Category: SD40

Rep. Michael Nelson (HD40A) Update: June 3, 2020

Neighbors,

This week, following the unrest in Minneapolis and St. Paul, the killing of George Floyd is still incredibly fresh in our minds. While it’s imperative that justice is served, that can’t be where our efforts stop. More work needs to be done to address the systemic inequities in our society to prevent another senseless killing. To that end, my colleagues in the Legislature’s POCI (People of Color and Indigenous) Caucus recently put forward a comprehensive package of proposed legislation to reform our police and criminal justice systems. These include measures to:

  • Reform the investigation and prosecution of officer-involved deaths and wrongful actions
  • Increase police accountability and transparency
  • Raise standards of conduct and support officer excellence
  • Partner officers with the communities they serve
  • Repair and build community trust and create community-centered public safety

These are incredibly important proposals, and I stand with my colleagues in fighting for their implementation. Continue reading “Rep. Michael Nelson (HD40A) Update: June 3, 2020”

Rep. Samantha Vang (HD40B) Update: June 3, 2020

Dear Neighbors,

I hope this update finds you well and healthy. I know it has been quite a difficult time for all of us, but we can only get through this together. I appreciate everyone’s cooperation and the outpouring of community support. We are expected to return to a special session in about a week. Due to the recent turn of events, here is a quick update.

Working With the POCI Caucus to Answer the Cries of George Floyd

The events over the last week have made clear the need to hold our police accountable to our communities. I am committed to pursuing a more just Minnesota. The People of Color and Indigenous (POCI) Caucus has proposed a slew of policiesthat centers on:

  • Reform the investigation and prosecution of officer-involved deaths and wrongful actions
    • Move primary investigation and prosecution of officer-involved deaths to the Attorney General’s Office
    • Modify use-of-force laws to prevent wrongful deaths
    • Create a new crime for unjustified use of force that results in death or great bodily harm
    • Strengthen independence of the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) and design an alternative independent body to their jurisdiction
    • Conduct a review of Medical Examiners to ensure independence and timely action
    • Change civil liability statute of limitations for families of individuals killed by police

Continue reading “Rep. Samantha Vang (HD40B) Update: June 3, 2020”

Rep. Michael Nelson (HD40A) Update: May 18, 2020

Neighbors,

Late last night, the 2020 Legislative Session officially ended, with today’s business reserved for speeches from retiring members. Though session has concluded, it’s likely my colleagues and I will meet for a special session, possibly in June. With the uncertainty around the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s possible we may need to meet to extend Governor Walz’s peacetime state of emergency, or to complete unfinished legislative business from this year – be it a jobs and local projects bill, or additional economic security measures for Minnesotans.

This was certainly an unprecedented session at the legislature, with the bulk of it taking place remotely. I’m extremely proud of the bipartisan measures we were able to pass, especially in our initial response to the virus, that were able to help Minnesota prepare for this pandemic. More work remains to be done, but you can read about our accomplishments and goals below: Continue reading “Rep. Michael Nelson (HD40A) Update: May 18, 2020”

Rep. Samantha Vang (HD40B) Update: May 18, 2020


Dear Neighbors,

We wrapped up the 2020 session yesterday. This session has been extraordinary in several ways, and we had to make difficult adjustments in order to pass needed legislation. By working together we passed significant COVID-19 legislation giving Minnesota some of the resources it needed to rise to the challenge. However, in the final week, Republicans decided to block a lot of important legislation, and while there may be an opportunity to reconsider these critical measures as we continue our efforts addressing COVID-19, this last weekend was our best shot at reaching a compromise. Here is some major legislation that we championed but were unable to pass through our Republicans colleagues in the final hours:

  • ratification of state worker contracts; these state employees include nurses on the front lines of COVID-19, corrections officers, cleaning and sanitation workers, public health workers doing the essential job of testing, monitoring, tracing, and mitigating COVID-19 in Minnesota. They are critical to our fight against COVID-19 and Republicans let them down;
  • $100 million in housing assistance for all Minnesotans; Minnesotans all across the state are facing difficulty paying their rent and mortgages, in order to fight this virus everyone needs a stable home;
  • increased Minnesota Family Investment assistance for Minnesota families that need the most help;
  • temporary wage increase for personal care assistants who are taking care of our most vulnerable;
  • ensuring full pay for hourly school workers; these workers are helping raise and care for our children, they deserve to have financial assurance in these trying times;
  • emergency loans for state small and minority owned businesses; this was something that I worked on because these businesses form the backbone of our communities and they need our assistance.

