Dear Neighbors,
I want to start by acknowledging the celebration of Veterans Day. Thank you to all who have served and those currently serving in our military. Your service, and the sacrifices of your families, should be honored every day. Truly, thank you.
It has been a busy November so far! Here are some updates of what I’ve been up to.
Sexual Harassment at the State Capitol
Earlier this month, I stood in support with two colleagues who experienced sexual harassment from other legislators. It was important that this inappropriate behavior be brought to light so that we can work together to change the culture of disrespect towards women in all areas of the workforce.
There has been a lot of reporting regarding this issue; links to some of those stories are below.
Multiple Women Accuse Minnesota State Senator Dan Schoen of Sexual Harassment
STATEMENT: Rep. Becker-Finn response to Sen. Dan Schoen sexual harassment allegations
Letter to Governor Dayton Proposing a Task Force on Sexual Harassment
Roseville Rep. Becker-Finn calls out sexism and harassment at Capitol
Pioneer Press Editorial: An urgent, well-reasoned recommendation from Maye Quade, Becker-Finn and Port
‘Enough': Women say harassment culture at state capitol must change
Women rally against sexual harassment at Minnesota Capitol
Deer Season and Chronic Wasting Disease
It was a successful deer hunting season for my family. I hope that others who hunt had a safe and successful season as well. Of great concern to deer hunters and the Department of Natural Resources is the discovery of more cases of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in Minnesota.
Chronic wasting disease is a neurological disorder that affects deer, elk and moose and is similar to “mad cow” disease. There is great concern that meat from deer infected with CWD may not be safe for human consumption. Deer from deer farms are at higher risk of spreading CWD and new cases can often be linked to escaped deer coming in to contact with wild deer. As someone who cares about protecting Minnesota’s deer hunting traditions, I am hopeful we can act legislatively in 2018 to address this growing problem.
Opportunity to serve Minnesota – Please consider applying!
I encourage you to apply for one of the 200 current openings on state boards, councils, and commissions. Those openings include with the Board of the Perpich Center for Arts Education, Board of Water and Soil Resources, Commission on Deaf, Deaf-Blind, and Hard of Hearing Minnesotans, Council on Disability, Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee, and many more.
To see a full list of board, council, and committee openings and apply, visit the Minnesota Secretary of State’s website. To assure full consideration, applications are due by Monday, November 27, 2017.
As always, it is an honor to represent you and our community at the State Capitol. Don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns. I wish you all a wonderful start to the holiday season!
Sincerely,
Jamie