Dear Neighbors,
It has been a tough couple of weeks for many as we once again grieve lives lost to gun violence in our country. There are many emotions that surround trauma of this magnitude and it can sometimes seem hopeless as our country continues to be an outlier when it comes to tragic events like what happened in Uvalde and Buffalo in the past two weeks.
Any conversation about public safety must include addressing gun violence at all levels. Guns are now the leading cause of death for children in our country. We do not have to accept this as inevitable. No single policy can prevent all tragedies but policy changes at the federal, state and local levels can prevent harm and death from gun violence. I will continue to push for common sense laws which will help keep everyone safe in their communities.
End of Regular Legislative Session
We ended the 2022 Legislative Session and adjourned Monday as required by our state Constitution. There remains much work to be completed on Education, Public Safety, Transportation, Health, Human Services, Long Term Care, Child Care, Bonding, and a Tax bill. Unfortunately, the Senate Majority walked away from completing this important work. I am hopeful that a short special session can be called so we can pass the necessary bills to reinvest our historic budget surplus back into Minnesotans.
Despite this disappointing end to the session, several bills were passed in time. Here is an article from Star Tribune detailing what got done.
On May 23, House members that will not be returning gave their goodbye. I always enjoy listening to these speeches. You can listen here. We are losing a huge number at the end of this year and not everyone is included in the program.
Frontline Worker Update
The Frontline Worker Pay Application system is anticipated to be open June 8 through July 22, 2022. Eligibility criteria for Frontline Worker Pay are set forth in the Frontline Worker Pay law. I encourage you to see if you are eligible at frontlinepay.mn.gov. If you are unsure if you are eligible, you should review the law and guidance and truthfully fill in and submit the application during the 45-day application period.
Additional COVID-19 Tests Available
Testing remains a vital piece of our work to defeat the COVID-19 pandemic. This week, the Biden administration announced a new round of free COVID-19 tests is available. Each order includes eight tests (four packages of two tests each). Sign up to receive the free tests from the USPS here. If you haven’t yet done so, it’s not too late to get your COVID-19 vaccine, or if you’re eligible, a booster shot. The vaccine is safe, effective (especially against serious illness and hospitalization), and free. Find a location to get your shot here.
Stay in Touch
Please feel free to reach out to me by email at rep.sandra.masin@house.mn or by phone at 651-296-3533. If you have a friend, neighbor, or relative who wants to receive updates about the Legislature, let them know they can subscribe to my email list here. You can also follow me on Facebook here. It’s an honor to represent our community. Please stay in touch.
Sincerely,
Sandra Masin
State Representative