Dear Neighbors,
We’re a little over halfway through the legislative session, and our work in committees is starting to produce smart, impactful legislation, with some bills already passing on the House floor. Here’s an update on some of the recent events at the State Capitol:
Making Prescription Drugs Affordable and Accessible
This week, we stood with Minnesotans impacted by the high cost of prescription drugs to acknowledge our responsibility to stand up to the powerful interests driving up costs. Nearly one in four adults in the U.S. struggle to afford prescription drugs, forcing some patients to make impossible choices. Our Minnesota House DFL plan to address this issue will make prescription drugs more affordable by holding Big Pharma accountable.
The package of bills we’re fighting for would stop price gouging, leverage state purchasing power, ensure access to affordable insulin and other life-saving medication, halt practices that limit drug choices, and overall increase transparency. This is a multi-pronged issue that requires a multi-pronged solution, but we can get there because this is being driven by advocates who know what’s at stake. I was honored meet with many of them again this week, and you can watch our comments from our press conference below.
You can read more about our push for transparent, affordable drug prices here.
Minnesota Values Budget
Our budget should be a reflection of our goals and values, and with our release of the House DFL’s Minnesota Values Budget this week, I believe we’ve hit that mark by investing in a better Minnesota that works for everyone. We’re making significant investments in education, affordable health care, and safe and inclusive communities because that’s what Minnesotans want, not just for themselves and their families, but for their neighbors too.
Over the next few weeks we will be working to turn these broad budget goals into more specific funding priorities. This is a framework that lifts up the priorities of Minnesotans, and I look forward to sharing specifics with you in the coming weeks.
You can read more about the Minnesota Values Budget here.
Protecting Minnesotans from Sexual Harassment
More than 80 percent of women report being sexually harassed in the workplace. All Minnesotans deserve to live and work in an environment that’s more equal and just, and that starts with us updating Minnesota’s definition of sexual assault, which hasn’t been changed in almost 40 years.
The Minnesota House passed House File 10 recently, one of the House DFL’s top 10 priority bills in this session. The bill improves and updates Minnesota’s sexual harassment statutes so that survivors have a better opportunity to seek justice.
You can read more about this bill here.
Stay In Touch
As always, please contact me if you have any questions or comments on the legislative process. You can reach me at rep.michael.howard@house.mn, or at (651) 296-7158. I look forward to hearing from you
Sincerely,
Michael Howard