Friends and Neighbors,
As we near the halfway point of the legislative session, committee hearings are getting longer, more bills are being heard, and we’re beginning to set the framework for our new state budget. It’s a lot of work, but I’m grateful for every opportunity to discuss our progress- like the recent event hosted by my colleague, Rep. María Isa Pérez-Vega.
It’s always a joy to speak to the community about what we’ve accomplished and the work that needs to be done. We had a lot of hard conversations on community healing and access to community resources and investment in our youth afterschool programs. Thank you to everyone that joined us for this event, and regardless of whether you made it, you can always contact my office at 651-296-5158 or rep.samakab.hussein@house.mn.gov. Be sure to also “like” my official State Representative Facebook page.
Here’s the latest from the Minnesota House:
The Minnesota Transportation Museum
On Saturday, March 11, I had the wonderful opportunity to speak at the historic Twin Tracks Exhibit Dedication. I joined The Minnesota Transportation Museum and dedicated advocates to celebrate the career, lives, stories and legacies of African American railway workers in the 20th century.
We are living in times when all Americans need to be recognized for what they bring to our nation and our communities, and that includes recognizing those who came before us. It is imperative our children and community learn about the significant impact African American railway workers had on building the infrastructure of Minnesota and contributions to our state’s history. I commend the Minnesota Transportation Museum and the Minnesota Historical Society for investing money, time and effort into the preservation of the important history. I am proud that the stories of Minnesota’s African American railway workers are being preserved here, at the Jackson Street Roundhouse. It is an honor to learn more about our unsung heroes and the immense innovation they contributed to our state. In the Minnesota Legislature, we are working hard to continue building on the foundation put in place by Minnesotans of the last century and before.
The Twin Cities headquartered three transcontinental railways constructed in the 1880s that transported passengers and goods to the east or west coasts. In the early 1900s, when many other businesses refused to hire African Americans, the Pullman Company, a railway car manufacturer, became the largest employer of Black men in the nation. African American workers helped build the railroad systems and provided services to passengers. The Minnesota Transportation Museum is taking the initiative to tell their stories by creating a new exhibit opening called “Twin Tracks.”
Private College Day on the Hill
Today, I was again inspired by our future generation of world leaders. I meet with students from different private colleges for Private College Day on the Hill. We had a deep conversation about the interworking at the Capitol, how to advocate for your community, the pathway for making changes to systems that have traditionally harmed BIPOC communities.
Thank you to the students for your curiosity, energy, and wisdom! I look forward to seeing these faces in the halls at the Capitol soon.
Advocates at the Capitol
This week, we had several advocates across a diverse population come to the Capitol to advocate for themselves and their communities. I had the chance to speak with several groups and they all shared a similar sentiment about the need for accessible resources. Many of our non-profit organizations led by BIPOC groups are investing in their own programs and exacerbating their resources to support people in their communities. It breaks my heart to hear of the trials and tribulations our Minnesotans are going through on a daily basis. I am committed to fighting for equitable access to funding and increasing investments in our BIPOC communities.
Minnesota Zoological Garden
On Wednesday, March 15, the Legacy Committee members and I had real live snakes and wildlife visitors. Thank you to Rep. Robert Bierman (DFL) District: 56A, for your work to increase funding for the Minnesota Zoo.
Investing in Local Jobs and Projects
Last session, a bipartisan agreement was reached on the framework of legislation to invest in local jobs and projects throughout Minnesota, but like many important proposals, Republican leadership chose to walk away instead of completing this work.
Efforts to deliver on that legislation never stopped for DFLers, and now the Minnesota House has taken the first bipartisan step in finishing the business of 2022 by approving nearly $1.9 billion in investments for local jobs and projects throughout the state.
The package of legislation we passed addresses hundreds of critical infrastructure projects that have gone unfunded for too long, including many in our community. There are leaky roofs in state buildings, an outdated campus chemistry laboratory, unstable riverbanks, kids taking unsafe routes to schools, housing that needs to be built for our most vulnerable and failing wastewater infrastructure. The bill also takes great strides to invest in Black, Indigenous, and Communities of Color - communities too often left behind when it comes to state investments.
These and other projects are crucial to communities throughout the state, and inflation is only causing them to go up higher in cost the longer we delay. This legislation requires a supermajority to pass, meaning the Senate, like the House, will need Republican support to get this funding over the finish line.
I hope you’ll join me in calling on Senate Republicans to swiftly pass this legislation. We need to finish the work of 2022 so we can move on to the business of 2023.
You can read more about this legislation and the path ahead here.
The Pathway Home Act
he legislation significantly increases funding to critical state programs supporting shelter providers across Minnesota in their direct response and service to Minnesotans who are currently unsheltered.
The Pathway Home Act invests $150 million through 2028 to create new brick-and-mortar shelters throughout Minnesota to ensure more people can receive services and housing regardless of their background or zip code. The bill offers a strong foundation for the transformative work we continue to do to keep our future generations of Minnesotans housed.
Minnesota Indian Family Preservation Act
Last week, the Minnesota House unanimously passed the Minnesota Indian Family Preservation Act, protecting Indigenous children and ensuring they continue to have a lifeline to their culture.
There’s a dark, ugly history around separating children from their tribal nations, and this legislation is an important part of having honest, educational conversations about the experiences of Indigenous people. The erasure of Indigenous people and Tribal Nations isn’t only in our past; it is firmly in our present.
You can read more about this bill, which is now on its way to Governor Walz’s desk, here.
Keep in Touch
Please don’t hesitate to reach out anytime with input, or questions, or to let me know how I can be of assistance at rep.samakab.hussein@house.mn.gov or 651-296-5158. Be sure to ‘like’ and follow my new Facebook page.
Thank you for the honor of serving our community.
Sincerely,
Rep. Samakab Hussein