Dear Neighbors,
I hope this message finds you and your family healthy. Families, schools, and businesses are still struggling with COVID-19 as the Omicron variant rapidly spreads. Above all, our health care system is facing increased pressure, and nurses, doctors, and other health care workers are overworked and exhausted. Last week, the House Health Committee held a hearing to hear their experiences and learn about how we can better support them through this incredibly challenging period. Please get your COVID-19 vaccine (or booster shot if you’re eligible), wear a mask in public places (preferably a high-quality mask like a KN95 or N95), and get tested if you have symptoms.
Yesterday, the United States Postal Service made available four COVID-19 rapid antigen tests per household. Sign up to order them here, and they will be shipped later this month.
Virtual Town Hall Meeting
The 2022 Legislative Session begins January 31. In advance of the session, this Saturday, January 22 at 10:30 a.m., you’re invited to join Rep. Liz Olson, Sen. Jen McEwen, along with me and your Duluth neighbors for a Virtual Town Hall Meeting. We will meet on Zoom, and you can pre-register and submit your questions here. I hope you can join us!
Our state is continuing to face significant challenges and profound uncertainty remains, but by recognizing the barriers people face, and working together to remove them, we can help deliver the brighter future everyone deserves.
Home Heating Tips
We’re once again headed to an extremely cold stretch of weather this season. The Minnesota Department of Commerce has assembled some helpful tips to keep your home warm while saving money. You can conserve energy by turning your furnace down a few degrees, adding plastic insulation kits to your windows, and adjusting your heat registers. Additionally, if you’re struggling with energy bills, Minnesota’s Energy Assistance Program can help.
Comment on Mining the BWCA
I’ve heard from many community members concerned about protecting the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and the potential impact of copper nickel mining on the watershed. The Bureau of Land Management is considering a mineral withdrawal of the land surrounding the BWCAW, which in effect would result in a 20-year moratorium on new mining in the area.
You have the opportunity to make your voice heard. Share your comments by emailing BLM_ES_Lands@blm.gov (you must include "Superior National Forest Withdrawal Application" in the subject line). The deadline is 11:59 p.m. tonight.
Please continue to stay in touch with your viewpoints, ideas, or if I can ever be of assistance. Thank you for the honor to work as your public servant.
Sincerely,
Jen Schultz
State Representative