Neighbors,
Thank you for electing me to serve you at the State Capitol. As your newly-elected Representative, I want to introduce myself and tell you about how I plan to carry on the work and legacy of Rep. Karen Clark.
Minneapolis became my home when I immigrated to the United States 20 years ago. Our community’s commitment to equality, affordable housing, and economic justice allowed me to work hard at the things I am passionate about, and eventually run for public office to help carry those values to the state government.
I have a Master’s degree in Social Work and Public Health from Augsburg and I am a mental health clinician with a University of Minnesota affiliate clinic. Those experiences will guide my work in increasing access to mental health services, as well as working toward more affordable housing for all members of our community, and improving economic outcomes for our families, and our neighbors’ families.
Legislation
I am proud to have chief-authored several bills this legislative session. These bills will:
- Provide funding for the Family Tree Clinic (a clinic moving to our district from St. Paul) to expand access to community health and education programs. Family Tree Clinic has been around for over 45 years and it has never turned a patient away if they couldn’t pay. Why? Because they have a deep understanding of the importance of reproductive and sexual health services. Poverty, oppression, lack of access and discrimination are just a handful of the barriers the people they serve face when it comes to getting their health care needs met.
- Prohibit unexpected graduation fees for high school students that decrease access to education and place a burden on families purchasing text books, paying field trip fees, buying graduation cap and gown, and school materials.
- Increase reimbursement rates for child care assistance program, because I know that families in our community struggle to afford to go to work while raising a family.
I have also co-authored legislation to support renters in our city. Affordable housing is key to supporting our city and its residents. H.F. 407 would provide funding for Minneapolis public housing renovation, and H.F. 495 would require landlords to provide written leases for their tenants. This will prevent tenants from being subject to unfair rent hikes and unexpected eviction notices.
I am very proud to have co-authored the ban of conversion therapy bill. H.F.12 would prohibit conversion therapy with children or vulnerable adults and misrepresentation of conversion therapy services or products.
Last but not least, I am a co-author a bill to provide paid family leave to all families in Minnesota.
Committees
I will serve on the following committees:
- Education Policy
- Housing Finance and Policy
- Jobs and Economic Development
- Judiciary Finance and Civil Law
- Rules and Legislative Administration
While my time will be spent primarily in these committees, I had the chance on Tuesday to sit in on the Public Safety and Criminal Justice committee – which was completely packed with supportive members of the community – to hear testimony for the bill creating a state Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Task Force. I was moved to tears by the powerful testimony of women who had known family members and loved ones who went missing, never to be heard from again. If signed into law, the task force would provide analyses regarding the systemic causes behind the number of missing Native American women in the state. The goal of the task force will be to better understand the causes of violence against Indigenous women and to reduce and prevent violence where it is happening. You can hear more of the testimony from survivors here.
Our district is one of the most diverse in the state – and in that spirit I want to make sure that everyone’s voice is brought to our state’s law-making process. Don’t hesitate to reach me by email at rep.hodan.hassan@house.mn and phone at 651-296-0294. You can also get updates from my new official Facebook page here.
Sincerely,
Hodan Hassan