Continue reading “Rep. Samantha Vang (HD40B) Update: May 18, 2020”

Rep. Michael Nelson (HD40A) Update: March 15, 2020

Neighbors,

There’s only a few days left in the 2020 Legislative Session, with the Minnesota House constitutionally required to adjourn on Monday, May 18. My colleagues and I will be spending the weekend passing legislation off the House floor, and we’ll be focusing on bills that address the COVID-19 pandemic and deliver support and resources to Minnesotans.

More work remains to help Minnesota respond to COVID-19, which is why House Speaker Melissa Hortman announced the formation of a Select Committee on Minnesota’s Pandemic Response and Rebuilding to explore the pandemic’s impacts and address any issues that may arise. Though the legislature will be adjourned, it’s also possible that we’ll return later in the year in a special session to help with the pandemic response.

With a busy few days ahead, here’s a recap of some of our recent work:

#StaySafeMN
Wednesday night, Governor Tim Walz announced the current “Stay at Home” order will expire on May 18 and he’s “turning the dials” to gradually allow more businesses to open. Starting Monday, retailers will be able to operate at 50 percent capacity and small gatherings of 10 or fewer will be allowed to occur. The administration is also working with restaurants, bars, salons, and gyms to develop a way for those businesses to safely open as soon as June 1.

#StaySafeMN

Before opening, non-critical sector business and retail establishments must have a COVID-19 Preparedness Plan in place to protect the health and safety of their workers, and businesses must follow CDC and OSHA guidance. More information about these requirements is available here. The governor has also issued an executive order protecting Minnesotans who are concerned about the safety of their work environment. It allows workers to raise concerns without fear of discrimination or retaliation and protects those who refuse to work under unsafe or unhealthy conditions.

Turning the Dials - May 13

The Walz administration will continue to keep an eye on indicators like the number of new cases, and it’s possible restrictions could be put back in place. Despite the governor’s new orders, we should all continue to take safety precautions like social distancing, wearing a mask, and staying home when sick. Additionally, people who may be vulnerable – like those with compromised immune systems – should continue to stay home. COVID-19 remains a public health threat to be taken seriously and we all have an important role to play in stopping the spread of this condition.

Holding Safe and Secure Elections
Minnesotans hold their right to vote in high regard, which is why we continually lead the nation in voter turnout. That’s also why I authored a bill that will better ensure when Minnesotans go to the polls this year, they will be able to cast their votes in a safe and secure manner.

Coming into 2020, we were well aware that we would have to take steps to ensure this year’s elections were secure from interference. Federal funds were allocated to Minnesota for this purpose, and in addition to improving accessibility and modernizing election security, funds were also made available to better ensure the health and safety of election officials and in-person voters during the COVID-19 pandemic.
HAVA Bill

The Minnesota Secretary of State is making a new tool available for registered voters to request that their ballot be sent to them by mail for the August 11 statewide primary and/or the November 3 general election. You can request an absentee ballot here.

Delivering Economic Security
Last week, we passed a package of legislation that incorporates several important economic measures that my colleagues and I in the DFL House have been working on. COVID-19 hasn’t only brought new problems, it’s also built on the inequities that had already existed in our communities. The bill we passed in the House includes:

  • $100 million in assistance for Minnesota renters, homeowners, and landlords. In addition to support for rent and mortgages, qualified applicants can receive help paying utility bills and property taxes;
  • 15% temporary pay increase for Minnesota’s personal care assistants (PCA), who are serving Minnesotans with disabilities, our seniors, and other vulnerable populations. In addition to the increase, PCAs can now be paid for 310 hours of services per month, up from 275;
  • $15 million in a new Distance Learning Broadband Access Grant Program to provide students with the equipment necessary to access learning materials on the internet and reimburse school districts for costs to provide broadband access;
  • $55 million to the Small Business Emergency Loan Program at the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), including specific funds for our smallest businesses and minority-owned businesses.

Stay Connected
Over the next few days, a great website to help stay in the loop is the House Public Information Webpage. You can read up on my bill to extend grants to those impacted by COVID-19, the Prescription Drug Price Transparency Act, raising the tobacco purchasing age to 21, and our new ban on TCE – a cancer-causing chemical.

For the latest news and up-to-date information, please visit the state’s COVID-19 Dashboard. The Minnesota House website also has a COVID-19 section with information and links to helpful resources. Please feel free to contact me at (651) 296-3751 or rep.michael.nelson@house.mn.

