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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Rob Ecklund (DFL)

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COVID-19 Update – May 1, 2020

Friday, May 1, 2020

Hello Northlanders,

I hope you and your family are doing well. It’s been another extremely busy week at the State Legislature. We continue to conduct our business remotely and many of us are participating online and over the phone. To stay informed, check out the resources from House Public Information Services, including Session Daily, which provides nonpartisan recaps of legislative activity. Also, if you haven’t yet done so, I invite you to “like” or “follow” me on Facebook for more frequent updates.


Investing in Broadband Development

broadband

My bill to invest in high-speed broadband development – including funding targeted to distance learning and telemedicine – is now headed to the House Floor after approval from the Ways and Means Committee this morning. The legislation is part of our COVID-19 Economic Security Agenda.

The legislation invests $10 million in the state’s Border-to-Border Broadband Grant Program to expand high-speed broadband, with the funding targeted to unserved areas. It also invests $8 million in a new Distance Learning Broadband Access Grant Program to provide students with the equipment necessary to access learning materials on the internet and reimburse school districts for costs to provide broadband access. Finally, it invests $2 million in the new Telemedicine Equipment Reimbursement Grant Program to reimburse health care providers and counties that purchase and install telemedicine equipment to provide COVID-19-related health care services.

COVID-19 has highlighted how broadband isn’t a technological luxury. Instead, a steady internet connection is something every student, family, and business should be able to rely on. The Border-to-Border Grant Program has been an effective tool to expand broadband to the areas that need it most. With the added investments targeted to distance learning and telemedicine, this bill will make significant progress to ensure more Minnesotans can get online. Read more about our package of solutions here.


Increasing PCA Wages

PCAs

Another important pillar to our economic security agenda delivers a 15 percent temporary rate increase for Personal Care Assistance (PCA) services. PCAs have a tough job, providing critical day-to-day services that enable people with disabilities and older adults to live in their homes and communities with dignity. Unfortunately, low wages make it extremely difficult to recruit and retain dedicated folks to perform this challenging work.

In addition to the temporary rate increase during the pandemic, the bill makes some other changes to strengthen the ability for vulnerable Minnesotans to get the services they deserve. Strengthening our PCA workforce is a long-term problem our state is facing, but this solution will help support them right now during their increased exposure to COVID-19.


Reminder: Respond to the Census

If you haven’t yet done so, now’s a good time to respond to the 2020 Census. So far, 66.2 percent of Minnesotans have responded, well ahead of the national average of 55.6 percent. Let’s keep it up! Census results directly impact federal funding in a variety of areas, including for hospitals. As we work to keep our health care infrastructure stable and support our frontline workers, it’s important to make sure every Minnesotan gets counted.

Click here for more information.


For up-to-date information about our efforts to fight the pandemic, continue to visit the state COVID-19 Dashboard and the House of Representatives website which also has links to helpful resources. If I can be of help, please contact me at rep.rob.ecklund@house.mn or 651-296-2190.

Please take care of yourself and your family.

Sincerely,

Rob Ecklund
State Representative