Yesterday, the Minnesota House of Representatives voted 126-0 to direct the State Board of Investment (SBI) to divest all of Minnesota’s investments from Russia and Belarus. The bill, HF 4165, will now be voted on in the Minnesota Senate. HF 4165 is expected to pass in the Senate as well, and be signed into law by Governor Tim Walz.
In addition to divesting from Russia and Belarus, this bill requires state agencies to terminate all contracts with both countries. Furthermore, all contracts between state agencies and any companies, institutions, or entities that are headquartered in either nation must also be terminated.
I voted for HF 4165 because I believe it was the appropriate thing to do. We needed to stand up and say that we will not tolerate Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In the end, we need to hold nations accountable for their actions. If a nation goes outside the bounds of the law, then there will be repercussions. Our united, bipartisan vote in the Minnesota House of Representatives was a clear message to that point.
Finally, let us continue to pray for the Ukrainian people as they fight for the defense and freedom of their nation.
Tim Miller