Minnesota relies on the strength of our state’s rural communities and farmlands. As your Senator and as one of the leaders of the Senate Agriculture Committee, it’s important to me to hear directly about the challenges you are facing. Every year I go to all 87 of Minnesota’s counties, and last month, I went on a 19-county tour to visit farms, small businesses, and other organizations throughout rural Minnesota.

Everywhere I went, I got to talk to small business owners who were proud to contribute to their local economy, neighbors who went the extra mile for each other, and people who loved their community and their way of life.

In Freeborn County, I met the owners of Green Acres Milling, a farmer-owned oat processor with a plan to make our state a major player in the oats industry. In Isanti County, I visited the Braham Food Shelf and got to know some of the dedicated volunteers who work to get food and essentials to families. And in Rock County, I celebrated the grand opening of the Kids Rock Child Center in Luverne, which added nearly 200 child care spots, making it easier for people to work in the community and support their families.

But in every place I visited, I met people who were facing challenges with their livelihoods, including from the impact of the new White House tariff policy.

When I spoke at the VINE Adult Community Center in Blue Earth County, I talked to seniors who were concerned that the administration’s decision to reduce Social Security field offices and staffing and change policies at the Social Security Administration could make it harder for them to get the checks that they earned. And I met with local leaders in Martin County who understand that cuts to Medicaid threaten nursing homes in the area.

There is no excuse for putting older Americans’ livelihoods and wellbeing on the chopping block. That is why back in the Senate, I am fighting to protect and strengthen Social Security and Medicaid.

I also heard a lot of frustration with the administration’s tariff policy, which risks increasing prices, permanently losing export markets, and driving down tourism to our country. The administration’s across-the-board tariffs are projected to cost the average American family over $3,000 per year at a time when so many people are already struggling to stay afloat.

These concerns were front and center for the farmers I heard from at the town hall I hosted with the Minnesota Farmer Bureau and the Minnesota Farmers Union in Howard Lake. Between high input costs, extreme weather, and disease outbreaks like avian flu, a lot of farmers are already operating on narrow margins.

In Moorhead, a Minnesota Soybean board member told me that the administration’s tariffs could cause other countries to purchase soybeans from Brazil instead of the United States. These tariffs have also undermined relationships with countries like Canada that our state’s tourist attractions and associated hotels, restaurants, and local businesses depend on.

That’s why I’ve taken action in the Senate. In March, along with Senator Tim Kaine, I successfully led bipartisan legislation that passed the Senate to undo President Trump’s tariffs on Canadian imports. I have also joined a bipartisan group of 14 senators –seven Republicans and seven Democrats–to introduce a bill to reassert Congress’ authority to set tariffs. This bill would ensure Congress must review and approve new tariffs within 60 days.

And as a leader of the Senate Agriculture Committee, I am committed to ensuring the U.S. Department of Agriculture is an advocate to the farmers who put food on our tables.

I am grateful for everyone who took the time to talk to me over the course of my 19-county rural tour. I am bringing their stories back to Washington, where I will never stop fighting for rural Minnesota.

— Amy Klobuchar represents Minnesota in the U.S. Senate