Dear Neighbors,
It has been a tough week for many as we once again grieve lives stolen by gun violence in our country. There are many emotions that surround trauma of this magnitude and it can sometimes seem hopeless as our country continues to be an outlier when it comes to tragic events like what happened in Uvalde and Buffalo in the past two weeks.
Any conversation about public safety must include addressing gun violence at all levels. Guns are now the leading cause of death for children in our country. We do not have to accept this as inevitable; it doesn't have to be this way. No single policy can prevent all tragedies but policy changes at the federal, state and local levels can prevent harm and death from gun violence. I will continue to push for common sense reforms, supported by the vast majority of Minnesotans, which will help keep everyone safe in their communities.
End of Regular Legislative Session
We ended the 2022 Legislative Session and adjourned Monday as required by our state Constitution. There remains much work to be completed on Education, Public Safety, Transportation, Health, Human Services, Long Term Care, Child Care, Bonding, and a Tax bill. Unfortunately, the Senate Majority walked away from negotiating and completing this important work. I am hopeful that a short special session will be called so we can pass the bills necessary to reinvest our historic budget resources back into supporting all Minnesotans to have what they need.
Despite this disappointing end to the session, several bills were passed in time. Here is an article from Star Tribune detailing what got done.
Frontline Worker Update
The Frontline Worker Pay Application system is anticipated to be open June 8 through July 22, 2022. Eligibility criteria for Frontline Worker Pay are set forth in the Frontline Worker Pay law. I encourage you to see if you are eligible at frontlinepay.mn.gov. If you are unsure if you are eligible, you should review the law and guidance and truthfully fill in and submit the application during the 45-day application period.
Additional COVID-19 Tests Available
Testing remains a vital piece of our work to defeat the COVID-19 pandemic. Last week, the Biden administration announced a new round of free COVID-19 tests is available. Each order includes eight tests (two packages of four tests each). Sign up to receive the free tests from the USPS here. If you haven’t yet done so, it’s not too late to get your COVID-19 vaccine, or if you’re eligible, a booster shot. The vaccine is safe, effective (especially against serious illness and hospitalization), and free. Find a location to get your shot here.
Stay in Touch
I always appreciate hearing from you, so please continue to share your questions, ideas, and feedback. Feel free to reach out to me by email at rep.liz.boldon@house.mn or by phone at 651-296-9249. If you’d like to schedule a time to chat by phone or Zoom, I’m happy to do that as well. If you have a friend, neighbor, or relative who wants to receive updates about the Legislature, let them know they can subscribe to my email list here, and you can also follow my Facebook page here.
It’s an honor to represent our community. Please be safe and stay in touch.
With purpose and gratitude,
Liz
Rep.Liz Boldon, District 25B
533 State Office Building
St. Paul, MN 55155