A Conversation with U.S. Representative Michelle Fischbach (MN-07)

Intro (00:00):
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Jessica Young (00:40):
Welcome back to another episode of Medical Alley Association's "At the Table" podcast, where we explore how policy affects the healthcare community here in Minnesota's Medical Alley and beyond. I'm Jessica Young, state policy and advocacy manager here at the Medical Alley Association, and your host for today. Joining me is Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach, who represents Minnesota's seventh congressional district. Her constituency spans the western half of the state, running from the Canadian border all the way down to near the Iowa border. This is the congresswoman's first term, though she is certainly no stranger to representing the people of Minnesota. She has an impressive resume and has held a number of positions at the state level, including Lieutenant Governor, before being elected as the Congresswoman for the seventh district. Representative Fischbach currently serves on the agriculture committee and the judiciary committee. It is great to talk to you again, Congresswoman, and thank you so much for joining me today.

U.S. Rep. Michelle Fischbach (01:37):
Thank you. I really, really appreciate it. And I will just add that I do sit on the rules committee also. I sit on three committees, which which is a little unusual for a freshmen, but really do love all of the committees I sit on with ag and rules and judiciary.

Jessica Young (01:54):
Thank you for mentioning that. That is a good one to flag and one that I'm sure folks don't totally understand as it is more probably procedural, is that right?

U.S. Rep. Michelle Fischbach (02:03):
You know, it is a little bit. All of the bills come through the rules committee before they go to the floor and in rules committee, we determine how they're going to be handled on the floor, how long the debate's going to be. You know, what amendments may be ruled in order, things like that. So it's been very nice as a freshmen because, you know, before it gets to the floor, I see every bill before it gets there. So I'm really able to really understand, you know, get both feet, jump in with both feet and know what's going on and what's getting to the floor.

Jessica Young (02:37):
I was going to say, that's awesome. A great way to get exposure to a lot of different issues and a lot of different pieces of legislation. So great experience for your first year.
U.S. Rep. Michelle Fischbach (02:46):
Yeah. And it's just wonderful people on that committee and with a ranking member Cole and Congressman Reschenthaler, and they've been very, very kind to to a freshmen.

Jessica Young (02:59):
I love that. And my first question kind of ties well into that conversation. I'm sure you get asked this a lot, but can you just tell us about your first year in Congress and maybe specifically, what was the transition like from state Senator and then Lieutenant Governor to Congresswoman?

U.S. Rep. Michelle Fischbach (03:07):
Well, you know, I

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