Legislative UpdateDear friends and neighbors, Snowed in again! I’m glad I didn’t get too optimistic about the recent stretch of nice weather. Otherwise, this week’s snowfall might have been a tougher pill to swallow. I hope you’re staying safe and warm at home and that the blizzard didn’t cause too much disruption for you. Thanks for taking the time to read this week’s newsletter. Girls Sports RallyOn Monday, we had an inspiring rally at the Capitol in support of the Preserving Girls Sports Act (HF12). It was an honor to welcome guest speakers Riley Gaines, Jack Brewer, Ryan Wilson, Ben Utecht, and others who have been vocal advocates for protecting female athletes in our state. Their powerful messages and unwavering support made the rally a memorable and impactful event. Thank you to everyone who joined us in person and to those who tuned in from home. Your support means so much as we continue to advocate for fairness and opportunity in girls' sports. After the rally, HF12 was brought to the House floor for debate. While there was a lot of passionate discussion, it was disappointing to see House Democrats vote against the bill, ultimately preventing it from passing. Though we didn’t achieve the outcome we had hoped for, my colleagues and I remain steadfast in our commitment to this cause. We will continue to fight to ensure that our girls have a fair and level playing field in sports.  Many thanks to speakers Jack Brewer and Ben Utecht, and Ben's wife Karyn, for attending the rally on Monday. Introduction of HF1463I was able to introduce my bill, HF1463, in the Transportation Committee this week. This bill provides funding for the maintenance of town roads and bridges across greater Minnesota. We know how important it is to keep up with the maintenance on our roads and bridges for safety and ease of use. For my first introduction, this was a fitting bill to present as it connects so closely to our local communities and their needs. See my introduction below by clicking on the photo.  I had the pleasure of introducing my bill alongside Graham Berg-Moberg, who testified in support of the bill. I am thankful for this opportunity to represent our communities and fight for the funding that we so desperately need. Meetings this WeekI had a great meeting with representatives of the Faribault Chamber, Faribault City Council, and the River Bend Nature Center about HF578. I am carrying this bill to provide funding for the River Bend Nature Center, which is a wonderful part of our community.  I met Glen Ritter from the Minnesota School Nutrition Association as part of the School Lunch Day at the Capitol. Our schools are extremely important to the development and education of our students, and making sure they are well nourished is an important part of the process!  I also met with folks from the Paradise Center for the Arts in Faribault. They came to the Capitol as part of the MN Citizens for the Arts organization and it was great to meet them! Thank you to Julie Fakler and Will McIntyre for the visit.  And I had a great meeting with Ag lenders, who have a major stake in our farming and agriculture business. I am heavily involved in agriculture myself, and it was nice to sit down and chat.  And last but not least, I got to meet with Mark Schaetzke with Waseca Soil and Water Conservation District (WSWCD). Thanks for taking the time to visit, Mark!  Faribault Chamber Flannel FormalLast weekend I had the opportunity to go to the Faribault Chamber Flannel Formal with my wife. It was a great excuse to get out in the community in our flannel shirts and connect with both friends and neighbors.  FFA Pancake FundraiserThis weekend, I am looking forward to serving pancakes at the Community Pancake Feed at in Wanamingo on Saturday March 8th from 7:30am to 12:00 noon. This event supports our local FFA, which is a great organization that I am proud to be a former member of. I hope to see you there for pancake breakfast! |