Dear Neighbors, This weekend, I hope you and yours have a fun and safe time celebrating the 4th of July. The start of July will also see several new laws take effect, which you can read about here. While this legislative session did not produce the supplemental budget many of us were hoping for, there are some notable accomplishments going into effect soon - if they haven’t already - including the following: - Replenishing funding for Minnesota’s Unemployment Insurance Program, keeping businesses’ unemployment insurance tax rates flat.
- Distributing unprecedented amounts of money to address the opioid crisis.
- Making the largest investment in high-speed broadband internet in state history.
- Funding public health infrastructure to keep people healthy and safe as the COVID-19 pandemic evolves.
- Raising the growler cap and enacting other laws supporting breweries and distilleries.
- Reducing the cost of health insurance for those who use the individual market.
- Funding nation-leading ALS research.
- Providing relief to farmers impacted by the 2021 drought and delivering resources to control and contain the avian influenza outbreak.
- Preventing legislation that removes the freedom to keep family planning and healthcare decisions between a woman, her doctor and her family.
More can and should be done, especially with a record surplus and Minnesotans grappling with rising costs. As of now, there does not seem to be a bipartisan consensus for a special session, but I remain committed to working toward the solutions that Minnesotans deserve. Supporting Our VeteransI also joined my colleagues in passing a Veterans and Military Affairs bill to support those who’ve courageously served our nation. This bill invests significant new funding to address veteran homelessness, provides additional funding for Minnesota’s three new veterans homes, and enlistment incentives for members of the Minnesota National Guard. The budget also includes funding to recognize post-9/11-era veterans – and Gold Star Families – with service bonuses of up to $2,000. There are approximately 48,000 eligible veterans, over half of whom deployed to combat operations including those in Afghanistan or Iraq. We have a long history of awarding service bonuses to Minnesota Veterans who served in America’s wars. Starting in 1919 after World War I, through World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam War, Persian Gulf War, and now the Global War on Terrorism. The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs is facilitating the program. The application period will begin on July 7, and you can learn more here. Protecting Reproductive RightsThe U.S. Supreme Court reversed 50 years of settled law by overturning protections under Roe v. Wade, which guaranteed the right to a safe, legal abortion. Extreme laws being enacted in other states will result in dangerous health care outcomes. In Minnesota, where the right to an abortion remains protected, Governor Walz enacted Executive Order 22-16 to help protect people seeking or providing abortions in Minnesota from laws in other states. Now that decisions have returned to the states, Minnesota has a duty to protect the privacy and autonomy of its citizens and those who travel within our borders. This really is about the right to privacy and autonomy for every citizen. As an IT professional, a woman legislator and a Minnesotan, I thank Governor Walz for taking this necessary step to uphold the law in Minnesota. Children Six Months and Older Eligible for COVID VaccineThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has approved two COVID-19 vaccines for children who are six months old or older. Both vaccines were carefully studied and help protect children from severe disease, hospitalization, and death. They’re administered in smaller doses and packaged differently than vaccines that are available for older children and adults. |