Dear Friends,
This week Gov. Walz provided new information on reopening schools and vaccine distribution while House Republicans successfully defended police.
School Reopening Guidance
On Wednesday, Gov. Walz finally embraced what many of us have known for months – that our kids need to be back in the classroom. We have led the way in our communities with getting students back to school. Gov. Walz’s announcement provided that middle and high school students can return to school on February 22 for hybrid or in-person learning. He also removed his rolling start implementation.
School closures have been terrible for our students, taking a huge toll on mental health, social wellbeing, and academic achievement. The science and data show that kids can safely return to school. President Biden’s CDC Director has said multiple times that teachers do not need to be vaccinated before returning to the classroom. Gov. Walz’s own numbers even show that transmission in schools for teachers is nearly zero! I’m going to keep fighting to get all of Minnesota’s kids back to the classroom as quickly as possible.
Vaccine Distribution
MDH released a new tool yesterday to help Minnesotans get vaccinated. The Vaccine Connector allows people to sign up for alerts on when they are eligible for a COVID vaccine, on connections to resources to schedule a vaccine appointment, and on notifications of vaccine opportunities in their area.
Those who have already received a vaccine, registered for the COVID-19 Vaccine Pilot Program or the Community Vaccine Program, or completed the COVID-19 Vaccine Education and Child Care survey do not need to resubmit their information.
Understandably, the demand for vaccines is still far greater than the supply. That’s why I introduced a bill this week that will help people reduce their risk of severe COVID infection. So many vitamins that we need every day to stay healthy have proven effective in fighting COVID-19. Vitamin D has been found most critical in fighting the disease, which of course is hard for us Minnesotans to come by naturally this time of year. My bill would ensure Vitamin D testing is covered by health plans for those who wish to get tested. You can read more about the effectiveness of Vitamin D and learn about other supplements you can take to boost your immune system here.
SAFE Account
Last night, Gov. Walz’s SAFE Account failed once again in the House. I will always stand up for law enforcement and work to make sure they have the resources they need to keep our communities safe. We can’t have a repeat of last summer’s riots. The DFL continues to add amendments to this bill that even law enforcement do not support. My colleagues and I are working hard to support law enforcement and to provide funding so that they can maintain the peace.
Please Contact Me
If you ever have any questions, comments, or concerns regarding any issue related to state government, please feel free to contact me at either 651-296-3201 or rep.mary.franson@house.mn. I would love to hear from you.
It’s an honor to represent the best!
Mary