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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Rob Ecklund (DFL)

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Legislative Update – March 27, 2020

Friday, March 27, 2020

Dear Northlanders,

I hope this email finds you well and that you and your family are healthy.

We all continue to work to protect the health and safety of all Minnesotans and yesterday, lawmakers returned to the Capitol to approve a sweeping COVID-19 aid package. The bill created a new $200 million COVID-19 Fund in the state treasury to enable state agencies to respond to COVID-19 related challenges. It also included $9 million to the Department of Human Services for food security, $26.5 million for the Emergency Service Grants program to provide shelter for Minnesota’s homeless population, $30 million in one-time grants to child care providers, $10 million for small business loans, financial relief for displaced workers, $6.2 million for the State Soldiers Assistance Program, and the necessary flexibility for state agencies to respond to the pandemic. Read more about the bill here.

We all practiced social distancing guidelines, including entering the building at staggered times, and legislators were physically spread out across the Capitol. This is a difficult situation and I thank our nonpartisan Chief Clerk and Sergeant-at-Arms offices for enabling us to do this important work safely.

I’m incredibly proud that my fellow legislators and I all came together to support this important legislation on a bipartisan basis. This cooperation is another example of how we will only get through this situation by working together as Minnesotans.

We will keep working on other important measures, like pay for hourly school workers, workers’ compensation benefits for first responders who might become ill due to COVID-19, and other solutions to protect the economic security of individuals and small businesses.


#StayHomeMN

Stay At Home Can/Should Not

As you’ve likely heard, at 11:59 p.m. tonight a “Stay at Home” order issued by Governor Walz will take effect for a period of two weeks. You can still go to the grocery store to get food, go to medical appointments, and get outside to exercise, but during this time, folks are asked to avoid all nonessential travel to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

Read the executive order, which has a list of essential services, here. A list of Frequently Asked Questions is available here. The Governor’s presentation where he explained modeling data from the Minnesota Department of Health and the University of Minnesota illustrates how crucial this step is. We simply need to allow capacity within our health care system to grow, especially with regard to ICU beds and ventilators. Right now there are only 235 ICU beds in Minnesota, and in fact, 60 percent of counties in Greater Minnesota don’t have any at all.

As a reminder, there are several good resources available including the Minnesota Department of Health’s COVID-19 section of its website which has up to date information, and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development which has resources for workers and business owners alike.

We must all keep doing our part. Wash your hands, cover your cough, stay home if you’re sick, and practice social distancing by staying at least six feet apart from other people and avoid gatherings. Continue to take care of yourself, your family, and your neighbors.

Sincerely,

Rob Ecklund
State Representative