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Neighbors,
Next Wednesday, April 29, please join Sen. Kari Dziedzic, Hennepin County Commissioner Irene Fernando and me for a Minneapolis Facebook Town Hall.
Testing Breakthrough Alliance Announced
This week, Governor Walz announced agreements with the University of Minnesota, the Mayo Clinic and Hennepin Healthcare to make available rapid, widespread testing of COVID-19. This will greatly increase the number of Minnesotans who can be tested – possibly up to as many as 20,000 each day.
We are grateful for the competent leadership of Governor Walz and the partnership of some of the best scientific and public health minds in the country and world. You can read more about this announcement here.
I serve on the House Health and Human Services Finance Division and this week we held an informational hearing to discuss the new strategy to increase testing. The testing breakthrough will help health officials control the pandemic and support the safe re-opening of Minnesota’s economy. You can watch video of the committee on the House Public Information YouTube channel.
Independent Contractors can now apply for Unemployment Insurance
DEED announced today that Independent Contractors are now being issued Unemployment Insurance. For more information on the program and instructions for how to apply, click here.
Voting, Labor Contracts discussed
I also serve on the House State Government Finance Division. We also met this week and completed testimony and discussion on House File 3499, which transfers and appropriates funds made available by the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), as well as House File 2768, ratifying labor contracts negotiated between Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) and our dedicated state employees.
Stay at Home Order stays in effect until May 4, Distance Learning continues
This week, Governor Walz announced the continuation of the Stay at Home order until May 4, with ability for some Minnesotans to return to work. In addition, students will continue distance learning through the end of the school year. You can learn more about all the Governor’s Executive Orders here.
Executive Order 20-40 will allow 80,000-100,000 Minnesotans to return to work in industrial, manufacturing, and office settings on Monday, April 27.??
Prior to loosening restrictions for a given setting, businesses must:
- Create, share, and implement a COVID-19 Preparedness Plan that sets out the actions they are taking to ensure social distancing, worker hygiene, and facility cleaning and disinfection necessary to keep workers safe
- Engage in health screening of employees and ensure that sick employees stay home
- Continue to work from home whenever possible
Executive Order 20-41 continues distance learning through the end of the school year.
Climate Action Caucus celebrates 50th anniversary of Earth Day
Wednesday was a beautiful day to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. I am a proud member of the Minnesota House Climate Action Caucus (CAC), which was formed to find solutions and establish Minnesota as a national leader in the fight against climate change. In the last 50 years, we have made progress preserving our environment, but we have more work to do.
Earlier this week, three of my CAC colleagues spoke with former Vice President Walter Mondale about Earth Day. Vice President Mondale was serving as one of our U.S. Senators when Congress established Earth Day in 1970. A recording of the conversation is available here.
Additional information about the Minnesota House Climate Action Caucus is available on the caucus’s website.
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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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