Category: SD40

Neighbors,

Happy Hmong New Year to all who celebrate – it’s a time to give thanks for the completion of the year’s harvest and reflect on the past year. I was honored to celebrate at Gustavus, my alma mater, and speak at their celebration.

Here’s a quick update from the Capitol:

Youth Vaping

Last week, my colleagues announced a comprehensive plan to combat youth vaping. In 2017, the number of young Minnesotans using tobacco rose for the first time in 17 years due to a surge in e-cigarette use. Since then, the crisis has only gotten worse. Vaping-related injuries are being reported in Minnesota and across the nation, but many young people remain unaware of the health risks associated with e-cigarettes. Continue reading “Rep. Samantha Vang (HD40B) Update: November 7, 2019”

Neighbors,

It feels like fall is really here now, so if you want to get out and enjoy it you should check out the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ fall color finder! 

We’ve been busy around the Capitol! Here’s an update:

Mini-Session

We’re taking the legislature on the road! We know that not everyone can travel to St. Paul to advocate for their priorities and their community. That’s why this week we held a mini-session in southeastern Minnesota, which included committee hearings, roundtables, and informative tours. Continue reading “Rep. Samantha Vang (HD40B) Update: October 6, 2019”

Neighbors,

I hope you’re having a relaxing summer and had a happy Fourth of July!

Several new policies will take effect on August 1 – I want to make sure you know everything you need to know to be prepared!

• States that have passed hands free while driving laws have already seen major decreases in traffic fatalities. This law will help keep us safe from distracted drivers – but make sure you know all there is to know – here’s a helpful fact sheetfrom the Department of Public Safety.
• Our pharmacy benefit manager bill will bring transparency to prescription drug prices, which have skyrocketed in recent years. Pharmacy benefit managers are a powerful but little-known middle man that drive up prescription drug costs.
• There are employers in Minnesota who steal wages by refusing overtime pay or skimming money off the top of workers’ paychecks. People deserve every dollar they’ve earned, and our bill to crack down on enforcement of wage theft will take effect at the beginning of the month.

ICYMI: Here’s a quick overview of some of the new laws that took effect on July 1st: Continue reading “Rep. Samantha Vang (HD40B) Update: July 12, 2019”

Neighbors,

On May 25th, we adjourned after we finished our two-year state budget, which the Governor has signed into law. I’m proud of the way we worked together to forge bipartisan solutions that I strongly believe will improve Minnesotans’ lives. We’ll return to the Capitol on February 11th, and in the meantime I look forward to working in our community year-round to hear your concerns and ideas.

Now that session is over, I’m out meeting with you and our community and I hope to continue hearing from you! Join Rep. Nelson, Senator Eaton and I on Saturday from 10-noon at the Brooklyn Center Community Center!

Below is a brief overview highlighting key accomplishments and bills we passed to protect health care, invest in our students, and make our communities safer. If you want to read more, the Pioneer Press has a good, comprehensive overview here.

Stopped at TPT studios to learn about their cultural programming

Education
There is an uneven patchwork of education quality across the state. People shouldn’t have to feel that they have to move to a different school district for their child to get a quality education. This unequal system hurts children, putting some at a greater disadvantage right from the start. The budget we passed increases per-pupil funding for all students across the state, by 2 percent each year over the next two years. We also address special education funding shortfalls that can stretch school staff and resources thin. There is a lot more to do to improve the quality of schools in our state, but this budget is a good first step.

Health Care 
The House DFL focused on several health care priorities this session. We worked hard to ensure Minnesotans can afford their health insurance premiums, prescription drugs, get the care they need when they need it, and to protect health care access for over a million Minnesotans. Our Health Budget was a bipartisan compromise, and we will not stop trying to pass legislation to bring down the cost of health care and make sure drugs like Insulin are available and affordable to those who need it.

Higher Education
Democrats fought hard to freeze tuition for students enrolled at University of Minnesota and Minnesota State campuses, but Senate Republicans blocked it from happening during budget negotiations. The new higher education budget produced by divided government is a bipartisan compromise that includes some measures focused on college affordability.

I’m proud that my initiative to bring $1 million to College Possible for low-income high school seniors made it into law. College Possible removes barriers that stand between young people and earning their degree. There is a lot of work left to do to ensure all Minnesotans have access to quality higher education and job training, but this is a good start.

Rep. Vang with the People of Color and Indigenous (POCI) Caucus at the end of session

Tax Fairness 
We fought successfully to make our tax system more fair for families, seniors, farmers, and small businesses. We’ll put more money in the pockets of working families by providing a middle class tax cut, cutting taxes on Social Security, and doubling the income level Minnesotans can earn before paying a penny in taxes by doubling the standard deduction. For too long our tax system has favored corporations and the wealthy while under-funding schools and contributing to race, geography, and income-based opportunity gaps. The Star Tribune has a comprehensive overview of our tax bill, here.

