceuticals, agriculture, telecommunications, online ticket sales, and transportation. Our antitrust laws were passed to preserve competitive markets, but after decades of Supreme Court decisions that have weakened those laws and years of declining enforcement budgets, they no longer accomplish that goal. And consumers, workers, and small businesses are paying the price.

As Chairwoman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Competition Policy, Antitrust, and Consumer Rights, I am working to bring antitrust law enforcement into the twenty-first century. We need to crack down on anticompetitive mergers and conduct and that includes supporting the work of the Justice Department and Federal Trade Commission. We also need to update our antitrust laws. For example, I’m leading efforts to stop big tech from elbowing out small businesses in online marketplaces with my bipartisan bill, the American Innovation and Choice Online Act, which evens the playing field by stopping the biggest tech gatekeepers from putting their own products first, even when others are better and cheaper.
Rebuilding our nation’s infrastructure. The 2007 collapse of the I-35W bridge was a tragic reminder that we have failed to maintain the roads, bridges, and other public infrastructure that keep our citizens safe and our economy strong. The American Society of Civil Engineers gave America’s infrastructure a grade of “C-” for 2021. According to the Federal Highway Administration, more than 46,000 of the nation’s more than 600,000 bridges are in poor condition. Traffic congestion alone costs our country billions of dollars in wasted time and fuel. If our deteriorating infrastructure goes unaddressed, it will cost our economy nearly $10 trillion by 2039, leading to the loss of 3 million jobs. We need a twenty-first-century infrastructure network that meets the demands of our twenty-first-century economy, including safe bridges, modern highways, forward-looking public transportation, increased broadband access, and integrated planning decisions.

That’s why I was proud to advocate for and help pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law which the president signed into law in 2021. This historic legislation invests more than $1 trillion in our infrastructure and is providing generational investments in our roads, bridges, rail, transit systems, and power grid. It funds programs to prevent drunk driving, helps maintain recreational trails, and makes the largest investment in clean drinking water and wastewater infrastructure in American history. On average, these investments will add approximately 2 million jobs per year over the course of the next decade.

Supporting our small businesses. The success of Minnesota’s small businesses is vital to the success of our overall economy. I will continue to press for long-term measures that expand the markets of small businesses and help them grow. I’m leading legislation that will streamline the Small Business Administration’s 504 Loan Program and enhance lending for small manufacturers.

Reforming our immigration system. Since I first got to the Senate, reforming our immigration system has been a top priority. Legal immigration strengthens America’s workforce and ensures that we can maintain our global competitive edge. Our immigration system must work hand-in-hand with our homeland security, and that includes investments in personnel and infrastructure to secure our borders.

We cannot afford to shut out the world’s talent or drive away those who call our country home—including immigrants who are now working as health care professionals and other frontline employees, often in rural and underserved urban areas. The entrepreneurial spirit of immigrants is a great asset to the American economy. [See Immigration]
Reforming the tax code. I have long called for a bipartisan approach to tax reform. If done right, we could help all Americans, simplify the tax code, close wasteful loopholes, and provide incentives to keep jobs in America. While I have supported tax reform and middle-class tax cuts, I opposed the 2017 tax law because it added over $1 trillion to the debt, created new loopholes that encouraged companies to move jobs overseas, and disproportionately benefited the wealthy.

Promoting domestic energy production. Homegrown energy production can reduce our dependence on foreign oil while bringing jobs to our rural communities. In order to expand our homegrown energy technologies and supplies, it is important for investors to have a stable, reliable set of economic guidelines. That’s why I have been fighting to maintain a strong Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). I introduced the bipartisan Renewable Fuel Infrastructure Investment and Market Expansion Act in 2021 with Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa to create a permanent biofuel infrastructure program at the Department of Agriculture and expand the availability of low-carbon renewable fuels in the marketplace, resulting in cleaner air, lower fuel prices, and rural economic vitality. This bill was signed into law in August 2022 and is helping fueling stations upgrade their fuel pumps and storage tanks to deliver higher blends of biofuel. I also supported legislation that became law in 2022 to provide a clean fuels production tax credit. This law is modeled after the bipartisan Low Carbon Biofuel Act I led with Senator John Thune of South Dakota.
Supporting iron ore mining on Minnesota’s Iron Range. Iron ore mining has always been a way of life for families on the Iron Range. Throughout our state’s history, iron ore mining has not only brought jobs to the region; it has also built our country—from our roads, bridges, buildings, and railways to the tanks and ships critical to our nation’s defense. When it comes to the success of iron ore mining in northern Minnesota, it’s critical that companies are able to grow and expand while ensuring that projects undergo thorough environmental review. We also must make sure we have a strong transportation system to get the iron ore and taconite pellets to market and good programs to train our workers.
Promoting tourism. Minnesota is a diverse state that has an abundance of travel and vacation opportunities. I know how important tourism is to Minnesota’s economy. Tourism has been one of Minnesota’s largest industries, generating $22.8 billion in total economic impact and supporting over 170,000 Minnesota jobs in 2022. That’s why former Republican Senator Roy Blunt and I led the effort to reauthorize Brand USA in 2014 and again in 2019. Brand USA helps advertise American destinations to people around the globe using fees from visas, so that no taxpayer dollars are spent on the ads. As co-chair of the bipartisan Senate Travel and Tourism Caucus, I will continue working to promote these industries, their workforces, and the communities that depend on them. I also introduced legislation with Senator Moran to address backlogs and get people flying faster by increasing staff and improving service at U.S. consulates and embassies.

