Tag: House District 40B

Rep. Samantha Vang (HD40B) Update: April 14, 2020

Dear Neighbors,

I’m pleased to report that the Legislature is taking new action today to provide a social safety net for Minnesotans.

The Minnesota House and Senate have approved a bill that makes insulin affordable in an emergency and over the long-term, as well as a fourth COVID response package to provide workers, businesses, and families with flexibility, resources, and economic security during this unprecedented public health crisis. Governor Walz is expected to sign the bills into law as soon as this evening.

We have been working hard over the past month to help Minnesotans with unemployment insurance for people who have lost their jobs (including self-employed and contract workers), no-interest loans for small businesses that have closed (including restaurants and bars), housing security, food security, and workers’ comp for first responders and health care workers who contract the virus. We know there is a lot more to do and it can’t happen soon enough. I want to thank you for your patience as we use technology to do our jobs differently. We are committed to ensuring that the public has access to and can participate in their state government. Continue reading “Rep. Samantha Vang (HD40B) Update: April 14, 2020”

Rep. Samantha Vang (HD40B) Update: March 27, 2020

Dear Neighbors,

Yesterday, the Legislature approved a new package of economic aid for small businesses, workers, childcare providers, and other Minnesotans who are experiencing hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The federal government is expected to approve a sweeping economic stimulus, and we will soon learn what it means for Minnesota.

These are the first steps in what will need to be a long-term, comprehensive plan to help Minnesotans. This is an unprecedented public health crisis that will have an unpredictable and lasting impact on our state. Please continue to care for each other, treat each other with kindness, and do your part to follow public health guidelines.

My office is a resource that is available to help you navigate public agencies that are providing financial support. If you call my office at 651-296-3709 please be prepared to leave a voicemail message and include your full contact information (House staff are tele-commuting in order to comply with public health guidelines). You can also send an email to rep.samantha.vang@house.mn. Continue reading “Rep. Samantha Vang (HD40B) Update: March 27, 2020”

Rep. Samanthan Vang (HD40B) Update: March 12, 2020

Neighbors,

The COVID-19 situation continues to evolve by the hour. We all have a role to play in preventing its spread to keep our neighbors and community safe. As we are likely to face increasing challenges, the legislature’s responsibility is to ensure Minnesota is prepared to respond. We are taking proactive and thoughtful action to address this issue.

Public health officials in Minnesota are working around the clock to prepare for and stop the spread of COVID-19. At the Capitol, the House, Senate, Department of Health (MDH), and Governor’s Office are in near-constant communication to ensure we can quickly work to prevent further outbreak.

On March 10, Governor Tim Walz signed into law legislation that authorizes nearly $21 million for our public health response to COVID-19. I’m proud that the legislature moved quickly and collaboratively (the funding passed with unanimous support in both the House and Senate) to provide the Minnesota Department of Health with additional resources. But there is more we need to do. Continue reading “Rep. Samanthan Vang (HD40B) Update: March 12, 2020”

Rep. Samantha Vang (HD40B) Update: March 5, 2020

Neighbors,

It’s been a busy two weeks at the Capitol! We passed several important bills that will now go on to the Senate.

We need to hold insulin manufacturers accountable for the outrageous, skyrocketing price of the drug that thousands of Minnesotans need to survive. One in four diabetics report rationing their insulin because of the cost, which puts lives in danger.

The bill the House passed meets the goals of ensuring Minnesotans have emergency access to insulin and access to affordable insulin over the long-term. It holds pharmaceutical companies accountable by requiring them to participate in funding the program, and it can be set up quickly. Now the bill goes to the Republican-led Senate.

Insulin Cost Graph

The 2020 Census

In March and April of this year, the U.S. Census Bureau will mail information to nearly every home about the 2020 Census. The census provides critical data that directly impacts our community’s representation and federal funding that supports hospitals, fire departments, schools, roads, and other resources. It’s important that you and your household are accurately counted, and that you respond online, by mail, or by phone.

