April 24th, 2020
Dear Neighbor,
This week saw the legislature continue to move forward on a number of issues while also recognizing the “new normal” of adapting life to COVID-19. I have heard from a number of you on important issues and I hope that you’ll keep in touch.
Earth Day 50th Anniversary
This Wednesday marked the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. Now, perhaps more than ever, it’s important to take time to celebrate our planet and re-dedicate ourselves to protecting it. This blog post from the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators is particularly interesting and pertinent for celebrating Earth Day amidst a global pandemic.
Latest COVID-19 Efforts
There were a number of important developments regarding the State of Minnesota’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic this week. With news breaking at an incredibly rapid pace, it can be difficult to keep up. I’d encourage you to follow the Governor’s daily updates and to continue checking the Governor’s COVID Resources Page for more information. Specifically, I want to highlight the pages about mental health support and tomorrow’s Homemade Mask Drive. As we socially distance for physical health reasons, it’s important not to neglect our mental health and well-being. If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out for help.
Testing Breakthrough – Gov. Walz announced a partnership between the MN Department of Health, the University of Minnesota, and the Mayo Clinic that could soon allow Minnesota to have the highest testing capacity in the nation. The plan is partly funded by $36 million from the COVID-19 Minnesota Fund that the Legislature approved in late March and 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 Governor’s goal of testing all symptomatic people will bring us much closer to being able to resume additional work activities.
Extended Distance Learning – Gov. Walz also announced that Minnesota public schools will continue to operate under distance learning for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year. I have already reached out to the superintendents of the Bloomington and Richfield school districts for advice on how we can support their efforts – and particularly how we can still honor our graduating seniors. With distance learning continuing through the end of the year, we need to increase our efforts to address the different social-emotional stresses our students are now facing as they deal with greater isolation and hoped-for events being cancelled.
More Businesses to Reopen – Gov. Walz signed a new executive order on Thursday to begin reopening businesses that are more non-customer-facing. This new order will mainly affect manufacturing, industrial, and office settings. A list of conditions and further information about the order is available here. Under the order, businesses will need to create a plan that demonstrates employee hygiene processes and cleaning and disinfecting practices. Businesses will still be encouraged to allow those employees who can work from home to do so, and sick employees will still be required to stay at home.
Legislative Action
Finally, I wanted to highlight two important discussions that took place this week. Successfully responding to COVID is not only a question of what we’re doing now, but what will we do in the face of an uncertain future.
Racial Inequities – On Tuesday, the Health and Human Services Finance and Policy Committee discussed the stark and unacceptable racial inequities that have been exposed by COVID-19. Dr. Dan Hoody, Chief Medical Officer of HCMC, noted that nearly 35% of their patient population are African American, 20% Latino, 10% Southeast Asians, and 3% Native American. Many leading health experts point to underlying medical conditions, driven by health inequity, including heart disease and diabetes, as one explanation for why minority populations are seeing high rates of sickness and death from COVID-19. These conditions are the leading risk factors for severe illness from the COVID-19 virus.
Dr. Hoody also noted that they have a finite window to influence more equitable outcomes in our state, but that won’t happen without ramping up testing in congregate settings, homeless shelters, and areas with high density living so people can be isolated and receive proper care for this disease. All of these activities will require essential state funding to supplement funds Hennepin County receives from tax payers and federal relief programs. The committee also heard two bills related to testing. An additional discussion on testing occurred today to review the Governor’s statewide testing proposal in more detail.
Secure Elections – Senators Susan Kent (DFL – Woodbury), Jim Carlson (DFL – Eagan), Ann Rest (DFL – New Hope), and Nick Frentz (DFL – North Mankato) held a virtual press conference this week to highlight the need to protect the integrity of Minnesota’s elections and the safety of Minnesota’s voters. It is crucial we pass legislation that ensures the Secretary of State and local election officials have the resources they need to administer the upcoming Minnesota elections during this unprecedented pandemic.
The Help America Vote Act (HAVA) funding from the federal government, passed in 2019, and additional funds passed last month in response to COVID-19 could be immediately available to the Secretary of State if Senate Republicans decide to release it. There is no reason the state legislature should be a barrier to this money being available for the Secretary of State’s use. According to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, HAVA funds may be used for unanticipated expenses due to the pandemic, including implementing the statewide vote-by-mail program Senate DFLers are pushing for in order to keep voters and poll workers safe.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve our communities in the Minnesota Senate, and please keep in touch.
Regards,
Melissa