Giving people a fair shot. After the financial crisis of 2008, Congress put in place fundamental safeguards to build our economy and bring back accountability to our financial system. But as Americans faced ever-increasing income inequality, we could see that stabilizing banks on Wall Street was simply not enough. We need to ensure that families on Main Street have the opportunity to succeed—to be able to afford a home, send their kids to college, and pay the bills. We especially need to help our rural communities, which often see disproportionate impacts from natural disasters, market volatility, and global economic events like the coronavirus pandemic. Access to broadband is also critical in helping rural communities meet these housing, health care, and transportation challenges. We will accomplish these goals by:

Providing a living wage. The federal minimum wage is currently $7.25 an hour and has remained unchanged since 2009. This wage has not kept pace with the cost of food, clothing, and basic life necessities. Nearly 60 percent of workers earning this minimum wage are women, and they are disproportionately people of color. This wage has made it harder for families to support themselves and their loved ones. According to a July 2020 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, low-income Americans suffer the most severe housing affordability challenges and reside in poor-quality rental housing at a much higher rate than higher-income groups. I support increasing the federal minimum wage to at least $15 an hour. If we expect to provide people a fair chance in life, it must start with a fair wage.
Educating the next generation. In a comparison of 81 countries, American students rank 34th for math and 16th for science. Our young people are our next generation of innovators, the people we are counting on to lead the way on everything from discovering cures for chronic diseases to developing new forms of renewable energy. That is why we need to improve our education system and increase our focus on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) in our schools. It will help us train the scientists, engineers, tech entrepreneurs, and global leaders of tomorrow in our classrooms today. [See Education]
Making college more affordable. Minnesotans have always believed that every student should have the opportunity to pursue higher education. High education costs prevent many qualified students from attending college and force many others to end their education prematurely. At the same time, student loan debt has spun out of control, becoming a crippling financial burden to many young people and their families. It is time to provide real help for students and their families to make college more affordable. I am pushing for stronger federal support for higher education opportunities because our future success as a state and a nation depends on making sure that quality education is accessible and affordable. [See Education]
Strengthening our commitment to community- and technical-college degrees and apprenticeships. From paper mills to poultry lines, American industry is changing. Increasingly, economic success depends on advanced technology and workers who have specialized skills to get the job done. In a Minnesota 2023 State of Manufacturing report, 8 out of 10 manufacturers said it was difficult for them to find workers with the right skills and experience. This is up from 4 out of 10 in 2010. We must do a better job of preparing students for the jobs that will be available to them when they graduate—positions that may not require a Ph.D. or even a four-year degree, but nonetheless demand specialized training and experience. Credentials and one- and two-year degrees offered by community and technical colleges may often be a better option for students who plan on entering the skilled workforce immediately after graduation. Registered apprenticeships combine on-the-job training with relevant academic instruction to create a win-win situation for workers and employers in all industries. [See Education]
Making health care, housing, and child care more affordable. I support universal health care. I strongly believe that every American deserves access to affordable, high-quality health care, and that we must work to expand quality health care coverage to all families across Minnesota and America. I have supported many proposals that would help us reach that goal, including a public option and Medicaid and Medicare expansions. I have always said that the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is a beginning, not an end, and that improvements—including legislative changes—will need to be made. At the same time, I strongly support efforts to improve the ACA, like providing cost–sharing reductions and reinsurance. Over the past three years, Congress increased and expanded health insurance premium tax credits and capped the amount people pay for ACA and MNsure health insurance premiums to no more than 8.5 percent of income. Roughly 85,000 Minnesotans are each saving hundreds of dollars on MNsure health premiums this year as a result of a law I pushed for and President Biden signed last year. We also must put an end to the practice of pharmaceutical companies charging way too much for prescription drugs. Americans pay an average of 250 percent more for their prescription drugs than people in other industrialized countries. In 2022, provisions based on legislation I led for years, the Empowering Medicare Seniors to Negotiate Drug Prices Act, were signed into law, lifting the 20-year ban that stopped Medicare from negotiating prices with drug companies on behalf of 50 million seniors. As a result of this new law, we are starting to see the results. Medicare completed the first round of negotiations and announced the new lower prices for the first ten negotiated drugs. Seniors taking Eliquis, Xarelto, Jardiance, Januvia, Farxiga, Entresto, Enbrel, Imbruvica, Stelara, as well as any Fiasp and NovoLog insulin will save $1.5 billion in out-of-pocket costs in 2026. Medicare will continue to lower prescription drug costs for seniors by negotiating the price of additional prescription drugs every year, and I am fighting to pass my new bill, the Strengthening Medicare and Reducing Taxpayer (SMART) Prices Act, to bring down prices even more and double the number of medications eligible for price negotiation each year. Importantly, this same law also prevents drug companies from raising the prices of their drugs each year faster than the rate of inflation. The law will also soon cap the amount seniors with Medicare Part D can pay for prescription drugs to $2,000 a year. Once this cap takes effect, it is projected to save 234,000 Minnesota seniors an average of $480 per year. In addition, the out-of-pocket cost of insulin for Medicare patients living with diabetes is now capped at $35 per month. [See Health Care ]

Families shouldn’t have to choose between paying the rent and buying groceries, medicine, or other basic necessities. While Minnesota has a well-deserved reputation for being a national leader in affordable housing, too many families in our state and nation still struggle to find an affordable home to buy or rent. And, too many households are likely one financial setback from missing a housing payment. That is why I am committed to increasing housing supply and affordability. I introduced bipartisan legislation with former Senator Rob Portman of Ohio to address the national housing shortage and skyrocketing housing costs for renters and homeowners by helping states and localities develop and implement comprehensive plans to increase their supply of housing and make more of it affordable. I fought to make sure that the budget contained funding for a new grant program based on my bill, and I am committed to continuing to build on that progress.

