As a fifth generation Minnesotan, I have spent more than a decade working to defend and serve the people of this state and this country as a soldier, as a teacher, and as a national security professional at the Pentagon.
Now, I am eager to serve again, this time as a Democrat representing Minnesota’s 1st Congressional District, where I will apply all that I’ve learned to the pressing issues we’re facing in southern Minnesota, in Washington, and around the world.
As a soldier in war, I learned the burden of being directly responsible for the lives of others. As a middle school teacher, I learned what it means to empower children through education. As an acting Assistant Secretary of Defense, I learned the awesome responsibility of making policy for millions of our nation’s service members. Each experience was humbling as well as enlightening, and each showed me how significantly federal policy impacts the lives of our citizens. I will carry these experiences with me to Congress.
Issues:
Immigration
As an Iraq War Veteran who served two tours of duty searching for roadside bombs and capturing dangerous insurgents, I have put my life on the line to protect this country and my commitment to national security is as strong today as it has ever been. I know what it takes, have done what it takes, and will do what it takes to keep this country safe. When it comes to public safety, let me be perfectly clear, no matter who you are, if you commit a violent crime, you must be punished.
Our immigration system is broken and it is directly a result of the dysfunction in Washington. We must work together towards comprehensive immigration reform that strengthens our borders and our economy.
As I speak with farmers, business owners, and community leaders, they are demanding reform to make sure that our economy and communities are vibrant. This means providing a pathway to citizenship for those who pay their taxes and don’t have a criminal record, holding employers who hire undocumented immigrants accountable, and developing a robust guest worker program.
We must implement a clear directive through the Department of Homeland Security for ICE, so that our local and state law enforcement agencies are no longer having to supplement the federal government’s role in immigration and customs enforcement.
Lastly, I believe that a critical, and often overlooked, component is the need to make a concerted effort to work with other countries to stem the tide of migration under dire circumstances, which has put families and children at significant risk.
In Congress, I will work with both parties to achieve the comprehensive immigration reform that is so desperately needed.
Healthcare
Growing up in Red Wing, I knew and could feel that I was part of a community that cared for its neighbors. When someone had a serious illness, the community came together to offer support and prayer. When neighbors faced going bankrupt because of medical bills, the community held potlucks or fundraisers. My community lived by a simple, undeniable creed: “give kindness and take care of each other.”
My community has grown over the years, but my responsibilities to it remain the same. That’s why our district must ensure we care for our own and each other, especially when it comes to healthcare. Although we’ve made progress to improve access to coverage, too many Americans are still unable to access the care they need or afford their premiums and out-of-pocket costs. For the health of our neighbors and communities, we must and can do better.
Universal Healthcare Coverage
We need to ensure that all Minnesotans can access comprehensive, affordable healthcare. The Affordable Care Act was an important step toward reaching that goal, but our current healthcare system is still leaving too many Minnesotans to fall through the cracks.
We need to do better. Accessible and affordable universal healthcare coverage is right for Minnesota. People in our community who are sick should be able to seek care when they need it, and no one in our community should have to choose between paying the medical bills or feeding their family. As your Congressman, I will push to ensure strong, trusted coverage for many more Minnesotans and will work to expand Medicare eligibility age to 55. Additionally, I will join bipartisan efforts to build on the successes of the Affordable Care Act and work to make the individual market, which our farmers, entrepreneurs, and others rely on, more stable and more affordable.
Rural Health
We need to make sure that the realities of rural communities are part of health reform discussions and that they have a seat at the table, both to address the challenges they face and learn from their successes. Our rural communities face unique challenges, but also have unique strengths when it comes to providing healthcare.
In traveling across our district, I’ve met with countless Minnesotans living in rural areas that don’t have access to local providers or have to drive hours for the care they need. In Congress, I will work to address these growing healthcare workforce shortages and challenges by promoting early exposure to health careers and support programs that recruit and train providers in rural areas. I’ve also heard incredible stories of communities working to address obesity, mental health, or isolation among seniors. I will also push to expand the great innovation happening in our rural communities that provides healthcare, not sick care and that is really making a difference in the patient’s overall health, and the health of the community.
Caring for our Veterans
We need to fight for better access to quality healthcare for our veterans and service members. That starts with taking better care of the needs of our active duty service members on the front end and ensuring that we provide VA healthcare benefits to veterans on the back end to recognize the sacrifice and service they have made.
Although the VA and TriCare system has shown some improvements over the past decade, particularly in Minnesota, I will work to ensure veterans have access to VA healthcare benefits, and will continue to build on the progress made in providing mental health and chemical dependency services, including for our active duty members and their families.
Pharmaceuticals
We need to bring down the skyrocketing price of prescription medications for families across our state. Minnesotans are spending too much of their paychecks on the rising cost of their prescriptions forcing many families to make the difficult choice between paying for needed medications or putting food on the table.
