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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Nels Pierson (R)

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Legislative update

Friday, April 3, 2020

Dear Neighbor,

It is important to stay informed as we work together to overcome the COVID-19 outbreak. A great number of resources are available to those who access them. I am happy to field the large number of inquiries coming to me from people who are looking for help. Below is a rundown of some key information I hope you will find beneficial:

Business program guide

I continue receiving questions from small-business owners who need help and advice during the COVID-19 outbreak. Here is a guide from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development with good information about what’s available at the state and federal levels.

Unemployment insurance 

This outbreak is coming with great consequences for workers and business owners. If you have issues with your unemployment insurance application, or questions about whether your business is eligible for a program, please contact DEED using the resources available on their website for the fastest and most accurate answers. You can visit this website to learn more about the Unemployment Insurance Program. For questions about whether you qualify for UI, how to apply and the process, please visit here. In addition, programs passed by the federal government may not yet be available — please keep checking the federal program websites for updates.

Ag. Workers and COVID-19

Planting season is soon upon us and I am watching closely to see what impacts COVID-19 has on the agriculture industry. We have a relatively brief window to get our planting done and need to do our best to make sure our chain of various supplies and services are intact so farmers can keep doing their work to provide the rest of us with food.

Here is a Preparing for sick agricultural workers and COVID-19 document from the Minnesota Department of Health. And, since we all know farmers already were going through tough times before the COVID-19 outbreak, here is a link with information from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture regarding resources for coping with farm and rural stress.

Census

Wednesday was Census Day and I encourage you to complete the Census soon, if you haven’t already done so.

You can respond online now at www.my2020Census.gov or call 844-330-2020. The Census Bureau also will mail a paper questionnaire to households in mid-April that have not responded online or by phone.

Your responses matter and the data collected will help determine where federal funds are spent and how our representation in government is allocated. For example, the results will inform how federal funding is allocated to more than 100 programs, including Medicaid, Head Start, block grants for community mental health services, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as SNAP. 

Visit these links for more information:

Gun stores are open 

Gun control groups have been using the COVID-19 pandemic to try to close gun stores and prevent citizens from exercising their Second Amendment rights and protecting their families. Fortunately, legislation House Republicans led to enactment in 2015 stipulates gun stores can remain open, and government is prohibited from seizing guns during a state of emergency.

Please Contact Me

I will pass along more information as developments occur. Legislators continue working to assist constituents in their home districts and on an on-call basis at the Capitol for the time being. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to be of assistance. As always, I encourage you to please contact me with questions or opinions on any issue. You can reach me at 651-296-4378 or rep.nels.pierson@house.mn.

Regards,

Nels signature