SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Today, the House Climate and Energy Finance and Policy Committee and the House Transportation Finance and Policy Committee both held hearings on electric vehicles and transportation.
“In Minnesota, transportation is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions,” said Rep. Jamie Long, Chair of the Climate and Energy Finance and Policy Committee. “In order to combat climate change, we need to find clean and convenient ways for Minnesotans to travel in their communities and throughout the state. Investing in electric vehicles and other bold solutions will help protect our air and our planet for generations to come.”
“Today we heard bold and visionary strategies to electrify the transportation sector,” said Rep. Frank Hornstein (DFL – Minneapolis), Chair of the Transportation Finance and Policy Committee. “Electric vehicles are a key part of addressing the climate crisis and creating jobs in the clean energy economy.”
SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Thursday, the House Public Safety & Criminal Justice Reform Committee approved legislation authored by Rep. Kelly Moller (DFL – Shoreview) to comprehensively update Minnesota’s criminal sexual conduct (CSC) statute. In 2019, Rep. Moller successfully championed legislation to create a working group to fully examine the current law, which is full of contradictions, loopholes, and other shortcomings which all create barriers for survivors to receive justice. That working group has completed its final report, and Rep. Moller’s bill reflects those recommendations.
“This bipartisan bill is a major step toward the systemic change survivors are counting on to deliver justice, hold offenders accountable, and come closer to our shared goal of ending sexual violence,” Rep. Moller said. “Thank you to the working group members for taking on this challenge, and most importantly, to the brave survivors who have continued to tell their stories, highlighting how the criminal justice system has failed them. They share their stories in public knowing it won’t likely change the outcome regarding their own case, but don’t want the same thing to happen to someone else.”
The bill makes a wide variety of changes including:
SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Thursday, the House Early Childhood Finance and Policy Committee advanced legislation to establish a Department of Early Childhood. Under the bill, authored by Rep. Dave Pinto (DFL – St. Paul), early childhood programs that are currently administered by multiple state agencies would be transferred to a single, dedicated, cabinet-level agency.
“The earliest years of a child’s life set the foundation for everything that follows,” said Rep. Pinto, the chair of the committee. “But Minnesota’s programs focused on young children and their families are located deep within multiple separate agencies. This fragmented approach hinders coordination, accountability, and – most importantly – support for families.”
The bill creates a new state agency called the Department of Early Childhood to administer all of the state’s early childhood programs, including home visiting, child care and early learning, and many more. These programs are currently housed in the Departments of Education, Health, and Human Services.
SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Tuesday, the House Public Safety and Criminal Justice Reform Finance & Policy Committee held a public hearing on Sheyla’s Law, legislation authored by Rep. Kelly Moller (DFL – Shoreview) to strengthen justice for members of the Minnesota National Guard who experience sexual assault at the hands of another Guard member. The bill transfers investigations of sexual assault where the victim and the accused are both members of the Guard to the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
The bill is named for Specialist Sheyla Scholl, a constituent of Rep. Moller who attempted to report a sexual assault that occurred at the hands of another Guard member on the night of her Advanced Individual Training graduation in 2016. She was initially discouraged from reporting the incident by local law enforcement, but followed through with the report over a year later when encouraged to do so by another survivor of the same perpetrator. The investigation lasted two and a half years, taking a significant toll on herself and her family.
“After talking to Sheyla and other survivors, it’s clear the inconsistencies of investigations at the local level creates challenges for survivors themselves and for the investigation by the military that follows,” Rep. Moller said. “This bill helps improve justice by both streamlining the investigation process while addressing the unique issues involving rank and position of authority within the military. I’m incredibly grateful for the bravery from Sheyla and the other survivors to push for the necessary changes this bipartisan legislation makes.”
I want to extend an invite to you for the upcoming Town Hall!
On February 20th at 10 A.M. I will be hosting a town hall event. You can RSVP to join on the Zoom call and submit your questions prior to the event on the following google form (or comment your questions during the Facebook live event).
This edition is devoted to providing practical information about Covid-19 testing and vaccination. Legislators are receiving periodic briefings from the Minnesota Department of Health and I have been spending quite a bit of time trying to obtain vaccinations for my own vulnerable loved ones (so far, unsuccessfully). I’ve picked up a lot of useful information in the process, and I’d like to pass it along.
COVID-19 Testing
Saliva Covid-19 Testing is available at Creekside Community Center in Bloomington this week and next:
Creekside Community Center 9801 Penn Ave South Bloomington, MN 55431 February 16-20, 22-26 12 – 6 p.m. Visit this site to schedule an appointment: mncovidtestingappt.as.me
As our polar vortex intensifies so does our legislative session. We are now cutting deep into the Governor’s budget while trying to form our own as well as addressing key system issues from programs being developed.
I will continue to ensure we protect our vital services and any investment made is important and thoughtful with measurable results. We must protect those neighbors and friends who rely on services; our aging and people with disabilities populations and businesses while ensuring vaccines reach those who need it most to preserve lives.
