Elise Stefanik

While we’re ‘under construction’, a quick reminder of who Elise is! She was the youngest Republican woman ever elected to Congress and last year assumed the 3rd position in the House GOP. As her star has risen, she has not gone without controversy and criticism, but has remained true to her roots, fighting for the rural communities and children she represents.

Oh Ca-NA-DA…shame on you. Elise was part of a bipartisan group of colleagues that helped settle a dispute between the U.S. and Canada. The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) panel ruled in favor of the U.S. that Canada is breaching its commitments under the USMCA by unfairly administering dairy tariff-rate quotas in a way that harms American dairy farmers. Now U.S. dairy farmers will have access to the Canadian dairy market after suffering from restrictions. Who knew milk could cause so much drama!

Elise worked on a lot this year as the GOP’s No. 3 leader in the House but was specifically focused on issues impacting children and families. Elise introduced the Family Child Care Networks Act, which would allow states to repurpose funds from the American Rescue Plan and use them to establish Family Child Care Networks. Last year, Elise teamed up with fellow PP leader Josh Harder and secured $10 million in grants for education in rural communities. Recently, they wrote to Secretary of Education Cardona to release the funds for the grants ASAP. Rural students have faced unique challenges throughout the pandemic and these grants will without a doubt spur innovation, improve access to higher education, and prepare students for credentials to step into high-demand jobs.

A 2014 law provides career services and upskilling opportunities for adults and displaced workers. However, given the current hiring crisis in the U.S., Elise was concerned with the low number of participants in that career program (only about 125k workers exit the program each year). She introduced the Employer-Directed Skills Act which would allow job creators to determine the skills their workforce needs and streamline the process for workers to access skill development in those areas. On last week’s episode of our Happy Hour podcast, restaurant-owner Bobby Kronfli addressed his own hiring difficulties so this proposed bill feels particularly topical to us!

Elise knows the financial challenges many rural hospitals face particularly when it comes to prescription drug affordability. That’s why she’s introduced bipartisan legislation which looks to protect hospitals from losing eligibility for the 340B drug pricing program. This program requires pharmaceutical companies to provide drugs at discounted prices to certain designated hospitals—often ones in rural areas facing financial hardships. Covid has only magnified this problem, and by extending and protecting their eligibility, they can continue to carry on the lifesaving work that they do—literally!