I hope you enjoyed your Thanksgiving holiday. I spent the day with family and am grateful for the blessings in my life and the opportunity to represent you at the Capitol. These chilly days are a reminder of the importance of having reliable heat and electricity. The Minnesota Department of Commerce administers the federally funded Energy Assistance Program which helps eligible Minnesotans pay their energy bills. Open now until May 31, 2024, this program is free and provides benefits up to $1,400, with additional support to respond to emergencies. Both renters and homeowners can qualify, and eligibility is based on income and household size. You can access the application materials here. Capital Investment Committee VisitI recently joined both the House and Senate Capital Investment Committees on their visits to the Anoka Ramsey Community College. The committee heard from college instructors and administrators about a project to design and renovate labs and classrooms to support Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Natural Sciences, and Engineering. The current lab stations no longer support current teaching methods, and the school must remain competitive. I am fully supportive of the project and of a robust bonding bill in 2024. Permanent School Funding Aid Coming to Local DistrictWhen Minnesota was founded in 1858, the state constitution established a Permanent School Fund, with proceeds from designated School Trust Lands set aside for a specific purpose – to provide a continual source of funding for public education. Minnesota currently has over 2.5 million acres of land the DNR manages – through activities like mineral exploration, timber harvesting, and real estate – exclusively to benefit students in Minnesota's K-12 public schools. The Minnesota Department of Education will distribute a record $48.9 million from School Trust Lands during the 2023-24 school year to the state's 329 public school districts and 181 academies and charter schools. Distributions have increased by more than 88% over the past ten years. The Anoka-Hennepin School district will receive over $2 million.  Commander’s Task Force MeetingI recently had the privilege of attending the Minnesota Commanders’ Task Force meeting. This influential group is comprised of nine congressionally chartered veterans service organizations. We come together regularly to discuss and advocate for veteran legislative needs and address other concerns affecting veterans and their families. I am honored to be part of this dedicated group who are committed to assisting our veterans, who served our country so nobly. 148th Fighter Wing VisitMembers of the Minnesota House Veterans and Military Affairs Finance and Policy Committee, which I chair, toured the 148th Fighter Wing in Duluth on November 16. We received a mission brief, used the Wing's high-definition flight simulators, toured existing aircraft shelters, and observed an aircraft launch. We also met with Airmen from the 148th Fire Department, Security Forces, Explosive Ordnance Disposal, and Aircraft Maintenance to see equipment and learn about our state and federal missions.   Free Covid TestsYou can now order up to four free rapid-antigen COVID tests through the federal government’s at-home testing program to be delivered directly to your home. These tests are intended to be used by the end of this year. For more information or to place your order, you can visit COVIDTests.gov. Stay Connected with the LegislatureDuring the legislative interim, you can still stay in touch with State Capitol activities by going to the Minnesota House of Representatives Public Information Services website. I value hearing from you, so please don’t hesitate to call or email me any time. You can find my information on my House website. Also, make sure to ‘like’ my Facebook page. It is an honor to represent you at the State Capitol. Sincerely, Jerry Newton |