Dear neighbors,
Like many Minnesotans, I watched last week’s attack on our nation’s Capitol with disgust. What we saw in Washington, D.C. was a violent insurrection, fueled by misinformation and conspiracy theories that President Trump and his allies spread in an attempt to undermine our democracy. They bear responsibility for the death of five people and the trauma inflicted on legislators, staff, members of the press, law enforcement, and our nation as a whole.
These events - and many that preceded them - indicate that President Trump is no longer fit to serve. Yesterday, several of my colleagues and I sent a letter urging Congress to impeach him for inciting an insurrection and assault on our democracy.
While the violence and chaos we witnessed last week will continue to weigh heavy on our minds, I am more resolved than ever to defend our democracy. We must stand together to ensure those who seek to destroy it do not prevail.
New Legislative Session Begins
Last week, I was sworn in for my second term in the Minnesota House of Representatives. I am grateful that I get to work on behalf of our community, and I am looking forward to another session working with and for you every day.
I was one of a few legislators on the House floor for our first session of the year due to COVID-19 safety protocols. Most of my colleagues were sworn in remotely.
I’m excited to serve on the Housing Finance and Policy Committee, the Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Committee, the Rules and Legislative Administration Committee, and the Taxes Committee this session. I’ll also be serving as Majority Whip and Vice Chair of the Minnesota Asian Pacific (MAP) Caucus.
Priorities for the 2021 Session
Yesterday, I joined fellow House DFL leaders and legislators to announce our priorities for the legislative session. We’re championing legislation to provide assistance to Minnesotans impacted by COVID-19, strengthen worker protections, protect those who live and work in long-term care facilities and people experiencing homelessness, support our students, and ensure affordable child care is available to those who need it.
This isn’t an exhaustive list, but we’re focusing on concrete steps we can take to address the challenges Minnesotans are facing right now. Once these urgent needs are met, my colleagues and I will start considering how we can help families, businesses, and communities recover and rebuild from the pandemic.
Vaccine Distribution Update
I’m pleased to report that approximately 153,300 Minnesotans have received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, including more than 13,300 Ramsey County residents. As you may have heard or seen in the news, the vaccine is being administered in phases. Health care workers and long term care residents will be the first to receive it, followed by essential workers, those 65 or older, and those with underlying health conditions. If you’d like to stay updated throughout the vaccine distribution process, our state’s new Vaccine Data Dashboard is a great resource.
Stay Connected
Rep. Dave Pinto, Sen. Erin Murphy, and I are holding a virtual town hall this Saturday, January 16 at 10 a.m. We hope you’ll join us to discuss the new legislative session and share your questions, ideas, and feedback! If you’d like to participate, please register for the town hall, and you’ll receive an email that contains a Zoom link for the event.
While most of our work will be done remotely this session, there will be plenty of opportunities for Minnesotans to follow and participate in the legislative process. House Public Information Services is a great resource for nonpartisan news from the Capitol. You can follow their page on Facebook or subscribe to Session Daily to receive regular updates. In addition, all public hearings and floor sessions will be broadcast on one of the five House live stream channels.
I’ll continue sending these emails throughout the legislative session, and you can follow my official Facebook page for more frequent updates. Please feel free to forward this email to friends, neighbors, or relatives who may be interested. If they’d like to receive these updates, they can subscribe here.
Please continue to contact me at rep.kaohly.her@house.mn or 651-296-8799. I always appreciate hearing from community members.
Kaohly Her
State Representative