Legislative Update – October 11, 2023
Dear Neighbors,
It was a great weekend for community and booya at On The Road Again 2023 in South St. Paul! I was glad to see so many of you—the city of South St. Paul estimates 17,000 visitors came to last weekend’s events!
I spent the weekend volunteering, setting up and taking down, and emceeing the Booya Championship and Pickle contest. I am glad to be a part of this great event for our South St. Paul and our community, and I thank all the volunteers and organizers who made this event happen! Congratulations to Bethesda Lutheran Church Booya Team for winning the World Championship Booya title for 2023. Congrats to Big Boy Booya who came in second, and Reuters and the Croatian Hall who tied for third.
Clean Water Ambassador Award
I am proud to be recognized with one of Clean Water Action Minnesota’s Clean Water Ambassador Awards for 2023. As chair of the House Environment Committee, I was proud to support legislation that protects our people, our health, and our water.
After years of gridlock and action stalled by Senate Republicans, this year we came together and passed some of the strictest water protection laws and PFAS bans in the United States. There is still more work to do, and I am committed to continue to push this critical issue forward. You can read more about our PFAS legislation here - MPR News - Far-reaching ban on ‘forever chemicals’ set to become Minnesota law.
MRLC Conference
Last week, I was in New Orleans attending the Mississippi River Legislative Conference. This conference is a bipartisan event focused on issues affecting the entire river corridor, with the cost covered by MRLC and not paid for using taxpayer dollars.
We toured critical water infrastructure, discussed issues with legislators from other states, and met with federal agencies and partners. There, I learned about the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) “Safeguarding Tomorrow Revolving Loan Fund Program”, which provides hazard mitigation assistance for local governments to reduce risks from natural hazards and disasters. Since I’ve returned, I have been working with state partners that may be interested in using the program.
Upcoming Events: Pheasant Hunt and LAC
This weekend is the Governor’s Annual Pheasant Hunting Opener in Owatonna, Minnesota. I will join the Governor, and agency staff from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and Explore Tourism Minnesota to highlight our vibrant hunting opportunities. This week I also have a meeting of the Legislative Audit Commission (LAC), which I am the chair of. You can learn more about the LAC here.
Stay in Touch!
Please continue to share your questions, ideas, and feedback throughout the year. You can reach me by email at rep.rick.hansen@house.mn.gov or by phone at 651-296-6828. You can contact my Legislative Assistant Sam O'Neill at 651-296-3305 or via email at Samuel.ONeill@house.mn.gov.
Sincerely,
Rick Hansen
State Representative