Dear Neighbors, We’re in the middle of another busy week at the Minnesota Legislature. On Monday, Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) released a new economic forecast showing a projected $9.25 billion surplus. This indicates that our economy is recovering, largely thanks to the work of Minnesotans. However, many of the workers who have driven our economic recovery aren’t feeling the benefits while corporations raise prices and pocket the profits. This historic surplus gives us the resources to meet the urgent needs of Minnesotans and to invest in the things that will make our state stronger and more successful for many years to come: education, child care, affordable housing, and more. I will continue advocating for these critical investments in our future. You’re Invited to a Virtual Town HallAs we continue working on legislation to improve the lives of Minnesotans, we want to hear your ideas and feedback. With that in mind, Sen. Patricia Torres Ray, Rep. Jim Davnie, and I are holding a town hall this Saturday, March 5 from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. We hope you can join us via Facebook Live!  Supporting Frontline Workers Frontline workers have cared for COVID patients, taught our children, responded to emergencies, provided child care, processed and cooked food, transported Minnesotans, and so much more while facing increased risks of exposure to COVID-19. They deserve to be compensated for all the hard work they’ve done during the pandemic. We passed legislation that contained $250 million for premium pay for frontline workers last year, but Republicans stood in the way of delivering this financial support. With a record surplus, House DFLers believe we need to increase that investment to ensure every frontline worker gets a meaningful bonus check. Last week the House passed HF 2900, a bill that would provide more than 667,000 Minnesotans with a bonus check of up to $1,500.  Preventing Discrimination While the Minnesota Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination based on race, it doesn’t address race-based hair discrimination. That makes it difficult for people who are punished at school, face harassment at work, or denied opportunities because of how their hair grows from their head to get justice in court. On Monday, we passed the Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair (CROWN) Act, legislation that explicitly prohibits discrimination on the basis of hair appearance and texture. The CROWN Act adds a provision to the Minnesota Human Rights Act that would apply to several areas of law, including education, employment, housing, and public services and accommodations. As the bill’s author Rep. Esther Agbaje said during a speech on the House floor, it will “give people the freedom to be themselves when they show up in the world.” Connecting with Young Minnesotans I had the opportunity to meet with a Girl Scout Troop from East Nokomis when they visited the Capitol last week. We talked about what it’s like to serve in the legislature, and they had a chance to try debating on the House floor. The troop members discussed and voted on bills that would improve recycling and school policies. These girls are the future, and the future is bright!   Always love to have kids, and adults, come visit at the Capitol. Please feel free to reach out if you want to arrange a visit! And if you have any questions or feedback, please don’t hesitate to reach out. You can email me at rep.emma.greenman@house.mn or call my office at (651) 296-4200. Sincerely, Emma Greenman
State Representative |