Jane and Dan visiting to discuss the 100 Percent Clean Energy Campaign

Bee supporters meeting to discuss pollinator protection

Josh, Mike, and Lauri visiting to discuss Second Chance
legislative agenda 

THIS WEEK IN THE LEGISLATURE

BILL PROPOSAL TO INVEST IN HIGH QUALITY AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS
I am excited to introduce HF907, a bipartisan proposal to increase young people’s access to high quality after-school programs through After-school Community Learning Grants (ACLG). My bill makes significant investments in 2020 and 2021 for high quality collaborative initiatives that need funding, but have gone unfunded due to limited federal resources.
 
This bill will close after-school opportunity gaps and ensure that low-income young people in rural, small and large cities gain access to activities that reinforce and complement the regular academic program, such as: hands-on learning, physical activity, and workforce development opportunities including gaining knowledge and skills in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) that underpin most modern jobs, the arts, and more.
 
FIRST BILL GETS UNANIMOUS VOTE
The full Minnesota House of Representatives on Monday approved its first bill of the 2019 session (HF 51).

The bill, sponsored by Rep. Jim Davnie, gives Minnesota homeowners the ability to formally renounce restrictive covenants on their home titles. Restrictive covenants were used in the past to prevent and discourage people of color from moving into predominantly white residential neighborhoods. They were legal until 1948, but the language of restrictive covenants still exists on many houses. Rep. Davnie's bill would allow homeowners to attach a formal document to their home title repudiating the racist language, but it would not remove the language form the title in order to allow for future research on the impacts of racist housing policies. I'm proud to be a co-author of this bill. 
 
The bill passed the entire House with unanimous support, which was a great way to start the first full week of Black History Month. The Star Tribune covered the news here.
 
MOVING TOWARDS 100% CLEAN ENERGY
Dozens of Minnesotans on Tuesday visited the Capitol to advocate for 100% Clean Energy. The group included a lot of young adults who expressed anxiety and fear about what the future could look like if Minnesota does not take immediate action to address climate change. Without action,Minnesota’s prized forests will disappear, public health will become more endangered, and farmers will experience lower crop yields and less predictable growing seasons.
 
Advocates from the 100% Campaign and my DFL colleagues held a press conference to announce this important initiative. Full video footage is available here.
 
PUBLIC HEALTH RISK OF CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE
Yesterday researchers from the University of Minnesota testified in our Environment and Natural Resources Finance committee on the public health risk of chronic wasting disease (CWD). Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a disease that affects deer, elk, reindeer, and moose. It is a highly contagious, neurodegenerative disease spreading through Minnesota’s white-tailed deer population.
 
The researchers are advocating for immediate public education on the potential risk of human CWD infection and a rapid and reliable diagnostic tests for early detection before the deer are processed or consumed.
 
You may find the Pioneer Press’ coverage of the hearing here.
 
I encourage you to contact me with any questions, comments, concerns, or ideas on any legislative topic. Also, I am available during select hours on Monday and Friday mornings most weeks for in-district meetings, if Northside residents aren’t able to make it to the Capitol. If you would like to send me a message or set up an in-district meeting, you can reach me by phone at 651-296-4262 or by email at rep.fue.lee@house.mn. I look forward to hearing from you!