Dear Neighbors,

I hope this email finds you and your family safe and healthy. Here’s an update from Saint Paul.

Special Session

Lawmakers are currently in special session, our second this summer. The governor has extended the current peacetime emergency so he can continue to access the state’s toolbox and take quick, decisive action to protect Minnesotans through the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to challenge our state and our communities, and in addition to addressing the pandemic, we must work together to strengthen police accountability and reimagine public safety. Other work remains, including a Jobs and Local Projects bill to invest in critical infrastructure and create jobs.

House DFLers are committed to the hard work ahead of us to ensure everyone has a path to a brighter future.

Safety in Long-Term Care Settings

Minnesotans living and working in long-term care and other congregate settings are at an increased risk of contracting COVID-19. We have a responsibility to protect them from this virus, and when bad actors are negligent in protecting people, we must be able to hold them accountable.

This week, the Star Tribune highlighted a heartbreaking situation in Hugo, a Saint Paul suburb, where residents weren’t receiving proper care and families weren’t receiving the communication they deserve. We’re working on legislation to strengthen protections and oversight, including requiring cameras to be installed if family members can’t access the site, requiring strong infection control plans, restricting termination of housing and service contracts during the pandemic, requiring the Commissioner of Health to develop and enforce a state plan for combatting COVID-19 in unlicensed long-term care settings, and more.

Last week, the Minnesota Department of Health issued guidance for designating essential caregivers in long-term care settings. Since March, visitor restrictions have been in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19. However, we need to balance well-being of residents with the need to limit unintended harms of social isolation. This guidance aims to strike that delicate balance between meeting residents’ needs and limiting infection risks.

Census 2020

So far, 71.2 percent of Duluth residents have responded to the 2020 U.S. Census. This is great, and well ahead of the 62.1 percent national rate, but far short of everybody. If you haven’t yet done so, I encourage you to respond to the Census as soon as possible. Census data determines how billions of dollars in federal funding is allocated toward priorities like health care, education, public safety, and roads & bridges. It also impacts representation at the local, state, and national levels. As many folks know, Minnesota’s population trends put us on the cusp of losing a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, and a reduction from eight to seven would result in diminished influence for our state in Washington.

You can respond to the Census online here, by phone, or by mail. Responding in one of these ways means fewer census workers will need to go door to door, reducing potential community transmission of COVID-19. Please spread the word! Share this link with your family, friends, and on your social media channels. It’s up to all of us to ensure this process results in a fair, comprehensive count of everybody in our state.

Absentee Voting

A great way to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 is to vote absentee from the comfort of your own home. Doing this will help protect other voters and election officials, as well as yourself.

Applications are available for absentee ballots for the upcoming primary and general elections here. The online application tool will ask for an email address and an identification number – either a Minnesota-issued driver’s license, Minnesota ID card, or the last four digits of your Social Security number. You can check your voter registration status here and update it here.

Final Update

This will be my last e-update until after November’s election, as sitting legislators are prohibited from sending unsolicited communications like these during an election period. I still want to hear from you though! Feel free to call or email me any time with your input, ideas, or if I can be of assistance. You can also stay in touch by liking or following my Facebook page, and keep up to date by subscribing to House Public Information Services’ nonpartisan resources.

I hope you have an enjoyable, safe, and healthy summer. It’s an honor to represent you.

Sincerely,

Jen Schultz
State Representative