Tag: Senate District 36

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 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

An Important Update

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

During this trying time with COVID-19 being an immediate health concern, I wanted to let you know that I am still here. While not holding regular meetings at my office due to the virus, my staff and I are still reachable by phone and email to answer any questions that you may have. I also wanted to update you on happenings at the Capitol.

At the Legislature we have passed emergency legislation to help navigate us through this challenge before us all.

Specifically, the legislation provides $200 million in investments of which $150 million is appropriated to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) to make grants to eligible providers for costs related to planning for, preparing for, or responding to an outbreak of COVID-19; fund the establishment and operation of temporary sites to provide testing services, to provide treatment beds, or to isolate or quarantine affected individuals, to respond to an outbreak of COVID-19; and administer the grant program. Continue reading “Sen. John Hoffman (SD36) Update: March”

Sen. John Hoffman (SD36) Update: March 14, 2020

An update and welcome from Senator Hoffman

Video

Governor signs coronavirus response bill

This week, Governor Walz signed into law a bill appropriating nearly $21 million in funds to be added to Minnesota’s public health response contingency account. The funds will help support disease investigation, provide information to the public, coordinate statewide response activities, and conduct laboratory analysis. The legislation was passed urgently and with unanimous bipartisan support.

In addition to signing the funding bill into law this week, the governor has also activated the joint emergency operations center to work on the issue as it develops. Executive branch agencies are also prepared to move forward with further contingency plans, including hiring additional health care professionals and determining what that process would look like. The message surrounding coronavirus this week continues to be planning, not panicking. The state has expected cases of the illness to increase and that is why this legislation passed swiftly and with bipartisan support. Minnesota is committed to being as prepared as possible for dealing with this disease in a proactive and responsible manner. Continue reading “Sen. John Hoffman (SD36) Update: March 14, 2020”