Dear Neighbors,
I hope you’re looking forward to temperatures warming us as much as I am in the coming days! With spring upon us, Daylight Saving Time also begins this weekend. As you turn your clocks ahead one hour, it’s also a good idea to check your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detector, and if necessary, change the batteries.
Delivering Drought Relief
Yesterday, the Minnesota House of Representatives approved a package of legislation, of which I was the chief author, to help livestock farmers, specialty crop producers, and communities harmed by 2021’s historic drought. The proposal provides grants, loans, and other direct relief for farmers with the funding targeted to small operations unable to access federal crop insurance.
On top of challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic, last year's drought was devastating to Minnesota's farmers and ranchers. They play a critical role not just in our state economy, but toward ensuring we all have healthy food to put on the table. With the growing season just around the corner, they deserve financial relief right now. We’ve been listening to farmers, and these important investments reflect what they’ve requested so they can recover from these difficulties and once again have the opportunity to thrive.
Supporting our Hometown Heroes
Yesterday, the House also passed a bill to update the Hometown Heroes Assistance Program. Our firefighters face alarmingly high incidences of cancer, cardiac issues, and emotional trauma. The new program, which lawmakers enacted last year, provides firefighters access to education, prevention, and care to address cardiac conditions, emotional trauma or cancer diagnoses. The Hometown Heroes Assistance Program is the most comprehensive in the nation of its kind, and provides firefighters with free access to emotional trauma resources, up-to-$20,000 from critical illness insurance policies, and ongoing health and wellness training.
Prior to the program’s enactment, Minnesota was ranked 45th out of 50 states when it comes to investing in the fire service. I was proud to support this initiative for the heroes in our communities who make incredible sacrifices to keep us safe.
Stepping Aside
I recently announced my plans to not seek reelection this coming November. I want to give my heartfelt thanks to the people of Carlton County and the surrounding areas who gave me the opportunity to serve our communities at the State Capitol over the last decade. It’s been a tremendous honor to be a part of some important work at the Legislature, but it’s time for a new voice to step up in this role.
It’s not quite “goodbye” yet though. I’ll still be your State Representative through the end of the year, and we still have a great deal of important work left before us this session. In the time I have left at the Capitol, I remain committed to helping ensure all Minnesotans can have a brighter future. To that end, I encourage you to keep contacting me with your input or if I can ever be of help.
Stay in Touch
To stay up to date with what’s happening at the State Capitol, the Minnesota House Public Information Services office has a variety of timely, non-partisan resources. You can subscribe to Session Daily which provides regular updates of legislative activity, watch live and archived floor sessions or committee meetings on YouTube, and check out informative publications with information about the legislature and our state government.
It’s extremely important to me to receive input and ideas from those I have the honor to represent. Please don’t hesitate to contact me with your viewpoints, feedback, or if I can ever be of assistance. My email address is rep.mike.sundin@house.mn and phone number at the Capitol is 651-296-4308. Feel free to be in touch any time.
Sincerely,
Mike Sundin