Dear Friends and Neighbors,
This week in the House, many committees began meeting to debate legislation and hear overviews from various state agencies. House File 1, The 2017 Health Care Emergency Aid and Access bill, is making its way through the legislative process so we can provide meaningful premium relief to folks as soon as possible. Local leaders, citizens and folks across the state are also beginning to contact legislators to share their priorities for the 2017 session.
Here is an update from Saint Paul.
Real ID
For Minnesotans concerned about Real ID and what it will mean for folks flying starting next year, I wanted to share that House File 3 has begun making its way through the legislative process.
Without complying with this federal law, passed in 2005 by Congress to make it more difficult for terrorists to obtain fake identification, Minnesotans will not be able to fly domestically with a state-issued driver’s license starting in January 2018. The bill passed the House last year 87-42, but was hung up by a handful of Senate Democrats wanting to expand driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants. House File 3 this session, of which I am a co-author, will ensure that unelected bureaucrats within the Department of Public Safety are not able to use rulemaking to expand this legislation to include providing licenses to people illegally in our country.
Furthermore, the bill will provide two tracks, allowing people who do not want to get a Real ID-compliant driver’s license to opt out. And for folks who need to upgrade to a new driver’s license before their previous one expires, they will be able to receive their second one free of charge
Passing Real ID legislation will put us with a majority of states that are either compliant or on the path to compliance with federal law, and will ensure Minnesotans can continue to travel without any additional headaches or hassle.
I will keep you updated on this legislation’s progress and hope it will be signed into law soon.
Broadband Grants for NW MN
Earlier this week, the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) announced 42 different broadband grants for communities across the state. Northwest Minnesota communities were granted six different projects totaling nearly $5 million.
Thanks to Republican-led efforts last year, a vast majority of the funding went directly to unserved parts of the state, targeting the folks that need it most. These grants will help families, schools, farmers and businesses throughout our area connect, and when combined with federal dollars, will put more than $100 million toward broadband expansion this year.
What’s more, the Department of Education also provided grants to twelve school districts to expand wireless internet access for students. Two school districts in our area were awarded grants. The Thief River Falls School District received more than $30,000 and the Fertile-Beltrami School District received nearly $42,000.
I am pleased we were able to make significant investments in broadband this year and that funding went to key projects throughout rural Minnesota.
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If I can ever assist you or your family on a matter of state government, please don’t hesitate to contact my office. I am here to serve you!
Deb
**Encourage your neighbors and friends to sign up for my email updates at www.house.mn/01B