I also support fully funding vital resources for affordable housing, including the Community Development Block Grant and the Home Investment Partnership, which help states and local communities develop and preserve affordable housing.

We must also ensure that corporate landlords —including private equity firms—cannot buy up an area’s housing stock and make it unaffordable for everyday Americans. That is why I introduced the Preventing Algorithmic Collusion Act, which would prevent large corporate landlords from using technologies and algorithms that limit competition and lead to price gouging in the housing market. I have also introduced the Housing Acquisitions Reporting and Transparency Act, which would ensure federal enforcers have the information they need to make sure corporate landlords are not breaking the law. Additionally, I support legislation that will end federal tax breaks that allow wealthy investors to buy up many homes at once to use for rentals.

In addition, we must make sure that early education options are available to all American families. I also support helping families across Minnesota and the country access affordable, quality child care—especially in rural communities. That’s why I introduced the bipartisan Child Care Workforce and Facilities Act with Senator Dan Sullivan of Alaska to address the national shortage of child care providers and safe child care facilities by providing grants for states to train child care workers and build or renovate child care facilities in areas facing child care shortages. I also support the Child Care for Working Families Act, which would ensure that no low- or middle-income family pays more than seven percent of their income on child care. This bill would also improve training and compensation for child care workers.

As Minnesota’s U.S. senator, I’ve been working hard to move our economy forward while standing up for all Americans:

Strengthening America’s ability to compete in the global economy and supporting American manufacturing. To ensure American leadership in technological innovation and improve the United States’ global competitiveness, we must invest in our nation’s manufacturing industry, including our semiconductor industry. Semiconductors are needed for everything from our most advanced military equipment to cell phones, gaming devices, and cars. Today, only 12 percent of chips are currently manufactured domestically compared to 37 percent in the 1990s. As a result, our manufacturers have been forced to look overseas for semiconductors, creating major vulnerabilities in our supply chain. Additionally, many foreign competitors, including China, are investing heavily to expand globally. We don’t want to depend on other countries for these critical components. Manufacturing more chips here in the U.S. will strengthen our supply chains and bolster our national security.

That is why I advocated for and helped pass the CHIPS and Science Act, signed into law in August 2022. The law will promote U.S. manufacturing to ensure that U.S. companies continue to lead on innovation in the 21st century. It includes critical investments to bolster domestic semiconductor production, train a new generation of scientists and engineers, and maintain our position as the leader in scientific research and development. Through this law, Minnesota companies and research institutions will be able to apply for funding to build, expand, or modernize domestic facilities and equipment to make semiconductors right here at home.

I introduced the bipartisan Innovate America Act to help America retain its competitive edge by cutting red tape, targeting successful education programs, and promoting U.S. exports in new markets. The bill’s provisions allowing states to develop STEM specialty schools and build on existing STEM programs were signed into law as part of the Every Student Succeeds Act. Boosting STEM opportunities is critical to building a 21st-century education system that gives our students the skills they need to be prepared for the high-tech, high-wage jobs of the future.

As co-chair of the Senate Diversifying Tech Caucus and the Women’s High-Tech Coalition, I passed two bipartisan bills in 2017 that support women in STEM. The INSPIRE Women Act requires NASA to encourage more women to study in STEM fields and the Promoting Women in Entrepreneurship Act helps women inventors get their products to market. In February 2020, my bipartisan bill with Senator Marco Rubio of Florida to encourage veterans and military spouses to pursue careers in STEM fields, the Supporting Veterans in STEM Careers Act, was signed into law.

Supporting inventors and making it easier for them to get their technology to market will also help create more high-tech, high-wage jobs. I supported the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), with the additionally negotiated pro-labor and environmental changes, as well as the elimination of a provision that would have benefitted pharmaceutical companies at the expense of consumers. The agreement provided much-needed stability and economic opportunity for American farmers, producers, and consumers. I am also working to fight foreign steel dumping. I’ve introduced legislation to strengthen trade enforcement and have called on the Administration to take actions, including new Customs and Border Patrol personnel to enforce our trade laws and stepping up inspections of steel imports at our ports of entry. American workers can compete with anyone in the world if they have a level playing field.

