Dear Neighbors,
Last month was officially the snowiest February on record for Minnesota. I hope you can take a break from shoveling the driveway (and your roof) to read some updates about the goings on at the Capitol that will ultimately impact our community.
EMS Adrenal Bill, “Bailey’s Bill”
There are several pieces of legislation that are left over from the previous legislative session. Many of these initiatives were within the “Omnibus Prime” budget bill that was passed out of the House and Senate and were vetoed by Gov. Dayton last year. This is exactly what happened to the bill that allows paramedics and other emergency responders to legally administer life-saving medicine -a bill I’m happy to reintroduce for Deann, Curtis, and Bailey Johnson.
This bipartisan bill will help provide the Johnson family and others with rare adrenal deficiencies with a better solution for rapid delivery of life-saving medication during a medical crisis. It passed in both the House and Senate last year and I'm hopeful that we can do so again this year.
You can read more about the Johnson’s story here.
Rep. Brand with the Johnson family
Rural Mental Health
Yesterday my colleagues and I in the Minnesota House unanimously approved immediate funding for statewide mental health counseling, the Farm Advocates program, and an awareness campaign for suicide prevention. I’m a proud co-author of this legislation, and you can listen to my comments from the House floor here.
Almanac at the Capitol
I was able to check something off of my bucket list last week by appearing on TPT’s Almanac at the Capitol. It was a great experience being interviewed by Mary Lahammer alongside my fellow freshman Rep. Kristin Robbins. We talked about a whole range of issues, and I encourage you to watch. |
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| Click here to watch the interview. |
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Veteran Flag Visit
The St. Peter Vietnam Last Man’s Club mad a visit to my office a couple of weeks ago. As you can see in the photo below, they were kind enough to provide me with an American Flag for my office. This flag will stand proudly in the corner of my office as long as I serve as your state representative, and I will treasure it long after.
Transportation Field Hearing
The House Transportation Committee will hold an official hearing in Mankato on Friday, March 8. This will include testimony on my bill - HF 538 - that provides funds for US Highway 14. All members of the community are invited to attend, and I hope to see you there. If you’d like to provide testimony, you can do so by contacting the committee administrator: John.Howe@house.mn
What: House Transportation Committee Hearing on US Highway 14 Bill
Who: Rep. Brand, House Transportation Committee Members
When: Friday, March 8, 12-3pm
Where: Mankato City Hall
10 Civic Center Plaza
Mankato, MN 56001
Budget & Bonding
Governor Walz and Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan have released their budget and bonding proposals for the next two years. Their “Budget for One Minnesota” does a great job of prioritizing education, health care, and community prosperity. There’s a lot to unpack here, and while I intend to take some time to review this in the coming days, I do believe this is a great step in the right direction.
Recent data is showing a forecasted decrease in our surplus - this is something that should give us pause. If anything it serves as a great reminder that responsible, common-sense budgeting is needed for our state, and I look forward to working with the Governor and my colleagues in the legislature to ensure that we’re building s stronger, more prosperous Minnesota.
As always, I want to hear from you. The best way to reach me is at rep.jeff.brand@house.mn, or at (651) 296-8634.
Your partner in Saint Paul,
Jeff Brand
State Representative, District 19A
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