If you watch for the census materials in the mail and fill it out and return it when you receive it, then you do not need to answer the door to a Census Field Employee. By law, information they collect cannot be shared with anyone, including land lords, social workers, law enforcement, or employers. More information is available here.

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Questions about Coronavirus

I am hearing from many Minnesotans who want to know more about what we are doing to address the spread of COVID-19, a viral respiratory illness often referred to as the Coronavirus. Minnesota is well prepared to effectively respond to an outbreak. Click here to read more specifics about what’s happening. You can also review a March 2 Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) briefing here.

There are currently no confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Minnesota, but experts are telling us it’s not a matter of “if” but “when.” MDH’s labs are prepared to test patients for the condition. There are basic precautions we can all take to prevent the spread of COVID-19. First thing’s first: wash your hands thoroughly. It may seem like common sense, but washing your hands for at least 20 seconds is critical to effectively remove microbiological bacteria. Also, avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth, and be sure to cover your cough with your sleeve or elbow. Lastly, if you’re sick: stay home.

If you or anyone in your community is concerned or seeking more information, please get in touch with my office. You can find my full contact information online at www.house.mn/40b.

Keep your phone calls and emails coming! I always enjoy hearing from you. You can also follow along on my official Facebook page here.

Sincerely,

Rep. Samantha Vang

Rep. Samantha Vang (HD40B) Update: February 17, 2020

Dear Neighbors,

I hope you are staying warm! The legislative session is now in full swing – we returned to St. Paul last Tuesday. The excitement and being back in the House chamber was a reminder what an honor and privilege it is to serve our district at the Capitol. It’s great to be back and I hope to deliver results for Brooklyn Center and Brooklyn Park!

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Last year, the Minnesota House DFL put forward a bold, progressive agenda to build a Minnesota that works better for all of us. While some bipartisan progress was made to enact wage theft protections, invest in our schools, and protect affordable health care access for more than one million Minnesotans, we have a

We are working to pass long-overdue legislation to provide emergency insulin access and reduce the price of prescription drugs, to eliminate education opportunity gaps and invest in early childhood education, to provide paid family & medical leave and earned safe & sick time to all Minnesotans, to deliver investments in communities across the state through local jobs & projects, and our new Climate Action Caucus is working on a plan to improve our clean energy economy and protect our natural resources.

MN Values Plan

Ballot box accessibility is incredibly important and helps ensure all communities are represented. I’m working on bills to:

  • Make Election Day a holiday so that working families aren’t prevented from making their voices heard
  • Require voting instructions in languages other than English
  • And lift restrictions on assisting people at the polls to ensure the ballot box is accessible to all eligible voters, including people facing language barriers, the elderly, and those with disabilities

This year, as a member of the Capital Investment Committee, I will put together an infrastructure package called a Bonding Bill. I will work to ensure it is regionally-balanced, and that projects with the most need are prioritized. That includes supporting bridges and roads, clean drinking water, and projects that serve regional needs, access to services, and community improvement.

Nonpartisan Resources for Following the 2020 Session

The nonpartisan House Public Information Services office is a great resource for staying updated on committee schedules, a bill’s status, or watching live coverage of Floor Sessions or committee hearings. You can sign up to receive nonpartisan news about the Legislature here. Give them a ‘like’ or a ‘follow’ on their Facebook and Twitter pages for quick snippets and real-time updates.

Ask your friends to subscribe to my email list

Thank you for subscribing to my email list! If you have friends, neighbors, or coworkers who follow the Legislature, now is a great time to ask them to subscribe and stay in the loop with everything we’re working on at the Capitol! Forward this email to your network and let them know they can sign up here. You can also follow my official Facebook page here.

As always, if you have comments or questions feel free to reach out any time!

Sincerely,

Rep. Samantha Vang

Rep. Samantha Vang (HD40B) Update: January 16 2020

Neighbors,

I hope your new year is off to a strong start on your resolutions! The new year means that we’re just a little under a month to the 2020 legislative session. I hope you’ll continue to reach out to share your priorities and questions with me.

