ROCHESTER — First District Democratic congressional candidate Dan Feehan called for full utilization of the Defense Production Act during a Zoom virtual press conference with business owners, healthcare professionals, a farmer and a U.S. Navy veteran Thursday.

The Defense Production Act of 1950 is a U.S. federal law enacted on Sept. 8, 1950 in response to the start of the Korean War. It was part of a broad civil defense and war mobilization effort.

“(COVID-19) testing should take minutes, not days,” said Feehan. “Athletes have far greater access to fast testing than others. We need to ensure public tracing has an impact, so it’s (COVID-19) is isolated. People are reusing PPE (personal protective equipment). That shouldn’t be. States are in need of more resources.”

Feehan said he hasn’t and won’t take a dime of corporate PAC (Political Action Committee) money.

“Our country is stunted right now. Our health is stunted. Children are not thriving right now. Their future is on the line right now,” Feehan said. “People tell me they’re exhausted with failed Washington leadership. They feel quit on without affordable health care and prescription drugs.”

Feehan was asked about Friday’s presidential visit to Rochester.

“It’s absolutely shameful. A rally without (COVID) safety measures in the backyard of the Mayo Clinic is a slap in the face of the Mayo Clinic,” said Feehan. “Washington has completely and utterly failed to deal with the pandemic.”

Feehan said recent tax changes have not benefited those that need them most.

“The wealthiest are not paying their fair share,” said Feehan. “We need to end (tax) loopholes for national corporations. People are struggling day to day to get by. We need to allow small businesses to stay open.”

Conservation Minnesota Regional Manager Anna Richey of Rochester said it’s hard to hear that the president and Congressman Jim Hagedorn say COVID is not dangerous to children.

“That’s not true,” said Richey. “My daughter was born Feb. 12. Within a week, she had breathing trouble and was diagnosed with a respiratory illness that kept getting worse. High fever, heart abnormalities.”

Richey said her father had COVID-19 and her daughter tested positive for it too.

“It’s a pre-existing condition for my daughter. I’m concerned about it,” said Richey. “I can’t believe there is a “super spreader (Republican political event) in Rochester Friday. We need a national strategy to focus on this pandemic.”

Winona State University sociology professor and WSU Faculty Association (union) President Jennifer Chernega said a national testing and tracing policy and testing of school ventilation systems is needed to ensure Centers for Disease Control (CDC) compliance.

Albert Lea area farmer Terry Gjersvik said big oil refineries paid politicians to allow ethanol use waivers instead of standing up for farmers. He accused politicians of failing to stand up to the federal administration’s trade war with China because they’re afraid to.

“Tariffs are such an old idea. There are better ways to work with this,” said Gjersvik. “An independent leader like Dan (Feehan) is what we need. He won’t be worried about making friends in Washington DC.”

Fritz Busch can be emailed at fbusch@nujournal.com.