It is vital to have a coordinated strategy and long-term vision to help our country stay competitive in an increasingly global market. That’s why in March of 2021 I led major bipartisan legislation with Senators Roger Wicker of Mississippi, Chris Coons of Delaware, and Rob Portman of Ohio to create a new Office of Manufacturing and Industrial Innovation Policy overseen by a Chief Manufacturing Officer in the Executive Office of the President. This legislation will help ensure that we develop a long-term plan to maintain the growth and national security of the U.S. manufacturing industry and workforce, coordinate efforts to support manufacturing across the federal government, improve workforce development and job creation, and enhance research and development. I’m committed to supporting America’s manufacturing industry and workforce and will continue pushing for policies that ensure our long-term health, national security, and economic vitality. A strong manufacturing industry is also key to our nation’s economic prosperity. That’s why I have worked to promote Minnesota- and American-made manufacturing and services, including pushing for the Defense Department to ensure that domestically produced armor steel plates are used to make U.S. military vehicles.
Preventing harm to competitive markets. In May 2024, I introduced the Competition and Antitrust Law Enforcement Reform Act to give federal enforcers the resources they need to do their jobs, strengthen prohibitions on anticompetitive conduct and mergers, and make additional reforms to improve enforcement. This clarifies that mergers that increase consumer prices, lower the quality of goods, undermine innovation, or allow a company to unfairly lower the prices it pays can be illegal. The bill further strengthens the Clayton Antitrust Act to guard against harmful “mega-mergers” and other types of mergers that raise significant competitive concerns, shifting the burden to the merging companies to prove that their consolidation does not harm competition. It outlaws anticompetitive conduct by dominant companies that materially disadvantages competitors or limits their opportunities to compete on fair terms. It also improves the agencies’ ability to assess the impact of merger settlements, creates a new division at the Federal Trade Commission to conduct market studies and look back at old mergers, and requires in-depth studies of new issues.
Rebuilding our nation’s infrastructure. From improving highways and waterways to rebuilding historic bridges to advocating for a safe and efficient national aviation system to improving broadband access in rural communities, I continue to work to strengthen our nation’s infrastructure so that America remains competitive in the 21st-century global economy. On November 15, 2021, the President signed into law the bipartisan Infrastructure and Investment Jobs Act, a historic bill which I strongly supported to invest more than $1 trillion in our infrastructure. This legislation provides generational investments in our roads, bridges, rail, transit systems, and power grid. It funds programs to prevent drunk driving, helps maintain recreational trails, and makes the largest investment in clean drinking water and wastewater infrastructure in American history. The law includes my legislation to combat distracted driving, help nonprofits and places of worship save money on energy efficiency upgrades, support the Department of Transportation (DOT) as it works to crack down on human trafficking, and provide our veterans with a seat at the table as the DOT develops a strategy for modernizing the transportation workforce.

Repairing transportation infrastructure. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law means fewer potholes, safer bridges, less traffic and improved public transportation through critical investments for our transportation infrastructure, including more than $4.5 billion for Minnesota highways and $302 million for bridge replacement and repairs over five years. This investment will help create jobs, reduce traffic, and connect Minnesotans to work, school, and their communities.

I was also one of the first Democratic senators to support the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, a long-term transportation reauthorization bill that became law in December 2015 and provided over $4 billion in funding for Minnesota over the five years of the bill. The FAST Act provided $36 million in additional highway, bridge, and transit funding for Minnesota in fiscal year 2016, growing to a $107 million increase for fiscal year 2020.
Rebuilding Minnesota bridges. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law makes the single largest dedicated bridge investment since the construction of the interstate highway system—including more than $4.5 billion for Minnesota highways and $302 million for bridge replacement and repairs over five years. It also provided $1 billion to replace the Blatnik Bridge, a major connection between the cities of Duluth, Minnesota, and Superior, Wisconsin. I have long supported federal funding for Minnesota’s critical infrastructure projects. In the aftermath of the I-35W bridge collapse in August 2007, I worked with other members of the Minnesota delegation to swiftly secure more than $250 million to build a new bridge that opened ahead of schedule in September 2008. In early 2012, Congress passed and President Obama signed into law my bill to allow the St. Croix bridge project to move forward after 30 years of delay. My bill allowed Minnesota and Wisconsin to begin the process of building a new bridge to replace the historic Stillwater Lift Bridge and also includes important mitigation efforts to protect the St. Croix River. My bipartisan legislation was sponsored by former Senator Herb Kohl, former Senator Al Franken, and Senator Ron Johnson in the Senate and then-Representatives Michelle Bachmann, Ron Kind, Chip Cravaack, and Sean Duffy in the House. It was also supported by both former Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton and former Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker. The new St. Croix River Bridge opened in August 2017 to critical acclaim.
Extending broadband access. In 2024, every American should have access to high-speed internet regardless of their zip code. That’s why I made sure the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law included $65 billion for broadband infrastructure based on legislation I introduced with Rep. Jim Clyburn to bring high-speed internet to every family in America. As millions of Americans lack reliable broadband access, the need for this bill could not be more urgent. As a result of that law, Minnesota will be receiving a game-changing grant of more than $650 million for broadband projects over five years. The State of Minnesota has developed a plan for how to use this funding to deliver broadband to people in every corner of the state. The federal government approved this plan in September, moving us one step closer to the rollout of affordable broadband infrastructure across Minnesota. Importantly, the legislation has a clawback provision in it, so if the providers don’t use the money like they’re supposed to, the state will be able to get it back to give to someone else who is ready to do the work. This critical funding will help unserved and underserved communities close the digital divide and connect Americans to ensure that they have increased access to education, health care, and business opportunities.
Fortifying Minnesota waterways. Every two years since 2014, I have worked to pass a Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) that included provisions vital to Minnesota. This legislation has made crucial investments in our water infrastructure, including the Port of Duluth, upgrades to locks and dams on the inland waterway system, and infrastructure for critical flood protection, including for Fargo-Moorhead and Roseau. In 2022, Senator John Hoeven of North Dakota and I secured $437 million for the construction of permanent flood protection for more than 200,000 people in the Red River Valley.
Providing our small businesses the tools they need to succeed. I have long supported small businesses, which employ nearly half of all private-sector workers and make outsize contributions to innovation that helps grow our economy. I supported the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act, which became law in March 2010 and helps small businesses by allowing broader deductions to increase their ability to invest in the future growth of their businesses and providing tax credits to help them hire workers as they grow. I have sponsored legislation to provide small businesses with much-needed access to capital by extending and enhancing proven Small Business Administration (SBA) lending programs such as the 7(a) and 504 Loan programs, as well as the SBA microloan and intermediate loan programs. I also helped lead the successful fight to repeal the burdensome 1099 reporting requirement for small businesses that was originally in the Affordable Care Act that would have impacted 40 million American businesses.

