 Dear Neighbors, This was “First Deadline” week and all bills have to clear their relevant committee stops in either the House or the Senate by the end of today or it becomes significantly more difficult for them to move forward this session. Committees have been working around the clock to pass important legislation. Here are some of the most important things that happened in my week at the Capitol.  Saint Paul PROCEEDThis week, I presented my proposal to invest $6.7 million in the Progressive Center for Education and Economic Development (PROCEED). This adds to the $300,000 that they’ve already raised to build a new center. I’m honored to be working for my community to fight for bonding dollars that we desperately need. PROCEED is an incredible non-profit that now will be able to provide quality services to the Eastside of St. Paul, which has been regarded as a ‘healthcare desert.’ They have a team of dedicated community workers that are focused on addressing disparities. Twenty-five years ago, PROCEED was founded as the Progressive Center for Education and Economic Development. Initially, it worked to provide low-income housing for Eastside and other St. Paul residents. PROCEED also founded the Progressive Early Childhood Education Center more than a decade ago to provide early education for urban youth and the largest Black college tour in Minnesota to expose urban youth to post-secondary options. Currently, PROCEED’s outreach programming has expanded to address the needs of the Eastside and now focuses on 5 areas: 1) Employment, 2) Education, 3) Youth Enrichment, 4) Health, and 5) Civic/Community Events.  Public Safety InnovationThis week, we proposed $150 million of new investment into data-driven, immediate crime prevention methods. We have worked with mayors, police chiefs, and other community leaders to develop this legislative package, delivering resources to urgently address the real problems communities across the state are facing. Republicans want to just throw money at crime. We know that their approach doesn’t work, and we’re following data and academic research. We’re investing in law enforcement, but we’re also investing in prevention services, social workers, and accountability measures to increase community trust. We need resources to be funneled into high-crime areas across the state. We need every officer to have a body camera. We need to invest in crime prevention, with community partnerships that work. We need to lean in to the data-driven co-responder model. We need to invest in recruitment, retention, and training of officers. This bill addresses all of those needs. Here's an article from the AP on the issue. If you have any questions about this, please reach out! I want us all to work together for a public safety system that keeps everyone in Minnesota safe.  Reproductive Freedom Lobby DayWith the Supreme Court poised to overturn Roe v. Wade, it’s more important than ever to support pro-choice measures at the legislature. 2/3rds of Minnesotans agree that people should be able to access healthcare for abortion without the government interfering. I was grateful for the time that my constituents took to talk about the issue. I’m committed to supporting access for everyone to get the healthcare they need, without politics getting in the way. Sanctions on RussiaThe past few weeks have been full of harrowing images from Ukraine as Russia continues their violent invasion. In what has been a conflict of ever-growing atrocities, my heart goes out to the Ukrainian people, including the 17,000 Ukrainian-Americans who call Minnesota home. In a unanimous vote, the House voted to divest Minnesota’s state pension fund from Russia and codify Governor Walz’s Executive Order barring the state from contracting with Russian companies. Prior to the invasion of Ukraine, the estimated worth of Minnesota's state pension fund investments in Russia was approximately $53 million. War is always terrible, it disrupts millions of lives, leads to the deaths of innocent people, and leaves nations in ruins. We must stand against all war everywhere perpetrated by all nations, today that nation is Russia. I am encouraged by our state's unity in our decision to stand up against a bully like Putin. I also hope that we can commit to standing against violence brought against all people in every country, not only those located in Europe. You can read more about this legislation here. Keep in touch!As always, feel free to reach out to me at rep.jay.xiong@house.mn. I love hearing from you. In solidarity, Jay Xiong State Representative PS: We held our first hybrid committee this week, under the leadership of Chair Noor with the Workforce committee. It was good to be in person.  |