Happy Saturday, Eastsiders! I hope you’re staying warm and enjoying this week’s snowfall. The legislative session is underway and I’m pleased to share that our first week is in the books! I’m excited to once again chair the House Workforce Development Committee alongside my colleagues and hardworking Minnesotans. On the second day of session, I met with a coalition of nonprofit workforce development organizations to discuss some ideas they have for improving workforce training and preparation programs – including expanding program eligibility and flexing funding streams to better meet both community and employer needs.  Murdered & Missing Indigenous Relatives Day of RemembranceOn Wednesday we honored Murdered and Missing Indigenous Relatives Day of Remembrance. Our colleagues in the Native American Legislative Caucus took a moment to reflect on this day, its importance, and held a moment of silence. You can watch their remarks here.  For more information, I encourage you to check out the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives Office, a first-in-the-nation office we established in 2021. MMIR specialty license plates are now available. Fees paid by drivers who obtain a plate will be put into the Gaagige-Mikwendaagoziwag reward fund. To order license plates online or find an office to purchase them in-person, visit drive.mn.gov?. Insulin Prices Capped Democrats are dedicated to reducing the cost of health care and protecting against price-gouging. Earlier this month, Attorney General Keith Ellison announced a landmark settlement with the Eli Lily insulin company that caps insulin at just $35 for the next 5 years. Drug companies raised the price of insulin by over 1,100% between 1990 and 2020, and this settlement ensures that Minnesotans can afford their lives and live with dignity, safety, and respect.  You can learn more about the settlement and how to get insulin for just $35 a month here: https://www.ag.state.mn.us/MNinsulin35/. Your Yard Can BEE The ChangeI was honored to author legislation last year that passed into law, providing additional funding for the state’s incredibly popular Lawns to Legumes program. Minnesota residents can now apply for fall 2024 Lawns to Legumes funding. The Lawns to Legumes program aims to increase habitat for at-risk pollinators in residential settings across the state by providing people with cost-share funding, workshops, coaching and gardening resources.  |