Dear Neighbors,
While the regular legislative session is over, I’m still hard at work communing with folks in our district. This week, I joined Minnesotans to draw attention to issues that people in our community are facing. I’m also hosting two town halls along with my SD 63 colleagues, Sen. Patricia Torres Ray and Rep. Jim Davnie. If you weren’t able to join us yesterday, we’re holding another town hall this Saturday, June 4 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. I hope to see you there!
Addressing Groundwater and Surface Water Issues
On Tuesday, I joined dozens of neighbors at a town hall dedicated to groundwater and surface water issues in South Minneapolis. We were able to hear the results of an evaluation conducted by a multi-agency team that the City of Minneapolis assembled to study these issues and to identify mitigation measures. You can view more information about the team and their findings here.
It’s clear our region is getting wetter and that groundwater and surface water issues have a large impact on our landscapes, our lakes, and our homes. We need to find and enact sustainable solutions to these water issues.
Supporting Nurses
On Wednesday, I joined Minnesota nurses on the picket line. Nurses from 11 hospitals in the metro area are fighting for better staffing ratios, safety on the job, and better wages. Since many nurses are experiencing burnout and some are leaving the field, changes are needed to maintain skilled workers and attract new talent. Our nurses, and the patients they care for, deserve a contract that puts people before profits.
Bonus Pay for Frontline Workers
Two months ago, lawmakers voted to deliver $500 million worth of bonus pay to frontline workers. While an application system is still being constructed, the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry expects it to launch on Wednesday, June 8. Workers will have 45 days to apply for bonus payments.
Hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans are eligible for bonus payments, including health care workers, first responders, child care providers, food service and retail workers, and others who kept our state running during the darkest days of the pandemic. If you think you may be eligible, you can review the criteria at www.frontlinepay.mn.gov. Please share this information with friends and family members who may qualify as well!
Free At-Home COVID Tests Available
Every household in the U.S. is eligible for free at-home tests for COVID-19. If you’d like to receive free tests, please visit special.usps.com/testkits. All you have to do is enter your name and address, and the USPS will send eight tests directly to your home.
The State of Minnesota is offering free at-home tests as well. You can order them online here or call the Minnesota Department of Health’s COVID-19 hotline at 1-833-431-2053. The hotline is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays.
If you have questions or feedback you’d like to share, please reach out. You can contact me via email at rep.emma.greenman@house.mn or call my office at (651) 296-4200.
Sincerely,
Emma Greenman
State Representative