In March 2012, I supported legislation passed by Congress to help small businesses access critical capital they need to grow and create jobs in their communities, including the ability to use crowdfunding. I have also worked to help farmers run their businesses, and a measure based on my bipartisan Agriculture Equipment and Machinery Depreciation Act was signed into law in December 2017. The provision will help farmers purchase new equipment and replace worn-out machinery by amending the U.S. tax code to permanently set a five-year depreciation schedule for certain agricultural equipment.

Making it easier for small businesses to export. From 2019 to 2021, the cost of exporting goods to Asia increased fourfold for American businesses. Those price hikes on our exporters and consumers were accompanied by astoundingly unreliable service. Shipments were riddled with delays and exporters were repeatedly slapped with unexpected fees that could not be disputed. In too many cases, it was clear that the shipping carriers were leaving ready-to-ship goods at American ports in favor of imports from other countries.

At the same time, ocean carriers reported record profits. It’s estimated that the container shipping industry brought in a record $190 billion in 2021, a seven-fold increase from the previous year. Their financial performance clearly wasn’t a result of improved service. They had simply been fleecing shippers because they knew they could get away with it. Our exporters have had little recourse. Many told me they were afraid to speak out about their frustrations for fear of retaliation.

That’s why I partnered with Republican Senator John Thune of South Dakota in introducing the Ocean Shipping Reform Act to level the playing field for manufacturers, farmers, and consumers. Our bill empowers the Federal Maritime Commission to crack down on anticompetitive behavior like unfair fees and discriminatory conduct. It also enables the commission to open investigations into the business practices of shipping alliances. Crucially, it includes provisions that block ocean carriers from unfairly and unreasonably refusing space on their ships for American goods. My legislation was signed into law in June 2022. By July 2023, the average cost to import a 40-foot container from Asia to the West Coast was down over 80 percent from January 2022 while the average cost to export a container from the West Coast to Asia dropped almost 50 percent. Average shipping costs have continued to remain below the unreasonable levels seen before the law.

In March 2010, I authored the bipartisan Export Promotion Act, which was included in the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010, to help small- and medium-sized businesses promote their products overseas. I support the State Trade and Export Promotion Grant Initiative to help small businesses market overseas.

In addition, the Promoting Rural Exports Act, which I introduced with Republican Senator John Hoeven of North Dakota, would establish a Rural Export Center at the U.S. Commercial Service (USCS) to provide support to rural businesses to help them export their products to new international markets. Small businesses in rural areas shouldn’t be denied opportunities just because of their location and this bill will boost exports and advance innovation in our rural communities so they can continue to grow. Over the past several years, we successfully secured funding for a Rural Export Center, and we have already seen how much good it’s done for businesses. Since it opened in 2020, this center has guided more than 6,500 small and medium-sized businesses toward greater opportunities in key export markets. Now it’s time to pass our bill and permanently establish the Rural Export Center within the U.S. Commercial Service.

Small businesses on Main Street also deserve a level playing field on which to compete and I welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision in the case of South Dakota v. Wayfair, which gave states the option to require out-of-state businesses, including online retailers, to collect sales taxes they are already owed. I had previously cosponsored legislation to achieve this result and that legislation passed the Senate in 2015. I will continue to support the elimination of loopholes in our tax code that hurt our brick-and-mortar stores.

In December 2019, I worked on and supported Congress’s extension of the authority for the Export-Import Bank to continue operating through 2026. Over the past five years, the bank has supported 132 exporters from Minnesota, including 89 small businesses.
Reforming our immigration system. As we face global and domestic threats, securing our borders, points of entry, and infrastructure must be a top priority. That is why in February 2024, and again in May 2024, I supported bipartisan legislation to provide emergency powers to the president to shut the border down and to fix our broken asylum system. I have also continued to work on a bipartisan basis on immigration reform, which is crucial to moving our country and our economy forward. The bipartisan immigration bill I supported in February 2024, and again in May 2024, included additional legal pathways to come to work in the United States. It would have included 250,000 new visas and employment permits for use over the next five years, which would have gone a long way toward filing worker shortages.

When I first got to the Senate, Senator Ted Kennedy asked Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and me to be members of the Immigration Reform Working Group, and I was proud to work with Senator Kennedy on that bipartisan effort. Senator Kennedy knew then what we all know now: comprehensive immigration reform is a key part of moving our economy forward.

