SAINT PAUL, Minn. – This afternoon, the Minnesota House of Representatives enacted a package of legislation to assist Minnesotans coping with the COVID-19 pandemic and its related disruptions. Rep. Julie Sandstede (DFL – Hibbing) supported the bill, the text of which can be found here.
“The legislation we approved today on a bipartisan basis empowers our response to this pandemic in so many ways including investments in child care, economic security, agriculture and our veterans,” Rep. Sandstede said. “I’m encouraged the Minnesota House continues to work in a bipartisan manner to protect Minnesotans’ health and economic wellbeing. Our legislative response doesn’t stop with this bill though, and I’m committed to supporting other solutions, including those for our students and educators.”
As a result of Senate Republican opposition, a proposal supported by House DFLers to guarantee payment for hourly school workers during the pandemic was not included in the legislation. The proposal would have required school districts and charter schools to compensate all employees for days school is cancelled for reasons related to COVID-19.
The legislation approved today includes, among other things, $200 million toward the newly created newly created state COVID-19 Fund, $9 million to the Department of Human Services for food security, $26.5 million for the Emergency Service Grants program to provide shelter for Minnesota’s homeless population, $30 million in one-time grants to child care providers, $10 million for small business loans, financial relief for Minnesota’s workers, and the necessary flexibility for state agencies to respond to the pandemic.
“Bus drivers, educational assistants, food workers, and other support staff all provide invaluable work before, during, and after the school day, and it’s unacceptable for them to be left behind,” Rep. Sandstede said. “While it’s deeply disappointing that Republicans in the Senate chose not to make these workers a priority today, I’m committed to keep working on this issue to help prevent financial hardship for them during an already challenging situation.”
Additional information on the Minnesota House’s efforts to address COVID-19 can be found here.