 Dear Neighbors, I hope you’re doing well and enjoying one of my favorite seasons in Minnesota. With the sun out and the lilacs beginning to bloom, I’m pleased to share we've made significant strides forward in the Minnesota House to pass commonsense public safety measures.  Three Rivers Park Day at the MN State Capitol! I was able to hold this adorable 4-week-young sweet girl. Her name tag read “MO-40” but I called her “Sweetie”. Gun violence has affected all of us and the statistics are sobering. According to the CDC, 424 people die by guns in Minnesota every year. 79% of those are suicides and 18% are homicides. According to Everytown for Gun Safety, firearms are the leading cause of death for children and teens (ages 1-19) in the United States. Every year, 19,000 children and teens are shot and killed or wounded and approximately 3 million are exposed to gun violence. These tragedies are preventable and we can save more lives with the strong gun violence prevention measures we advanced this week. Early this week, we passed legislation to require reporting of lost or stolen firearms within 48 hours after they are known to be lost. If we can prevent gun trafficking, assist in recovering lost or stolen guns, and make firearm owners more accountable for their weapons, we can give our law enforcement another tool to help keep our communities safer and free of gun violence. We also passed legislation strengthening Minnesota’s laws around straw purchases, which occur when someone buys a firearm for another individual ineligible to purchase or possess them. H.F. 2609 updates the state’s straw purchasing law to increase the penalty from a gross misdemeanor to a felony.  H.F. 4300 requires the safe storage of firearms, an important step in preventing access by children, those contemplating suicide, and others who should not have access to guns. This bill requires firearms be stored either unloaded and equipped with a locking device or placed in a locked firearm storage unit (e.g. a gun safe) or a locked gun room, where it may be either loaded or unloaded. The safe storage of firearms will save lives. All of us- our kids, our hometown heroes, our neighbors, and loved ones- deserve to be safe in our state and this legislation is a step in the right direction. Budget Bill ProgressThe House continues to debate and pass supplemental budget and policy bills on the floor, covering important issues such as education, labor, housing, the environment, and more. Our work this year builds on last year’s historic successes and works to improve the lives of working and middle class Minnesotans. Recently, the House has passed: - A broadly bipartisan bill investing $240 million in our outdoors, clean water, parks and trails, and cultural heritage from the Legacy Amendment fund.
- A K-12 Education bill that boosts resources for the READ Act to improve literacy, moves forward solutions for student wellbeing, and enhances support for teachers.
- An Environment and Natural Resources bill with new investments in tree planting, improving air quality, holding repeat polluters accountable, and tackling solid waste and recycling.
- A Children and Families bill that reforms our child protection system and builds on historic investments in economic support for families, food security, and emergency shelter.
- A Transportation, Labor, and Housing bill that invests in railroad safety and public transit, enhances worker rights and safety, improves housing stability for renters and seniors, and funds homelessness prevention.
We also passed a Pensions and Retirement bill with bipartisan support, which prioritizes educators’ retirement security, improves our pension systems’ health, and strengthens the benefits retirees can expect. Keep in TouchPlease continue to reach out anytime at rep.lucy.rehm@house.mn.gov or 651-296-5066 with questions or input. I’m always happy to help provide assistance if you need it. Have a great weekend! In community, Lucy |