Dear Neighbors,
Thanks for your correspondence this week. I’ve heard from many of you about a number of different topics and issues. Keep the calls coming!
Foster Care Day on the Hill
Yesterday marked one of the top events I’ve experienced as a legislator. Along with my legislative assistant Lisa, I helped bring foster care parents to St. Paul for Foster Care Day on the Hill. These caring, compassionate folks don’t get nearly enough credit for the difficult job they do on a daily basis. It’s not an easy calling to be a foster parent, and we owe them a great deal of gratitude for their service to our state. Thank you, foster parents, and for those fortunate enough to make it to St. Paul this week.
Foster Parent Bill
One of my newest bills, HF3305, is headed to the House floor after completing the committee process. The bipartisan bill requires foster providers to have at least one hour of training regarding fetal alcohol syndrome within their first year of licensure. This change educates foster care parents on the signs of fetal alcohol syndrome and the techniques for caring for children with FAS. I look forward to the passage of HF3305 in the near future.
House GOP Budget
On Thursday, House Republicans released their budget proposal for this session. I’m happy to see we’re proposing $35 million total toward rural broadband initiatives. Combined with federal funding, we’ll be over $100 million in broadband investments – a historic amount.
Our budget also prioritizes road and bridge funding, along with needed tax relief. As a whole, this budget does not increase spending, creating a fiscally responsible plan for Minnesota’s future.
Please Contact Me
I saw a number of you in St. Paul this week, and value listening to your questions. If you’re traveling to the Capitol, I hope you’ll schedule a time to stop and visit. If you can’t make the trip, please call or email my office any time and I’ll get back to you.
Have a great weekend,
Ron