Legislative Update - Final Summer Newsletter

Dear Granite City Neighbors, 

I hope you are surviving these hot summer days! My family has been beating the heat by spending lots of time in the YMCA pool and consuming lots of Dairy Queen blizzards. 

Thank you for following my legislative update newsletters. This will be the last one I write until November. State law prevents incumbents from sending out communications like this email after this week, so I wanted to give you one last update with some helpful information before signing off for the next few months. 

While we’ll be taking a break from these updates, I am still able to respond to any questions or comments you send my way, so please continue to do so! 

As a reminder, you can reach me at rep.dan.wolgamott@house.mn or give me a call at (651) 296-6612. If you haven’t already, now is also a great time to follow my official State Representative Facebook page, or subscribe to these updates.

Thank you for trusting me with the incredible honor of working for you in the Minnesota House. I look forward to seeing you around St. Cloud this summer and fall. For now, I’ll leave you with some important resources for our community - many of them a result of the work I’ve done on your behalf at the State Capitol.

From my family to yours, have a safe and fun summer!

Today’s Frontline Worker Bonus Application Deadline

One of the more significant accomplishments from this session was the investment of $500 million in bonuses for the frontline workers who kept our state running during the darkest days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our state is at the place it is today thanks to these workers. 

Health care workers, first responders, child care providers, food service and retail workers, and more are eligible for this bonus. Today at 5pm is the deadline to submit an application. Learn more and apply at frontlinepay.mn.gov.

COVID Vaccines & Tests

The 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.

More than 300 providers in Minnesota are offering vaccines to children between six months and five years of age, including pediatricians, pharmacies, community clinics, and more. Parents and guardians can use the Vaccine Locator Map to find providers in their area. More information about COVID vaccines for children is available at mn.gov/vaxforkids.

You can now order a third round of free at-home COVID-19 tests. Click here to place your order or call 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489).  More COVID-19 updates are available through the Minnesota Department of Health website, or the U of M Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP). 

988 Hotline

Last week, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline was launched. The hotline, transitioning from the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline with a shorter, easier-to-remember number, will connect people in crisis with trained counselors. Federal funding is supporting the new service, which will close a significant gap in mental health services. Traditional responses to 911 calls, such as law enforcement, aren’t uniquely equipped to respond to mental health crises.

Crisis workers are available at the three-digit number 24/7 and can connect callers to additional support or in-person care. The service is free and confidential.

Veterans Service Bonus

Lastly, another bonus is the product of this year's Veterans and Military Affairs bill - one of the most bipartisan bills we passed this year. This bonus is for those who courageously served our nation, recognizing post-9/11-era veterans and Gold Star Families with service bonuses of up to $2,000. 

There are approximately 48,000 eligible veterans, over half of whom deployed to combat operations including those in Afghanistan or Iraq. Minnesota has a long history of awarding these service bonuses to veterans who served in America’s wars. Starting in 1919 after World War I, through World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam War, Persian Gulf War, and now the Global War on Terrorism.

The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs is facilitating the program. The application is now open. You can learn more here.

If you have any questions about the resources I shared in this update, or input on my work in the Minnesota House, please feel free to reach out.

Have a fantastic summer! You’re my boss, so please continue to stay in touch.

Sincerely, 

Rep. Dan Wolgamott

Assistant Majority Leader

District 14B