A Capitol update is available in Hmong here, Somali here, and Spanish here.
Neighbors,
House and Senate finance committees have been meeting for the last couple of weeks, combining legislation into larger budgets, or omnibus bills, to be passed on the House floor. Next week we will adjourn for an Easter/Passover break, before the legislation we’ve completed will be debated and voted on in the coming weeks on the House floor. Once approved by the House, conference committees will be formed with House and Senate members to negotiate these omnibus bills, before being sent to the Governor for his signature. This process will take up the remainder of session.
Higher Education Budget
I am proud to be a part of the House Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee that presented a budget putting students first. Our budget aims to make college more affordable, reduce debt, and improve health and safety on campus. According to the U.S. Department of Education, there are 775,000 Minnesotans with student debt totaling $27.1 billion.
A fact sheet with more information about the budget is available for download here.
Details:
- The budget freezes tuition for Minnesota students at all of the state’s two- and four-year public colleges and universities, and increases financial support for working families by investing an additional $35.4 million in the state grant program. As a result, full-time students who benefit from the state grant program will receive on average more than $400 per year more in financial assistance, and 1,900 more Minnesotans will become eligible for the first time.
- To help keep students safe and healthy, House DFLers are prioritizing access to mental health services and legal advocacy support for sexual assault survivors. Additionally, the budget creates hunger-free campuses with the aim of ending food insecurity among students.
On March 8th Argosy University abruptly closed its doors, leaving 1,200 students with tens of thousands in debt and nowhere else to finish their degrees. We are also coming up with legislation to serve the urgent needs of these students and looking towards long term solutions to prevent for-profit schools from preying on students again.
Capital Investment
As part of the House Capital Investment Division, we approved the DFL Majority’s package of public works projects this week. I’m proud to present a budget that reflects the values of Minnesotans across the state. The legislation includes $1.5 billion in General Obligation bonds that makes significant investments in every corner of Minnesota and our communities.
These investments cover a wide range of issues that include but are not limited to: ensuring children can get to school safely; fixing incomplete road connections; honoring Minnesota veterans; ensuring access to clean water; caring for our natural resources; maintaining our colleges and universities; preserving state assets; and delivering local economies the support they need to thrive. A spreadsheet of the bill’s contents can be found here.
Transportation Budget
Our new transportation budget makes honest investments to fix our roads, bridges, and transit. Without new revenue, Minnesota will be unable to expand public transit service, or make needed improvements to crumbling infrastructure. We get what we pay for, and after so many years of failing to invest, now is the time to bring our transportation system into the 21st century, keep Minnesotans safe, and make sure they have reliable options to travel to work, school, doctor’s appointments, the grocery store, and other places.
Health and Human Services Budget
Our new health and human services budget strengthens health care for all Minnesotans by lowering the cost of care, making drug prices more affordable by holding Big Pharma accountable, addressing health disparities, improving health care for women, and expanding coverage options for Minnesotans. I am happy to have my legislation on culturally competent mental health providers be included in the budget along with other mental health initiatives. Most importantly, our budget protects the Health Care Access Fund, which more than one million Minnesotans depend on to receive high-quality, affordable coverage. The budget also creates new policies to protect elders and vulnerable adults from abuse and neglect in assisted living facilities.
Thank you all for following me this far into session. I am hopeful that we will get things done the right way and for Minnesotans who can be proud of electing us. As always, feel free to connect anytime.
Sincerely,
Representative Samantha Vang District 40B
MAP Caucus Chair
527 State Office Building
St. Paul, MN 55155
651-296-3709 | rep.samantha.vang@house.mn
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