Dear Neighbors,
Another busy week is in the books. Here’s what I’ve been up to:
1. Recovery School Bill - Providing Students the Services They Need
- This week I presented my bill, HF 2764, which would give Minnesota recovery school programs an increase in funding.
- Recovery schools offer courses that provide academic services, assistance with recovery, and continuing care to students recovering from substance abuse or dependency. These schools fulfill a critical role as we work to give every child in Minnesota the education they deserve
- With student mental health and substance abuse only getting worse since the pandemic, these services are needed more than ever. We can’t afford to have any of these schools close for financial reasons. Read more on this bill here.
2, Childcare Press Conference - Improving Affordability for Everyone
- Early in the week I attended a press conference for the Great Start Affordability Act, which would lower the cost of childcare and early learning for Minnesota families.
- The bill, which I co-authored, increases the affordability of high-quality early care and learning for families with children from birth to kindergarten, aiming to meet the federal recommendation that no family pays more than 7% of their annual income for early care and learning. This will ease budget pressure for working and middle class families.
- It’s simple: More Affordable Childcare = More Children Ready for School + More Parents in the Workforce!
3. Teacher Pension Rally - Support Teachers!
- I was proud to stand with over 1,000 educators who were packed to the Capitol rafters rallying for better pensions after their many years of service to our state!
- As Minnesotans we value our public education system and hold it as a point of pride, but when it comes to pensions for educators we rank amongst the lowest in the nation.
- I will support our educators so they receive the pay they deserve for the wonderful work they do!
Stay in Touch
Please feel free to reach out to me by email at rep.matt.norris@house.mn.gov or by phone at 651-296-2907. If you have a friend, neighbor, or relative who wants to receive updates about the Legislature, let them know they can subscribe to my email list here, and follow my Facebook here. It’s an honor to represent our community. Please stay in touch!
Sincerely,
Matt Norris, District 32B
507 State Office Building
St. Paul, MN 55155