As a member of the Judiciary Committee, I was part of the successful effort to pass the Senate’s 2013 bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform bill that included a pathway to citizenship, prioritized enforcement of existing laws, addressed border security, and provided for reforms to our visa system. It also included the DREAM Act. The bill would have decreased the deficit by $158 billion over 10 years. Unfortunately, despite President Obama’s support, the Senate-passed comprehensive immigration reform bill was not allowed a vote in the House. President Biden made passing comprehensive immigration reform a priority, and I wanted to use that opportunity to finally get it done. That’s why, in February 2021, I joined Senators Menendez, Padilla, Luján, Hirono, and Booker in introducing the U.S. Citizenship Act, a comprehensive immigration bill that affirms our values and strengthens our economy by providing a pathway to citizenship, equips law enforcement with smart and effective investments to effectively manage the border, addresses the root causes of migration, and supports refugees and asylum seekers. [See Immigration]
Reducing regulatory burdens on our businesses and farmers. I have fought hard to protect farmers from burdensome regulations, such as proposals to treat milk the same as oil when requiring spill prevention plans, to regulate dust on farm roads and driveways, or to obtain multiple identification numbers to participate in voluntary conservation programs. I introduced the bipartisan Representation for Farmers Act to ensure that American farmers are represented in the decision-making process for environmental policies and regulations that would affect U.S. agriculture. I then fought to include that legislation in the 2014 Farm Bill, which was signed into law in February of 2014. I also authored the bipartisan Medical Device Regulatory Improvement Act to help streamline the Food and Drug Administration’s regulation of medical devices without compromising public safety. Key provisions of this bill were signed into law by President Obama as part of legislation that passed the Senate by a vote of 92-4 in July 2012. I have also worked to cut red tape restricting growth in our tourism sector by reducing visa wait times to emerging markets, such as Brazil and China. I authored the bipartisan Small Airplane Revitalization Act in the Senate. Signed into law in 2013, this legislation cuts red tape for small aircraft manufacturers and improves safety by streamlining the safety certification processes at the Federal Aviation Administration. In 2020, I supported changes to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to streamline loan forgiveness for the smallest businesses. I also supported measures signed into law in June 2023 to streamline the permitting process for energy projects.

In addition, following historic federal investment in our broadband infrastructure as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, I have been laser-focused on ensuring that the work to build the infrastructure starts immediately so we can close the digital divide once and for all. This means avoiding permitting delays. Under the current federal permitting process, permits for broadband build-out have taken anywhere from 12 to 48 months to approve. That’s why in November 2022, I joined Senators Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico and John Barrasso of Wyoming in urging the Departments of Agriculture, Interior, and Commerce to streamline permitting for internet service providers deploying broadband through federal lands. These permits are processed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) or National Forest Service, and their prolonged delays can jeopardize broadband projects by increasing costs and causing providers to default on their buildout deadlines. Additionally, in June 2023, I supported and Congress passed the Bipartisan Budget Agreement which included several reforms to the federal permitting and review process, including adjustments to the timeline for review of energy and natural resource projects and expanded use of shared inter-agency environmental review.
Promoting homegrown energy production. I have led bipartisan efforts with Senator Chuck Grassley calling for a strong Renewable Fuel Standard, which have led to permanent rules that have increased overall renewable fuel volume requirements. I also strongly supported the EPA’s rulemaking process to lift the restriction on the sale of E15 during the summertime driving season, which was finalized on May 30, 2019. Lifting the summer ban on E15 has brought relief to agriculture producers and was an important step toward making our fuel supply more sustainable. That is why Senator Deb Fischer of Nebraska and I introduced the bipartisan Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act, which would enable the year-round, nationwide sale of ethanol blends higher than 10 percent, helping to lower fuel prices and provide certainty in fuel markets for farmers and consumers. I have consistently pushed to make ethanol and biodiesel more readily available to American consumers at the gas pump. In addition, my Right to Retail Renewable Fuels amendment to the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 is helping to ensure that new fuels can come to market by preventing oil companies from using their market power to stop gas stations from selling renewable fuels. I also advocated for Minnesota to receive funds to expand biofuel infrastructure. In 2016, Minnesota received $8 million in federal funding to install blender pumps for biofuels at fueling stations. The investment boosted local economies across our state, gave drivers more choices at the pump, and reduced dependence on foreign oil. In addition, in 2021 I introduced the bipartisan Renewable Fuel Infrastructure Investment and Market Expansion Act with Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa to create a permanent biofuel infrastructure program at the Department of Agriculture and expand the availability of low-carbon renewable fuels in the marketplace, resulting in cleaner air, lower fuel prices, and rural economic vitality. This bill was signed into law in August 2022. [See Agriculture and Rural Communities]
Promoting tourism in America. As chair of the bipartisan Tourism Caucus, I have fought to cut red tape and reduce delays to help promote tourism, which is one of the largest industries in Minnesota—generating $16 billion in sales and 11 percent of our state’s total private sector employment in 2019. I pushed to pass the Travel Promotion Act of 2009 into law, which created Brand USA, a public-private partnership that promotes international travel to the United States. In 2018, Brand USA generated more than one million additional visitors who spent an estimated $4 billion, strengthening local businesses and boosting economic growth. Along with former Republican Senator Roy Blunt of Missouri, I led the bipartisan efforts to successfully reauthorize Brand USA in 2014 and again in 2019 so that it can continue to build on its progress through 2027. And following the steep decline in international visitors during the coronavirus pandemic, I worked to pass the Restoring Brand USA Act, my bipartisan bill with former Senator Blunt to help Brand USA promote the U.S. to international visitors by allowing the program to access $250 million in critical resources. The bill was signed into law in March 2022 as part of the omnibus government funding package.

Too often, Americans making reservations online are being met with hidden fees that make it difficult to compare prices and understand the true cost of an overnight stay. That’s why I introduced bipartisan legislation, the Hotel Fees Transparency Act, with Senator Jerry Moran of Kansas to increase transparency. This bill requires anyone advertising a hotel room or a short-term rental to clearly show the true cost of a booking up front. This legislation was successfully reported out of the Commerce Committee on July 31, 2024. And currently millions of tourists and business travelers are unable to come to the United States to visit and contribute to our economy because the average wait time for a visa interview is about 400 days. These processing delays could stop an estimated 6.6 million potential travelers from visiting the United States this year, causing a loss of $11.6 billion dollars in tourism spending. The average international visitor from one of these countries to the U.S. spends around $4,000 during their trip—boosting our economy. That’s why I introduced bipartisan legislation with Senator Jerry Moran of Kansas to address backlogs and get people traveling faster by improving services at U.S. consulates and embassies.

