Skip to main content Skip to office menu Skip to footer
Capital IconMinnesota Legislature

Legislative News and Views - Rep. Kathy Lohmer (R)

Back to profile

MINNESOTA'S FOOD SUPPLY REMAINS SAFE

Friday, May 8, 2015

Due to the recent avian flu outbreak that has been destroying turkey and chicken flocks in Minnesota, the Minnesota House has approved legislation recently that allows state agencies to respond, as well as ensure that our food supply remains safe.

In separate bills, the House has signed off on appropriating $900,000 to state agencies to fight the problem immediately, as well as setting aside $7 million in order to help them respond to avian flu over the next two years.

Though ours is not a farming legislative district, there's no doubt that turkey and chicken production are important to our state's economy, which is why this legislation is so critical.

It's also worth noting that, despite this outbreak, our food supply remains safe. It cannot be stressed often enough that consumers should not abandon poultry while doing their grocery shopping. Turkey and chicken are safe to eat, and statewide poultry growers need your support now more than ever.

The Minnesota House has also approved my legislation that creates the Military Spouses and Family Appreciation Day. The bill has no fiscal costs and would not be recognized as an official holiday, but it would designate the Sunday prior to Memorial Day as Military Spouses and Family Appreciation Day, and each year the governor would issue a proclamation honoring this observance. To me, this is the least we can do to honor the sacrifices of the families of our military personnel.

The anti-SLAPP bill, which stands for Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation, that I'm carrying has been debated by the Minnesota Senate and could be up for a House floor debate in the coming days. This legislation would prevent citizens from being sued if they are reporting a crime.

Finally, I was pleased to have been named as a member of the public safety finance conference committee. Both the House and Senate recently passed legislation that would fund programs relating to public safety over the next two years. Because they were not identical, a conference committee consisting of five senators and five representatives will iron out the differences between the proposals and craft a compromise plan that can be approved by both legislative bodies. It's an honor to be appointed to this conference committee and I'm hopeful we're able to complete our work quickly.

As always, I am interested in your feedback. Please feel free to contact me by e-mail at Rep.Kathy.Lohmer@House.MN or contact my office at 651-296-4244. You can also send mail to my office address: 501 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155.

Recent News for Rep. Kathy Lohmer