Mr. Smith Goes to Saint Paul!
Dear Neighbors,
On January 3rd, I was officially sworn in as your representative for District 25B! Thank you so much for the opportunity to be your state representative; I am truly humbled by your support. I am happy to share that I have already been hard at work moving forward on the issues that matter to Rochester and all of Minnesota!
To stay up to date with our important work at the State Capitol, you can follow my official State Representative Facebook! I am dedicated to being transparent about what is happening at the Capitol and plan to do so partly by updating you all via social media!
Committee Assignments
I am excited to announce my committee assignments for the 2023-2024 legislative session. This session I will serve on the Economic Development Finance and Policy Committee, the Health Finance and Policy Committee, the Sustainable Infrastructure Committee, and the Taxes Committee! These assignments will allow me to be an advocate for our district on many of the important issues I heard about again and again while knocking on doors in Rochester this past summer and fall.
With a DFL trifecta, we have an opportunity to build upon Minnesota’s already strong economy that doesn’t leave working families behind. We can ensure that all Minnesotans have access to quality, affordable healthcare. We can ensure that federal dollars are used to update our aging infrastructure while centering concerns over climate change and environmental justice for future generations. Finally, we can make smart, targeted changes to ensure a more equitable tax code that works for all Minnesotans, not just corporations and the wealthy. I am so excited to get to work on these issues and more this legislative session!
Protecting Reproductive Options
Last Thursday, the Health Finance and Policy Committee, on which I serve, passed HF 1 or the Protect Reproductive Options (PRO) Act!
This bill ensures that all Minnesotans are free to make their own reproductive health care decisions. It establishes the fundamental right of Minnesotans to make individual decisions about reproductive health care, including contraception, abortion, and pregnancy, and prevents politicians from interfering with a person’s fundamental right to make their own reproductive health care decisions.
I was proud to vote for and speak out in support of the PRO Act in the Health Committee hearing Thursday and look forward to its passage on the House floor this session. The decision of whether or when to become a parent is deeply personal. Private health care decisions – including the decision to be on birth control, become pregnant, or have an abortion – should be made by a patient and their doctor, not anti-abortion politicians or judges.
Click on the image above or HERE to watch my comments in committee!
Rochester Legislator Town Hall
On Saturday, January 21 from 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM, join Rochester area legislators at RCTC Heintz Center as we discuss the 2023 session and what you can expect to come from us this year. I will be joined by Representatives Tina Liebling and Kim Hicks as well as Senator (and former Representative) Liz Boldon! You can RSVP and share the event on Facebook using this link: https://fb.me/e/2QIpAUVcW I am excited to see you all there!
Stay Connected!
To share your input or ideas, or if I can ever be of assistance, please feel free to reach out at rep.andy.smith@house.mn.gov or 651-296-9249, and I will be happy to help. If you were forwarded this email and you’d like to subscribe, click here. If you have a friend or neighbor who would be interested in receiving these, please forward this and encourage them to subscribe!
Warmly,
Andy Smith,
State Representative