Dear neighbors,
I hope this email finds you safe and healthy. During these difficult times, I want to remind you that I’m available to answer questions from constituents. I’m also eager to hear feedback and ideas. You can reach me by email at rep.liz.reyer@house.mn or call (651) 296-4128.
Preserving Reproductive Freedom
As you’ve probably heard, the Supreme Court has decided to overturn Roe v. Wade. This is an egregious attack on our reproductive freedom, rooted in discrimination against women. As a woman and a legislator, I will never retreat from my commitment to protecting reproductive rights.
While this decision indicates that many of our rights are at risk, abortion is still legal in Minnesota. Soon we may be the only state in the Upper Midwest where people can get a safe, legal abortion. To protect Minnesotans and people from neighboring states, we must preserve and expand access to reproductive health care.
Update from the Capitol
While the legislature was required to adjourn a month ago, many lawmakers are still working hard. Several key pieces of legislation didn’t make it across the finish line this session – despite having bipartisan support – and we’d like to complete our work.
In a divided government like ours, lawmakers must work together to get things done. This year, House DFLers and Senate Republicans worked together to develop a bipartisan framework for the supplemental budget. Both parties agreed to invest $4 billion in improving the lives of Minnesotans, to use $4 billion for tax cuts, and to save $4 billion for the future. While this work wasn’t complete when the legislative session ended, we did pass several bipartisan bills, including legislation to:
- Deliver bonus payments to Minnesotans who couldn’t work from home and thus faced higher risks of exposure to COVID
- Improve Minnesota’s mental health care system and expand access to important services
- Replenish the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund, which was depleted due to the pandemic
- Secure more support and services for veterans and Gold Star families
- Modernize Minnesota’s liquor laws so small breweries, wineries, and distilleries can grow and compete with legacy brands
- Fund more than 100 projects to protect our environment
After the legislative session ended, House DFLers kept working hard and trying to find bipartisan compromises. We wanted to return to the Capitol for a special session so we could complete our work and deliver the results Minnesotans deserve. Unfortunately, Senate Republicans refused to join us. They’re walking away from the deal we negotiated in good faith and an opportunity to invest in education, improve public safety, deliver tax cuts, and more.
Bonus Pay Available for Frontline Workers
Frontline workers kept our state running during the darkest days of the pandemic. To thank them, lawmakers delivered $500 million worth of bonus payments. Hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans are eligible for bonus pay, including health care workers, first responders, child care providers, food service workers, retail workers, and more. You can view eligibility criteria and apply at frontlinepay.mn.gov/submit. Applications are due on Friday, July 22.
COVID Vaccines Available for Young Children
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has approved two COVID-19 vaccines for children who are six months old or older. Both vaccines were carefully studied and can help protect children from severe disease, hospitalization, and death. They’re administered in smaller doses and packaged differently than vaccines that are available for older children and adults.
More than 300 providers in Minnesota are offering vaccines to children between six months and five years of age, including pediatricians, pharmacies, and community clinics. Parents and guardians can use the Vaccine Locator Map to find local providers. More information about COVID vaccines for children is available at mn.gov/vaxforkids.
Bipartisan Mental Health Care Bill
I joined elected officials, advocates, and other Minnesotans recently to celebrate an important bipartisan accomplishment! During the final days of the legislative session, lawmakers from both parties developed and passed a bill to improve mental health care. It contained funding to increase hospital capacity, train new mental health care professionals, and expand the use of mobile crisis services. It also included one of my bills. This provision supports community-based initiatives that serve Minnesotans with serious and persistent mental health challenges.
Governor Walz signed this legislation into law. While it doesn’t address every issue with our mental health care system, the bill will help more people access mental health resources.
Connecting with Minnesotans
I’ve been able to spend more time in our community now that the legislative session is over! At the beginning of June, I joined Eagan residents to clean up Yankee Doodle Road. We picked up at least eight large bags of trash.
I recently checked out Destination All Play, a new, inclusive play area at Woodhaven Park. This site has accessible rubber trails, Bankshot basketball, and more. You can read more about the park at cityofeagan.com/destination-all-play.
I also joined community members at the 30th anniversary celebration for Caponi Art Park. It’s a beautiful place to visit!
It was a powerful Pride weekend for me, my first since coming out. Together, we celebrated the safe space for our community and challenged the right-wing theocracy that threatens the freedom of all who don’t fit their mold. I ask everyone to join us!
I look forward to seeing you around this summer! If you have any questions or feedback you’d like to share, you can contact me by email at rep.liz.reyer@house.mn or call (651) 296-4128. Please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Sincerely,
Liz Reyer
State Representative