 Dear Neighbors, I hope you had a wonderful Mother’s Day weekend! It was beautiful weather to celebrate those who nurture our future generations. I hope you all had a chance to enjoy the early start to summer.  May is always a busy part of the legislative session with conference committees meeting to hash out differences between the House and Senate budget bills. Conference committees that have begun meeting include judiciary and public safety, transportation, higher education, environment, and agriculture. Work continues on a global fiscal budget framework, carefully considering the federal budget outlook and how that will impact our communities in Minnesota. In between floor sessions, committee work, and meeting with constituents, in my role as the House Education Finance Committee DFL-Co-Chair, I remain cautiously optimistic about getting a compromise budget done that doesn’t strip away unemployment benefits from our paraprofessionals, school bus drivers, school nutrition staff, and clerical employees. These hourly school workers fill vital rolls during the entire length of the school year and are some of the lowest paid. They are also the only hourly workers, who work more than four months a year that did not have access to unemployment benefits until 2023. I spoke about this provision and the rest of the House Education Finance bill on Minnesota Public Radio on Friday afternoon and appeared on TPT’s Almanac Friday evening show.  Energy Assistance Still AvailableCommunity Action Partnership of Hennepin County’s (CAP-HC’s) Energy Assistance Program can help pay your utility bills between October 1, 2024 and May 31, 2025. If you’re an eligible applicant, you may receive a grant paid directly to your utility provider that reduces your expenses. Applications must be received or postmarked by May 31 and will be processed in order of date received. Learn more at: Learn more on the Community Action Partnership of Hennepin County website.  Teacher Appreciation WeekWe celebrated the dedicated teachers in classrooms across Minnesota last week during Teacher Appreciation Week. A special shout-out to all the current teachers in our family: my Husband Jacques (who has been teaching for 33+ years), our Son Gannon (fourth generation teacher on both sides of the family), our soon to be Daughter-in-Law Kayli, and my Sister-in-Laws Danielle, Shannon, Theresa, and Leila, Cousin Kim, and Cousin Dani. And to the retired teachers in our family: my Dad Roger, Mother-in-Law Cathy, Aunt Lee, Aunt Sue, Grandmother Evelyn, Grandmother Virginia, Grandfather Charles, and Grandfather Jacoub. Yes, we have a LOT of teachers in our family. And for some other education news, we received good news from the Minnesota Department of Education - graduation rates have reached a historic high! When we invest in our kids we see results. Minnesota still has a long way to go to return to our nation-leading education outcomes, but this is an encouraging start. I'll continue to invest in our youth and public education, let's keep up this good progress!  Keep in TouchPlease always feel free to reach out with questions, input, or to let me know how I can help at rep.cheryl.youakim@house.mn.gov or 651-296-9889. Thank you for the honor of serving our Hopkins, St. Louis Park, and Edina neighbors at the State Capitol. Have a great week!  Cheryl Youakim
State Representative |