Dear Neighbors,
With President Biden’s inauguration and the swearing in of our first Black, South Asian, Woman Vice President, it is with renewed hope that the 117th Congress, under Democrat control for the next two years, meets with the very rare opportunity to make lasting progress for our state and the entire nation. At the Legislature I will continue to fight for the most vulnerable and marginalized among us, not just in my district, but statewide. We must remain vigilant in fighting for progress, justice, and the rights of all people.
In committees this week, I had the opportunity to hear from various state agencies about our capital investment processes, and from veterans who talked about how they are helping our nation's heroes. I also heard from passionate, yet frustrated, teachers advocating for critical education policies and for the safest and best possible return to learning for their students. And finally I heard from you, my constituents, as you have contacted my office with concerns about COVID-19 and the impact it continues to have on our daily lives. If you would like to see each bill I have co-authored this year click here.
Vaccine Pilot Program Launches
This week, Minnesota announced an important next step in the process of delivering the COVID-19 vaccine to certain priority groups. A pilot program will establish new vaccination sites throughout the state, and individuals who are 65 years or older, as well as school staff and child care workers (who have been notified by their employer that they’re eligible), will now be able to make appointments to receive the vaccine. If you are a school staff member or child care worker you will schedule an appointment through your employer.
If you fall into these groups, initial appointments are now full as they were extremely limited. You can book appointments online here, or by phone at 612-426-7230 or toll free at 833-431-2053. New appointments won’t be available until Tuesday, January 26 at 12 pm. This is a very limited trial program as the federal government has not released more vaccine doses. If you encounter additional problems or need help navigating this process, please contact me.
The pilot sites are located in Andover, Brooklyn Center, Fergus Falls, Marshall, Mountain Iron, North Mankato, Rochester, St. Cloud, and Thief River Falls.
Legislative Priorities for the House DFL
Last week, we rolled out the House DFL’s initial legislative priorities for this year’s session, with a focus on getting Minnesota through this pandemic and ensuring that we have the resources necessary to bounce back. While protecting and investing in economic security, worker protections, education, child care, and health and human services are crucial components for Minnesotans, we’re diligently working within all policy areas to build a better state.
Stay in Touch
Please feel free to reach out to me by email at rep.kaela.berg@house.mn or by phone at 651-296-5387. 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 follow my facebook here. It’s an honor to represent our community. Please stay in touch.
Sincerely,
Kaela Berg, District 56B
423 State Office Building
St. Paul, MN 55155