SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Today, Rep. Jen Schultz (DFL – Duluth), chair of the House Human Services Committee, and Rep. Tina Liebling (DFL – Rochester), chair of the House Health Committee, announced a bipartisan agreement on a compromise Health and Human Services budget with Senate Republicans. The budget includes significant advancements for Minnesotans’ health and wellbeing as the state moves past the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Following a great deal of work to reach agreement on a new biennial budget, we’ve assembled the best HHS bill I’ve worked on during my tenure at the Capitol,” Rep. Schultz said. “I’m particularly proud of our work to expand affordable child care access, make historic investments in home and community-based services to help individuals live independently, increase compensation for Personal Care Attendants (PCAs), and put in place a long-term path to help low-income Minnesotans have greater economic security. The past year has been grueling for many Minnesotans, and this legislation will help them experience a brighter future.”
“The pandemic revealed gaps and weaknesses in the public health system Minnesotans rely on to keep us safe in emergencies and protect us from everyday threats. This budget invests in rebuilding and improving local public health so Minnesotans in every part of our state can count on efficient, effective local public health services in an emergency and every day. The pandemic also revealed how the health of each of us depends on the health of all of us. This budget moves us closer to making sure every Minnesotan has access to quality, affordable health care,” Rep. Liebling said. “The investments in this budget will improve the health of underserved Minnesotans, especially pregnant women, babies, and children through expanded Medical Assistance coverage with a focus on health disparities. After many weeks of hard work to reach a compromise, lawmakers of both parties can proudly support this legislation.”
A spreadsheet of the investments in the legislation can be found here. The House Health and Human Services Committees will jointly hold a remote informational hearing on the legislation at 8 a.m. Friday. Video of the hearing will be livestreamed on House Public Information Services’ HTV2 channel on YouTube. Bill language and other documents will be available on the committee webpage.