March 5, 2021
Vaccinations Ramp Up As Third Vaccine Arrives in Minnesota
On March 3rd, the first Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine doses arrived in Minnesota. It is exciting and reassuring that we will now have a third vaccine that is highly effective in keeping Minnesotans safe. This new vaccine is only a single-dose and does not require cold-storage, so we can likely get it deployed much quicker.
Our state is already a leader in vaccination, ranking 3rd among states for the percentage of doses received that have been administered. I am hopeful that we can achieve herd immunity and end this pandemic even sooner than expected. Precautionary safety measures such as wearing a mask and social distancing are still necessary, but the end is in sight.
If you have not already, get signed up with Minnesota’s Vaccine Connector by clicking HERE, to get notified on when a vaccination is available for you.
Engaging Youth in Extracurriculars
This past Wednesday, on March 3rd, I introduced SF 630 in the Education Finance and Policy Committee. This bill would allow youth development organizations to have access to school facilities and distribute promotional materials to the students. Organizations such Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, or Future Farmers of America would be able to do better direct outreach through this manner and would give our students better opportunities for fulfillment outside of school. As I mentioned during the hearing, “If kids don’t have something constructive to do, they will find something destructive to do.” You can watch the hearing by clicking HERE.
Ensuring That All Minnesotans Have Internet Access
One of the things that this pandemic has made us realize is just how dependent our society is on the internet. As distance learning and virtual meetings increased, we were reminded of just how unequal internet access was in our state. We cannot accept this. We need to invest in all of Minnesota’s working families and young learners, and ensure that everyone can keep up in today’s connected world. You can view my weekly video on this subject by clicking HERE.
A Big Week for Political Efficacy in SD 48
One of my meetings this week was with banking constituents, we seemed to have some technical difficulties on both sides of the video chat. We got some good yucks, and it was a good reminder that we all should give each other some grace during this trying times. Thank you all for how patient you have been. Some other constituent groups I’ve met with this week are:
- Fitness center owners
- Veterans advocates
- People exploring careers in public service
- Pediatricians
I’ve also been hearing from many of you on the issues you are most passionate about. The biggest topics this week have been:
- Responsible energy regulation (in the aftermath of the recent deep freeze)
- Environmental protection
- Questions about COVID vaccinations
- Affordable housing
Thank you to everyone who exercised your civic duty this week. I always look forward to hearing your questions, comments, and concerns.