 Legislative Update -Dear Neighbors, This week DFLers introduced another slate of bills to address fraud, gun violence prevention, and holding ICE and federal entities accountable. In a heartbreaking committee hearing, Jackie Flavin—mother of Harper Moyski—recounted the horrifying experience she and her family endured when Harper was shot and killed during the Annunciation Catholic Church mass shooting. Despite her testimony, every Republican voted against proposed gun violence prevention legislation to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. No offers to work together to change bills, just outright refusal to do any work on gun violence prevention. Shame on them. Minnesotans deserve better. This fight is not over. We know we are on the right side of history along with 79% of Minnesotans who are demanding change. We’ll continue to work with families, survivors, and advocates to pass meaningful legislation to mitigate the gun violence epidemic affecting our communities.  I take seriously my oath of office and protecting the Constitution and the civil liberties of all Minnesotans. When those rights are violated—no matter who is in charge—we must uphold constitutional rights, no questions asked. In the House Judiciary Committee, I spoke in support of Rep. Long’s bill to ensure real accountability when government entities overstep. It is very simple: if you aren’t sure whether you need to follow the Constitution, you have no business enforcing the law. Watch my remarks here. Here is a full but not comprehensive overview of our ICE OUT OF MINNESOTA bills:  School Safety Bill Given the current climate of increased danger and violence in our schools, it is imperative that schools adopt evidence-based safety plans. I was proud to introduce legislation that would make that a reality for all schools statewide. We all have a stake in ensuring our schools have the tools and resources to develop, implement, and maintain these plans for times of crisis. Our students deserve the peace of mind to focus on learning, and their families deserve the certainty that their children will return home safely at the end of the school day. This bill provides the investments and framework necessary to give school staff the tools they need to effectively safeguard every student and themselves. I look forward to continued collaboration and bipartisan partnership to get practical school safety legislation (in addition to gun violence prevention) across the finish line this session. Watch my bill presentation here.  Fraud Prevention Hearing from constituents is a critical part of my job. Thank you to everyone who took my communications survey; your feedback was clear: fraud prevention is a top priority. As a 20-year advocate for people with disabilities, I’ve seen how fraud steals resources from those who need them most. It is foul, and it is reprehensible. However, we must "thread the needle"—keeping the door open for those needing care while slamming it shut on bad actors. Right now, the Governor’s office and the Minnesota Department of Human Services are acting hastily to save face. The federal government has also rushed to halt payments to Minnesota without consideration of how this affects all of us. By cutting off funding to stop fraud without ensuring a continuity of care, vulnerable people are without support during a massive housing shortage. Human beings are not political pawns or collateral damage. I stand with the Minnesotans demanding a public apology from the administration. While fraudsters are the root of the problem, the state is responsible for a transparent recovery process that keeps people safe. Public dollars must serve public needs. In the House, we are introducing a dozen bills to root out fraud—from giant corporations to fly-by-night providers. Fraud is not a partisan issue; it’s a betrayal of the taxpayers and the Minnesotans who rely on these services to survive. My colleague, Rep. Matt Norris, made an easy-to-understand video explaining the misrepresentations created by the GOP regarding the Office of the Inspector General bill and the ways he plans to improve it. I encourage you to watch it and send me your feedback and questions. Please click on the links below to view handouts highlighting the work DFLers have passed over the last couple of years to address fraud, improve systems, and increase transparency. While there is more work to be done, please know I am taking this issue very seriously. I’ll continue advocating for our vulnerable communities and everyone impacted by cuts to life-saving programs and services. Stay Connected!Thank you for your continued support and for keeping an open line of communication with my office. Your feedback is the most important tool I have in St. Paul. I believe that the best work happens through collaboration and an ongoing dialogue—not just with my constituents, but also with colleagues across the aisle. Meaningful progress is often found in bipartisan partnerships, and I intend to keep that spirit of cooperation central to my work for our district. As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out with your thoughts, questions, or concerns. Send me an email to rep.brion.curran@house.mn.gov or call my office at 651-296-4342, and I will be happy to help. If you were forwarded this email and you’d like to subscribe, click here. If you have a friend or neighbor who would be interested in receiving these, please forward this and encourage them to subscribe! Sincerely,  State Representative Brion Curran Proudly Serving District 36B Minnesota House of Representatives |