Dear Neighbors,
Special Session
On Monday, the House and Senate convened in a special session called by Governor Walz. The governor has extended the current peacetime emergency so he can continue to access the state’s toolbox to take quick, decisive action to protect Minnesotans through the COVID-19 pandemic. Yesterday, the House voted to extend the governor’s emergency powers for another week. We can’t get complacent now after all of our sacrifice and hard work; we have seen that states that reduce precautions too quickly suffer from a major spike in cases.
This special session is an opportunity to finish important work for the people of Minnesota. After George Floyd’s killing, Minnesotans are still demanding improvements to public safety for everyone, in every community, so they can have confidence in law enforcement. We will continue to work to enact strong police accountability measures like the ones the House approved in the last special session.
The COVID-19 pandemic also continues to present unpredictable challenges. We must keep working to protect Minnesotans from the virus, slow the spread by wearing masks and frequent hand washing, and reduce the economic and other impacts. It is critical that we can reach an agreement on a strong capital investment package that invests in important infrastructure projects and creates good-paying jobs. Minnesotans are counting on us and I’m committed to building a state that works better for everybody.
Respond to the Census
If you haven’t yet done so, I encourage you and your family to respond to the 2020 U.S. Census.
Census data determines how billions of dollars in federal funding is allocated toward priorities like health care, education, public safety, and roads & bridges. It also impacts representation at the local, state, and national levels. As many folks know, Minnesota’s population trends put us on the cusp of losing a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, and a reduction from eight to seven would result in diminished influence for our state in Washington.
You can respond to the Census online here, by phone, or by mail. Responding in one of these ways means fewer census workers will need to go door to door, reducing potential community transmission of COVID-19.
Vote by Mail
Voting absentee – from the safety and comfort of your own home – is an effective way to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 by protecting other voters and election officials, as well as yourself. Request an absentee ballot for the upcoming primary and general elections here. The online application tool will ask for an email address and an identification number – either a Minnesota-issued driver’s license, Minnesota ID card, or the last four digits of your Social Security number. You can check your voter registration status here and update it here.
Final Update
This will be my last email update until after November’s election, as legislators cannot use state resources to send communications like these during an election period. I welcome you to reach out directly to my office with your input and ideas, or if I can ever be of assistance. You can also follow me at my official Facebook page.
Stay in Touch
Please reach out to my office if you need assistance with anything. I am best reached through email at rep.samantha.vang@house.mn or please contact my legislative assistant Josh Kilgard at josh.kilgard@house.mn. I always appreciate hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Rep. Samantha Vang
651-296-3709
rep.samantha.vang@house.mn