EAST GRAND FORKS, Minn. 鈥� U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar joined with celebrity chef Molly Yeh and East Grand Forks Mayor Steve Gander to talk about workforce, housing and child care needs in Minnesota during a media event on Wednesday, Jan. 11.
After ordering from Yeh's East Grand Forks restaurant, Bernie's, and meeting with local leaders, Klobuchar recalled the other towns and local businesses throughout Minnesota she鈥檚 visited before coming to East Grand Forks and what she has noticed along the way.
ADVERTISEMENT
鈥淩eally every place, whether it鈥檚 small or big, we鈥檙e seeing the same thing," said Klobuchar, D-Minn. "We鈥檙e seeing a vibrant economy, that鈥檚 for sure. We鈥檙e seeing an incredibly low unemployment rate, which is a good thing except for when you need more workers."
Klobuchar said there is a lack of available housing for young adults and seniors. Child care has also been a top issue, which has been linked to people leaving their jobs.
Additionally, because of the pandemic and policies, Klobuchar said it has gotten difficult for people to get work permits and the proper visas.
鈥淭his is especially hurting us in the ag area and manufacturing and tourism and in health care technology and the service industry,鈥� she said.
One of the bills Klobuchar has introduced, called Conrad 30, which would increase the number of doctors able to work in rural and medically underserved communities. The would allow international doctors to remain in the U.S. upon completing their residency under the condition that they practice in areas experiencing doctor shortages.
Other top priorities Klobuchar has for workforce include lifting caps on visas, vetting people more quickly and giving Afghan refugees already in the U.S. a status so they can more permanently live and work in the U.S.
鈥淭o me it is really backwards if we don鈥檛 move forward by getting some more workers in the pipeline and you can do that in many ways with as we know apprenticeships, good schools, with better child care, more affordable child care,鈥� she said
ADVERTISEMENT
During the event Klobuchar also praised Yeh, a cookbook author and host of the Food Network show "Girl Meets Farm" who lives in East Grand Forks. Gander said Yeh's restaurant Bernie鈥檚 brings in a unique place for the downtown area to benefit not only the residents, but also those coming to East Grand Forks for the restaurant.
Gander said Bernie's has the opportunity to be "extra special" along with the other unique local places that make up downtown.
鈥淲e鈥檙e thankful for all of that," Gander said.
Klobuchar said she鈥檚 excited about how well Greater Minnesota is doing, but it needs to keep going.
鈥淚鈥檓 so proud of this part of the state and I want it to remain strong and the solution sometimes can be a little complicated to discuss as we know,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut instead of just blaming everyone which sometimes goes on in politics, I think we really need to step back and say it鈥檚 a combination of things so let鈥檚 figure out how we move forward to get people so they can expand.鈥�
The Trust Project
