Dear neighbors, Minnesota Management and Budget released a new economic forecast last week, indicating that our state has a budget surplus of $9.25 billion. This historic surplus gives us an opportunity to make a difference in peoples’ lives. While this is good news, we know many Minnesotans are still struggling, including many of the workers who’ve helped drive our state’s economic recovery. As the legislative session continues, I will keep advocating for meaningful investments in education, health care, affordable housing, and other important areas. Supporting Frontline WorkersFrontline workers have risked their own health to keep our state running during the pandemic. They cared for patients with COVID, taught our kids, responded to emergencies, processed and cooked our food, provided child care, and so much more. These dedicated Minnesotans deserve to be compensated for their sacrifices and hard work. I was proud to vote for HF 2900, legislation that would provide more than 667,000 frontline workers with bonus checks of up to $1,500. The House passed this bill last week. I hope the Senate will join us so we can get these checks delivered as soon as possible.  Preventing Discrimination I was proud to vote for the Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair (CROWN) Act as well. This bill, which the House passed last week, aims to prevent race-based hair discrimination. It strengthens the Minnesota Human Rights Act by prohibiting discrimination based on hair appearance or texture. This simple change would help Black Minnesotans get justice if they’re fired, punished, or denied opportunities at work or school because of the way their hair naturally grows. Advocating for Our CommunityMinnesotans should be able to walk and bike in their communities. I’ve introduced a few bills to help pedestrians travel safely in and around Eagan. HF 2953, for example, contains $5 million worth of grant funding for pedestrian walkways, bike paths, and safety improvements in Eagan and along the Minnesota River Greenway in Fort Snelling State Park. I brought members of the House Capital Investment Committee to Eagan a few months ago so they could see firsthand how this investment would impact our community!  Another bill I wrote invests $10.7 million in improving pedestrian safety along the Veterans Memorial Greenway. These funds could be used to build pedestrian crossings over railroads and multilane highways in Dakota County and to add a trail connection between Lebanon Hills Regional Park and the Mississippi River. I presented this bill to the House Capital Investment Committee on Tuesday. Please contact me if you have any questions, ideas, or feedback you’d like to share. You can reach me by email at rep.liz.reyer@house.mn or call (651) 296-4128. Sincerely, Liz Reyer
State Representative |