Dear Neighbors,
This week, we saw some strong steps taken in Minnesota’s response to COVID-19. We are continuing to lead the nation in addressing this crisis due to the hard work and sacrifice of so many Minnesotans. Thank you for all you are doing to maintain social distancing and keep people safe.
Here’s a quick update.
COVID-19 Testing Breakthrough
On Wednesday, Governor Walz was joined by the University of Minnesota, Mayo Clinic, Hennepin Healthcare, and other public health experts to announce a statewide testing strategy to test all symptomatic people, isolate confirmed cases, and expand public health surveillance tools.
Funded in part by $36 million from the COVID-19 Minnesota Fund that the Legislature passed in late March, the partnership will establish the capacity to deliver 20,000 molecular and 15,000 serology tests per day.
Expanding Minnesota’s ability to test for COVID-19 is a critical step in protecting our health and getting Minnesotans back to work. The expanded contact tracing is also important. It’s essential for Minnesota’s leaders to be guided by science and public health expertise in their decision-making. I’m pleased Governor Walz, the Minnesota Department of Health, and Minnesota’s health care providers were able to move quickly to provide expanded testing for our state.
The partnership will improve control of COVID-19 in Minnesota through increased public health surveillance and research. The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and its public health partners will simultaneously expand contact tracing efforts for better control of the infection. The partnership will help to identify and respond to emerging “hotspots” of infection. They will collect data on prevalence, geographic distribution, and barriers to care for the virus, and they will conduct groundbreaking research on COVID-19 to assure that tests are applied according to the best emerging science.
In partnership with MDH, the Mayo Clinic and the U of M will create a central lab to accommodate the expanded testing and a virtual command center in coordination with the health systems to monitor daily testing needs and coordinate rapid responses to outbreaks.
The expanded testing will include intensive testing of: vulnerable populations, including Minnesotans living in congregate settings and those experiencing homelessness; staff that serve vulnerable populations and health care workers; communities of color and American Indian populations; and workforce for critical infrastructure.
The House Health and Human Services Finance Committee held a hearing on Thursday to learn more about the strategy. You can watch that hearing here.
Governor Walz announces distance learning will continue through end of the school year, House Education Committee passes legislation to pay hourly school employees
On Thursday, Governor Walz announced that distance learning will continue through the end of the school year.
We know that Minnesota’s schoolchildren miss their teachers and they miss their friends. This pandemic has changed so much for so many of us — including what it means to go to school and how we deliver an education. Governor Walz’s decision to continue distance learning until the end of the school year is the right call.
This decision also highlights the need for the Minnesota Legislature to pass legislation immediately to ensure all school employees continue to get paid through the end of the school year. Our teachers and hourly school employees have never been more important to our children and families. They deserve economic security and our support — especially during these difficult times.
On Tuesday, the Minnesota House Education Finance Committee passed legislation ensuring compensation for hourly school workers. The bill’s next stop is the House Ways and Means Committee.
More information on the bill can be found here. Video of the hearing is available here.
Governor Walz issues executive order allowing workers in non-critical sectors to return to safe workplaces
On Thursday, Governor Walz announced his decision to allow certain non-critical businesses to safely return to work. Developed in partnerships with hundreds of businesses, labor and worker organizations, and public health experts, this action will allow 80,000-100,000 Minnesotans to return to work in industrial, manufacturing, and office settings on Monday, April 27.
Minnesotans’ work ethic is unparalleled across the country — we are a hard-working and productive state. Minnesotans care about one another’s health and we share a commitment to taking action to lessen the risk posed by COVID-19.
The steps Governor Walz outlined for office, industrial, and manufacturing workplaces are a welcome signal that we have made progress slowing the spread of this disease, and we are learning the steps we must take to keep each other safe moving forward.
I appreciate that Governor Walz and his team are continuing to follow the science and are putting Minnesotans’ health & safety first. Our foremost concern continues to be ensuring that we can protect our health care system from being overwhelmed, and that we can protect health care workers who are risking their lives to treat Minnesotans.
Prior to loosening restrictions for a given setting, businesses must:
- Create, share, and implement a COVID-19 Preparedness Plan that sets out the actions they are taking to ensure social distancing, worker hygiene, and facility cleaning and disinfection necessary to keep workers safe
- Engage in health screening of employees and ensure that sick employees stay home
- Continue to work from home whenever possible
Visit mn.gov/deed/safework for more information. You can find the PowerPoint slides the Governor used here.