Our neighbors, loved ones, and others shouldn’t have to make this choice. There is no single solution to lowering prescription drug prices, a and as a Congressman, I will work to bring down prescription drug prices on many fronts making them affordable and accessible through common-sense reforms focusing on how they are developed, negotiated, and sold. I plan to join colleagues, like Senator Amy Klobuchar, to protect consumers by addressing current anticompetitive practices that prevent the cheaper generic alternative from coming to market. I also will work to increase affordability by allowing Medicare to use its purchasing power and negotiate directly with prescription drug companies.
Opioid Crisis
We need to ensure that our approach and support to address addiction and the opioid epidemic reflects the experience of families and our communities.
Across our state, we have seen an increase in opioid addiction and opioid related death, which doesn’t begin to tell the story of how loved ones or our community are affected. As Congressman, I will first fight to end the stigma around addiction, ensuring that it is recognized as the disease that it is to help ensure families and individuals are able to access the healthcare services and treatment they need to get well. Secondly, I will focus our efforts across the continuum seeking ways to both prevent, respond, treat, and support long-term recovery of opioid addiction to ensure that across our communities we are developing sustainable solutions that not only address the current crisis, but prevent it from growing or happening in the future.
National Security
I’ve spent much of my career defending our nation – first, in an Army uniform during two Iraq deployments, and then for three and a half years in the Pentagon as an acting Assistant Secretary of Defense. America enjoys safety and security that is unparalleled in the world thanks to our military, intelligence agencies, and other public servants that work tirelessly to keep it that way. Yet, we’ve been a country at war for over 16 years in an unsustainable manner, and face threats around the world.
Congressional Action
As a co-equal branch of government, Congress must not cede the responsibility of ultimately putting our military in harm’s way to the President alone. Congress must shape our national security strategy and determine how we use our military, an all-volunteer force, throughout the world. Congress must also check the executive branch from entering into unnecessary conflicts. I will lead the effort to hold the President accountable as Commander-in-Chief to ensure that we only place our service members into harm’s way when it is absolutely necessary.
Military Spending and Readiness
When it comes to military spending, I believe that the only way to maintain a strong and sustainable military force without unending costs is to use it more wisely. The cost of the Global War on Terror, beyond the human toll of those that have given their lives in service, will exceed $3 trillion dollars. We can have a strong military when we more judiciously choose when to use it instead of measuring it by its size or its cost. Congress has an enormous role in checking these costs, as well as the costs of a Defense Department, which is still not auditable. I will lead an effort to fund a military that is strong and ready to confront our most dangerous threats, but also a military whose costs do not continually escalate and strain domestic spending. There are more than 48,000 military veterans in Minnesota’s 1st District, many of whom personally and intimately know the consequences of war. They also know that at the end of the day, each service member is measured by their ability to do their job. I will fight for legislation that allows and encourages anyone that can meet the military’s standards to serve, including immigrants and the LGBTQ community. Our military is strongest when it reflects our broader society, and in the age of a 16-year war, we must have the widest net possible to recruit patriotic young people into service.
Diplomacy and Cooperation First
The challenges that we face today, both domestic and abroad, are constantly evolving and require a thoughtful and rounded approach to policy-making. I will urge Congress to prioritize our safety at home, defend our allies abroad, and be constantly looking for new partners with whom we can tackle the greatest hurdles in front of us. Our nation will be secure when we holistically approach the dangerous threats that exist in the world through diplomacy, international cooperation, while maintaining a careful balance to address our challenges at home.
Agriculture
From the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi and the valleys of the Driftless Area in the east, to the wide open plains in the west, Minnesota’s First Congressional District is a rich landscape that has created and supported a prosperous tradition of family farming and agriculture. The well-being of our farms and land is directly connected to the prosperity of every town and city in southern Minnesota. That is why it is incumbent upon whoever represents us in Congress to support and expand opportunities for our farmers, and assist in stewardship of the land.
Agriculture, Farming and Our Community
The farm economy is the foundation of southern Minnesota. When you travel from county to county, you are exposed to wide range of agricultural production. From small, family farms to regional co-ops, the spirit of community and hard work is embodied in our way of life. However, there is no doubt that the First District is feeling the pressure of an ever-changing economy, an aging workforce, and increased consolidation of farms. The health of our family farms is directly tied to the health of our small towns and cities, and to our soil and water. When elected, you can count on me to be a strong voice for our community in Congress.
A Strong Farm Bill
If our agricultural way of life is going to thrive for future generations, we must set a course that drives toward success in an uncertain future. This means pursuing a strong Farm Bill that supports family farmers, promotes innovation and stewardship of the land, and provides opportunities for the next generation of farmers. It means investing in technology that allows farmers to be more efficient in their crop production, saving time and costs. It means giving our farmers access to capital and loan forgiveness programs. And it means understanding, grappling with, and adjusting to the environmental impact our farms have on the soil, our communities, and future yields.
Healthy Soil and Clean Water
I believe farmers and agriculture can be leaders in protecting and improving our natural surroundings. However, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has labeled western and southern Minnesota’s streams and rivers as “most impaired,” stating that only 16 percent meet the standards for aquatic life. Because of rising nitrates, cities like Mankato can no longer draw water from local rivers and farmers have to buy expensive water purifying systems to drink from their wells.
