With a massive budget surplus as a result of the state over collecting from the taxpayers, I led efforts to put more money into people’s pockets every single paycheck, week after week, month after month, year after year with permanent ongoing tax relief. I also led the effort to fully eliminate taxes on Social Security income. It’s time our seniors get this much deserved relief, and I will not stop working on this until it gets done.

During my time in the Senate, I’m proud to have supported the largest investments in public education in state history. I also supported major reforms to streamline costs and ensure the best possible education for our most valuable treasures—our kids. I also led the way on initiatives like career and technical education, which provides quality on-the-job training for students in high school to prepare them for the jobs of tomorrow—recognizing a four-year degree isn’t for everyone. I supported additional funding to help school districts cover growing special education costs and invest in safety enhancements, as well as an expansion of mental health resources for our students. I’ve also worked on initiatives to empower parents to be partners with educators in their children’s education. Education is essential to competitiveness and preparing our kids to be responsible citizens.

When it comes to higher education, southeastern Minnesota is a hub. That’s why I’m proud to be so involved with the tremendous staff and students at our area institutions of higher learning. I’ve had the opportunity to work closely with college students, faculty, staff, and administrators on several initiatives that will help make higher education even better in Minnesota, including legislation that makes college more affordable by expanding the state grant program and enacting a student loan tax credit.

Our region is incredibly fortunate to be home to the nation’s best medical facilities and brightest minds. I’m proud to be a champion for investments in innovation and research across the health care sector. I’m also proud to have led the way on a successful ‘reinsurance’ program that lowered Minnesota’s health care premiums. I was a sponsor of a series of bills that made reforms to pharmacy benefit managers by increasing transparency, so you’ll see more savings at the point-of-sale, and passed a bill to make hospital billing more transparent and easier to understand. I also worked to protect funding for our nursing homes and supported the landmark Elder Care and Vulnerable Adult Protection Act, which affords major new consumer rights to residents of long-term care facilities and licenses assisted living facilities in Minnesota for the first time.

I was honored to be the author of the ‘Super Gav Act’—a bill that provides newborns screening for rare diseases—in memory of Winona resident Gavin Quimby, who passed away at the age of five after a battle with metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD). I was also the author of the ‘Bridges to Health Care’ program, which provides resources to help disadvantaged students pursue careers in health care. I helped secure needed funding for nursing homes and disability services, worked with local disability providers on Region 10 Quality Assurance to help provide better care and long-term settings, and was the author of a program that provides funding for work opportunities for people with disabilities.

In addition, I was the chief author of a bill that protects Good Samaritans who provide care to somebody suffering a life-threatening allergic reaction—making sure you don’t get in trouble for administering an Epi-Pen. Finally, recognizing the critical need for mental health services across the board, I strongly supported record investments in mental health services for students, farmers, seniors, and Minnesotans in crisis.

My wife, Janel, grew up on a farm in Lewiston, where her family still farms the land. We are so fortunate to have some of the best agricultural land and the hardest working farmers in Minnesota right here in our area. Farming and agriculture drive our local economies and it is critical that lawmakers in Saint Paul understand its importance. I will continue to work together with our farmers toward new uses, new markets, and value-added opportunities to make use of agriculture products. Our farmers are some of the most productive in the country—and we need continue to help promote and celebrate that fact.

During my time in the legislature, I’m proud to have supported legislation to fund the Dairy Assistance, Investment, and Relief Initiative, replenish the Rural Finance Authority, and make historic investments in broadband expansions to rural communities across the state.