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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Liz Boldon (DFL)

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Standing With Ukraine

Friday, March 25, 2022

Dear Neighbors,

This was “First Deadline” week and all bills have to clear their relevant committee stops in either the House or the Senate by the end of today or it becomes significantly more difficult for them to move forward this session. So, we have all been very busy in committee working to pass important legislation. Here are some of my bills that I’ve worked on in the last couple of weeks.

  • HF3860 establishes school nurse recruitment grants and school nurse scholarships, and allows school nurses to receive loan forgiveness through the health professional education loan forgiveness program. We have a severe shortage of nurses and this bill will help us meet this important need.
  • HF3861 expands eligibility for the child care assistance program (CCAP) by providing that, at application, families with income equal to or less than 85 percent of state median income (SMI), which is $96,001 for a family of four, are eligible for assistance. Under current law, at application, a family must have income below 47 or 67 percent of SMI to be eligible for assistance ($53,083 and $75,671 for a family of four). I know how much of a burden the cost of childcare is in our community and across the state. This bill will make childcare more affordable for more families and I am happy that it is continuing to move forward.
  • HF3862, my bill that creates a program to distribute free KN95 masks and rapid tests to Minnesotans who request them, is continuing to move through the process. Over the last two years we have learned just how important these tools are to minimizing the impact of COVID-19.
  • HF4021 would create systems for children experiencing mental health crisis. Right now these kids are boarded in Emergency Departments, sent home or booked into the criminal legal system. We need to ensure kids experiencing crisis are able to receive the care and support they need when they need it.

Last week, I participated in the Meals on Wheels “week of champions” coordinated by Family Service Rochester. I am a big fan of MOW and I am a fairly regular volunteer with them, it’s a great program and resource in our community. Check out this news piece on the program and consider volunteering if you’re able.

Public Safety Innovation
This week, House DFLers  proposed $150 million of new investment into data-driven, immediate crime prevention methods. We have worked with mayors, police chiefs, and other community leaders to develop this legislative package, delivering resources to urgently address the real problems communities across the state are facing. Many Republicans want to just throw money at crime. We know that that approach doesn’t work, and we’re following data and academic research. We’re investing in law enforcement, but we’re also investing in prevention services, social workers, and accountability measures to increase community trust.

Public Safety

House Preventive Health Committee Discusses PFAS Ban

Last week, the House Preventative Health Committee heard a bill  to regulate use of the harmful PFAS chemicals in cookware, cosmetics, skiing equipment, and children’s products. The health outcomes when PFAS gets into our bodies are terrifying, especially when we consider the effects on our children.

PFAS contamination is affecting communities and costing taxpayers money now. We can and should be a leader in preventing further human exposure and environmental contamination by banning the use of PFAS in these products.

You can read more about this issue here. You can find a video of the hearing here.

Standing with Ukraine

The past few weeks have been full of harrowing images from Ukraine as Russia continues their violent invasion. In what has been a conflict of ever-growing atrocities, my heart goes out to the Ukrainian people, including the 17,000 Ukrainian-Americans who call Minnesota home. In a unanimous vote, the House voted to divest Minnesota’s state pension fund from Russia and codify Governor Walz’s Executive Order barring the state from contracting with Russian companies.

Prior to the invasion of Ukraine, the estimated worth of Minnesota's state pension fund investments in Russia was approximately $53 million. The legislation will also sanction Belarus for its complicity in the Russian invasion. Passing this bill is the right thing to do, and in joining numerous other democracies in a similar action, Minnesota is standing with Ukraine and adding to the international pressure that will hopefully soon lead to peace.

You can read more about this legislation here

Ukraine

Stay in Touch

I always appreciate hearing from you, so please continue to share your questions, ideas, and feedback. Feel free to reach out to me by email at rep.liz.boldon@house.mn or by phone at 651-296-9249. If you’d like to schedule a time to chat by phone or Zoom, I’m happy to do that as well. If you have a friend, neighbor, or relative who wants to receive updates about the Legislature, let them know they can subscribe to my email list here, and you can also follow my Facebook page here.

It’s an honor to represent our community. Please be safe and stay in touch.

With purpose and hope,

Liz
Rep.Liz Boldon, District 25B
533 State Office Building
St. Paul, MN 55155