The travel and tourism industry was dramatically impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, which is why I reintroduced the bipartisan Protecting Tourism in the United States Act with former Senator Blunt to help drive tourism growth across the country by enumerating the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on the travel and tourism industry and identifying policy recommendations to assist this hard-hit sector. Our bill was signed into law in December 2022.
Investing in the Arts. I led a major and nationally notable bipartisan bill with Senator John Cornyn of Texas to provide relief for independent venues—including live music stages, movie theaters, and museums shuttered by the pandemic—which was signed into law as part of the December 2020 relief package. It was the largest investment of the arts in history.
Putting Main Street ahead of Wall Street. In the wake of the 2008 financial crisis that cost millions of Americans their jobs, homes, and nest eggs, I fought for comprehensive reform in the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act to protect consumers and restore transparency. Those measures include efforts to monitor and address systemic risk, increase accountability at financial firms, and reform the complex derivatives markets. To shield consumers from unfair, deceptive, and abusive practices, the bill created the independent Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The final bill also included two amendments I co-authored to protect homebuyers from predatory lending practices and to preserve the Federal Reserve’s authority to supervise community banks to ensure that the institution charged with our nation’s monetary policy has a connection to Main Street—not just Wall Street. I believe it is time for Wall Street to start operating by the same rules as the rest of us. By enacting the Dodd-Frank Act, we sought to make sure that taxpayers are never again on the hook for bad bets on Wall Street. I opposed attempts during the Trump administration to dismantle and weaken Dodd-Frank and consistently opposed the Trump administration’s attempts to undermine the mission of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Expanding broadband in rural communities. As a member of the Senate Commerce Committee, I have been a champion for rural broadband, and I am a co-chair of the bipartisan Senate Broadband Caucus. I believe that connecting rural areas to high-speed internet will provide those rural businesses and families with increased access to education, healthcare, and business opportunities.

That’s why I made sure the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law included $65 billion for broadband infrastructure based on legislation I introduced with Rep. James Clyburn of South Carolina to bring high-speed internet to every family in America. As 42 million Americans—including 16 percent of households in rural Minnesota—lack reliable broadband access, the need for this bill could not be more urgent. As a result of that law, Minnesota will be receiving a game-changing grant of more than $650 million for broadband projects over five years. Now, because of this law, we have new resources to deliver broadband to people in every corner of the state. Importantly, the legislation has a clawback provision in it, so if the providers don’t use the money like they’re supposed to, the state will be able to get it back to give to someone else who is ready to do the work. We need to make sure that companies applying for federal funding to build out broadband infrastructure can get the job done. That’s why I introduced the bipartisan Rural Broadband Protection Act with Senator Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia. The bill would require the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to establish a more thorough vetting process to ensure that providers applying for federal funding are capable of delivering reliable broadband access to unserved and rural communities. I am continuing to work closely with the FCC and Department of Commerce as this funding is distributed over five years.

I also led the effort with Senator John Thune of South Dakota calling on the FCC to modernize rules intended to ensure that rural Americans have access to affordable broadband services. With the support of 59 senators, we successfully compelled the FCC to update these rules in March 2016. I also introduced the bipartisan Rural Spectrum Accessibility Act with Senator Deb Fischer of Nebraska, which provides incentives for wireless carriers to work with rural or smaller carriers to increase wireless broadband access in rural communities. That bill was signed into law in March 2018. Additionally, a proposal of mine to require states to simultaneously install broadband conduits as part of certain federal transportation projects, including when building a new highway or adding a new lane to an existing highway—a provision known as “Dig Once”—was included in legislation signed into law in March 2018.

Accurate, reliable data on the economic impact of broadband is a valuable tool for policymakers and business leaders as they make the case for additional broadband deployment. To this end, I introduced the bipartisan Measuring the Economic Impact of Broadband Act—which passed the Senate in June 2019—to require the U.S. Secretary of Commerce to conduct a study of the effects of broadband deployment and adoption on the U.S. economy. I also introduced bipartisan legislation with Senators Roger Wicker of Mississippi, Gary Peters of Michigan, and John Thune of South Dakota to improve the FCC’s broadband coverage maps to ensure funding for broadband deployment goes to the areas that need it most. That bill was signed into law in March 2020. [See Agriculture and Rural Communities]
Addressing the burdens faced by middle-class families. During my first year in the Senate, we passed the first federal minimum wage increase in a decade. Since the passage of that legislation, I have fought for policies aimed at putting more money in the pockets of working Minnesotans. That is why I strongly support legislation to raise the federal minimum wage to at least $15 an hour. Lifting the minimum wage is part of the solution to get the economy back on track for the middle class and at the same time increasing the purchasing power of our customers. If we’re going to build a strong middle class, we need to make sure that Americans can work their way into it.