We passed my legislation to increase local government aid, so that communities like ours can make investments in infrastructure, safety, and our parks without relying on our property tax payers. Brooklyn Park will receive nearly $1.4 million next year in LGA funding, and Brooklyn Center will receive approximately $1.8 million.

This bill will also greatly simplify the tax filing process by bringing Minnesota into federal tax conformity.

Transportation
All Minnesotans deserve safe transportation, with reliable roads, bridges and transit. Transportation infrastructure keeps us safe, creates good jobs in the short and long term, and makes our state a better place to live and do business.

Crumbling roads and bridges cost the average Minnesotan over $1,000 a year in gas, lost time, and car repairs. Senate Republicans blocked revenue to fund transportation projects, which would have delivered sustainable, dedicated and long-term funding to build a modern, 21st century transportation system that people and employers are asking for.

I will continue to work on delivering a reliable, modern, and sustainable transportation system that lets everyone travel to work, school, and everywhere else safely and efficiently.

Priorities for the Future
Our final state budget is the first step on a longer road toward a more prosperous, more equal state. I’ll continue working with my colleagues to prioritize important measures to keep our air, water and land clean for future generations, to ensure sustainable, long-term funding for transportation, to curb gun violence while protecting lawful gun-owners’ rights, and to ensure all Minnesotans have a fair shot at success.

Thank you for reaching out, following along, or coming to the Capitol to advocate for our community this session. I look forward to working with you in the interim so we’re ready to head back in February and continue to fight to pass measures that will lift up our community.

Sincerely,

Samantha Vang
State Representative – 40B

A legislative update is available in Hmong here, Spanish here, and Somali here. 

Neighbors,

We’re still in budget negotiations, hoping to come to a compromise with the Republican-led Senate before our planned session adjournment on Monday. We are determined to not sacrifice funding for our schools and health care for those who need it.

This week, we reached bi-partisan agreement to lower the cost of prescription drugs by regulating Pharmacy Benefit Managers, a middleman between drug makers and insurance companies to negotiate prices. This legislation will ensure there is more transparency and accountability in negotiating drug prices.

Agriculture Policy
I’m proud that we were able to come to a bipartisan compromise in the agriculture policy conference committee. I was one of six members from the House and Senate in a committee, and we put together a policy bill to lift up our established and beginning farmers, and invest in Minnesota’s agricultural economy. The bill includes my provisions to help establish the hemp industry. Read more about the bill here.

I’ve been told it’s not often a freshman gets to be in a conference committee. After hours of negotiations, I’m glad to sign my first conference committee report and see bipartisan agreement! It’s an honor to be involved in the decision making process and see it through the end.

Elections
While negotiations continue, it’s important that we keep pressure on the Senate, and not to lose sight of important legislation, which I co-authored, to keep our elections secure and free from outside interference. The Senate has stubbornly refused to appropriate the full $6.6 million in Help America Vote Act (HAVA) funds, given to Minnesota by the federal government to keep our elections safe from outside interference.

Minnesota is the only state that has not been able to access this funding, while all 49 other states have. Despite this being a bi-partisan issue, Senate Republicans refused to consider an elections bill that would address key election security and improve our voting system. It’s important that we contact senators to let them know this is an issue we care about.

Higher Education
As families in our community and across the state struggle with the rising cost of education, it’s important that the Senate follow the House lead in freezing tuition at the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota State System. The cost of tuition has continued to rise, saddling students with insurmountable levels of debt or preventing students who can’t afford it from pursuing higher education altogether. Seeking a two or four-year degree and a shot at success shouldn’t be limited to those at the very top.

Taxes – Local Government Aid 
While income inequality continues to grow in Minnesota, the DFL tax bill closes corporate tax loopholes in order to invest in education and target tax cuts toward working families, seniors, farmers and small businesses. The proposal would lower property taxes and increase local government aid. I’ve sponsored legislation to increase local government aid because it allows local communities like ours to lower property taxes while funding local infrastructure projects, such as public safety, maintenance on our roads, and parks that help our communities thrive. We need a fair tax system that makes investments in everyday working Minnesotans. Let Senators know that local government aid is critical in funding our cities.

Thank you to the SEIU members who came to visit the Capitol to talk about the need for us to maintain funding for the Healthcare Access Fund that helps over a million low-income Minnesotans receive health care!

Keeping Minnesota Seniors Safe
Last week, we approved a package of strong reforms aimed at protecting seniors against abuse, neglect, assault, and other maltreatment in Minnesota assisted living facilities. Read more here.

When they move to an assisted living facility, our aging parents, grandparents, relatives, and neighbors deserve the care they need to live with dignity and safety. These protections are long overdue and will improve security and quality of life for our loved ones.

Sincerely,

Samantha Vang
State Representative – 40B