Housing Committee approves $100 million in assistance for renters and homeowners
The Housing Finance and Policy Division met remotely on Wednesday to hear HF 4541. The bill allocates $100 million to the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency (MHFA) to assist thousands of Minnesota renters with their monthly payments. In addition, the funding will be used to help Minnesotans pay utility bills and property taxes, and help homeowners pay their mortgages.
Minnesotans can’t stay home and stay safe if they can’t afford their rent or mortgage. The Governor issued an executive order in March prohibiting evictions & foreclosures, but it does not cancel rent or mortgage payments. Our renters, homeowners, and landlords need financial assistance during this difficult time. The Minnesota House DFL supports providing this $100 million in housing assistance right away.
The House proposal has broad support, ranging from the Homes for All Coalition, representing 250 Minnesota housing organizations, to the Minnesota Multi-Housing Association, which represents property management companies throughout the state. Testifiers included Attorney General Keith Ellison, who spoke about protecting tenants from forced removal during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The bill was referred to the Ways and Means Committee for consideration. A recording of the hearing is available here.
50th Anniversary of Earth Day 🌎
This Wednesday marked our 50th Earth Day — and I hope you all got a chance to mark the occasion! While we’ve made a lot of progress in protecting our water, air, and land, we still have a ways to go. It’s time for us to come together and take bold action on climate.
I’m proud that the Minnesota House of Representatives has a Climate Action Caucus dedicated to this issue. You can learn more about the work of our caucus at https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/climateactioncaucus/.
A few of my colleagues had the wonderful opportunity to interview former Vice President Walter Mondale about the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. You can listen here.
DEED begins making Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) payments to self-employed and independent contractors
The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) announced today that the agency has begun making Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) payments to people who are self-employed, independent contractors, and other eligible recipients who are not eligible for regular unemployment benefits.
PUA is a new program that was authorized by Congress in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) and signed into law on March 27, 2020.
Here’s what Minnesotans need to know about applying for PUA:
- If you have already applied for regular unemployment benefits, you do not need to do anything extra to qualify for PUA. DEED will automatically establish a PUA benefit account for you if you are eligible.
- If you have not applied for unemployment benefits yet, special instructions for self-employed and 1099 workers are available here . These instructions include steps you can take to make your account easily identifiable as potentially eligible for PUA.
- If you applied for unemployment benefits without following those instructions, don’t worry – you don’t need to change anything. Your account will still be reviewed for PUA eligibility.
- If you have not heard from DEED yet, don’t worry. DEED expects to be in touch with most people who are eligible for benefits under PUA by the end of April. There is no need to call or follow-up; you will hear from them proactively if we need additional information to determine eligibility.
- You will receive information about PUA benefits in your online account, by email, and by mail.
- Applicants who receive PUA benefits will also receive the $600/week additional payment.
- PUA benefits will be backdated to whenever you first became eligible due to COVID-19.
- Additional information, including answers to many commonly asked questions, can be found here: COVID-19 information for self-employed people and independent contractors
Anyone who has been separated from their job, had their hours reduced or cannot work due to the COVID-19 pandemic is encouraged to apply online at uimn.org
Governor Walz Announces New COVID-19 Testing Website
As part of the state’s effort to provide widespread, rapid COVID-19 testing, the Walz Administration unveiled a new website to help Minnesotans find a testing location within their community.
This testing collaborative now includes 127 clinics and health care facilities across the state. The new COVID-19 website provides easy access to Minnesotans’ closest testing site, offers general information related to the COVID-19 outbreak, and provides an interactive screening tool to help Minnesotans determine if they need a test.
COVID-19 Resources
State and Federal Resources
Our excellent House team continues to keep a list of COVID-19 state and federal resources — you can find the full document here.
The State of Minnesota also has a great COVID-19 webpage. MDH has a public hotline that you can call at 651-201-3920.
MDH has set up webpages in several languages. Please continue sharing these links to help keep Minnesotans informed.
As always, please contact me anytime with your input. I appreciate hearing from you! You can reach me at 651-296-4280 or rep.melissa.hortman@house.mn. You can also keep up with what’s happening at the Capitol by liking my legislative Facebook page and following the Minnesota House DFL on Twitter and Facebook. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Melissa Hortman