Friends and neighbors,

It was a slower week on the Senate floor, with a handful of commissioner appointments taken up. And there are two commissioners of note who I am especially proud to have voted for.

The first of which is Larry Herke, who the Senate unanimously confirmed as Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs. For more than 30 years, Commissioner Herke served our nation and state as a member of the U.S. Army and Minnesota National Guard. And his record of service is a model of a life dedicated to Minnesota and the United States.

As a Veteran myself, and during the four years I served as chair of the Senate Veterans Committee, Commissioner Herke was always available for us. And I recall that when we pushed for the three new State Veterans Homes in the communities of Bemidji, Montevideo and Preston, he was continually behind our mission. Commissioner Herke’s desire to serve Minnesota is truly unmeasurable, and I know our state’s 308,000 Veterans and their families will be well taken care of under his leadership.

Additionally, the Senate unanimously appointed Thom Petersen as the Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. Commissioner Petersen has spent most of his life working for his family and his own horse and farm business. He has a demonstrated history of state and federal farm policy. And every year, Commissioner Petersen travels to nearly every county in our state to understand how Minnesota farmers are affected by these policies.

As a longtime member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, I can speak to how Commissioner Petersen is a perfect example of what it means to work with both sides of the aisle. He always puts what’s best for Minnesota’s agriculture industry, not politics, first. When tough decisions need to be made, Commissioner Petersen always prioritized agriculture and rural Minnesota. It was a privilege to have voted in favor of Commissioner Petersen, and I know he will continue to do great work for Minnesota.

Though it was a lighter week on the floor, there are a number of major bills moving through committee and on the path to the full Senate. This includes the Democrats’ second extreme abortion bill, divisive election legislation, and a bill to allow driver’s licenses for non-citizens. I will continue to share updates on these topics, which I know from recent constituent emails and conversations, are of great significance to you and our community.

I want to hear from you, my constituents, on issues that are important to you. Please feel free to reach out to my office with any concerns or ideas you may have. As the session moves forward, I will keep your thoughts and concerns in mind as legislation comes before me. You can contact my office at sen.bruce.anderson@senate.mn or 651-296-5981.

Sincerely,

Bruce Anderson