Legislative Update: Supporting Workers, Trans Day of Visibility, COVID Update

Dear neighbors,

Thank you for your continued communication with my office. Committees are moving fast now, with yesterday being the second “committee deadline.” Basically, this means that bills that haven’t been heard in at least one committee in either the House or Senate now are not able to become law (with some exceptions, of course.) I’m happy that all of my major priorities have been able to hit this deadline, and that chairs have granted me time in committee for more than 25 bills. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions about the legislative process or particular bills - I’m here to make the process transparent for you!

Supporting Workers

This week we passed several pro-worker bills on the House floor. I was co-author of the legislation ratifying the 2020-21 public employee labor contracts.

Also approved was legislation to protect and empower Minnesota’s warehouse workers and to address practices that have led to high injury rates at Amazon facilities. No one should be concerned about getting injured while at their workplace.

Lastly, the House also approved legislation to require Minnesota employers to provide workers Earned Sick and Safe Time. The legislation would ensure, at a minimum, one hour of paid time for every 30 hours worked, up to at least 48 hours per year and can be used to attend to physical and mental health needs – including illness, injury, or a doctor’s appointment – for workers and their family members. Nearly 900,000 Minnesota workers, including two-thirds of workers in the lowest wage positions, lack access to paid time off.

At a time of sickness, injury or emergency, everyone should be able to take care of themselves or a family member. The pandemic demonstrated the urgent need for this proposal, which allows employees to earn time off. This is a matter of worker dignity and necessity. It’s time this important measure becomes law.

Transgender Day of Visibility

Yesterday, we celebrated #TDOV, a day created for trans joy. But visibility isn’t enough; it’s time the Minnesota Legislature takes action on real support that we can pass for the trans community. Let’s ban conversion therapy, protect access to healthcare, make it easier for official documents to reflect your gender, and make the equal rights amendment a reality.

Supporting ALS Research, Caregiver Supports

The House recently approved a groundbreaking package of investments to support research into a cure and to help caregivers of those with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a neurodegenerative condition that results in progressive loss of motor control of voluntary muscles. It affects approximately 30,000 Americans, with about 5,000 new cases diagnosed every year. At any one time, there are an average of 450 Minnesotans living with ALS. It’s 100% fatal and there is no known cure.

The bill invests $20 million toward research into the prevention, treatment, causes, and cures of ALS, and invests $5 million for caregiver support programs for families of people with ALS. Sen. David Tomassoni of Chisholm was diagnosed with the condition last year. Despite the effect the disease has had on him, he’s dedicated his remaining time in the legislature to push for these bold investments. I’m proud we could come together on a bipartisan basis to quickly move this initiative through the legislature to make a positive impact on people’s lives.

SEIU/AFSCME Lobby Days

It was a workers rights week on the hill! I was honored to meet with constituents this week from both SEIU and AFSCME Lobby Days. I want to thank the talented organizers that create countless meetings for workers to meet with their elected officials to share their stories and fight for what is right for working families.

They made clear to me that their priorities were: 

• Nursing Homes Workforce Standards Board
• Earned Sick and Safe Time
• Paid Family and Medical Leave
• Defending Democracy and Voting Rights
• Recognizing essential workers with $1,500
• Supporting Hourly School Workers by Fixing Unemployment Insurance

I support all of these measures and will do everything possible to make sure that these important pro-worker measures become law.

Standing with Ukraine

The 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 broadly bipartisan move, legislators representing the four main caucuses in the Minnesota Legislature passed a bill that has been signed into law to divest Minnesota’s state pension fund from Russia and codify Governor Walz’s Executive Order barring the state from contracting with Russian companies. The bill has now unanimously passed in both the House and Senate.

Prior to the invasion of Ukraine, the estimated worth of Minnesota's state pension fund investments in Russia was approximately $53 million. The legislation will also sanction Belarus for its complicity in the Russian invasion.

In joining numerous other democracies in a similar action, Minnesota is standing with Ukraine and adding to the international pressure that will hopefully soon lead to peace.

You can read more about this legislation here.

Protect and Provide for Pets

I loved meeting with Annie and Dave, neighbors and advocates in our district for animals. 

Their asks:

• Support HF 3637-Bill to Prohibit Rental Declawing/Debarking Requirements as a condition of Rental Tenancy. I believe that forcing harmful surgeries on animals as a condition to living somewhere is incredibly inhumane, especially when our renters are facing so many more barriers.
• Support HF 858- Humane Pet Store Legislation prohibiting the retail sales of dogs and cats, thereby reducing the demand for puppy mills. We need to regulate “puppy mills,” they’re harmful for the early lives of dogs and there are already so many pups that need homes in shelters.
• Oppose HF 2787-Mandatory wolf hunting and trapping seasons. Wolves are vital to keeping our ecosystems healthy and biologically diverse 

I thoroughly appreciated their time to talk with me on Zoom, and I’ll be working for animal rights at the legislature for them.

Black Maternal Health Caucus Agenda

The difference in life expectancy begins before birth. For as long as the state and nation have collected data on infant mortality, there has been a racial gap. Black and Indigenous infants in Minnesota are twice as likely to die before their first birthday than white infants. The disparity between infant mortality rates of Black and White babies is larger than the gap experienced under chattel slavery. 

Furthermore, research demonstrates that when Black newborns are cared for by Black physicians, they are less likely to experience death in the hospital setting. According to the research, when Black newborns in the study were cared for by White physicians, Black newborns were approximately three times more likely to die in the hospital than White newborns. But when Black physicians cared for Black mothers, the excess mortality rate dropped by about 50 percent.

We need to not only study, but take action to address disparities around maternal health. I’m proud to stand with my colleagues of the Black Maternal Health Caucus and fight for the measures listed above.

COVID-19 Update

This week, the FDA authorized a second booster shot for Americans over 50 and for those 12 years and older who are immunocompromised. Following the FDA’s announcement, the CDC expanded eligibility for an additional booster dose for certain higher risk individuals. Second boosters for all Americans will be evaluated. You can read more from the U of M Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) here.

Considering dropping COVID-19 numbers and fewer positive tests and serious illnesses, Minnesota is changing its testing strategy, gradually moving away from saliva tests toward rapid at-home tests. Minnesota households are now eligible to receive two test kits (for a total of four tests) per home through the mail at mn.gov/covid19. Minnesota has secured 500,000 test kits (for a total of 1 million at-home tests) and the program will be available until all the test kits are ordered. You can also order free rapid at-home tests from the federal government at CovidTests.gov.

Getting a test is still recommended if you have symptoms, have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive, after traveling, or if you’ve attended a high-risk event.

Keep in Touch!

Thanks so much for your attention to this e-update. Please remember to reach out if you ever need me- rep.jay.xiong@house.mn. I’m honored to represent you at the Capitol.

In solidarity,

Jay Xiong
State Representative