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

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COVID-19 Update - May 8, 2020

Friday, May 8, 2020

Hello Northlanders,

This week is both National Nurses Week and Teacher Appreciation Week. I want to give my thanks and gratitude to everyone in each of these professions who have gone above and beyond while they adapt to this crisis. We depend greatly on them in our communities during these challenging times. Thank you for all you do!

Last night, WCCO News aired a story on how COVID-19, and particularly the border crossing, has affected our International Falls community. You can watch it here.


House Passes Broadband Investments

Yesterday, the Minnesota House approved a strong package of investments in the economic security of Minnesotans during COVID-19. This legislation included my bill to expand broadband development, with $15 million toward a new Distance Learning Broadband Access Grant Program to provide students with the equipment necessary to access learning materials, $10 million in the state’s Border-to-Border Broadband Grant Program, and $2 million in the new Telemedicine Equipment Reimbursement Grant Program to reimburse health care providers and counties that purchase and install telemedicine equipment for COVID-19-related health care services.

The broadband investments will help students succeed, address challenges folks have in addressing telemedicine services, and help expand internet access to more Minnesotans who increasingly rely on it in today’s world. Additionally, the bill invests $100 million in housing assistance, provides loans to small businesses, and invests in personal care assistance services for vulnerable Minnesotans. Overall, this package will give some much-needed relief to Minnesotans and small businesses who are struggling right now. You can read more about the legislation here.


Elective Surgeries Can Resume

This week, Governor Walz continued to “turn the dials” a bit by allowing elective surgeries to resume during the peacetime emergency. Developing capacity within our health care system is one of the biggest goals of the stay at home guidelines, and this step indicates we’re making needed progress. Medical facilities will need a plan to keep doctors, nurses, staff, patients and visitors safe. I’m glad the governor took this step which will allow more Minnesotans to get the care they need during the pandemic. You can read the governor’s executive order here.


Long-Term Care Strategy

Our nursing homes and other congregate care settings have been among those impacted the worst by the COVID-19 pandemic. Everyone living and working in these facilities deserves to be safe and healthy, and they deserve to know we support them in our efforts to keep the virus at bay.

Yesterday, Governor Tim Walz and Minnesota Department of Health Jan Malcolm released a new five-point plan to provide more robust support to our state’s long-term care facilities. The plan’s five points are: expanded testing for residents and workers; providing testing support and troubleshooting; getting needed personal protective equipment (PPE) to facilities; ensuring adequate staffing levels, and leveraging partnerships with local public health officials. You can learn more about the plan from the Minnesota Department of Health’s presentation here.


Fishing Opener

I want to wish everyone a fun and successful fishing opener tomorrow. As a result of COVID-19, it’s doing to be different, but getting outside on the lake – while socially distancing – is something we can look forward to. The DNR has plenty of information and resources here. It’s going to be a cold one, so be sure to bundle up and be safe out there. Good luck!

For up-to-date information about our efforts to fight the pandemic, continue to visit the state COVID-19 Dashboard and the House of Representatives website which also has links to helpful resources. If I can be of help, please contact me at rep.rob.ecklund@house.mn or 651-296-2190.

I hope everyone has a Happy Mother’s Day!

Sincerely,

Rob Ecklund
State Representative