Dear friends,
I hope you had a wonderful holiday season with friends and family, and that your year is off to a great start! There are a couple of things I would like to touch on as we start 2016.
REAL ID Update
Earlier today Minnesota was given a time line by the Department of Homeland Security for REAL ID enforcement. We have been told that the earliest that REAL ID-compliant licenses would be required to fly in the United States is January 22nd, 2018. States may receive extensions after this date, but all travelers must have a REAL ID-compliant license or a different form of acceptable identification to fly domestically starting October 1, 2020.
In essence, you don't need to worry about REAL ID having an impact on your travel plans for the next two years at least. This is good news and means the legislature has ample time to continue efforts to comply with REAL ID during the upcoming regular session. I am hopeful that we can find a solution that ensures that your data is protected on the new REAL IDs, and respects our state’s rights to legislate for its citizens.
Dakota County Regional Chamber Coffee Break
I had a wonderful time visiting with folks at the Dakota County Regional Chamber Coffee Break hosted by Paul Eggen State Farm in Rosemount. It was really nice to chat with everyone about their hopes for the upcoming session and what to expect in the legislature for 2016.
TED Grant Award
This week, Governor Dayton announced that the County Road 42/Highway 52 interchange project has been selected to receive a Transportation Economic Development (TED) Grant for $3.1 million. This grant was one of several awarded to throughout the state specifically for building transportation infrastructure. I have also introduced legislation requesting bonding dollars for this project in our district; I am hoping this bill will be heard by the Capital Investment Committee this coming session.
For more information on the TED Grant, you can use the following link:
http://mn.gov/governor/newsroom/pressreleasedetail.jsp?id=102-177025
As always, please don't hesitate to contact me with your comments, questions, and concerns. Email me any time at rep.anna.wills@house.mn or call 651-296-4306. You can also follow my updates on Facebook at www.facebook.com/repannawills and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/annacwills.
Have a great weekend!
Sincerely,
Anna Wills
State Representative, District 57B