Dear Neighbors,
Thank you for your engagement with me on the issues that matter the most to you. I’m honored to be serving an active and diverse district. Please continue to communicate to me how you’re feeling about work at the state legislature; you can even just reply to this email!
Ban Harmful Chemicals
This week, the House Preventive Health Division heard proposals from Rep. Ami Wazlawik (DFL-White Bear Lake) and Rep. Carlie Kotyza-Witthun (DFL-Eden Prairie) to regulate use of harmful PFAS chemicals in cookware, skiing equipment, and children’s products. The health outcomes when PFAS gets into our bodies are terrifying, especially when we consider the effects on our children.
PFAS contamination is affecting communities and costing taxpayers money now. We can and should be a leader in preventing further human exposure and environmental contamination by banning the use of PFAS in these products.
You can read more about this issue here. You can find a video of the hearing here.
Lock the Clock!
I have worked on legislation for years to stop the antiquated practice of switching the clocks that happens twice a year. We’re probably all feeling a bit drowsy and weird this week after losing an hour of sleep last weekend. I am excited to see this initiative gaining national attention lately. I talked with KARE11 this week about the issue, you can read the article here.
Hometown Heroes Assistance
Last week, the House passed a bill to update the Hometown Heroes Assistance Program. Our firefighters face alarmingly high incidences of cancer, cardiac issues, and emotional trauma. The new program, which lawmakers enacted last year, provides firefighters access to education, prevention, and care to address cardiac conditions, emotional trauma or cancer diagnoses. The Hometown Heroes Assistance Program is the most comprehensive in the nation of its kind, and provides firefighters with free access to emotional trauma resources, up-to-$20,000 from critical illness insurance policies, and ongoing health and wellness training.
Prior to the program’s enactment, Minnesota was ranked 45th out of 50 states when it comes to investing in the fire service. I was proud to support this initiative for the heroes in our communities who make incredible sacrifices to keep us safe.
Make Accessibility Programs Accessible
I am honored to be working with the Autism Society of Minnesota, ARC Minnesota, MNCCD, Multicultural Autism Action Network, the PROOF Alliance, and the Legal Aid Disability Law Center to move a proposal through the legislative process that would address the extreme accessibility barriers that our neighbors with disabilities face when they reach out for support.
We need to make it easier for the people we’re trying to serve to navigate their government resources. Disability Services are the only programs in Minnesota where 100% of those served are people who have disabilities, and they often struggle to obtain services.
The bill was discussed in the Human Services committee today, and received bipartisan support. Here’s a clip of the hearing.
Robbinsdale School Support
I was happy to attend a monthly call with our Robbinsdale school district, to discuss how we can best support our school staff and teachers. There is a spotlight on what schools need right now. I’ll be working within the legislature to deliver the investment and support that our schools need.
Keep in Touch
The latter half of this legislative session will be filled with passing our bills off the House floor and then engaging in negotiations with the Republican-controlled Senate. You can contact me at rep.mike.freiberg@house.mn and at (651) 296-4176 with any questions or comments you may have on our work. I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Mike Freiberg
State Representative