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Dear Neighbors,
With the weather getting colder, there is plenty to look forward to, including winter activities that make up much of our fabric as Minnesotans. Unfortunately for many in our community, winter can pose difficulties when energy bills start piling up. No family should be left out in the cold, and programs are available to make sure this doesn’t happen. For more information, please visit the Minnesota Department of Commerce’s website here.
Deer Hunting and Chronic Wasting Disease
With the firearms deer hunting opener tomorrow, many of us will take part in a hunting tradition that goes back generations. Something to keep in mind this season is the threat of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in deer, and the impact it’ll have on hunters. CWD is a neurological condition spread animal-to-animal between cervid species that slowly and progressively leads to brain degeneration. It is always fatal with no known cure.
This past legislative session, my colleagues and I took some bipartisan steps to combat the spread of CWD, such as additional inspections and fencing requirements for deer farms, funding for further research and new diagnostic testing, establishment of an “adopt-a-dumpster” program for dedicated carcass disposal, and new protocols when CWD is discovered within a herd. Before heading out to hunt tomorrow, consider reading the information the Minnesota DNR has available on CWD testing and management zones. You can also find more information in my recent op-ed in the Pine Journal.
2020 High School Page Program
Modeled after the United States Congress Page Program, the Minnesota House of Representatives High School Page Program was established in 1975. Today, the program remains dedicated to providing students with meaningful opportunities, and has evolved into one of the top page programs in the nation.
The Sergeant’s Office is currently accepting applications for the 2020 Legislative Session, and I highly encourage all interested high school juniors to apply. You can find more information on the program and how to apply on the Minnesota House webpage. The deadline to apply is November 21st.
Investing in Safe Schools
Minnesotans deserve safe and secure schools, and protecting our students is of the highest priority in our work at the Legislature. As part of Minnesota’s new education budget passed earlier this year, over $30 million in funds was made available for Minnesota’s schools at the beginning of the month as part of the 2020 Safe Schools Supplemental Aid.
The 2020 State Schools Supplemental Aid is a one-time appropriation included with school districts’ Integrated Department of Education Aid System (IDEAS) payment. This investment will better ensure that our community is able to address the unique safety needs of our schools – such as mental health counseling, facility security enhancements, peace officer liaisons, and other safety provisions.
Minnesota Values Project
The Minnesota Values Project is an ongoing partnership between Minnesotans and the Legislature. We’re working together to create a shared vision for the future of our state, and your input is an important part of this process! You can let us know what’s important to you, your community, and Minnesota by taking a quick survey here.
Stay in Touch
The Legislature is adjourned until February 11, 2020, but feel free to reach out during the interim with your questions, comments, or solutions on how we can make our community and Minnesota stronger. You can contact me at rep.mike.sundin@house.mn, or at (651) 296-4308. I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Mike Sundin
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