Dear Neighbors, Week four of the legislative session is underway and our good work continues. If you haven’t had a chance yet to take our 2024 district survey, I hope you can take a few minutes to share your thoughts with me. Last week, a new, improved budget forecast shows Minnesota is on the right path. The transformational budget lawmakers enacted during the historically productive 2023 Legislative Session has laid the groundwork for enduring prosperity, sustained growth, and a future where every Minnesotan can thrive. But the work isn’t over, and in our conversations with Minnesotans, we recognize the state budget outlook doesn’t necessarily reflect the reality many working families are facing. Throughout the 2024 session, I will continue working side by side with our neighbors and community members together – rooted in the values we all share – to lower the cost of living, deliver economic security for working families, and grow the state’s middle class. As a first term legislator, it’s been rewarding to see familiar faces at the Capitol and to meet new neighbors visiting St. Paul from our communities of West Saint Paul, Inver Grove Heights, Mendota Heights, Lilydale, and Sunfish Lake.  Firefighters risk their lives to have our backs; we need to have theirs too. ???????????? Grateful for the public service these hometown heroes from our community provide, and for their advocacy in strengthening the firefighters' pensions.  Safe working conditions, fair pay and hours protect not only the worker but also the families they provide for. What's good for the worker is good for thriving families! Glad to have hard-working folks from our area representing the AFSCME Council 5 visit and share their priorities with me.  Teachers showed up in full force recently to rally for fair and reliable pensions. Thank you for your advocacy and all you do for our students! Work on Education As many of you know, I’ve been teaching in St. Paul Public Schools for over 28 years and it’s no secret that preparing our students for a successful, thriving future, is my passion. This week, I presented two bills in the Education Finance Committee. The first would provide literacy-based instruction training to early childhood program staff. It also creates a three-year pilot program on language and early literacy instruction for children in publicly funded early childhood programs the year before kindergarten entry. This will help us ensure we can get our kids reading earlier and we're able to track those successful strategies as a part of those efforts. The second would ensure teachers of all specialties (math, science, social studies), are prepared with and have a strong understanding of English Language Learning curriculum for EL learners in their classes.  High Demand of Universal School Meals Prompts Legislation to Meet NeedParticipation in the universal school meals program has surpassed the initially anticipated increase by more than 20% across the state. To ensure we’re meeting the need and filling this gap, yesterday with my support, the Education Finance Committee approved legislation to continue these investments so no child goes hungry at school. Tackling Medical DebtIt was great to have Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison in Inver Grove Heights on Wednesday evening to listen to our community about the financial barriers we're facing, especially when it comes to medical debt. Too many Minnesotans are saddled with unmanageable debt, and our current laws have been insufficient at addressing this dilemma. Medical debt depletes peoples’ rainy-day funds, causes them to incur credit card debt, and to forgo medical treatment altogether. Let's continue working on solutions together by passing the Debt Fairness Act, which aims to unburden Minnesotans from medical debt, and help working and middle class families make ends meet.   Inver Grove Heights' Efforts to Address the EMS ShortageIt was great to recently tour Inver Hills Community College to see how they’re training and preparing the current and future generations of EMTs! We're facing a critical shortage across the state, which is why the legislature funded 600 scholarships of $5,000 each to get more paramedics in the field. I was glad to have Congresswoman Angie Craig with us to see firsthand the good work of Inver Hills and how they're helping close these critical EMS workforce shortages. Are you interested in pursuing a career as a paramedic? If you or someone you know are working to obtain your paramedic diploma or degree, check the eligibility requirements for the new Minnesota Paramedic Scholarship! Read the frequently asked questions at www.ohe.state.mn.us/paramedic  Keep in TouchPlease continue to keep in touch and contact me anytime at rep.mary.frances.clardy@house.mn.gov or 651-296-3533 with input or questions. I appreciate the opportunity to provide assistance when you need it! Thank you for the honor of representing our communities. Forward, Mary Frances Clardy
State Representative |