New Laws

The last of the major new laws took effect on January 1. Here’s a quick overview:

  • Middlemen known as Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) – which have played a significant role in the increase in prescription drug prices – will now have to be more transparent.
  • Second, as part of our groundbreaking opioid stewardship law, medical professionals are required to take classes to learn about best practices in prescribing pain medications.
  • Finally, trading of teeth, tusks, and horns from species such as elephants, hippopotamuses, or rhinoceroses is prohibited.

Continue reading “Rep. Samantha Vang (HD40B) Update: January 16 2020”

Rep. Samantha Vang (HD40B) Update: December 4, 2019

Neighbors,

I hope you had a relaxing and enjoyable Thanksgiving with loved ones and that you mostly stayed off the roads! I’m so grateful for the opportunity to represent our community at the State Capitol. It’s rewarding to represent people who so deeply care about our neighborhoods, schools, and state.

There’s still more we can do to improve the lives of all Minnesotans. In addition to reflecting on what we’re grateful for, we can use the Holidays, and months before the legislative session starts, to consider the steps we can take to plan for the future. Please be in touch to share your priorities, what’s going well for you, some of the challenges you’ve experienced, and your ideas to make Minnesota an even better place to live.

Climate Action: Housing and Public Health

I’m proud to be a member of the House Climate Action Caucus, which recently held a conversation with experts and stakeholders on climate and housing — the conversation focused on new opportunities for homeowners and renters to conserve energy, making homes as energy efficient as possible by updating existing buildings, and in supporting affordable housing. Don’t miss our next meeting, focused on public health. Find more information here. Continue reading “Rep. Samantha Vang (HD40B) Update: December 4, 2019”

Rep. Samantha Vang (HD40B) Update: November 7, 2019

Neighbors,

Happy Hmong New Year to all who celebrate – it’s a time to give thanks for the completion of the year’s harvest and reflect on the past year. I was honored to celebrate at Gustavus, my alma mater, and speak at their celebration.

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Here’s a quick update from the Capitol:

Youth Vaping

Last week, my colleagues announced a comprehensive plan to combat youth vaping. In 2017, the number of young Minnesotans using tobacco rose for the first time in 17 years due to a surge in e-cigarette use. Since then, the crisis has only gotten worse. Vaping-related injuries are being reported in Minnesota and across the nation, but many young people remain unaware of the health risks associated with e-cigarettes. Continue reading “Rep. Samantha Vang (HD40B) Update: November 7, 2019”

Rep. Samantha Vang (HD40B) Update: October 6, 2019

Neighbors,

It feels like fall is really here now, so if you want to get out and enjoy it you should check out the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ fall color finder! 

We’ve been busy around the Capitol! Here’s an update:

Mini-Session

We’re taking the legislature on the road! We know that not everyone can travel to St. Paul to advocate for their priorities and their community. That’s why this week we held a mini-session in southeastern Minnesota, which included committee hearings, roundtables, and informative tours. Continue reading “Rep. Samantha Vang (HD40B) Update: October 6, 2019”

Rep. Samantha Vang (HD40B) Update: July 12, 2019

Neighbors,

I hope you’re having a relaxing summer and had a happy Fourth of July!

Several new policies will take effect on August 1 – I want to make sure you know everything you need to know to be prepared!

  • States that have passed hands free while driving laws have already seen major decreases in traffic fatalities. This law will help keep us safe from distracted drivers – but make sure you know all there is to know – here’s a helpful fact sheetfrom the Department of Public Safety.
  • Our pharmacy benefit manager bill will bring transparency to prescription drug prices, which have skyrocketed in recent years. Pharmacy benefit managers are a powerful but little-known middle man that drive up prescription drug costs.
  • There are employers in Minnesota who steal wages by refusing overtime pay or skimming money off the top of workers’ paychecks. People deserve every dollar they’ve earned, and our bill to crack down on enforcement of wage theft will take effect at the beginning of the month.

ICYMI: Here’s a quick overview of some of the new laws that took effect on July 1st: Continue reading “Rep. Samantha Vang (HD40B) Update: July 12, 2019”