Dear Neighbors,
As we are moving towards the final days of session I am working hard at the capitol to make sure our state has the resources to get through this pandemic once we adjourn. Working on the frontlines I know just how tragic this pandemic could become if we let down our guard. As Minnesotans, we have done a really good job at fighting this virus, and if we keep looking out for one another I know we will continue to defeat this virus.
Stay at Home Order Extended with Some Exceptions
Governor Walz announced that the stay at home order will be extended until May 18th, with some important alterations to help more businesses conduct commerce safely. Staying at home is working, but Minnesota still needs some more time before we can take greater steps towards normalcy. Each and every one of you who have followed the order and practiced social distancing have bought Minnesota critical time. This time has allowed Minnesota to prepare the infrastructure necessary to fully manage COVID-19. As a result, we are able to continue making progress towards gradually and thoughtfully restoring normalcy to life in our state. You can watch the governor's full briefing here.
Starting Monday, all retail establishments will be able to return to work, provided they establish a safe process to do so through curbside pick-up or delivery. All businesses must establish a comprehensive, safe operating procedure to protect the health and wellbeing of employees and customers. There is a template available here for businesses if they wish to use the state's guidance as a resource, you can also click here for more information from the Minnesota Retailers Association. With this change to the existing restrictions on business operations, up to 30,000 Minnesotans will be able to return to work safely.
In consultation with, and at the urging of hospitals and ambulatory care centers, the state halted elective surgeries in order to preserve PPE supplies. Now that the state and healthcare providers have made significant progress in obtaining PPE supplies (although we continue to compete with other states in order to reach the capacity we need), we are beginning to ease into planning for the scaled provision of elective surgeries again. If you wish to make a comment on this process, please consult the link here.
DFL Taking Action to Ensure Economic Security for all Minnesotans
The House and Senate DFL outlined our COVID-19 economic security agenda this week, which focuses on the following priority. Follow along at the #WhoCaresForUs hashtag to see the stories of how many of these priorities would lift up the Minnesotans who are keeping the state runnings:
- Keeping Minnesotans safe in their homes with a $100 million investment in housing assistance
- Providing economic security for our education professionals by ensuring full pay for our hourly school employees
- Providing economic security for the personal care assistants who care for vulnerable Minnesotans through a well-deserved and long-overdue wage increase
- Keeping Minnesotans connected by ensuring all Minnesotans have access to the broadband they need to go online
Helping families make ends meet by using available federal funding to boost payments for low-income working Minnesotans in the Minnesota Family Investment Program
Unemployment for Self-Employed Minnesotans
The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development announced that it has started dispersing the initial pandemic unemployment assistance payments to self-employed, contract, and other workers in Minnesota who are not normally eligible for unemployment insurance benefits. If you are an eligible worker in these categories whose employment has been interrupted as a result of COVID-19, you can find instructions for how to apply for unemployment, and you can submit your application for unemployment insurance benefits, here.
If you have already applied, or did not follow these specific instructions when applying, you do not need to reapply for unemployment. MN DEED will be proactively reaching out to everyone regarding their eligibility. You will also receive the additional $600/week payment, and your unemployment payments will be backdated to when you first became eligible as a result of COVID-19.
Keep in touch!
Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions or concerns. It is very important that we work together to ensure that the best information is getting out to our communities. You can find my full contact information online at www.house.mn/56B.
Sincerely,
Rep. Alice Mann