I will be a leader in helping farmers steward their land by building healthy soil, using practices like cover crops and diversifying their crop rotations; and I will work with our community to protect our prized landscape and address the emerging water crisis.
New Farmers
We must inspire the next generation of farmers to follow in the footsteps of their predecessors. We know that the average age of farmers is on the rise. We can encourage growth in this field and incentivize our youth to pursue careers in agriculture by removing barriers of entry and exposing our children to the opportunities in farming through leadership programs like Future Farmers of America and Land Stewardship Project’s Farm Beginnings initiative.
Like Congressman Walz, I will be a champion for beginning farmers by supporting the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program. There are people of all backgrounds who want to farm, and it is critical for our public policy to support those facing particular barriers, including farmers of color and immigrant and refugee farmers.
Transportation
Transporting our goods and services to market in a global economy requires an efficient and cost effective transportation system. Inefficiency leads to higher prices for producers. Farmers and agriculture producers rely on roads, bridges, reliable freight rails, and access to barges to ensure that we are able to move commodities to reach major global markets. Investments in our transportation infrastructure, including a WRTA bill that upgrades our locks and dams, are critical to the future of the industry.
Education and Workforce Development
Minnesota’s economic strength is tied directly to the strength of our education systems. As a former teacher and the spouse of a public school educator, I know that there is no more important job than preparing our youth for the future. As a father, I want all southern Minnesotan children to have access to the many pathways to success their life can take from birth to post-secondary education. In Congress, I will fight to maintain strong public education and create better alignment with opportunities in our workforce to help Southern Minnesota economically thrive.
In Southern Minnesota in particular, our agriculture, healthcare, and manufacturing industries reach markets around the world. This connection to the global economy affords us the opportunity to drive economic output and world markets, but it also makes us vulnerable to the ever-changing advances in technology and workforce capacity. My vision is for us to not only remain competitive, but to lead. In order to do this, we must be focused on what tomorrow’s landscape looks like and develop an education and workforce system that prepares us for success.
80% of the jobs in 2025 don’t even exist yet. We must be forward looking in how we build our education and workforce development apparatus to meet future demand. If we are going to compete in a rapidly evolving, global marketplace we must take action now to ensure our youth today will be successful in this emerging economy. In Congress, I will lead in the following areas:
Early Childhood Education
- Accessibility: I support Early Childhood Education as a pathway that gives our children every advantage to develop socially, emotionally, and intellectually. I will work to ensure that there are multiple affordable options for preschool for families within their home communities.
- Low cost: I will pursue policies in Congress to ensure that our early childhood educators, especially our child care providers, can still provide critical services at a low cost. I will also work to control the costs of childcare for our working parents, who shouldn’t have to break their bank before their children even start school.
K-12 Education
- Alignment with our economy: I believe that our K-12 education system must prepare our children to be adaptive learners throughout their life in a rapidly evolving economy. Our children must have access to STEM, to the arts, to coding, and to the power that internet connectivity and technology brings to the classroom.
- Building partnerships: As a Congressman, I will encourage partnerships between local labor, businesses, technical schooling, apprenticeships, as well as 2 and 4-year degree programs so that each child can be exposed, from an early age, to the many opportunities that already exist right here in our communities. This isn’t just true in manufacturing, but also in healthcare, IT, agriculture, logistics and transportation, aviation, and more. We can be doing a lot more in our education system to help students and their families identify multi-directional educational pathways that can lead to any number of high-wage, high-growth job opportunities available in our communities. There are great models for this youth engagement in our community today, and we know them very well – we know them as FFA and 4-H. Let’s take what we know to be great youth engagement strategies for careers in agriculture, and replicate these models across other industries.
- Hands-on training: Let’s teach our kids how to think on their feet and problem solve, how to work in teams and as part of a larger group, expose them to the wonders of modern technology and give them the opportunity to try working with their hands. In Germany, at the age of 10, every student is required to participate in an internship. This shapes their futures well beyond the classroom where they spend the majority of their lives, in the workplace. For this reason, Germany prides itself on one of the lowest youth unemployment rates, where in the U.S. it stands at double that of the national average. We must do better.
- Supporting teachers: Great teachers are the lifeblood of our educational system. As the husband of a public school union teacher, I know this well. It’s crucial that we recruit, develop, and retain a strong and diverse teacher workforce. I believe that every classroom must be led and empowered by teachers that are set up for success and compensated for the public service they provide. I will work on creative solutions to recruiting teachers in shortage areas such as STEM, special education, and in our rural communities. I will also support efforts in Congress to make sure teachers can sharpen their skills through ongoing professional development.
Higher Education and Workforce Development
- Post-secondary affordability: When our children pursue a post-secondary education, whether a four-year degree or otherwise, it must fulfill the promise of career enhancement without saddling them with debt. In Congress, I will support legislation that caps student loan rates, that expands the job pathways to loan forgiveness, and will work with all higher education to demand transparency when their prices rise. Our future economy requires our children to be lifetime learners, and we must make sure that every experience they have in education encourages this.
This content was originally published at https://danfeehan.com/