(BISMARCK, ND) – Today, May 31st marks the conclusion of Mental Health Awareness Month. Dem-NPL legislators were aware of the unique challenges and barriers surrounding mental health this session, and successfully championed behavioral health program improvements for children, with services that span prevention, treatment, peer support, and recovery.

Dem-NPL legislators are building out more school-based and community based behavioral health services, and expanding targeted case management services for mental health issues. SB 2149 – sponsored by Senators Joan Heckaman, John Grabinger, and Larry Robinson – improves mental health awareness and suicide prevention, and addresses the increasing problem of suicide in North Dakota.

Behavioral health issues typically begin in childhood, making education and awareness for our young people crucial. With that in mind, Senator Kathy Hogan sponsored SB 2313 to address children’s behavioral health issues. The bill creates a program to provide behavioral health services for children at risk of or identified as having a behavioral health condition in their family, with a focus on early intervention, treatment, and recovery services.

By supporting those with special needs – and children who need access to behavioral health services- North Dakota can strengthen individuals, families, and communities, another core value of the Dem-NPL. The impact of these bills have not gone unnoticed, as constituents of Senator Kathy Hogan and Senator John Grabinger wrote letters to the editor to thank them for their hard work and dedication

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Praise for Dem-NPL Legislators

(BISMARCK, ND) – Since the end of the 66^th legislative session, constituents from all over the state have been writing in to express their gratitude for legislators. Democratic-NPL legislators have worked across the aisle to provide better mental health services, support education, protection those with pre-existing conditions, and to build an economy that works for all.District 11: Senator Tim Mathern and Representatives Gretchen Dobervich and Ron Guggisberg were praised for their productive session focusing on social justice and common sense legislation.
District 12: Senator John Grabinger was thanked by a constituent for sponsoring legislation that will help future generations address mental health issues.
District 18: Representative Corey Mock was grateful to hear from a recent college grad for fixing a small financial aid loophole that shortchanges hard-working students.
District 20: Representative Rick Holman was praised for offering an amendment that would protect the insurance of North Dakotans with pre-existing conditions.
District 21: An emotional letter thanks Senator Kathy Hogan and other Democrats that fought for better mental health services for the state.
District 26: Senator Jim Dotzenrod gets a thank you for recognizing the fact that North Dakota’s agriculture industry has been the state’s top economic driver and deserves the support of our lawmakers.
District 27: The constituents of Representative Ruth Buffalo recognize that she is a standup advocate that truly cares about connecting with voters and fighting for issues that matter.
District 35:  Senator Erin Oban was praised for her understanding of the challenges teachers face and her unwavering advocacy for K-12 education.

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Trade, not Aid

(BISMARCK, ND) – In a tone-deaf move, the Administration felt compelled yesterday – during the middle of planting season – to announce a new aid package, totaling $16 billion in an attempt to offset damages to farmers reeling from the lingering trade war.

How much each farmer receives will largely depend on the county in which they live in, instead of what they grow. It is uncertain if the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) even has enough borrowing power to fund a second tariff-relief program. It is only allowed to borrow $30 billion per fiscal year from the U.S. Treasury and last year’s bailout used a big chunk of that.

Senator Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), Senate Finance Committee Chairman, insisted “Farmers don’t want aid, they want trade.”  North Dakota state Senator Jim Dotzenrod (D-Wyndmere) in talking with AgWeek echoed those remarks, adding “there is more support than you’d think.” He feels the way the U.S. went about imposing these tariffs was a mistake. “It might have worked if it had been done in concert with other countries. The U.S. by itself in this confrontation is not going to be able to make China make fundamental changes,”

“Providing financial assistance during these times is the right thing to do, but this is the second year in a row, and we just do not have the funds to do this year after year,” said Alison Jones, Communication Director for the North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party. “Farmers deserve more security than that. Farmers who’ve put in decades of work need to be able to rely on the markets, not politicians and the government.”

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Trade War Will Hurt American Shoppers

(BISMARCK, ND) – Shoppers can expect to soon see higher prices on everyday items like soap and tissues as the latest round of tariffs will trickle down to consumers. American businesses have so far shouldered the burden of rising costs. Now, they are left with no choice but to pass on the 25 percent tariff to consumers.

Negotiations with China are still ongoing, setting American consumers up for burdensome price hikes this summer. China said they will raise tariffs on $60 billion in U.S. goods on June 1 in retaliation for the Administration’s decision last week to raise duties on Chinese goods.

Food products such as honey, peanut oil, and some alcoholic beverages will see immediate price increases. If you’re looking to do any home improvements, expect to see higher costs for bricks, panels, floor tiles and tools used for milling or drilling. That family camping trip is going to cost more as well, sleeping bags, rubber boots, and walking sticks will also see the effects of tariffs. Those who prefer to spend the summer days indoors will see price hikes for televisions, headphones and other audio equipment. In fact, experts are calling these tariffs one of the largest tax increases in 25 years.

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Candidate vs Congressman

(BISMARCK, ND) – Since being elected in 2018, Congressman Kelly Armstrong has not said or done anything to advance the interests of North Dakota’s agriculture community. This is particularly alarming in the midst of the newest round of failed negotiations with China, as increased tariffs threaten to cause even more damage to family farms, agribusiness, and consumers across the country.

Agriculture and agribusiness are simply not top priorities for the Congressman, and no one ever really thought they were. During his 2018 campaign, farm groups had expressed apprehension, stating that they felt Armstrong doesn’t grasp their issues. They were right to be concerned.

As a candidate, Kelly Armstrong was not one to shy away from taking a position on the Trade War, but as a Congressman? He hasn’t spoken one word about it. Perhaps Congressman Armstrong thinks it best to fly under the radar in the hopes that the trade war will end soon, or perhaps he simply doesn’t care. One thing is for sure: come re-election time, Kelly Armstrong won’t be able to ignore the farmers he has failed to stand up for in Washington, anymore.

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Hello? Congressmen Armstrong?

(BISMARCK, ND) – Farmers, business owners, and consumers alike have seen the very real consequences of the trade war. This is no longer “a little squabble with China,” as the President has called it and “just riding it out” is not a viable option. To date, the United States and China have held 11 rounds of talks and not a single one of them has accomplished anything that even resembles an agreement.

Republican Leaders from the top agriculture-producing states have spoken up. Senator Kevin Cramer has been dutifully cheering on the Administration from the sidelines, and Senator John Hoeven is out parroting false claims that ignore basic economics. And our lone Congressman, Kelly Armstrong? Well, he has said . . . nothing. Nothing at all. His website shows no statement regarding the failed negotiations. His social media is lively but in regards to the trade war? Dead silence. How can our lone Congressman have nothing to say?

“When you are the only Congressman for a state like North Dakota, you have to understand agribusiness, and when your constituents are putting their livelihoods on the line, you cannot remain silent – you just can’t,” said Alison Jones, Communications Director of the North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party. “North Dakotans at least deserve to know if Congressman Armstrong will stand up to the Administration or will blindly cheer for reckless strategies that continue to devastate North Dakota’s agriculture economy. They deserve better than Kelly Armstrong’s silence.”

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