Tag: Rep. Carlson

Dear Neighbors,

Last week was a historical week for our nation with the inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. However, it is important that we remind ourselves that bettering our communities requires us to start with the local work we do. We need to continue the focus on our COVID-19 response and economic stability. Building back Minnesota is our number one priority this legislative session.

Priorities for the 2021 Session 

Recently, my colleagues and I in the House, announced our first priorities for the session. We will work to introduce and implement legislation that will provide assistance to Minnesotans impacted by COVID-19, strengthen worker protections, better support people experiencing houselessness, support our education system, and ensure affordable child care is available to those who need it. 

Continue reading “Rep. Andrew Carlson (HD50B) Update: January 27, 2021”

Dear Neighbors, 

I am honored to continue serving our community in the Minnesota House of Representatives. 

The 2021 Legislative Session began on January 5th, and adherent to public health guidelines, many of our members took the oath of office virtually, and we anticipate doing the majority of our work remotely this session to keep our community safe and prevent potential COVID spreads.

On Last Week’s News

Election disinformation and inciting violence on our nation’s Capital is an attack on democracy. The insurrection in Washington D.C should serve as a final wake up call for all elected officials, national and local, to unite in the face of violence and restore trust in our democratic system. We must come together as a nation to not only condemn, but take action and heal our communities from the assault we witnessed from our screens on January 6. 

Continue reading “Rep. Andrew Carlson (HD50B) Update: January 13, 2021”

Dear Neighbors,

As the holidays continue to look different for many of us this year, I want to wish you and yours safe celebrations and a healthy new year.

This has been a busy month for our state, with the first COVID-19 vaccines being administered, economic assistance on the way for small businesses and working families, and a snowplow that needs your help with a new name! You can read about that and more in today’s update:

Minnesota’s Vaccine Plan

Last week, Minnesota received its first shipment of the COVID-19 vaccine. Since we’ll have a limited supply for the time being, we’ll be following a strict plan that has been put in place in partnership with the federal government to make sure we’re making the most of this vaccine. You can view Minnesota’s COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Plan here, which was formulated with the goal of making the process as quick, equitable, and safe as possible.

Continue reading “Rep. Andrew Carlson (HD50B) Update: December 23, 2020”

Dear Neighbors,

Thank you to everyone that joined us and asked questions during our first virtual town hall. If you weren’t able to join us, you can still watch it here. The July Special Session began this week, our second of the year, with many of the same priorities in place. My colleagues and I in the House DFL continue to work on legislation that addresses COVID-19 and its economic impact, invests in a robust jobs and local projects (or “bonding”) bill, and produces police accountability measures that make Minnesota a safe and inclusive state for all. Committees continue to meet this week, and the current plan is that we’ll convene on the House floor on Monday, July 20, to pass legislation. You can always stay up to date one the latest schedules and information on the House Public Information website.

Vote By Mail

Minnesotans regularly lead the nation in voter turnout, and we want to continue that trend by protecting the integrity and safety of our elections. This year, we passed legislation investing in improving accessibility and modernizing election security to prevent interference, and with the uncertain future of COVID-19, we also passed measures to ensure the health and safety of election officials and in-person voters.You can register to vote early by mail here. Continue reading “Rep. Andrew Carlson (HD50B) Update: July 16, 2020”

Dear Neighbors,

This Thursday, we’ll be conducting our first virtual town hall for our district. With COVID-19 continuing to impact our community, we wanted to provide an opportunity for you to receive an update from your state legislators and ask questions in a safe and responsible manner.

Continue reading “Rep. Andrew Carlson (HD50B) Update: July 7, 2020”

Dear Neighbors,

The June Special Session provided mixed results for Minnesota, with success in areas like small business relief, but much more to be desired in public safety reform. COVID-19 makes an additional special session in July highly likely, and as we work toward that I’m excited to share that additional funds should soon be coming to our community to help us weather this pandemic.

