Dear Neighbors, As we start this Thanksgiving holiday week, I wish you and your loved ones a happy, restful and safe holiday. Like many of you, I’m really looking forward to sharing the holiday with my extended family this year. With the high COVID-19 rates in Minnesota right now, if you are planning on gathering with extended family and friends, it’s important to take precautions to keep yourselves, your family and everyone in our community safe. Before gathering this year, my whole family and I will be taking a rapid COVID-19 test because the youngsters aren’t fully vaccinated and with the high rate of transmission in our region, testing is an important tool to stop the spread. Check out the Minnesota Department of Health’s recommendations on the steps you can take to make your holiday gatherings safer this year: https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/prevention.html. Federal Infrastructure Bill Passes As you may have heard, President Joe Biden signed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act into law last week! This is great news for Minnesota. Thanks to this legislation, our state is expected to receive: - $4.5 billion to repair and rebuild roads throughout the state
- $302 million to repair and replace our bridges
- $818 million to improve public transportation options
- $68 million to build a network of electric vehicle chargers
- $680 million to improve water infrastructure
- $20 million to prevent wildfires
Minnesota will also benefit from other investments, such as $3.5 billion for weatherization that will help people make their homes more energy efficient and reduce their monthly bills. More information about how the federal infrastructure bill will impact Minnesota is available here. I’ll keep you updated as this critical investment in Minnesota’s infrastructure moves forward. Important COVID-19 Update Our state is currently dealing with one of the worst COVID-19 outbreaks in the U.S. It is up to all of us to protect ourselves and our community by following CDC and MDH recommendations to slow the spread of COVID-19 when there is high community transmission, including: - Get vaccinated.
- Wear a mask at indoor businesses and public settings and crowded outdoor settings.
- If you’ve been exposed to someone with COVID-19, get tested and follow the CDC recommendations.
- If you have symptoms, stay home, quarantine from others, and get a test.
- Get a booster shot.
Last week, Commissioner Jan Malcolm of the Minnesota Department of Health announced our state would expand eligibility for booster shots to all adults. You can find booster shot providers here. A map of all vaccine providers is available here, and more information about COVID-19 vaccines for children can be found at mn.gov/vaxforkids. Connecting with Minnesotans Members of the House Capital Investment Committee are visiting sites across Minnesota that could receive support in a bonding bill next year. I was glad to join the committee for its stop at the Minneapolis Convention Center. We had a great discussion about needed improvements and energy efficiency upgrades for this important regional hub and other Minneapolis projects. I’ll continue to advocate for these projects and our community!  I had an energizing conversation with the League of Women Voters of Duluth last Tuesday. This is a make or break moment for our democracy, and I appreciated the opportunity to talk about the critical work we all need to do to protect the freedom to vote in Minnesota and across the U.S.  I joined Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon and Matthew Weil from the Bipartisan Policy Center last week for a lively discussion about voting rights, hosted by the Minnesota Chapter of the Federal Bar Association. Another opportunity to highlight this important topic!  I was glad to join hundreds of local leaders in Willmar at the Coalition for Greater Minnesota Cities Fall Conference for a great panel discussion with my colleagues Senator Aric Putnam and Representative Spencer Igo about our work together in the Minnesota Legislature. It is critical that we are working together with local and state leaders across the state to ensure that our government is responsive to the needs of all Minnesotans of every background and zip code.  If you have any questions about the work I’m doing or if I can be of assistance, please reach out. You can email me at rep.emma.greenman@house.mn or call (651) 296-4200. Sincerely, Emma |