Legislative Update: February 25, 2022
Dear Neighbors,
I hope you are all doing well! I’m reaching out with updates on what my colleagues and I have been up to at the Capitol, where we’re advancing legislation to address housing insecurity, support students and teachers, and ensure frontline workers are acknowledged for their important contributions to our community throughout the pandemic.
Here’s an update for this week:
Protecting Immigrant Youth
My bill protecting immigrant youth recently passed the House Judiciary Committee by a unanimous bipartisan vote. This bill creates a guardianship for certain at-risk immigrant youth and addresses a misalignment between state and federal law that bars youth between the ages of 18 and 21 from federal protections they should be eligible for. I am pleased that this bill has received bipartisan support to protect these uniquely vulnerable young people in our community!
Frontline Worker Bonus Pay
On Thursday the House passed legislation providing additional bonus payments to at least 667,000 frontline workers who have spent the past two years protecting our communities during a global pandemic. Frontline workers have put their own lives on the line to treat COVID patients, teach our children, and so much more. The bill now goes to the Senate, where I hope our colleagues will join us in putting these workers and their families first.
You can watch the entire House floor debate here.
Affordable Housing
Adequate and affordable housing is a right, and every Minnesotan deserves a safe and stable home. Last week, the House DFL introduced a plan to provide more homes, reduce housing costs, and provide pathways from homelessness. The plan would also invest $300 million in American Rescue Plan funding to ensure renters and landlords who have experienced income loss due to the pandemic have assistance through June 1, 2022.
Policing in Minnesota
Minnesotans are concerned about public safety. Amid a national and local rise in crime and gun violence, the House DFL has been partnering with community members, law enforcement, and local officials at all levels to keep people safe. Last week, we announced a new proposal to recruit and retain police officers who are underrepresented in the profession and who have a proven commitment to serving the community. The proposal would utilize the Minnesota State system to provide intensive, comprehensive coursework and training for highly qualified college degree holders and high school graduates.
To improve community confidence in law enforcement, program applicants must submit to a thorough background search, including searches by local, state, and federal agencies, to disclose the existence of any criminal record or conduct which would adversely affect the performance of the candidate of peace officer duties. Applications would be reviewed by a selection committee convened by the commissioner of the Department of Public Safety, to include representatives of all of Minnesota’s major law enforcement organizations and be chaired by the POST Board’s executive director.
How We Can Welcome Everyone
More than 700 Afghan refugees have arrived in Minnesota since September, and we have some amazing resettlement agencies setting up housing and supplies for our newest neighbors. This week, I dropped off some donations for an Afghan family with children in the Columbia Heights Public School District. If you can, please consider donating, volunteering, or taking some time to welcome these families.
Ramsey County Service Centers
Ramsey County Service Centers are offering in-person assistance with a wide variety of county services, including Navigator assistance with enrollment information connections to county programs, computer access, and secure document drop boxes. Residents may visit any center and do not need to travel to a specific building for certain services. All sites are following public health guidelines for COVID-19.
Here is an interactive website with Service Center locations.
The types of services include:
End Period Poverty for Minnesota’s Students
Thank you to everyone who submitted statements regarding my bill to end period poverty in Minnesota. The House Education Policy Committee recently passed the with bipartisan votes. My bill requires schools to provide free menstrual products, and includes funding to support this critical expenditure. No student should miss school because they can't afford menstrual products. This bill’s next stop is the House Education Finance Committee.
Stay in Touch
If you have questions, ideas, or feedback that you’d like to share, please don’t hesitate to reach out. You can email me at rep.sandra.feist@house.mn or call (651) 296-4331.
Sincerely,
Sandra Feist
State Representative