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Dear Neighbors,
June is National Immigrant Heritage Month. In recognition of the countless contributions made by Minnesota’s past and present immigrant communities, the People of Color and Indigenous Caucus joined President Joe Biden in recognizing this month, and released the following statement:
“So much of the diversity that makes Minnesota the state we love is thanks in large part to our immigrant communities. From all walks of life, from all over the globe, immigrants have been coming to Minnesota in search of a better life for our state’s entire history. Minnesota’s heritage is a heritage of immigrants. This month, as we celebrate and honor our immigrant heritage, we must also reflect and address the new and continued burdens faced by those starting a life in a different country.
“The past year has not impacted all Minnesotans equally, and our immigrant communities have not only been disproportionately harmed by the COVID-19 pandemic and xenophobic attacks, but the civil unrest following the murder of George Floyd has devastated some of the most influential immigrant-owned economic corridors in the state. As we honor our heritage, let us also commit to supporting our present immigrant communities, and building a prosperous future for the next generation of new Minnesotans.”
In our budget negotiations, a proposal we continue to fight for would deliver assistance to these business communities, in the Northside and throughout the Twin Cities, helping them to rebuild. As someone whose family came to Minnesota in search of a better future, I’ve experienced the benefits and struggles of building a new life in a new place, and my hope is that our work can build a more inclusive, diverse, and better Minnesota.
MNsure Special Enrollment Period
High health insurance premiums impact many Minnesotans, but there’s some great news for those who purchase their health insurance on the private market. The American Rescue Plan, which was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Biden earlier this year, increased federal tax credits toward health insurance premiums, allowing more Minnesotans to take advantage of these benefits.
MNSure has updated its system to reflect these changes. If you previously didn’t qualify for a tax credit when you bought health insurance, I’d recommend taking another look with this tax credit in place - you may be eligible. Minnesotans can now shop, compare, and enroll into plans with new cost savings by taking advantage of MNSure’s special enrollment period, which is open until July 16th.
Housing and Rental Assistance
We cannot afford to replace the pandemic with a wave of evictions, especially since Minnesota was in a housing crisis well before COVID-19. DFLers have just reached an agreement for an orderly off-ramp to our current eviction moratorium put in place by Governor Walz, but until we pass that into law, renthelpmn.org is a great resource for those who need assistance with rent or utility bills.
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