Neighbors,
This legislative session we will work on action to support Minnesotans and protect their economic security during the pandemic. Committees are meeting and we’ve heard from agencies about their work and how they partner with the Legislature.
For each committee, the focus has been on updating the pandemic response including the hopeful news on the roll-out of vaccinations.
In the Early Childhood committee, which I service as vice-chair, we learned about the importance of continuing grants to childcare providers to assist in keeping them open in difficult times.
“…When this is all said and done, and the stories of this one hundred year pandemic are written, there will be heroic stories written about child care providers, who did everything they could to make sure that first responders, make sure that front line workers, and make sure that so many of us had a place of safety, well-being, and growth in the middle of a pandemic.”
~ Governor Walz (November 18, 2020)
Just a reminder you can visit the home pages of the committees on which I serve to follow our work this session:
Early Childhood Finance and Policy
Preventative Health Policy Division
Rules and Legislative Administration
Session Priorities
The House DFL announced our session priorities Wednesday, helping everyone affected by COVID-19 weather the pandemic and recover as it ends. You can read more details here.
Vaccine updates
COVID-19 vaccines are being rolled out across the state. You can read the most current information on statewide data by viewing the new COVID-19 Vaccination Dashboard here.
Stay connected with the legislature
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.
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.
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.
- Up-to-date guidance is available from the Department of Health.
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.
Sincerely,
Laurie Pryor
State Representative