Dear Neighbors,
I hope you're doing well. Here's an update from Saint Paul.
Duluth and St. Louis County Days
This week marked the annual Duluth and St. Louis County Days at the Capitol, an event where people from our region share our priorities with legislators from other parts of the state and help tell our collective story. It’s always a significant treat to welcome visitors from our community down to Saint Paul, including members of the business community, civic leaders, educators and more to share our story and vision for Duluth. I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who made the trek down to share their commitment to our future!
Feeding Minnesota
Last night, the Minnesota House passed a series of bills to ensure Minnesotans have access to nutritious, healthy food. One in six Minnesota students experiences food insecurity, and when students are hungry, their achievement suffers. I’m proud to be a co-author of a bill to provide breakfast and lunch to all Minnesota students free of charge so they can concentrate on school work, not on when they can eat their next meal.
We also delivered an emergency $5 million in Minnesota food shelves. In 2022, 5.5 million Minnesotans made visits to a food shelf, which shows far too many Minnesotans are experiencing food insecurity. Families should never face a predicament where they have to choose between buying food or paying for other expenses, and our food shelves play a critical role in this safety net.
Finally, the House renewed our investment in Lawns to Legumes, an innovative program to help homeowners convert their yards to pollinator-friendly habitat. Minnesota is home to more than 450 native bee species including our state bee, the rusty patched bumble bee. Unfortunately, pollinator habitats have been on a worldwide decline in recent years. Pollinators play a critical role in ensuring we all have a food supply and I was proud to support this investment.
Black History Month
February is Black History Month, and we honor the many African Americans who have made a lasting impact on our nation and our state. House DFLers are committed to lifting up voices and breaking down barriers so all Minnesotans can live in a state free of discrimination and be celebrated for who they are. This session, Governor Walz has already signed two key pieces of legislation to recognize the history and culture of our Black community.
After the House and Senate both passed the bill with bipartisan support, Governor Walz signed the CROWN Act into law. This means Minnesota’s civil rights law now confirms protection against discrimination based on race-based natural hair texture and styles such as braids, locs, and twists.
Last Thursday, the House also voted to make Juneteenth – June 19th – a full state holiday. Juneteenth commemorates the date in 1865 when slavery is generally understood to have been fully abolished in the United States, following the first public reading of the Emancipation Proclamation in Texas.
Our work isn’t done, and my House DFL colleagues and I are committed to delivering on the promise of racial justice. We remain dedicated, now more than ever, to strengthen education opportunities, build economic prosperity, improve health care outcomes, and tackle other unacceptable disparities so our state can work better for everyone, regardless of where they live or what they look like.
Please continue to keep in touch with your input. I’m honored to represent you.
Sincerely,
Liz Olson
State Representative