Dear neighbors, We're finally in the midst of fall in Minnesota! I hope this email finds you and your family well. Visiting Communities Across MinnesotaMy colleagues and I are busy preparing for the 2022 legislative session. The House Capital Investment Committee, for example, is visiting communities with local projects that could receive funding. We’re touring state colleges and universities, public safety facilities, wastewater treatment plants, and other sites that need repairs, updates, or additional resources to best serve the surrounding communities. Seeing these sites firsthand helps legislators develop a better understanding of local issues and how investing in a given project would impact the community we’re visiting. It also gives a chance to speak directly with Minnesotans living and working in the area. The committee finished touring Northern Minnesota a few weeks ago. For the past three days, members have been visiting sites in the southwestern corner of the state.  On Tuesday, we learned more about the Conservation Reserve Easement Program (CREP). This initiative employs a combination of state and federal funds to compensate farmers and agricultural land owners who use their land for conservation purposes. It protects up to 60,000 acres of environmentally sensitive land in southern and western Minnesota, with benefits for wildlife, pollinators, and water quality. You can find more information here. I’m looking forward to showing my colleagues around our community in mid-November. Stay tuned for more updates. Apply for a State Board, Council, or Commission Serving on a state board, council, or commission is a great way to help strengthen our state. Minnesota has many of these groups, and dozens of them are currently accepting applications. A list of vacancies can be found on the Minnesota Secretary of State’s website. There are several openings on the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR), a bipartisan group I serve on that helps preserve and enhance our environment and natural resources. If you’re interested in this position or one of the others listed online, I encourage you to apply. Upcoming EventsClimate Week at the University of MinnesotaThe University of Minnesota is hosting a series of events next week for students and others who are interested in being part of the solution to climate change. Most of the events are free and open to the public. You can find more information here. House Environment Committee Hearing As chair of the House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee, I’m looking forward to our next meeting on Wednesday, October 27 at 10 a.m. Workers from several state agencies will be sharing updates on efforts to stop the spread of chronic wasting disease (CWD), grants to help manage emerald ash borer, and grants to help local governments improve water infrastructure. You can watch the hearing live here. A video of the hearing will also be posted on House Public Information Services’ YouTube channel. You can view the agenda and other documents here. Please feel free to share questions and feedback. My email is rep.rick.hansen@house.mn and my phone number is (651) 296-6828. Sincerely, Rick Hansen
State Representative |