Dear neighbors,
Today, as we celebrate International Women’s Day, I am proud to share the progress that we’ve made at the Capitol this week.
Equal Rights Amendment
Everyone deserves full equality under the law. Last night the House approved a bill (HF 13) to allow Minnesotans to vote to add the Equal Rights Amendment to our state constitution. For me, this issue speaks to our basic humanity. The amendment simply reads “equality under the law shall not be abridged or denied on account of gender.” I am very pleased to finally be having this discussion about declaring equality under the law for all Minnesotans.
You can watch the full discussion of the bill here or view my remarks here.
Contraception Access
It’s crucial that we protect women’s access to health care here in Minnesota. For the majority of women, contraceptives are part of their care at some point in their life. I introduced the Protect Access to Contraception Act (HF 963) to ensure that women can access contraceptives, counseling, and follow-up services at low or no cost. Listen here to learn more about this bill.
Minnesota Diabetes Advocacy Day
Tragically, Alec Smith was a bright, healthy, and hardworking 26-year-old Minnesotan who died because he couldn’t afford the insulin he needed to manage his diabetes. Alec’s family have become powerful voices for diabetes advocacy, and I was proud to join them and hundreds of others on the steps of the Capitol to rally for affordable insulin. Insulin is air to a person with diabetes, and high prices should never be a barrier to people’s access to live-giving medication.
I introduced legislation (HF 284) to bring greater transparency to insulin prices. The Minnesota Department of Health would review the price of insulin, determine whether insulin manufacturers are forcing excessive cost increases upon Minnesotans, and provide reimbursements when necessary. The Commerce Committee heard and passed this bill and others to help people with diabetes access the medication they need. You can listen to the public hearing here.
Limiting Tobacco Harms
The use of highly addictive e-cigarettes has skyrocketed in recent years. The Minnesota Clean Indoor Air Act protects employees and the public from the hazards of secondhand smoke, but it currently doesn’t include e-cigarettes. My proposal (HF 349) would change that, eliminating smoking of e-cigarettes in public places, places of employment, on public transportation, and at public meetings. This bill recently received its second public hearing.
Advisory Commission Applications
The City of Eagan is currently accepting applications for five advisory groups. Residents can apply to serve on commissions dedicated to planning, parks and recreation, airport relations, energy and environment, or watershed management. I served on the Advisory Parks & Recreation Commission for many years and encourage anyone who’s interested in being more involved to apply. It’s a great way to serve the community and be part of local decision making!
Learn more about these commissions and apply here.
Eagan Tree Sale
Trees are a hallmark of our beautiful city, and every two years Eagan hosts a tree sale. From March 11 to April 15, trees can be purchased online or at the Eagan Parks and Recreation office. More information is available here.
I always appreciate hearing from constituents, so please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Laurie Halverson
State Representative