Helping homeowners and renters. I am committed to ensuring that the housing market is affordable and accessible to everyone. That is why I introduced bipartisan legislation with former Republican Senator Rob Portman which would address the national housing shortage and skyrocketing housing costs for renters and homeowners by helping states and localities develop and implement comprehensive plans to increase their supply of housing and make more of it affordable. I also cosponsor the Fair Housing Improvement Act to make sure Fair Housing Act protections are extended to people regardless of their source of income or their status as veterans. And I continue to support the bipartisan Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act, which would expand and strengthen the Low Income Housing Tax Credit to increase investment in affordable housing, build thousands of new units nationwide, and provide resources to at-risk groups. Previously, I authored a law that prevents predatory lending by banning mortgage originators from accepting compensation by placing consumers in a higher interest rate loan or a loan with less favorable terms. In 2011, I supported reforms to the rules loan servicers must follow when dealing with homeowners who are seeking to modify their mortgages. These reforms would help ease the burden and stress for homeowners navigating the process of staying in their homes. I have also worked to extend the program that helps homeowners facing foreclosure stay in their houses without paying taxes on the amount of their mortgages the bank writes off. The program also extends the ability of consumers to deduct the cost of mortgage insurance for personal residences.
Providing tax credits and direct help for Minnesotans. In 2009, I sponsored the Middle Class Opportunity Act, which would increase tax credits for child and dependent care and help families pay for higher education and support for aging parents. I supported the Making Work Pay Tax Credit, which provided a temporary cut in federal income taxes for 95 percent of working families in 2009 and 2010. I supported the Payroll Tax Cut, which put a boost of more than $1,000 in the typical paycheck throughout the year in 2011 and 2012. I worked with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to pass the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012. Under this bipartisan agreement, middle-class families had the security of knowing that their income tax rates would stay low. The bill extended enhancements to the Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, and tax credits for higher education. And in 2015, I supported the Protecting Americans from Tax Hike Act which made permanent the enhancements to the Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, and tax credits for higher education.

I also strongly supported the Child Tax Credit, a landmark provision enacted in the American Rescue Plan that helped millions of American families. In December 2021, the Child Tax Credit reached 61.2 million children and kept 3.7 million children from poverty. That is why I have placed a priority on legislation that includes a permanent expansion of the child tax credit.

Those payments worked and they made a real difference in the lives of American families. Unfortunately, the expanded Child Tax Credit expired at the end of 2021. I cosponsor the Working Families Tax Relief Act which would permanently expand the Child Tax Credit and ensure the credit is delivered monthly. This bill would increase household income for the families of 65 million children. In January 2024, Senate Finance Committee Chair Wyden and House Ways & Means Committee Chair Smith introduced a bipartisan tax package that includes important changes to the Child Tax Credit like increased refundability through 2025. This bill passed the House on January 31 by a vote of 357-70, and I voted for it when it was considered by the Senate. While this bill received the support of a majority of the U.S. Senate voting, it did not receive the needed 60 votes to move forward. I will continue to advocate for permanent improvements to this important credit that helps so many families.
Supporting technical and vocational education programs. To help people develop skills they need for high-demand careers, I introduced bipartisan legislation to transform tax-advantaged “college savings plans” into “career savings plans,” allowing taxpayers to use these accounts for skills training, apprenticeships, and credential programs in addition to two- and four-year college degrees. And I also introduced the bipartisan American Apprenticeship Act to provide tuition assistance to participants in apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs in a variety of industries and occupations.
Extending paid sick, family, and medical leave. Minnesota is a leader in providing paid sick leave, paid medical leave, and other policies that support working families. I am working to pass these bills on the national level. I cosponsored the Healthy Families Act to provide up to seven days of annual paid sick leave and the Family and Medical Insurance Leave (FAMILY) Act to provide paid family and medical leave. I also supported the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, which went into effect in 2023 and protects the rights of pregnant workers, and the Federal Employee Paid Leave Act, which provides federal workers 12 weeks of paid parental leave and was included in legislation signed into law in 2019. I will continue to advocate for paid leave policies that provide all workers with paid family and medical leave. I continue to advocate for more affordable education and health care by working to reduce the cost of college, supporting workforce training programs, and addressing factors that lead to increased health care costs, including skyrocketing prescription drug costs. [See Education and Health Care]
Supporting working moms. According to a report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly 74 percent of mothers with children under age 18 participated in the U.S. workforce in 2023. I am working to ensure that moms have the support they need to enter and stay in the workforce, which strengthens the financial health of our families. I introduced the Mom Economy Resolution, which recognizes the burdens on working moms and calls for investments in paid leave, child care, the child tax credit, and other support. We made significant progress on many of these priorities in passing the American Rescue Plan into law, but I will continue pushing for these policies, including a robust paid leave plan; high-quality, affordable child care; an increased minimum wage; and a permanent expansion of the child tax credit (CTC), the earned income tax credit (EITC), and the child and dependent care tax credit (CDCTC).
Assisting families with caregiving for seniors. Over 70 percent of adults who survive to age 65 will develop substantial long-term care service needs as they grow older. Seniors want to be able to live independently and stay in their own homes as long as possible, and family support is essential to making that option available. Much of our elder care is done by informal caregivers—such as spouses or adult children taking care of their parents. As the Baby Boomer generation ages, the numbers will continue to grow. I’m working to expand access to care for our seniors and support family members who assume the role of caregivers for their loved ones. I introduced the Alzheimer’s Caregiver Support Act, to provide grants for training and support services for families and caregivers of people living with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia, and the Americans Giving Care to Elders Act, which would establish a federal tax credit to assist with the costs of caring for an aging family member and would help expand programs to provide education, guidance, and support to people taking care of loved ones with long-term care needs. [See Seniors]