Rep. Cedrick Frazier PRESS RELEASE Minnesota House of Representatives District 45A | 651-296-4255 | rep.cedrick.frazier@house.mn 439 State Office Building | | Sen. Erin Murphy PRESS RELEASE Minnesota Senate District 64 | 651-296-5931 | sen.erin.murphy@senate.mn 2319 Minnesota Senate Bldg. |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Lindy Sowmick
989-289-8593 or lindy.sowmick@house.mn
June 8, 2022
Frontline Worker Pay bonuses available starting today through July 22nd
SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Authors of legislation to send $750 or more to Minnesota frontline workers, Rep. Cedrick Frazier (DFL - New Hope) and Sen. Erin Murphy (DFL - Saint Paul), are encouraging eligible residents to apply for Minnesota’s Frontline Worker Bonus Pay. Workers can sign up to receive their bonus check here.
“We owe so much to our workers who kept our society going during the worst parts of the pandemic. These workers put themselves in harm’s way during a terrible time of uncertainty. Long-term care workers who were short-staffed; nurses who were overworked; and school, postal, and janitorial workers who kept working were the glue keeping our communities together. This shows that we, the legislature, can follow through on our promises,” said Rep. Frazier. “During a time when Minnesotans are struggling with increasing costs, I encourage frontline workers to fill out the short form and get their bonus. I’m glad we were able to come to a deal with the Republican-controlled Senate to deliver this support. I also remain committed to other important solutions – like Paid Family Leave, Earned Sick and Safe Time, and unemployment insurance eligibility for school workers– so all Minnesota workers and their families can have economic security.”
“Finally, Minnesotans who went to work in person at the start of this pandemic can take the next step towards receiving the recognition and hero pay they have earned,” said Erin Murphy (DFL-St. Paul). “We are here thanks to the advocacy and strength of an incredible coalition of workers who fought to hold leaders in the Minnesota legislature to their word. I am so grateful to all the essential workers who pulled us through a crisis, and hope everyone who worked on the frontlines to keep Minnesotans healthy and our economy open take the opportunity to apply for these funds.”
The legislation invests $500 million worth of bonus pay for over 600,000 frontline workers, including health care workers, first responders, child care providers, food service and retail workers, and more. The legislation also included a measure to replenish the state’s Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund, preventing businesses from facing a tax increase.
Workers have 45 days to apply, ending on July 22. A full FAQ document, including eligibility information, is available here.
Clips from worker and member testimony on the proposal this year have been documented here.
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