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Dear Neighbors,
This has been a challenging few weeks. I hope that you’re being kind to yourself and each other as we grapple with the pain of the last few weeks and prepare for the work ahead.
At the Capitol, we’ve been working on passing our budget proposals, but on Tuesday, we recessed for the verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial. While the guilty verdict on all three counts was good news, it won’t bring George Floyd back to his loved ones or relieve the immense trauma and pain that Black Minnesotans bear. To get justice for George Floyd, we must transform systems that weren’t built to protect our Black neighbors and people of color or to hold police officers accountable. We have to dismantle systemic racism and ensure that every Minnesotan is safe, valued, and respected.
With the charge of realizing that vision in mind, we came back to the House floor on Wednesday and passed our Public Safety omnibus bill. It contains several strong police accountability and reform measures that I outlined in my last newsletter. We know more work has to be done to deliver justice for all Minnesotans, and this bill is one step in the right direction.
Investing in Education
Last Monday, the House passed our E-12 Education and Higher Education budgets. Students of all ages have had a difficult year. These budgets would help them recover and prepare for the bright future that they deserve. The E-12 Education budget invests in every child in every public school, with strong support for our youngest learners. It preserves 4,000 pre-kindergarten slots that were set to expire and provides nearly $40 million for early learning scholarships. These investments in the youngest Minnesotans would help close our state’s persistent opportunity gap. Several additional provisions, such as the Increase Teachers of Color and American Indian Teachers Act, aim to address racial disparities in the classroom.
The Higher Education budget also contains strong investments. It holds tuition flat at Minnesota State campuses, increases funding for the state grant program, makes investments in mental health resources and food insecurity, expands the ranks of career and technical education instructors in high schools, and more. I was proud to cast my vote for both of these bills.
Addressing the Climate Crisis
As one of the fastest warming states in the country, Minnesota is already experiencing the impacts of climate change. We’ve seen several extreme weather events in the past two decades, for example, and some communities - primarily communities of color - are facing heightened rates of asthma and other health issues. Our Climate and Energy bill is an ambitious plan to address this crisis. It puts Minnesota on a path to achieve 100 percent clean energy by 2040 and to eliminate all carbon emissions by 2050. Transitioning to a clean energy economy would create good-paying jobs, affordable energy, and new industries. This bill ensures that all Minnesotans, especially those most impacted by climate change, can access these benefits. I was proud to vote for this bill when it passed in the House on Wednesday.
Protecting Our Environment and Natural Resources
Last Thursday, on Earth Day, we passed the Environment and Natural Resources budget, our robust plan to protect Minnesota’s air, water, land, and wildlife for current and future generations. This proposal delivers funding to manage significant threats like climate change, pollution, and invasive species; strengthens environmental protections; expands access to the outdoors and outdoor recreation, with a focus on children and young adults; protects animals and insects, including pollinators; and addresses racial and economic disparities that put communities of color, Indigenous communities, and low-income communities at a higher risk for exposure to pollution and hazardous chemicals.
COVID-19 Update
I had the opportunity to visit a community vaccination clinic at the Park Center high-rise building last week. It was one of dozens of clinics held by the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority (MPHA) and several partners at buildings throughout the city. Delivering vaccines to high-rise buildings is a top priority due to the close living conditions. It’s also an equity issue; many residents are people of color, low-income, elderly, or disabled. I was able to see how the clinics work and thank the great staff and volunteers who are helping us defeat COVID-19 one shot at a time.
Please feel free to call or email me if you have any questions or feedback that you’d like to share. You can reach me at 651-296-4200 or rep.emma.greenman@house.mn.
Sincerely,
Emma Greenman
State Representative
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