Dear Neighbors, Following a special election last Tuesday in Roseville, the Minnesota House is now tied with 67 Democrats and 67 Republicans. The House returned to our power-sharing agreement yesterday, with committees having equal numbers of members from each party and co-chairs who will share the gavel. I am looking forward to serving as the DFL co-chair of the Commerce Committee. Our state government has a responsibility to protect people and create a fairer, safer Minnesota for all. That means working to ensure consumers are protected, our kids are safe, and our policies are lifting up working families. I am excited to take on this role for our state. Meeting with our Community UnRestrictMN Meeting During the 2023-2024 biennium, Minnesota Democrats passed vital legislation to protect abortion and bodily autonomy. Unfortunately, the federal government's constant attack on personal rights is relentless. Recently, we saw several ugly bills at both the federal and state levels by the GOP threatening Minnesotans’ ability to make choices about their bodies. I am grateful to advocates of UnRestrict Minnesota for continuing to lift up the need to protect the progress we’ve made. I had the pleasure of meeting with a large group of constituents gathered to share why access to IVF, allowing trans girls athletes to compete in youth sports, and abortion access are critical to protect. We even had some students from our district’s own Macalester College who took time out of their busy academic schedules to meet with me.   Meeting with Healthcare Advocates and PhysiciansThroughout my time in the legislature, I have advocated for health care that is more affordable and more accessible. Together, we’ve made historic progress, but there’s still more work to be done. Recently, I met with some constituents to discuss how we can ensure access to health care for all Minnesotans. There are currently about 250,000 Minnesotans without any health insurance and at least a million more who have insurance but still cannot afford their medical bills due to co-payments, deductibles, and care not covered by their insurance, even after they pay high premiums. That is why I support HF 1646 which buys down medical debt and relieves residents unable to pay medical bills and HF 255 which will direct patient-centered care for those in need. Our physicians know best the needs of their patients and all of the ways in which our healthcare system fails them. I am grateful for their leadership and advocacy.  Hunger Day on the HillGrowing up, I didn't know that I was food insecure - I thought everyone only ate one meal a day. Organizations like Second Harvest Heartland and Mississippi Market Co-op do so much to bring awareness to this issue and combat hunger. One in five Minnesotans are food insecure, and we have brought bills forward to support food shelves, regional food banks, and prepared meals, which are important to expanding access to food people count on.  Standing Up for our SeniorsI always enjoy meeting with our local AARP-MN advocates! Together we discussed the Governor's Council on Aging and the need to continue their work, assisted living protections, and the affordable housing work of Housing First Minnesota and our Yes To Home coalition agenda. In addition to these priorities, they shared their support of our consumer protection restitution account bill. As the DFL Co-Chair of the Commerce Committee, I have scheduled the bill for a hearing on Thursday, March 20. Protecting our seniors from fraud and scams is an important part of this committee's work!  Meet the Moment MovementClimate change is the most important issue of our time, and combating climate disruption requires all hands on deck. As part of the Meet This Moment movement, I met some constituents advocating for bills important to them for the Rise and Repair Day of Action. From protecting wild rice to holding bad actors accountable, we had robust conversations on how it will take coordinated work to build the future we seek.  Supporting our StudentsMinnesota Private Colleges Day on the Hill brought University of St. Thomas and Hamline University students to the Capitol. Students advocated for financial aid, student support, and accessible resources. I had the opportunity to support UST in their microgrid research, making it a state of the art education facility and testing center. I look forward to continuing my support of the universities in my district.  Community Updates Yes to Homes Agenda A shortage of over 100,000 homes has led to 600,000 Minnesotans being cost-burdened, paying more than 30% of their income toward housing. The average age of a first-time home buyer is now 38 years old, a record high, and eviction filings are through the roof. And there isn't a single county in the state where a family earning the median income can afford the median-priced home.Housing costs too much, whether you are a renter or a prospective homeowner, and we hear the same thing whether you live in urban, suburban, or Greater Minnesota. So we’ve introduced our Yes to Homes legislative agenda that aims to unlock the production of more homes - especially the kind of homes that too often are blocked because of over regulation. We put together this agenda with colleagues from both sides of the aisle, and organizations and advocate groups that rarely see eye-to-eye. It’s an incredibly broad coalition, all seeking the same goals: - Build more homes
- Build them faster
- Build them to be affordable
You can learn more about the agenda in a Star Tribune op-ed by some of my colleagues, which you can read here. Gov. Walz Announces Effort to Help Laid Off Federal Workers Find Jobs in Minnesota Governor Walz announced a new resource for federal employees who have recently lost their jobs or are facing employment uncertainty. Minnesota’s tight labor market continues to be a challenge for businesses looking to hire in Minnesota, with less than one person unemployed for every job opening available. There are around 18,000 federal employees in Minnesota. Minnesota’s federal workers can visit the Minnesota Careers Website to learn about available resources, including: - Job search and application preparation, including in-person and online workshops, resume reviews, and networking opportunities
- Resources for veterans?
- Instructions to apply for Unemployment Insurance benefits?
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