Tag: John Hoffman

Sen. John Hoffman (SD36) Update: May 8, 2020

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

I hope you and your family are staying safe. I want to update you as the formal legislative session nears its end. We will likely meet somewhat regularly with special sessions throughout the summer and fall as needed to address COVID-19 related legislation and funding. Minnesota will be receiving roughly two billion dollars in federal aid. While it is earmarked for what it can be used for, we can help decide where each dollar is spent within each category assigned.

I will be working to ensure we take care of affected Minnesotans and that every dollar impacts our citizens positively in handling this crisis. Our Governor has also continued to open up different operations with proper safety procedures and equipment in place. We continue to make progress and a large part of that is those who have reached out to me to let me know what it is that affects you most so that I can advocate in the Legislature and to the Governor what it is you need. Continue reading “Sen. John Hoffman (SD36) Update: May 8, 2020”

Sen. John Hoffman (SD36) Update: May 2, 2020

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

I hope you and yours are safe and well during this time. It was a busy week and there have been changes as we move for safety and our economy.

Chief among them is that the Governor has extended his stay at home order an additional two weeks. However, he has also opened up roughly 100,000 jobs to be operated safely. At this moment 80% of businesses are considered necessary and we are all working to get the other businesses up and operating where we can, where the science says it is safe as policies are developed.

We are in this for the long haul but we make progress, in both safety and economically. While we continue working on this, let me know what you think is most important as we continue these discussions and act together for Minnesota’s safety on all fronts. Continue reading “Sen. John Hoffman (SD36) Update: May 2, 2020”

Sen. John Hoffman (SD36) Update: April 24, 2020

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

I hope everyone, their families and friends are safe and healthy. The days draw on as we carefully watch the pandemic that is COVID-19. In this newsletter there are more details, but you’ll see that we are starting to open more businesses and getting people to work in safe, thoughtful ways. That is the key in all of this: Safe, thoughtful progress.

While we still have a potentially lengthy time of caution ahead of us remember to stay in touch with those most important to you through all safe measures. It is more about physical distancing than social distancing and in times like these it is even more important to be socially close. We are all in this together. Continue reading “Sen. John Hoffman (SD36) Update: April 24, 2020”

Sen. John Hoffman (SD36) Update: April 17, 2020

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

I hope everyone is keeping in touch with their loved ones while staying safe. As we pass another week of shelter at home I know it is taking a toll on everyone. I still miss the days of sitting down with friends, colleagues and constituents to have conversations and coffee.

Progress is being made and I continue to advocate on behalf of our citizens. Working across the aisle I have pushed as hard as possible promoting safety while at the same time allowing businesses that can function safely to function. It is a careful balance to be struck. The Governor is opening up some outdoor activities that can be done safely which in turn will affect businesses related to those activities.

Safety and caution are still absolute necessities, as we balance that with the need to provide for our families with economic means. Continue reading “Sen. John Hoffman (SD36) Update: April 17, 2020”

Sen. John Hoffman Update: April 11, 2020

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Happy Passover and Easter to all those who celebrate. It is a strange time doing these things in isolation when normally we would gather with friends, family and community members. It is important to remember that while we are safely distancing ourselves, we can still stay in touch with our friends, family and community via safe methods.

Zoom has proven to be a valuable tool, phone calls, emails, skype and google hangouts. In this time we do have a plethora of valuable platforms to connect with each other so that while we may not share a table, we can share our presence with each other. As we see the needs of safety extend protective policy further, it is that much more important we do not lose sight of everyone important to us.

I’ll keep you updated as best I can as the situation progresses and will keep advocating for our citizens. Stay safe out there, take care of yourselves and each other. Continue reading “Sen. John Hoffman Update: April 11, 2020”

Sen. John Hoffman (SD36) Update: April 3, 2020

The following list is compiled from resources at DEED, MDE, DHS, MDH, DHS, MHFA, the Courts, and the Attorney General’s office.

COVID-19 MN Hotlines

  • Health questions (7 am to 7 pm): 651-201-3920 or 1-800-657-3903
  • School and child care questions (7 am to 7 pm): 651-297-1304 or 1-800-657-3504
  • DHS hotline for child care providers with COVID-19-related questions: 888-234-1268

State Resources

  • Child Care
    • Parents/Guardians needing child care resources can call Child Care Aware of MN at 1-888- 291-9811 or go to parentaware.org to search on-line for child care options
    • Communication from state to child care providers on COVID-19
  • Courts
    • Information on temporary court operation procedures can be found here
  • Discrimination and the MN Dept. of Human Rights
    • Information on mistreatment and discrimination due to COVID-19. To submit a complaint click here or call 651-539-1133.