The 2021 legislative session is a new opportunity for lawmakers to respond to Minnesotans’ needs. House Members have proposed immediate actions the Legislature can take to help the Minnesotans who have sacrificed and risked the most to keep all of us healthy and safe. Our latest proposal is focused on the needs of our hospitality and service sector workers laid off due to the pandemic.
Getting Hospitality Workers Back to Their Jobs Safely
In 2020, many of us had to cancel our travel plans for graduation, summer vacation, Thanksgiving, Christmas and so on. However, behind these visible personal impacts are our hospitality workers that are hit hard by the pandemic due to restaurant, hotel and airport layoffs.
On Monday, we announced H.F 39, chief authored by me, to help laid-off hospitality and service sector workers return to their jobs. It’s one of many immediate actionsthat House Democrats are proposing to respond to the needs of workers, families, and small businesses hit hardest by the pandemic. High-quality video and audio of this virtual press conference will be available here.
I hope you are all able to stay warm and safe during this extreme weather. Help is available with utility bills, to repair or replace homeowners’ malfunctioning furnaces, and to purchase fuel for delivery in emergencies through Minnesota’s Energy Assistance Program (EAP). Homeowners and renters with young children, people with disabilities, veterans, seniors, and those experiencing unemployment or financial hardship because of the COVID-19 pandemic are especially encouraged to apply.
Thousands of Minnesotans were helped last year, and new applicants have until May 31, 2021 to apply. Funding is limited and administered on a first-come, first-served basis. Additionally, the state’s Cold Weather Rule is in effect until April 15 which prevents utility shut offs if you sign up for a payment plan with your energy provider. More information on these protections is available from the Public Utilities Commission
I’m looking forward to the slight warm-up next week!
Committees
This week, the Health Finance and Policy Committee gave unanimous support to HF 660, also known as the Dignity in Pregnancy and Childbirth Act. We heard compelling testimony on addressing the unacceptable disparities in maternal health and morbidity. In Minnesota, Black women are two to three times more likely to die and Native American women are more than four times likely to die of causes related to pregnancy and birth. Bill author, Rep. Ruth Richardson said, “A majority of these deaths, over 60% of them, are preventable.” You can watch the committee here.
The committee also heard an impressive list of experts on the overwhelming evidence of mask effectiveness (HF 604) to protect against the spread of COVID-19. Most Minnesotans have adopted the healthy habit of wearing a mask in public and, thankfully, cases are down.
I am pleased that the Clean Energy First measure, HF 10, is heading to the House floor. I am also an author of HF 802, which would move us to 90% clean energy by 2035. It also addresses cutting emissions and creating job opportunities in environmental justice communities.
Save the Date – Town Hall March 16
I hope you will be able to join Rep. Kotyza-Witthuhn, Sen. Cwodzinski, and me for a virtual town hall on Tuesday, March. 16. We will release more details as the date nears.
COVID-19 Vaccine Update
COVID-19 case numbers and positivity rates are trending downward in Minnesota. The vaccination process is improving as well. The federal government is gradually increasing the supply of doses, and the state is adapting the process to ensure that the vaccines we receive are distributed more effectively and equitably. More information is available on the state’s Vaccine Data Dashboard.
Health care workers and long-term care residents and staff will continue receiving the vaccine through their workplace, care facility, or local public health department. Educators, school staff, and child care workers will receive information from their employers. Minnesotans who are 65 or older can use this tool to find nearby vaccine providers and make an appointment.
Black History Month
February is Black History Month. While there has been some progress made in the fight for racial equity, there is more work ahead. COVID-19 has exposed existing racial disparities in our state that we can only address through bold legislation. To learn more about legislative action on this important issue, read the House Select Committee on Racial Justice’s report. Please also read the People of Color and Indigenous Caucus’ statement on Black History Month.
A reminder that spring is just a few weeks away!
Everyone can work to reduce the spread of COVID-19
Wear masks when in public. 10-50% of virus carriers are asymptomatic (are not experiencing any symptoms). Wearing masks helps control the virus and has been shown to lessen COVID-19 spread.
Avoid enclosed spaces with groups of people, where the virus can linger in the air for long periods of time.
Get tested if you have cold or flu-like symptoms.
Stay six feet away from others.
Cover your coughs and sneezes with your elbow or sleeve, or a tissue and then throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands afterwards.
Washing your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom or before eating. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
Avoid touching your face – especially your eyes, nose, and mouth – with unwashed hands.
The Minnesota House will continue to operate remotely, as they did throughout most of 2020. The House will ensure openness and transparency for the public by expanding the number of simultaneous committees it can webcast live from a maximum of two to five, so you can stay current on issues moving through committees this budget session.
Also, the Minnesota House of Representatives Public Information Services offers nonpartisan recaps of high-profile bills, committee hearings, and floor sessions with their Session Daily publication. Subscribe to receive these here. To track bills of interest through the legislative process, I encourage you to utilize the MyBills feature on the Minnesota House of Representatives’ website here.
Please continue to reach out with any input, ideas, or feedback about the issues important to you. I value hearing from you, so please don’t hesitate to call or email me any time. You can also connect with me on Facebook here. It’s an honor to represent you at the State Capitol.
