Dear neighbors,
The second week of the 2024 legislative session is in the books! It is an honor to represent you at the Capitol, and this session is off to an encouraging start! I spent the week bouncing between committee meetings, rallies, press conferences, and the House Floor.
As a reminder, in addition my role as Chair of the Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement, I also serve on the following committees:
Advocates at the Capitol
I got to meet with a group of high school students participating in the University of St. Thomas’ ThreeSixty Journalism program. Stories told by those from diverse backgrounds bring perspectives that at times are overlooked and undervalued. These viewpoints are necessary in helping expand worldviews leading to better understanding. I’m looking forward to reading what comes from this cohort.
I also saw members of the Minnesota Farmers Union stop by the Capitol. As a hobby farm owner, I am always in good company when I get to be with this group. We talked foreign trade, commerce, zoning, healthcare and expanded vet care for large animals. Our food system is our connection to each other and the environment. I am committed to ongoing support of farmers, especially those who run small farms.
Queer Caucus Legislative Agenda
The Queer Legislators Caucus held a press conference to announce their legislative agenda for the year. I was proud to join the caucus as the chief author of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) bill, and even prouder of the work they were able to accomplish last year– including making Minnesota a Trans Refuge Safe Haven. This year, we have the opportunity to build on our work from 2023, and I’m excited to move forward with policies that focus on including everybody.
Their agenda focuses on protecting and empowering the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, passing the ERA state constitutional amendment, ensuring equitable access to life-saving healthcare, and promoting laws that reflect the diverse realities of Minnesota families.
Reproductive Freedom Caucus Legislative Agenda
I’m also proud to be a co-chair of the bicameral Minnesota Reproductive Freedom Caucus (RFC), which also unveiled its 2024 legislative agenda this week. We now have an opportunity to build on the RFC’s landmark achievements from last year, including passing the Protect Reproductive Options Act, banning anti-LGBTQIA+ “conversion therapy,” and passing the Trans Refuge Act.
This year, our agenda focuses on protecting, promoting, and expanding Minnesotans’ rights on reproductive health care. The RFC 2024 legislative agenda seeks to strengthen protections for gender equity and reproductive freedom, and ensure all state and private health care plans cover abortion care and gender-affirming care. We are also calling to pass the ERA state constitutional amendment, remove unnecessary barriers to midwife certification, and expand insurance coverage for abortion care and reproductive health care.
You can read the RFC’s full statement here.
Protect Minnesota Press Conference
I had the opportunity to join Protect Minnesota and other gun violence prevention advocates for a press conference, where I presented my bill, House File 601. This bill would require lost or stolen firearms to be promptly reported to law enforcement.
Gun violence is an epidemic facing not only Minnesota, but the whole country, and it’s long past time that we do whatever we can to end it.
PACT Act and your VA Benefits
The PACT Act is a new law expanding VA health care and benefits for Veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances. This law helps the VA provide generations of Veterans and their survivors with the care and benefits they have earned and deserve. You can learn more about the PACT Act and how to file a claim, by clicking here.
Stay Connected
If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or ideas for our work this year, always feel free to reach out to my office at 651-296-8799 or rep.kaohly.her@house.mn.gov, and you’ll hear back from me or my Legislative Assistant, Madisyn. You can also follow along on my official Facebook page, and subscribe to these regular emails if you haven’t already.
Sincerely,
Kaohly Vang Her
State Representative