Hello Northlanders,

It’s great to be back at the State Capitol for the 2020 Legislative Session, which got underway this week. I remain honored to work for the great people of northern Minnesota and this session, by working together, we can strengthen education, make health care more affordable, and improve our economy both at home and throughout the state. The International Falls Journal highlighted some of our priorities here.

One of the biggest privileges of serving in the Legislature is seeing folks from northern Minnesota who’ve made the long trip down. Today, Missy Baker Roach, President of the St. Louis County chapter of the Minnesota Farmers Union, visited the Capitol.

Honoring Fallen Soldiers

As chair of the House Veterans and Military Affairs Division, I was honored to lead a ceremony on the House Floor recognizing three members of the Minnesota National Guard who we tragically lost in December after a UH-60 Black Hawk Helicopter crashed during a routine maintenance flight. Chief Warrant Officer 2 Charles Paul Nord, Chief Warrant Officer 2 James A. Rogers Jr., and Warrant Officer Candidate Kort M. Plantenberg all made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their nation. Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with their families.

Supporting Early Learners

All Minnesota children deserve a great start in life, but unfortunately our state is facing some challenges. Affordable child care remains scarce, especially in greater Minnesota, and early education opportunities aren’t keeping up with the demand, and this contributes to a persistent achievement gap.

This session, we have the opportunity to address these roadblocks which help prevent kids from reaching their full potential. The Great Start for All Minnesota Kids Act would boost investments in early learning scholarships, child care assistance, voluntary pre-K programs and other strategies to ensure our youngest learners are equipped to achieve in the classroom and succeed later on in life.

These investments aren’t just good for children, they are good for our economy as well. Too many child care providers are struggling to stay in business with low reimbursement rates, and a lack of access to affordable child care prevents parents from entering the workforce. Further, for every dollar we invest in early learning, research shows a return of as much as $16 to our economy.

Children deserve a great start in life, and child care providers deserve to be compensated fairly. I strongly support this package of key investments in Minnesota’s future.

Ensuring Access to Insulin

Prescription drug prices continue to skyrocket, and they are forcing too many people to make impossible decisions: Do I pay for groceries, or my medication? No Minnesotan should be put in this position. One of the most prominent examples of price gouging we’ve seen is insulin, a drug that diabetics need to stay alive; for them, it’s as vital as air or water.

I support the Alec Smith Insulin Affordability Act, legislation that ensures Minnesotans who are facing an emergency — those most in danger of rationing their insulin due to the high cost of the drug — have access to an immediate refill. The bill is named after a Minnesotan who tragically passed away after he had to ration is insulin supply because he couldn’t afford a trip to the pharmacy before his next paycheck. I’m hopeful we can move this legislation forward quickly in the House, and I’m committed to other solutions tackling high drug prices.

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It’s an honor to represent you at the Capitol.

Sincerely,

Rob Ecklund
State Representative