Dear Neighbors,
The pace of work in the legislature is picking up, and I am continuing to work hard within our virtual committee structure on behalf of our communities and the entire State of Minnesota. Committees are hearing bills, and we have also taken up a number bills in the full Senate. I want to let you know about a few things that have happened, but please feel free to reach out if you’d like more information about something not mentioned here.
Bills Heard in Committee
With deadlines rapidly approaching, I’ve been spending more time in committee evaluating bills that are heard, and I’ve also had the opportunity to present three bills that I’m the author of.
S.F. 735 was heard in the Health and Human Services Finance and Policy Committee, and would extend medical assistance postpartum coverage to one year (instead of the current 60 days), ensuring greater support and stability for new mothers and babies. Historically, the maternal mortality rate for African American women has been at least twice as high as white mothers; the American Indian mortality rate is approximately four times higher than white mothers. Data also suggests that almost half of maternal deaths occur in greater Minnesota. Federal law requires our state’s Medical Assistance program to cover women who are enrolled during pregnancy for 60 days postpartum. Data suggests that 40% of women enrolled in MA during pregnancy lose this coverage after that time or face gaps in coverage, increasing the risk of severe health complications.
Loss of health coverage so soon after birth has contributed to disparities in postpartum mental and physical health complications among mothers of color, American Indian mothers, and low-income mothers. These mothers experience lower rates of postpartum care and support and higher rates of maternal morbidity. Sixty days of insurance coverage is not enough to make sure a woman has a detailed and continuous care plan to navigate the precarious time of recovering from delivery and adjusting to life with a newborn. Extending coverage after delivery is one commonsense way to address the maternal health needs in Minnesota.
S.F. 1572 was heard in the Human Services Reform Finance and Policy Committee. This bill affects Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics, which integrate mental health and substance use disorder service services. These Clinics coordinate care across settings and providers to ensure seamless transitions for individuals across the full spectrum of health and social services. My bill makes changes in statute that are needed as the services become a regular Medicaid benefit.
S.F. 465 would provide funding for the Department of Employment and Economic Development for grants to communities to increase the number of quality child care providers, as well as grants to the Minnesota Initiatives Foundations, and WomenVenture to work directly with communities and businesses on ways to support child care provider businesses. Many parts of Minnesota face a child care crisis, and I have continued to work on ways to address it through grants like these and also bills to increase provider rates.
Success of Emergency Insulin Program
This week, the MN Board of Pharmacy released a report on the Minnesota Insulin Safety Net Program. This program was established by the Alec Smith Insulin Affordability Act, named for a Richfield resident who sadly died after being forced to ration his insulin. I am proud to have been the original Senate author of the Alec Smith Act, and to have worked closely on its final passage. The report shows that in just eight months, 465 Minnesotans have taken advantage of the Insulin Safety Net Program to secure an emergency or ongoing supply of insulin, with nearly half of them being in urgent need – potentially saving their lives. This report shows the urgent need for continued work on ensuring that everyone who needs insulin is able to get it without having to worry about cost. Minnesotans in urgent need of a 30-day supply of affordable insulin should go to MNinsulin.org where you can see if you qualify, download the application, and learn how to apply today.
Religious Freedom Bill Heard in Education Committee
The Senate Education Finance and Policy Committee heard a bill this week that would allow school districts to consider the school community’s religious observance when adopting an annual school calendar. Proponents of the bill stated that the legislation is designed to prompt school districts to be aware of all religious holidays their students might observe, which is especially relevant given the growing diversity in Minnesota, particularly among the school age population.
The legislation received letters of support and positive testimony from faith leaders of a broad range of traditions. Testifiers shared that what is good for the religious freedom of one religion is good for the religious freedom of all. In addition, the bill also requires a school board to provide annual notice to parents of the school district’s policy relating to a pupil’s absence from school for religious observance. This provision is designed to ensure that information is accessible for families. I would have liked to have been a co-author, but there are only 5 authors allowed per bill and instead I have signed a letter of support from the entire Senate DFL caucus.
COVID-19 Vaccines
As more vaccine becomes available each week, I am happy to see the progress that has been made in vaccinating Minnesotans. We’re seeing evidence of this right in our district as the vaccination site at the Mall of America has opened to vaccinate educators, school staff and child care workers. There is also be a large drive-up site set up at Health Partners headquarters near the Mall to serve their health system patients.
I’ve been hearing a number of questions about how priorities are set, and how quickly we will advance through them. Here is a link to the current eligibility chart. As of this writing, 1,129,967 Minnesotans have at least one dose, and 642,701 have received a complete series. While the situation is changing seemingly every day, there is a lot of good information at this link. If you haven’t already, I’d also encourage you to register with the Vaccine Connector.
Women’s History Month
March is Women’s History Month. It’s vitally important that we take time to acknowledge and honor the contributions that women have made, and continue to make, to our state and nation. I wanted to specifically mention Laura Emelia Naplin, the first woman to serve in the Minnesota Senate. Sen. Naplin served Clearwater, Pennington, and Red Lake Counties in the northwest part of the state from 1927 through 1934. Interestingly, at the time, the Minnesota legislature was officially nonpartisan, though Sen. Naplin was a member of the Farmer-Labor Party. Following Sen. Naplin’s retirement, the next woman to serve in the Senate would be Senator Nancy Brataas of Rochester who served from 1975 through 1992.
It’s also critical that we match a call to honor the past with action. I am proud to be a co-author of S.F. 879, a resolution requesting that Congress remove the time limit for ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment. We’ve certainly seen in recent years the need for our Constitution to clearly state that equality exists under the law.
The next few weeks promise to be full as well. Today is the First Committee Deadline, when all policy bills must be through all policy committees in either the House or the Senate. Next Friday is the Second Committee Deadline, when all policy bills must be through all policy committees in both the House and the Senate. After that, committees will begin more in-depth work on budget bills. This week I met with Girl Scouts from my district and I’m looking forward to meeting with constituents from the Young Women’s Cabinet, and LeadingAge MN next week. I hope you’ll continue to keep in touch if you have any questions or concerns you’d like to share!
Regards,
Melissa