Dear neighbors, Happy Earth Day! I hope you have a chance to get outdoors today.  While we need broad, systemic change to protect our planet for future generations, small individual changes can have a big impact. Earth Day is a great opportunity to look for ways to make a difference, like planting a pollinator garden or consuming less plastic. If you’re searching for inspiration, this list from the Farmer’s Almanac is a good place to start. Protecting Our EnvironmentAs Minnesotans, we’re proud of our state’s natural resources, and we want to preserve them for future generations. That’s why we voted to establish the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund back in 1988. The trust fund uses revenue from the state lottery to support projects that protect, preserve, and enhance Minnesota’s environment and natural resources. 74 of these critical projects will receive funding in 2023 if the Senate and Governor Walz approve a bill that the House passed yesterday. This legislation uses $70.881 million from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund to support a variety of initiatives, including: - Efforts to expand and maintain parks, trails, and natural areas throughout the state
- Twelve environmental education programs, three of which serve children and teenagers
- Projects that will restore forests, watersheds, savannas, habitat, and more
- Research that may help combat chronic wasting disease, invasive species, and other issues
I’m proud to be the author of this bill! You can read more about it here and view a list of all the projects that would receive funding here. Video of the floor session is available here. Free Park Day This Saturday All 75 of Minnesota’s state parks and recreation areas are offering free admission tomorrow! If you’d like to take advantage of this opportunity but don’t know where you want to go, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ ParkFinder can help you search for nearby parks or places with certain kinds of trails or recreation facilities.  If you have questions or feedback you’d like to share, please reach out. You can contact me by email at rep.rick.hansen@house.mn or call (651) 296-6828. Sincerely, Rick Hansen
State Representative |