Together, we protected reproductive rights, addressed our housing crisis with historic investments in housing supports and efforts to end homelessness, prioritized our students, provided protections for LQBTQIA students and families, cut child poverty by 1/3 with our nation-leading child tax credit, legalized adult-use cannabis, funded major infrastructure improvements in Moorhead, and passed a whole host of investments and policies for our Indigenous communities into law. We’re just getting started. The work continues to make Moorhead and the entire state a great place to live, work, and raise a family. If you have any questions about our work, or ideas on how to improve Minnesota, please reach out. I would love to hear from you. Here’s a quick update on what we accomplished this year: What Passed This Year?Last year, the Legislature passed our major two-year budget bills, and this year we built on that progress by passing small supplemental budgets alongside more substantial policy changes in major committee areas. Working alongside the Governor and our Senate counterparts, we reached final agreements on all major budget bills - which have now been signed into law. You can find nonpartisan summaries about the final agreements here: Transportation, Labor and Housing, Energy and Agriculture, Public Safety and Judiciary, Commerce and Cannabis, Jobs and Economic Development, Environment and Natural Resources, K-12 Education, Higher Education, Human Services, Health, and Elections. These are all great bills, but as Vice Chair of the Children and Families Committee, and a member of the Human Services Finance and Education Policy committees, I’m especially proud of our work there. We also passed a health occupational licensure and scoping bill, legislation improving our child welfare services and addressing racial disparities, and a tenants’ rights package. Moorhead was also selected to be part of a new Student Attendance Pilot Program, which will help school districts develop and implement strategies to improve student attendance. Doubling down on improving attendance, I worked across the aisle to establish the Student Attendance Task Force - a bipartisan investment in reducing truancy. The historic investments we made in education won’t mean much if students aren’t in the classroom, and I’m so excited Moorhead has the opportunity to lead the state on this issue. Free Park Day - June 8If you’re looking for something to do this weekend, check out Minnesota’s next Free Park Day this Saturday, June 8th - no vehicle permits needed! Minnesota state parks are open year-round, and there's a state park within 30 miles of most Minnesotans. The closest one to Moorhead is Buffalo River State Park! With a free day each season, it's a great opportunity to get out there and explore someplace new - or visit an old favorite at a new time of year! Whether you stay the whole weekend or just spend a few hours outside, you'll make memories that will last a lifetime. Find a state park near you using the DNR’s ParkFinder tool. |