Support Grows for HF1
As chief author, I’m pleased to report that we’re now up to almost 30 community organizations sharing their support the Great Start for All Minnesota Children Act. This legislation, HF 1, would increase support for prenatal care, home visiting, and early care and learning opportunities. This is the session to invest in early childhood and make sure every child gets off to a great start
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Ending Gender-Based Violence
Last year, the Star Tribune ran a troubling series outlining some serious shortcomings in our criminal justice system relating to investigations of sexual assaults. Victims and survivors of these crimes deserve justice, but too often they face roadblocks once they’ve reported them.
The House Public Safety Committee held a series of hearings last week with several bills aimed at ending gender-based violence. Legislation ranged from requiring all law enforcement agencies to have clear sexual assault investigation procedures, repealing the state’s marital-rape exception, and creating a task force to end the state’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women endemic. In a significant step, another bill would create a working group to rewrite the state’s entire criminal sexual conduct law to remove various loopholes and inconsistencies which have made some prosecution difficult. These measures all have strong bipartisan support.
Solving the Opioid Crisis
The opioid crisis in Minnesota continues to cause too many tragedies in every corner of our state. Families are losing loved ones, and first responders are being forced to respond to impossible situations. Minnesotans are expecting us to enact solutions to save lives.
In the past week, two initiatives have earned committee approval to help end this crisis. The first, HF 99, would deliver resources to first responders to provide follow-up care after an overdose. HF 400, which we heard in the Commerce Committee, would create an Opioid Stewardship Advisory Council to fund sorely needed prevention, treatment, and recovery strategies.
Eden Prairie Community Housing Forum
On Wednesday, I stopped by the community housing forum at Eden Prairie High School. Mayor Ron Case and Representative Laurie Pryor were also in attendance to hear local input on affordable housing and community development. |
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I can most effectively advocate for our community when I have input from you, so please continue to contact me with your viewpoints, input, and ideas. Don’t hesitate to reach out if I can ever be of assistance. It’s an honor to represent you.
Sincerely,
Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn
State Representative |
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