Dear Neighbors,
I hope you have been enjoying summer; it’s flying by too quickly. There are some sure signs that change is in the air, and fall is just around the corner. School is about to start for many young people, and I hope the students in your family will have an excellent academic year. Here is an update from the State Capitol.
Minnesota State Fair
The Minnesota State Fair begins tomorrow for 12 days of fun. I’ll be at the Minnesota House of Representatives booth from 10:00 a.m. – noon on Saturday, Aug. 26. If you plan to visit the Great Minnesota Get Together that day, be sure to swing by and say hello and take the House’s annual opinion survey. The booth is located inside the Education building.
UMD/NRRI
Last week many legislators from across Minnesota joined me for a visit to the Natural Resources Research Institute at UMD. It was great to hear about their innovative strategies focused on renewable energy, forest and land management, wildlife research, sulfate removal, invasive species and more.
I was particularly interested in their research being utilized in efforts to clean bodies of water, the use of wood waste for cleaner energy, selective forestry, Emerald Ash Borer (pictured above) prevention, and the importance of birds to the state. In Minnesota, birds provide more than $600 million of value toward pest control and tourism.
Back on May 30, I had the chance to join Sen. Erik Simonson, Rep. Liz Olson and Chancellor Lynn Black for an event at UMD speaking to students and the public about the importance of fully funding higher education. The House Majority’s budget this past session woefully underfunded the needs of both the U of M and Minnesota State systems, which will lead to tuition hikes and scaled back programming at campuses across the state. Minnesota has the dubious distinction of being ranked fifth in the nation for the average amount of student loan debt. In order for us to fully take advantage of higher education as an economic engine for our state, we must fully fund it.
On July 10, I took part in the groundbreaking of the Chemistry and Advanced Materials Science (CAMS) building on the UMD campus. Funding for this investment was included in the Legislature’s 2017 bonding bill. Construction of this facility is a tremendous step forward which will provide a modern space for training, research and classrooms.
Great Lakes Commission
An important gathering coming up in Duluth is the annual meeting of the Great Lakes Commission, taking place from September 18-20. This commission, of which I’m honored to be a member, gives many leaders throughout the Great Lakes region the ability to share perspectives on the common challenges facing many of our communities, including the ever-changing nature of the region’s economy and dealing with threats from a changing climate and invasive species. I’m looking forward to discussions about clean water infrastructure, conservation efforts in agriculture, and how the federal government may affect the future of the Great Lakes. More information about the commission can be found here.
Capital Investment Tour
From September 26-28, the Minnesota House Capital Investment Committee will tour northeast Minnesota. This committee is charged with crafting a bonding bill with investments in infrastructure throughout the state, and they are getting a firsthand look at proposals to potentially include in the bill next year. In the bonding package from this past session important investments in our area included those at the chemistry and advanced materials science building at UMD, the first phase of the Duluth Steam Plant conversion, and contamination cleanup in the St. Louis River corridor. Potential projects in and around Duluth for next year include a major renovation of Anderson Hall at UMD, phase two of the Steam Plant project, improvements at the St. Louis County Heritage & Arts Center, rehabilitation of the Duluth Harbor Sea Wall, and asset preservation funds for Glensheen.
Availability to Meet
As we head into the fall, I’d like to remind you that I’m available to meet here in Duluth to discuss issues important to you. While the legislative session is still just about six months away, it’s extremely valuable for me to stay engaged with folks throughout the year. I’m available to visit over coffee just about every day through December, so feel free to call or email me to set up a time. Otherwise, feel free to contact me any time with your feedback, concerns, or questions. It’s an honor to represent you in St. Paul.
Sincerely,
Jen Schultz
State Representative