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Nicole Smith-Holt and more than a dozen insulin advocates watched the debate from the House Gallery, and their presence was felt by everyone in the chamber. I am so proud to be working with this committed and courageous group of fierce advocates fighting for a future where everyone has access to affordable insulin when they need it.
Of course, this fight is not yet won. We need the Minnesota Senate to take action as well. I remain hopeful that passing Alec’s Bill in the House, combined with the tireless advocacy of Minnesotans across the state, will give us momentum to get it done.
You can watch my closing remarks during the House floor debate here.
Common Sense Gun Violence Solutions
Similar to the Alec Smith Insulin Affordability Act, two other bills we passed last week might be familiar to folks, as we passed them off the House floor last year too. HF 8 and HF 9 are common sense gun violence prevention measures that we’ve seen passed around the country, including in Republican-controlled states. These bills would close criminal background check loopholes and establish extreme risk protection orders, which would help get these weapons out of the hands of those that would otherwise hurt others or themselves.
It was just last week that we saw another tragedy unfold with the shooting at the Milwaukee Coors Brewery. We don’t know that these bills, if passed, would stop every senseless act of gun violence, but these measures will ultimately make Minnesota safer, and that’s a step in the right direction. As with Alec’s bill, I hope my colleagues in the Senate can come together and realize that this is an issue where the majority of Minnesotans want us to take action.
Teacher of the Year
A big congratulations to Omar McMillan and Katrina Van Ruyven, two educators in our community that are finalists for Minnesota’s Teach of the Year! Omar teachers 4th graders at the Richfield STEM School, and Katrina teaches 7th grade English learners at Valley View Middle School. Thank you for everything that you do!
Stay Connected
We have more impactful issues coming up, with Paid Family and Medical Leave legislation expected to be on the House floor soon. To stay up to date with everything that’s going on, you can ‘like’ my official Facebook page and subscribe and share these email updates. Please feel free to reach out with any questions or comments you have on the legislative process. You can reach me at (651) 296-7158 or rep.michael.howard@house.mn. I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Michael Howard
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