Legislative Update- October 6, 2021

Dear Neighbors,

It’s a beautiful time of the year to explore our state. I’ve been out and about, connecting with neighbors and friends, appreciating all our 33B communities have to offer.

Great to meet with constituent Carol Seifert! She’s a nurse and volunteer who has worked for years to improve care for pregnant people with substance use disorder at HealthPartners, Park Nicollet Health Services and Proof Alliance. She’s made a huge difference in many people’s lives and is an incredible resource. Thank you, Carol!

I appreciated the opportunity to give a session update to the Mound City Council last month. We’re working together to ensure that the residents of Mound have clean and affordable water.??

I hope you’ve had a chance to enjoy the changing colors. Every year, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources charts out the peaking leaf changes across the state. The Minnesota Fall Color Finder is a great resource for planning your next hike or outdoor adventure!

Thank You

A big thank you to all who turned out for our 19th public town hall meeting last month at Badger Park. It’s always rewarding when I get a chance to talk with neighbors in person. I appreciate hearing what’s on your mind and how we can work together to achieve what we all want: a healthy, thriving state. I’ll keep you posted on future town hall opportunities.

Pfizer Booster Shots Available for Eligible Minnesotans

According to the latest guidance from the CDC, you’re eligible to get a booster shot if you received the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at least six months ago and:

• Are 65 years old or older,
• Reside in a long-term care setting,
• Have an underlying health condition categorized as high-risk by the CDC, and/or
• Work in a high-risk setting.

There are plenty of ways to get the booster shot if you’re eligible. Free vaccines are available at pharmacies, health care providers, community clinics, and more. You can use the state’s Vaccine Connector to find a provider near you.

Booster shots aren’t yet authorized for people who received the Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccine. 

As the Delta variant of COVID-19 continues to spread and cases rise, hospital capacity is waning. We can work together to keep each other safe by getting vaccinated against COVID-19. The COVID-19 vaccine is safe, free, and effective in helping prevent the virus from spreading in our communities. It’s also important to get a flu shot this year to not only protect yourself, but to help prevent added pressure on our care facilities and health care workers as a result of influenza.

Hennepin Healthcare Celebrates 50 Years Providing Nurse Midwife Services

I was honored to be included in Hennepin Healthcare’s celebration of the 50th anniversary of their nurse midwife service. Grateful to work with my colleague Rep. Richardson and advocates on addressing maternal and infant health disparities. I’m also very appreciative of the work of Hennepin Healthcare CEO Jennifer Baumer DeCubellis and Wayside Recovery Center CEO Ruth Richardson, and all the incredible nurses and nurse midwives - including constituent Rita O’Reilly, who was honored for her long service!

Fire Prevention Week

National Fire Prevention Week runs from October 3 through October 9. Now is a good time to check to make sure your smoke detector is working and that you remember to change your batteries when you change your clocks next month. I’d also like to remind those in our firefighting community about the new Hometown Heroes Assistance Program, which will help ensure Minnesota’s 20,000 firefighters have access to the care needed to handle cardiac issues, emotional trauma, or a cancer diagnosis. This bipartisan program was included in our two-year state budget. It was long overdue, and I look forward to continuing to move more positive, bipartisan initiatives like these forward.

It was an honor to meet Chanhassen Firefighter Doug Foote and his family as he stopped at Excelsior Fire District, MN on his 200 mile walk across Minnesota to the Capitol to raise awareness and funds for firefighter health. So much positivity and community support for these remarkable public servants!

Minnesota Values Project Survey

The Minnesota Values Project is an initiative my House colleagues and I are working on to gather input from residents across the state. It’s critical to have our district's voices represented.

You’re invited to take the 2021 Minnesota Values Project Survey. I’d like to know about what’s going well for you and your family, your aspirations, and challenges, as well as what we as lawmakers can do at the State Capitol to improve opportunities across our state. The survey is short and will be helpful in guiding our work next legislative session and future years.

Keep in Touch

Please continue to reach out anytime with input or questions at rep.kelly.morrison@house.mn or 651-296-4315.

It’s an honor to represent our district in the Minnesota House.

Have a great week!

Take care,

Kelly