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Neighbors and Friends,
Another week has flown by and I’ve been very busy attending committee hearings, meeting with constituents and participating in two long floor sessions to hear bills on insulin affordability and gun violence prevention. Every day I learn more about my new role as I represent you at the Capitol.
Passage of the Alec Smith Insulin Affordability Act
Alec Smith was just 26 when he died because he couldn’t afford his insulin. This week, I voted to pass HF 3100, the Alec Smith Insulin Affordability Act. This life-saving measure will ensure diabetic Minnesotans can get the insulin they need both short and long-term. No one should lose their life because they can’t get the insulin they need.
Presidential Preference Primary Election
I supported new legislation to improve voter privacy in this year’s presidential primary in response to concerns I am hearing about who can access your data. This week, the House passed legislation that would give voters the ability to opt-out of sharing their party preference in the presidential primary, while also restricting the sharing of that data only to a national party representative, and only for the purpose of verifying participation in the primary. Primary Day is March 3 and I hope you will cast your vote, regardless of your party affiliation. Let’s keep up the reputation for our nation-leading voter turnout! Learn more here.
Keeping Minnesotans Safe from Senseless Gun Violence
Thousands of Minnesotans support common-sense gun safety measures and I supported those views with my votes for HF 8 and HF 9 last night. Here is a brief description of the bills:
HF 8 – Criminal Background Checks
Criminal background checks have proven to help keep guns out of the hands of people who are dangerous. Most Minnesotans support mandatory criminal background checks on all gun sales, including those sold privately and at gun shows. Currently, nearly two dozen states and the District of Columbia require criminal background checks for gun sales by unlicensed sellers.
HF 8 requires a criminal background check for anyone who receives a firearm in a transfer. There are many common-sense exceptions, such as between family members, during competitions, while hunting and at the gun range.
HF9 – Extreme Risk Protection Orders
House File 9 would create a legal due process for courts to approve Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPO) which would prohibit an individual from temporarily possessing a firearm.
Only law enforcement or prosecutors could request an ERPO and would need to provide a court with concrete evidence that an individual poses a significant danger by possessing firearms. A hearing would be held, and the individual could challenge the evidence. If the court determines an ERPO is warranted, the individual’s firearms would be transferred temporarily to law enforcement or a licensed dealer.
Extreme Risk Protection Order laws are in effect in 17 other states and the District of Columbia and have proven to reduce suicide rates and gun violence. Scientific polling shows 87% of Minnesotans support the bill, with just 4% opposed. All Minnesotans deserve to be safe and we know that these two measures can make a difference.
Visitors
Several constituents stopped by my Capitol office during their advocacy days.
Proof Alliance
National MS Society
National Kidney Foundation
Hunger Solutions
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You can contact me at rep.sydney.jordan@house.mn or (651) 296-4219. Be sure to “like” my official state representative Facebook page!
Thank you for the privilege of serving District 60A in the legislature.
Sincerely,
Sydney Jordan
State Representative
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