Legislative Update - August 28, 2019

Dear Neighbors,
 
I hope you are enjoying the final days of summer, with the Minnesota State Fair having started, Labor Day just around the corner, and school set to resume. Speaking of the Minnesota State Fair if you plan on visiting tomorrow (Thursday), I’ll be available at the Minnesota House of Representatives booth (inside the Education Building) from 4-6 p.m. Come by and say hello, and while you’re there, take the House’s annual opinion survey with 12 quick questions on a variety of legislative issues.

Environmental Forum

I want to thank the approximately 100 community members who attended our recent Environmental Forum at Peace Church in Shoreview. I also want to thank the panelists who joined us with information on the effects of climate change, and how we can fight it in order to protect our environment. There is an urgent need to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels in favor of more clean, renewable energy sources. Last session, the House approved a measure to set a 100 percent renewable benchmark by 2050. This may be ambitious, but it’s the type of bold action necessary to protect our precious natural resources.

Recognition from Cities and Schools

Serving at the State Legislature, I’ve worked hard to collaborate with our local leaders to ensure our community’s priorities are met. This summer, I was honored to receive “Legislator of Distinction” awards from both the League of Minnesota Cities and Minnesota School Boards Association. For us to make progress on these issues important to our local governments and schools, good working relationships are necessary so I can best advocate at the Capitol. I thank each organization for this recognition and look forward to building upon these partnerships in the future.

Women’s Equality Day

 
This past Monday marked Women’s Equality Day, when 99 years ago women earned the right to vote. The struggle for full equality continues, though, with women facing discrimination in the workplace, health care, education, and elsewhere. This session, the Legislature approved a bill to let Minnesotans vote on adding the Equal Rights Amendment to our state constitution. Although the Senate blocked Minnesotans from getting to make this choice, I refuse to give up until gender equality becomes the law of the land in our state.
 
We did make progress in other areas, and I’m proud of several pieces of legislation to address sexual assault and other gender-based violence that were signed into law. One of these bills created a working group to comprehensively review and make recommendations for updates to our state’s criminal sexual conduct statutes. Ensuring justice for victims of these crimes is critical.
 
The working group recently held its first meeting and I had the opportunity to thank the members for stepping up to serve. Members come from a diverse set of backgrounds and include survivors, advocates, prosecutors, and others. I’m hopeful this group will reach consensus and deliver some good recommendations to the Legislature to improve opportunities for victims and survivors to seek justice.

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