Happy New Year!
First, I hope you and your families have had a memorable and safe holiday season. As we celebrate and head into the new year, I wish you all a bright 2022.
One Year Ago Today!
One year ago today, I was sworn in as the Representative for 41B. As I was sworn in remotely from my office with my daughter as my "plus one," I could never have imagined the whirlwind year to come. The past 365 days representing our community in the House of Representatives have been fulfilling, productive, and a true joy. In my first session, I authored five bills that passed into law. In the coming session, I have a bold plan of action to achieve concrete gains for our community and all Minnesotans. Thank you for the honor of serving in this role as your representative!
2022 Priorities
We have one month until the 2022 Legislative Session. Supporting our children during this crucial time is imperative, particularly in the realm of educational equity, poverty, and mental health.
In 2022, I have a number of bill priorities - all of which are focused on supporting children's opportunity to thrive. These bills include a bill to protect neglected, abandoned, and abused immigrant children, long overdue protections to student data privacy, reforms to our juvenile justice system that will protect rights and transition us from a punitive to a restorative approach, paving the path to secondary education for all high school students, and expanding and targeting funding for our schools where it is most needed because all students deserve a quality education.
In addition, as a member of the Climate Action Caucus and I will join my colleagues in advocating for bold investments in our natural resources and clean energy initiatives. These investments are a forward-thinking, bold vision of investing not just for the immediate gain, but for the benefit of future generations of Minnesotans. In the House, we also prioritize those policy areas that are top of mind across the state, including expanding true equal access to quality healthcare, addressing inequities in the workplace and in housing, supporting small businesses through these uneven economic times, and taking steps to ensure that Minnesota emerges from the pandemic ready to thrive.
COVID-19 Update
As we enter the third calendar year of this pandemic, it is now perhaps more important than ever to remain vigilant with the health and safety of yourself and your loved ones. Minnesota has recently passed the horrific milestone of 10,000 deaths, a grueling reminder of how the COVID-19 situation continues to be serious. With hospital admissions rising, there is now the growing issue of others with non-Covid related issues such as car accidents or strokes, forced to wait for the medical care they need.
As the Omicron variant is spreading, it is vital for every person to do what they can to mitigate the spread of this virus. If you have not gotten your vaccine or booster, please sign up. The vaccine is safe, free, and remarkably effective in reducing serious cases of Covid-19 and hospitalization. We all have a responsibility to keep our fellow Minnesotans safe.
Saturdays With Sandra
For those who missed the Saturdays With Sandra series over the summer, here is the recorded video conversation from September with Sarah Davis from the Legal Rights Center on the topic of conversation about youth restorative justice.
If you have questions, ideas, or feedback that you’d like to share, please don’t hesitate to reach out. You can email me at rep.sandra.feist@house.mn or call (651) 296-4331.
Sincerely,
Sandra Feist
State Representative