Continue reading “Sen. John Hoffman (SD36) Update: April 3, 2020”

Sen. John Hoffman (SD36) Update: March 31, 2020

March 28, 2020

BULLETIN: Civil Rights, HIPAA, and the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

In light of the Public Health Emergency concerning the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is providing this bulletin to ensure that entities covered by civil rights authorities keep in mind their obligations under laws and regulations that prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age, sex, and exercise of conscience and religion in HHS-funded programs.1

In this time of emergency, the laudable goal of providing care quickly and efficiently must be guided by the fundamental principles of fairness, equality, and compassion that animate our civil rights laws. This is particularly true with respect to the treatment of persons with disabilities during medical emergencies as they possess the same dignity and worth as everyone else.

The Office for Civil Rights enforces Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act which prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability in HHS funded health programs or activities. These laws, like other civil rights statutes OCR enforces, remain in effect. As such, persons with disabilities should not be denied medical care on the basis of stereotypes, assessments of quality of life, or judgments about a person’s relative “worth” based on the presence or absence of disabilities. Continue reading “Sen. John Hoffman (SD36) Update: March 31, 2020”

Sen. John Hoffman (SD36) Update: March 27, 2020

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

We are now entering a “Shelter-At-Home” order by Governor Walz to slow the spread of COVID-19 and give us a chance to be ready with all of the medical equipment and beds at hospitals we will need. This is a major move to make and I know it can be intimidating for so many people affected.

Working with Senator Abeler and the Governor, my goal is to lessen the impact this has caused. We want to change the narrative from work that is “necessary” to what businesses can operate “safely” to ensure people can take care of themselves and their families.

We are also working to ensure that emergency funds go to the services the serve our vulnerable populations, our people with disabilities, elderly and children. While we have approved emergency funding ensuring that it reaches those critical services is among our top priorities, and that all required services for our vulnerable stay open and available. This is going to take all of us, Democrats, Republicans setting aside politics and working together as indicated in the ECM News https://www.hometownsource.com/abc_newspapers/free/column-bipartisan-cooperation-in-crisis/article_b2bd3f14-6fa9-11ea-af85-8f010e44e75f.html  Continue reading “Sen. John Hoffman (SD36) Update: March 27, 2020”

Sen. John Hoffman (SD36) Update: March 21, 2020

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

This week kicked off rapidly changing the face of our country and state. At the Federal level and here in Minnesota everyone has had to react to a threat that is affecting our country in unprecedented ways. We have all had to consider what life may look like for the foreseeable future.

In this Enewsletter is a compilation of all the various work and executive orders that has been done this week. The situation for our State changes rapidly, so I will do my best to keep everyone apprised if and when changes occurs. Despite this virus we are working in all safe ways possible to hold meetings, examine data and make decisions to guide the state through this difficult time. Please feel free to share this to anyone who has questions about what actions have been taken and to get a comprehensive view of how this all affects them and what resources are available. Continue reading “Sen. John Hoffman (SD36) Update: March 21, 2020”

Sen. John Hoffman (SD36) Update: March 20, 2020

Sen. John Hoffman supports Gov. Walz Executive Order to protect Minnesota’s most vulnerable

St. Paul, Minn.—State Senator John Hoffman (DFL-Champlin) applauds Governor Walz’s Executive Order 20-12 to make sure vulnerable populations are protected during this unprecedented time with the spread of COVID-19. The order mirrors legislation Sen. Hoffman co-authored with Sen. Jim Abler. That legislation passed out of Health and Human Services and was sent to Finance last week, but it was not part of the final $200 million legislation that passed off the House and Senate floor early Tuesday morning.

Since then, Sen. Hoffman has been advocating that this important legislation be implemented through the Governor’s Executive Order authority. That order was signed today. Specifically, Executive Order 20-12 allows DHS to temporarily issue waivers or modifications to state requirements to ensure that their services can be delivered to Minnesotans safely and without undue delay, protecting vulnerable Minnesotans and those who care for them. DHS provides health care coverage, programs, and services for more than one million Minnesotans, including groups likely to be significantly impacted by COVID-19 such as older adults, individuals who have disabilities, families with children, and individuals with mental illness.

“Ensuring the health and safety of Minnesotans is my highest priority as the state copes with a growing number of confirmed cases of COVID-19, and that includes making sure our most vulnerable—the elderly, those with disabilities, and children—are protected,” Sen. Hoffman said. “I am pleased with our work to make sure Minnesota has a strong support and safety net in place and the necessary regulatory flexibility and relief to make sure that Minnesotans with physical and developmental disabilities are not cut off from vital services.” Continue reading “Sen. John Hoffman (SD36) Update: March 20, 2020”