Dear Neighbors,

I hope this email finds you and your family safe and healthy. Last week, Governor Walz announced a plan to deliver $841 million in federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding to Minnesota’s counties and cities. Under the formula, the city of Saint Paull will receive approximately $23.5 million. Once the Legislative Advisory Commission approves the plan, funds will be distributed on a rolling basis beginning this week. While experiencing the impact of COVID-19, our local governments keep working to deliver the services residents count on, and this funding will go a long way to ensure they can continue to do so. Here’s an update from the Capitol.

Police Accountability

The images of George Floyd’s murder – with the lack of humanity, emotion, and care on display that day – will be etched into our memories for a long time. Our state, nation, and world witnessed what African Americans, Indigenous people, and people from communities of color have dealt with for generations. Bold, systemic change within law enforcement – including real accountability for bad police officers who do bad things – is the only way to ensure every single Minnesotan can go home at the end of the day and be safe in their community.

During the recent legislative special session, the House approved the Minnesota Police Accountability Act of 2020. The racial justice and police accountability legislation was authored by members of the People of Color and Indigenous (POCI) Caucus, which I chair. The bill had three distinct goals: reclaim community oversight, reform accountability, and reimagine public safety. You can read a fact sheet about the legislation here.

Unfortunately, the Senate Republican Majority walked away from their job and adjourned the special session. They refused to consider the bold solutions we desperately need, and wouldn’t go further than their handful of half measures that didn’t address the core problems which allowed what happened to George Floyd to be possible in the first place. Senate Republicans have a duty to resume these critical discussions right now, or status quo systems that have failed Minnesotans for generations will continue to prevail. The POCI Caucus will keep working to deliver the overdue change our communities are demanding. Rep. Carlos Mariani and I authored this op-ed in today’s Star Tribune.

If you can join us, tomorrow night at 5pm in Maple Grove at the Town Green Bandshell the POCI Caucus is holding a Town Hall Meeting about police accountability. More information is available here.

PROMISE Act

Tonight, Tuesday, June 30, at 5:00 p.m. you’re invited to attend a community forum on the PROMISE Act – comprehensive legislation to help businesses rebuild and recover from the recent civil unrest that impacted the University Avenue corridor and other areas in the Twin Cities. Many of the businesses impacted were Black, immigrant, and communities of color-owned. PROMISE stands for Providing Resources, Opportunity and Maximizing Investments in Striving Entrepreneurs. The event is taking place in the ballroom at Plaza Verde (1516 E Lake St, Minneapolis, MN 55407). Feel free to RSVP on Facebook here.

The House passed this much-needed package of solutions during the recent special session. While we keep working to make transformative criminal justice and police accountability changes, we must invest in the corridors that have given so many entrepreneurs from communities of color the opportunity to thrive and contribute to our cultural fabric as Minnesotans. I recently appeared on the cable channel Newsy to discuss our rebuilding efforts.

Special Session Accomplishments

While I wish we would have been able to reach agreements on critical items like police accountability reform and the PROMISE Act, lawmakers were able to come together and enact some important legislation in the special session. We approved a bill to deliver $62.5 million in relief to some of our state’s smallest businesses – those with 50 employees or fewer – that have been impacted by COVID-19. Many of these businesses have struggled to access relief from the federal government. Grants will be awarded by lottery and applications are available now through Thursday, July 2. You can find more information and apply here.

The legislature also approved the Human Services Policy bill, a package which I was chief author of in the House. Many of the provisions in this legislation are highly technical, but are important for Minnesotans and will help them navigate our human services system. Among many other items, the legislation includes provisions such as:

• Numerous Early Childhood provisions;
• Changes to the Family Assets for Independence in Minnesota (FAIM) program;
• Clarification of the Medical Assistance excess income standard;
• Several Department of Human Services (DHS) policy proposals;
• A comprehensive revision of Minnesota’s civil commitment language; and
• A reorganization of the Maltreatment of Minors Act (MOMA)

Other victories include passage of the Education Policy bill, which included a number of important provisions for Minnesota students, such as a requirement for all teachers to receive mental health training, a prohibition on the suspension of children in pre-K programs, a requirement for vaping prevention instruction, and more. Another bright spot was a bill to increase child care assistance program rates – the first in many years – which will help childcare providers during this difficult time.

Minnesota’s COVID-19 Dashboard remains a great source for accurate, updated information, and the Stay Safe webpage covers the resources available to the public as we work to reopen Minnesota safely.

To share your feedback or if I can be of assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact me directly at rep.rena.moran@house.mn or call me at 651-296-5158. It’s an honor to represent you.

Sincerely,

Rena Moran
State Representative