WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Brad Finstad (MN-01) announced that he has invited Brown County Sheriff Jason Seidl to attend the 2024 State of the Union as his guest.

Sheriff Seidl joined the Brown County Sheriff’s Office in 1994, and has served as Brown County Sheriff since 2019. He has spent more than 30 years serving in law enforcement, previously working for the Sleepy Eye Ambulance Service, the Prairie Correctional Facility in Appleton, Minnesota, and the Morgan Police Department.

“Sheriff Seidl is an experienced law enforcement officer who has spent his entire career in public service, said Rep. Finstad. “I am proud to bring Sheriff Seidl to this week’s State of the Union, where he will be representing the thousands of law enforcement officers who serve and protect our southern Minnesota communities. With more than 30 years of service as a law enforcement officer, Sheriff Seidl knows firsthand the challenges our first responders face every day and the risk they take in putting their lives on the line to keep our families and our communities safe.”

Sheriff Seidl said, “I am very humbled and honored to be invited to attend the President’s State of the Union Address as Congressman Brad Finstad’s guest. I look forward to meeting federal lawmakers to let them know the concerns that Brown County, Minnesota, and rural America face every day.”

“Specifically, there is a shortage of law enforcement officers, correctional officers, dispatchers, and first responders in rural Minnesota. Over half of the law enforcement agencies in Minnesota are short staffed. Minnesota is also suffering from a shortage of mental health services to help deal with those who are looking for help when dealing with a mental health crisis,” Seidl continued. “With little to no help available for those in crisis, those in need are housed in hospital emergency departments and county jails, and not given the mental health services that they so desperately need. We, as a professionals and government leaders, can do better and must do better to serve the needs of our communities, neighbors and loved ones.