Last week, Governor Walz announced a plan to deliver $841 million in federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding to Minnesota’s counties and cities. Under the formula, Bloomington would receive approximately $6.7 million. Once the Legislative Advisory Commission approves the plan, funds will be distributed on a rolling basis beginning this week. These funds were allocated along guidelines we created in the Minnesota House, and will go a long way in ensuring our local governments can continue to provide the services we need.

Assistance for Small Businesses

An early success from the special session was legislation I supported that would provide assistance to some of the smallest businesses in our community impacted by COVID-19. The bill created a $62.5 million fund with grants of up to $10,000. With a focus on businesses with 50 or fewer employees, these grants will provide Bloomington’s businesses with the assistance they need to weather these difficult times. To be eligible, the business must meet the following requirements: Continue reading “Rep. Andrew Carlson (HD50B) Update: July 1, 2020”

Dear Neighbors,

For the past week, the Minnesota Legislature has been in a special session. For what initially started as a session meant to address the impacts of COVID-19, the murder of George Floyd and subsequent unrest called us to also take serious action on reforming our public safety and criminal justice systems.

The current status of COVID-19 means that future special sessions are highly likely, but with nothing certain, my colleagues and I are using this time to champion meaningful legislation to ensure our communities and state can remain responsive and prosperous during and after this pandemic.

Assistance for Small Businesses

The first bill we passed during this special session was legislation delivering assistance to our state’s smallest businesses. The bill created a $62.5 million fund for small business grants, with a focus on businesses with 50 or fewer employees. With grants of up to $10,000, this is an incredibly important bill that will provide our local businesses with the assistance they need to weather these difficult times.To be eligible, the business must meet the following requirements: Continue reading “Rep. Andrew Carlson (HD50B) Update: June 19, 2020”

Dear Neighbors,

The murder of George Floyd is still incredibly fresh in our minds, especially as memorials continue throughout our state, and unrest across the nation takes up much of the evening news. While I applaud the decision to arrest and charge all involved officers, it doesn’t change the fact that George Floyd should be alive today. Earlier this week, I visited the memorial for George Floyd with my family – a truly emotional site that both depicts the compassion of the community and the solemn reminder that there is much work to be done for a more equitable and just Minnesota.

While justice in this case is imperative, so too is the need to reform a system that has led to the death of black and brown Minnesotans. To that end, my colleagues in the Minnesota Legislature’s People of Color and Indigenous (POCI) Caucus recently announced measures for police and criminal justice reform, as well as our intent to make these issues a priority during a special session. You can watch their press conference, or read an overview of their proposals. These include measures to:

• Reform the investigation and prosecution process of officer-involved deaths and wrongful actions
• Increase police accountability and transparency
• Raise standards of conduct and support officer excellence
• Partner officers with the communities they serve
• Repair and build community trust and create community-centered public safety

These proposals would build a better Minnesota, and I support them wholeheartedly. It’s highly likely that my colleagues and I will convene for a special session next week, and in addition to addressing the COVID-19 pandemic and economic relief for Minnesotans, I will also be fighting for these measures.

Stay Connected

For the latest news and updated information on the pandemic, please visit the state’s COVID-19 Dashboard. For those interested in assisting the communities impacted by the riots from the past week, the Star Tribune has compiled a comprehensive list of ways to help.

Please feel free to continue to reach out to me with any questions or comments you have on our accomplishments this session, or what the future holds. You can reach me at rep.andrew.carlson@house.mn or leave a voicemail at (651) 296-4218. You can also follow along on my Facebook Page. It’s an honor to represent you in the Minnesota House, and I appreciate your input.

Sincerely,

Andrew Carlson
State Representative

Dear Neighbors,

Sunday night, the 2020 Legislative Session adjourned. Though this usually marks the end of our work for the year, the COVID-19 pandemic and other factors make a special session in June highly likely.

When the first COVID-19 cases were confirmed in Minnesota, the Minnesota Legislature was able to produce a swift, bipartisan response to ensure that our public health infrastructure was prepared for the virus. The Legislature delivered funding for public health, resources for health care workers, aid for child care, housing and food security, small business assistance and more. Continue reading “Rep. Andrew Carlson (HD50B) Update: May 22, 2020”