 Dear Neighbors, It’s been a busy week at the Capitol as we prepare for the first and second committee policy deadlines. This means that all policy bills must clear all necessary committee stops pertaining to their issue area by 5 p.m. on April 4. The following week is the deadline for fiscal/budget bills to meet on Friday, April 11 at noon. As I mentioned in last week’s update, these deadlines help us hone bill priorities to shape policy and our state budget. House DFLers are steadfast in standing up for our neighbors and staying true to our Minnesota values; fair pay for hard work, being able to take time off to care for yourself or a loved one without having to sacrifice a paycheck; protecting our most vulnerable populations’ access to health care, including the disability and older communities; and in my role as Education Finance DFL Co-Chair, that means preserving our progress for and investments in Minnesota’s schools and students. As I mentioned last week the news of President Trump dismantling the U.S. Department of Education. In response, the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) launched a public feedback portal at education.mn.gov for parents, students, teachers, and community members to submit detailed accounts of the ways recent Executive Orders and abrupt federal education cuts are impacting schools and children across our state.  More than 860,000 students in Minnesota depend on stable partnerships that have existed between their school communities, MDE, and the U.S. Department of Education across administrations. For decades, the federal investments facilitated through those partnerships have played a key role in ensuring students in Minnesota receive the support they need to learn and thrive, including: - $256 million for students with disabilities
- $192 million for students from low-income backgrounds
- $27 million for academic enrichment
- $6 million for students in rural schools
- $38 million to support children living on military bases or Native American reservations
- $100 million for Career and Technical Education workforce development programs
If any of these cuts impact you and your family, please let me know! On Monday, the House Ways and Means Committee heard a federal impacts presentation from Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) and the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) on federal interactions with the state budget. Kare 11 covered the presentation and the alarming reality of what we’re facing with looming federal cuts and the damage we’re anticipating backfilling at the state. (Kare 11 story on hearing) Senator Mary Kunesh and I started off Monday morning talking with school board members and school administrators from across the State during an Association of Metropolitan School District’s day at the Capitol. My day continued with meeting students, administrators, and school board members from Hopkins, Edina, and St. Louis Park public schools!  Also on Monday, the Minnesota House honored the Minnesota Frost with a House Resolution celebrating their historic victory in the inaugural Walter Cup PWHL Championship! March is Women's History Month, and it was the perfect time to celebrate the Minnesota Frost's achievement. And recognize the history of other Minnesota women's sports teams like the Lynx and the University of Minnesota Women's Hockey team that have made our state so proud!  Photo credit: House Photography  Great to have met with Rep. Kraft and MN Frost players Kelly Pannek and Grace Zumwinkle It was a busy day also with two bonding projects bills heard in the House Capital Investment Committee. Special Projects Manager Laila Imihy from the City of Hopkins testified on funds for two larger park buildings where our community can gather. Mayor Nadia Mohamed testified on road and water infrastructure improvements on Louisiana Avenue and Oxford Street for the City of St. Louis Park. Thank you both for the work you do for our communities!  I had a great time meeting with members from SEIU to talk about staffing and wages for CNAs in our long term care & senior facilities, for nurses in our hospitals, and for janitors in our school buildings. These are folks who keep us healthy and safe in good and bad times. We need to have their backs!  Thank you MN Firefighter Initiative for the honor of working on the Hometown Heroes Act Program (HHAP) legislation over the years-it still puts a smile on my face to support your work. HHAP provides cardiac education, mental health visits, and monetary support for firefighters across Minnesota. During floor session, I had the opportunity to pass clarifying language. Though this bipartisan language, we make small changes that will have a big impact. A big thank you to Rep. John Huot, Rep. Jeff Witte, Rep. Pete Johnson, and Rep. Aaron Repinski for speaking in support of the legislation on the House floor.  Friday morning I had the opportunity to tour our Lady of Grace Catholic School in Edina. Thank you to Principal Jim Dalman, Principal Julie Morann, and Deacon Mike McGinty for showing me around their school. I was impressed by their work they are doing in literacy in their primary grades, as well as the experiential learning in the secondary grades. This year, the Urban Wilderness Program came out and helped the sixth graders build three canoes from scratch. Here is Principal Dalman showing one off.  Two days last week and one one day this week, I had the opportunity to join our Muslim friends and neighbors for an Iftar dinner. Ramadan is a Muslim holiday that includes 30 days of fasting and religious adherence to prayer. Muslims fast during the day, they do not even partake of water, and break that fast as the sun goes down with an Iftar dinner celebrated in community. I would like to thank Rep. Samakab Hussein for inviting our colleagues to a large Iftar dinner last Wednesday at the St. Paul Armory on the Capitol campus. I also would like to thank our communities of St. Louis Park and Hopkins for hosting their own community Iftars this week and last. The food was delicious, and it was an honor to share a meal in community with our Muslim friends and neighbors. Unfortunately, I missed the Edina Iftar dinner earlier in the month due to a House floor session. On Monday, the Minnesota House and Senate will be closed for Eid. Eid is the celebration at the end of Ramadan. We will be returning to session on Tuesday, April 1.   Keep in TouchPlease continue to contact me anytime with questions, input, or ideas at rep.cheryl.youakim@house.mn.gov or 651-296-9889. I am honored to serve our communities of Hopkins, St. Louis Park, and Edina at the State Capitol. Enjoy the warmer temps today before our rainy weekend!  Cheryl Youakim
State Representative |