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Dear neighbors,
I want to wish President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris the best as they begin serving as the leaders of our nation. The peaceful transition of power is a longstanding tradition in America, and I was glad to see it continue yesterday. I look forward to working with the new administration to tackle the challenges we’re facing and move forward as a nation.
Defending and Strengthening Our Democracy
This is a critical moment for our democracy, which has faced many challenges over the past year. Today, my House DFL colleagues introduced legislation to defend and strengthen it. The Democracy for the People Act strengthens voter registration and absentee voting, protects voters and election officials from intimidation and harassment, reduces the influence of corporations and dark money, and creates more opportunities for Minnesotans to participate in our democracy. You can find more details here.
Update on My Bills
I introduced two new bills this week: HF 151, which invests money from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund in critical projects across the state, and HF 171, which modifies how funding for water and soil conservation easements can be used.
Today, the House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee heard a bill I authored to ban perchloroethylene – a chemical commonly used for dry cleaning – and help businesses transition to less harmful alternatives. I’m happy to report that the committee voted unanimously to advance my bill, and it’s moving to the next step of the legislative process.
You can find a list of all of the bills I’ve written this year here. If you’d like to track bills that you’re interested in throughout the legislative process, I encourage you to use the MyBills tool on the House website.
Local Events and Activities
The Inver Grove Heights Snowmobile Club is sponsoring an snowmobile safety certification class for young Minnesotans. The majority of the class will take place online due to COVID-19 restrictions. You can find more information and register here.
Tuesday was Fire Service Day at the Capitol! While we weren’t able to meet in-person, I enjoyed speaking with some Minnesota fire fighters, including South Metro Fire Chief Mark Juelfs.
Stay in Touch
Please feel free to share your questions, ideas, and feedback on these issues or others that are important to you. You can reach me at rep.rick.hansen@house.mn and 651-296-6828.
Sincerely,
Rick Hansen
State Representative
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