Sincerely,

Rep. Michael V. Nelson

Minnesota House expected to ratify state employee contracts

House DFL logoSAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — Today, the Minnesota House of Representatives is expected to ratify state employee contracts. Approximately 50,000 state employees are covered under these contracts, and the contracts are currently in effect.

“Our state employees provide essential services for the people of Minnesota — including critical work on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said House Speaker Melissa Hortman. “The Legislature should ratify these contracts, which were negotiated in good faith and that have been in place for months. The Legislature gets an up or down vote, and does not have a role in negotiating different terms. A no vote or a failure to act by the House and Senate means pay cuts and chaos for state employee health insurance benefits. There will be a time to deal with the state budget deficit in the future, and decisions may be made that impact future state employee contracts. State employees and the Administration have fairly negotiated these contracts, and they should be approved.”

“We owe it to those who keep our state running — including during a pandemic — to follow through on our promises to them and their families,” said House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler. “During this economic crisis, we should protect these essential services and the basic economic security of the people we’re asking to step in to serve all of us.” Continue reading “Minnesota House expected to ratify state employee contracts”

Rep. Samantha Vang (HD40B) Update: May 11, 2020

Dear Neighbors,

Last Wednesday was National Nurses Day, which kicked off National Nurses Week. Nurses, more than most other professions have stepped up in our time of need to fight this disease. We would be in a much worse place if we did not have the passion, integrity and expertise of our nurses to aid us through this crisis. To all nurses, thank you, we owe you all a great debt.

asdas

House Passes COVID Economic Security Act

Last week, the House passed HF 1507, a critical bill that will provide economic support for small businesses, fund broadband and telemedicine expansions, $100 million in housing assistance, and increase pay for personal care assistants. These funds are designed to specifically aid the small mom and pop stores that form the backbone of our communities. We have to take bold action in standing up for the most vulnerable if we are to make it through this crisis without causing harm to our state. By sticking to our shared values and helping each other wherever it is needed we can weather this storm. Continue reading “Rep. Samantha Vang (HD40B) Update: May 11, 2020”

Rep. Michael Nelson (HD40A) Update: May 1, 2020

Neighbors,

Yesterday’s extension of the “Stay at Home” order to May 18 is a tough pill to swallow, but it remains necessary. Minnesota is leading the nation in combatting COVID-19, and the efforts of our community to slow the spread of the virus has bought us precious time, and with that time we’ve seen breakthroughs in testing, and a substantial amount of PPE and resources have been delivered to our hospitals. It can be hard to see from the isolation of our homes, but the work we continue to do is saving lives.

The announcement also came with the news that retail businesses will be able to operate in a limited capacity with curbside pick-up and delivery. It’s incredibly important that as we extend the “Stay at Home” order, we also work to allow businesses to operate in ways that prioritizes public health during this crisis. This will take time, but more Minnesotans will be able to get back to work. You can watch yesterday’s COVID-19 briefing here.

Extended Order Continue reading “Rep. Michael Nelson (HD40A) Update: May 1, 2020”

Rep. Samantha Vang (HD40B) Update: April 24, 2020

Dear Neighbors,

A breakthrough in testing for COVID-19 has been reached as a result of ongoing collaboration between the Legislature, Governor Walz, the University of Minnesota, Mayo Clinic, Hennepin Healthcare, and Minnesota’s health plans. You can watch a replay of the announcement here.

Soon, every Minnesotan with symptoms of COVID-19 will be able to get tested. Thanks to funding provided by the Legislature and the hard work of scientists and public health experts, we will establish capacity to deliver 20,000 molecular and 15,000 serology tests per day. This is a major milestone in our ongoing work to re-open Minnesota’s economy in a way that keeps people safe, prevents loss of life, and uses science to guide decision making.

testing breakthrough Continue reading “Rep. Samantha Vang (HD40B) Update: April 24, 2020”

Legislature approves bill to make insulin affordable

Dear Neighbors,

Yesterday, the Legislature approved landmark legislation that makes affordable insulin accessible in an emergency and over the long-term. The bill is called the Alec Smith Insulin Affordability Act.

Alec Smith passed away in 2017 at the age of 26 when he aged off of his parents’ health insurance and was forced to ration his insulin that he could no longer afford, due to its incredibly high cost. Alec’s story is unfortunately not unique, as at least two more Minnesotans have died from insulin rationing since last year’s legislative session. These tragic stories have put a spotlight on the skyrocketing cost of insulin, which has tripled in the last ten years. Studies indicate that 1 in 4 diabetics have resorted to rationing their medication due to the lack of access to affordable insulin. Continue reading “Legislature approves bill to make insulin affordable”