Dear Neighbors, I hope you and your loved ones have an enjoyable and safe 4th of July weekend. This is a trying time for our country, but I’m emboldened by the belief that there’s nothing we can’t accomplish when working together. Our nation is what we make it, and when it seems like progress is slow - or at times reversing - it’s important to remember that falling into despair only serves those that would seek to divide us. As we celebrate the birth of our nation, let us also recommit to building a better one. Protecting Reproductive RightsThe U.S. Supreme Court reversed 50 years of settled law by overturning protections under Roe v. Wade, which has guaranteed the right to a safe, legal abortion. Extreme laws in other states – some of which have already taken effect – will result in dangerous health care outcomes, especially for BIPOC women. In Minnesota, Governor Walz, Attorney General Ellison, and DFL lawmakers are committed to protecting patients’ rights to make deeply personal health care decisions. This week, Attorney General Ellison joined 22 other attorneys general in reaffirming the right to abortion access. Still, this is a scary time, as Republicans are working to undo these critical protections. We must come together to stand against any further cruel efforts to infringe upon reproductive freedom, and I’m committed to doing everything in my power to keep Minnesota a state that protects reproductive rights. New Laws Take EffectWhile Republican leadership has refused to meet their end of the bargain to pass our bipartisan supplemental budget agreement, there are still several significant accomplishments from this session that have - or soon will - be impacting Minnesotans, including the following: - Replenishing funding for Minnesota’s Unemployment Insurance Program, keeping businesses’ unemployment insurance tax rates flat.
- Distributing unprecedented amounts of money to address the opioid crisis.
- Making the largest investment in high-speed broadband internet in state history.
- Funding public health infrastructure to keep people healthy and safe as the COVID-19 pandemic evolves.
- Protecting and supporting veterans and Gold Star families.
- Reducing the cost of health insurance for those who use the individual market.
- Funding nation-leading ALS research.
- Providing relief to farmers impacted by the 2021 drought and delivering resources to control and contain the avian influenza outbreak.
- Preventing Republicans from infringing on a woman’s right to make her own health care decisions.
You can find a full list of the new laws going into effect today here. More can and should be done, especially with a record budget surplus, but Senate Republicans would rather play political games than assist Minnesotans who are struggling. Calls to finish our work have fallen on deaf ears, but I remain committed to working towards the solutions our community and state deserve. Young Children Now Eligible for COVID VaccineThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has approved two COVID-19 vaccines for children who are six months old or older. Both vaccines were carefully studied and help protect children from severe disease, hospitalization, and death. They’re administered in smaller doses and packaged differently than vaccines that are available for older children and adults. |