Dear Neighbors,
I hope you’ve been able to stay safe and warm during our recent cold snap. Thankfully, warmer temperatures are coming this weekend. Here’s a quick update from the Capitol.
Town Hall Meeting
We had a great discussion at last Saturday’s town hall meeting with Sen. Hoffman and Rep. Stephenson. Thanks to everyone who braved the cold to join us!
Preventing gender-based violence
This week the Public Safety & Criminal Justice Reform Committee began work on a number of measures aimed at preventing gender-based violence. The bills include requiring law enforcement agencies to adopt policies for sexual assault investigation cases, legislation that would create a task force directed to rewrite the state’s entire criminal sexual conduct statute, a bill to eliminate the marital rape exception, and a task force on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women.
These are critical issues to address, and I’m hopeful these bills will become law this year.
Addressing the opioid epidemic
The opioid crisis continues to cause tragedies throughout our state. We need to hold pharmaceutical companies accountable as we work to end this epidemic. While this issue fell by the wayside during last year’s failed legislative session, I’m pleased that strong, bipartisan legislation has been introduced and is moving through the committee process.
In 2016 alone, nearly 400 Minnesotans died as a result of opioid overdose. Finding a solution to this crisis is urgent, and I’m confident we will make progress this session.
Paid Family Leave moving through committee
All Minnesotans deserve the opportunity to be successful, but too many have to choose between work and taking care of a new baby or loved one. This is why on Wednesday, the first hearing was held for the Paid Family & Medical Leave Bill. This bill would allow eligible workers to have up to 12 weeks of paid leave from work in order to provide support for their family.
The committee heard from Minnesotans who have struggled to make ends meet while caring for a loved one. As you know, these stories are not uncommon in our community or our state. This is the year to get this done.
SciTechsperience Program connects small businesses with talented STEM interns
I encourage qualifying small businesses looking for talented interns to consider the excellent, successful SciTechsperience Internship Program. SciTechsperience is a free, statewide, state-funded internship program that connects small for-profit Minnesota companies with talented college STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) students. Qualified employers receive a wage reimbursement of 50 percent of the intern’s wages up to $2,500.
Eligible Companies:
- Are for-profit, registered and conducting business in Minnesota
- Have fewer than 250 employees worldwide worldwide
- Offer an internship that offers hands-on STEM industry experience
- Are doing business in one of the following industries: Aerospace and Defense; Agriculture and Food Science; Biotechnology, Life Sciences and Health IT; Engineering Services; Fuels, Energy, Energy Management; IT/Computer Technology; Mining, Materials, Manufacturing and Processing
For more information and to apply go to SciTechMN.org.
As always, please contact me anytime with your input. I appreciate hearing from you! You can reach me at 651-296-4280 or rep.melissa.hortman@house.mn. You can also keep up with what’s happening at the Capitol by liking my legislative Facebook page.Thank you.
Sincerely,
Melissa Hortman