Neighbors, Today marks the third legislative deadline. As we craft our supplemental budget, House DFLers are focusing on hardworking Minnesotans, and we’ve worked all session to put forward legislation focusing on family budgets – not corporate bottom lines. This was a very busy week, where we advanced many of our supplemental budget bills out of committee before the Easter/Passover break. On Monday I joined the city of Mankato leadership remotely during their work session. Working together on our shared priorities will benefit Mankato and the region. I seldom miss the opportunity to brag about our state’s children’s museums and on Tuesday morning I presented my children’s museum bill in Early Childhood Finance and Policy Committee. This week I met with advocates from the long-term care industry and heard about their staffing issues; a challenge all human service industries are facing. Our Health and Human Services bill includes resources to help. In Labor committee, we advanced our worker-focused budget bill. We also passed the Veterans budget bill, which included provisions I authored to fund the maintenance of Minnesota’s three new veteran’s cemeteries. On Wednesday I met with constituents and labor leaders who work at MNSU – Mankato. Our meeting reinforced my belief that the investments in education we make today will pay off now and for decades to come.  Reducing Costs for Minnesotans House Democrats this week announced a new plan to reduce the cost of Minnesotans’ biggest expenses, including child care, housing, and prescription medications. Democrats’ plan targets help for those who need it most, such as workers, families, senior citizens, and people with chronic health conditions.  Avian Influenza Yesterday, the Minnesota House voted to invest one million dollars in the state’s response to H5N1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Minnesota. The funding will be used for testing supplies and other emergency response activities, including disease surveillance. The first cases of H5N1 in Minnesota were confirmed last month. The USDA updates the latest HPAI detections on its website. Listen to this MPR story. The virus has not caused human illness. According to the CDC, Recent Bird Flu Infections in U.S. Wild Birds and Poultry Pose a Low Risk to the Public. You can read more from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture or the Board of Animal Health. The state has activated a new HPAI hotline for anyone with poultry to ask questions or for anyone to report sick birds at 1-833-454-0156. Survey With several weeks ahead before the end of the legislative session, I still welcome your input on the issues we are discussing at the Capitol. Please take a moment to complete my legislative survey. Thank you. Energy Assistance The Minnesota Department of Commerce has raised the Minnesota Energy Assistance Program crisis benefit per household. Income-qualified homeowners or renters can now receive up to $3,000 to pay past-due energy bills, to prevent energy disconnections, and to cover costs for emergency fuel deliveries. Previously, the crisis benefit was $1,200. The grant is in addition to the up-to-$2,000 in non-crisis benefits a qualifying house receives. COVID-19 Update The FDA has authorized a second booster shot for Americans over 50 and for those 12 years and older who are immunocompromised. You can read more from the U of M Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) recommendations here. 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. You can also order free rapid at-home tests from the federal government at CovidTests.gov. 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, please get tested to slow the spread of COVID-19. _________ Stay connected with the Legislature The Minnesota House of Representatives Public Information Services offers nonpartisan recaps of high-profile bills, committee hearings, and floor sessions with their Session Daily publication. Subscribe to receive these here. To track bills of interest through the legislative process, I encourage you to utilize the MyBills feature on the Minnesota House of Representatives’ website here. I welcome your questions and comments anytime. You can send an email to rep.luke.frederick@house.mn or can call my legislative assistant, Blake Wilcox, at 651-296-8803. Also, please visit and “like” my Facebook page for more Capitol and community updates. Thank you for the privilege of representing you in the legislature. Sincerely, Luke Frederick State Representative |