Week of May 7th – 11th
Celebrating Teacher Appreciation Day
Our nation celebrated Teacher Appreciation Day this Tuesday, and I am incredibly grateful to have spent my career working with some amazing educators. You can check out some of my thoughts in this week’s video by clickingHERE
This picture was taken during my first year of teaching at Eden Prairie High School!
Constituents Visit the Capitol
Two tour groups from Eden Lake Elementary School in Eden Prairie visited the Capitol this week. They had lots of great questions about the building!
This week I also got to meet with Serena Lins, a student at Eden Prarie High School. She came prepared with lots of insightful ideas and is eager to learn about the legislative process. I know she is going places!
Constituents advocating for the 2nd Harvest Heartland bonding proposal also stopped by my office this week. They are asking for $18 million for a new food distribution facility and I am proud to stand with them in support of it.
Legislative Majorities Unveil Bonding Bill, Investments Come Up Short
Senate and House Republicans have now both released their first drafts of a capital investment bill for this year. Both bills come in at $825 million in state bonds, which is unfortunately not enough to continue preserving the infrastructure that Minnesotans demand.
Our state has a vast array of infrastructure needs, and this proposal fails to adequately address them. The House legislation fully funds the restoration of Historic Fort Snelling in time for its bicentennial, while the Senate does not. We cannot be shortchanging this nationally recognized landmark that showcases our state’s heritage.
Meanwhile, the Senate provides full funding for the new much need Regional Medical Examiner’s Facility to be located in Minnetonka, while the House does not. Additionally, neither bill funds a new Southwest Transit bus garage that is necessary for our growing metropolitan area. These projects are essential to our state’s taxpayers, and they deserve a return on their investment. Interest rates are at record lows, and now is the time to fully invest in our great state
Israeli Doctors Visit the Capitol
An Israeli interfaith medical team visited the Capitol this week, to inform us of the work they are doing on the Israel-Syria border. These heroic individuals risk their lives crossing into Syria to save the lives of refugees and discreetly bring them to Israeli hospitals for treatment. There are no accolades that I could bestow upon them that would sufficiently acknowledge how amazing these people are.
Minnesota Senate Building Goes Solar
The Minnesota Senate unveiled the completed first phase of its rooftop solar project this Thursday, and I was given the opportunity to head up to the roof and check them out for myself. I am incredibly proud of our state’s work to move boldly into the 21st century with renewable energy. Many of my own constituents have written in to my office about rooftop solar, and it’s great to see our government following their lead.
Town Hall Tomorrow!
Join me and Representative Laurie Pryor tomorrow, May 12th, from 9:30-11:30 a.m. at the Eden Prairie Library for an end-of-session town hall forum. We are excited to see you all there and answer your questions!