Hello Northlanders,
We’re already at about the midpoint of the 2022 legislative session. Here’s an update from Saint Paul.
Supporting Ukraine
Last night, in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Minnesota House unanimously passed legislation divesting Minnesota’s state pensions of Russian and Belarusian assets, and codifying Governor Walz’s Executive Order barring Minnesota from contracting with Russian companies. The legislation requires Minnesota, primarily the State Board of Investment, to divest of its direct holdings of Russian and Belarusian assets. Lawmakers included Belarus in the legislation due to its government’s complicity in the Russian invasion. As of March 11, the value of SBI’s publicly traded assets in Russia and Belarus was $14 million.
I was proud to support this important, bipartisan bill to demonstrate Minnesota stands with our other partners in democracy around the world to reject Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. We can’t stand idly by while Putin and his regime commit atrocities. Minnesota owes it to the 17,000 Ukrainian-Americans who call Minnesota home and those currently fighting for their lives halfway across the globe to take action.
Supporting Servicemembers and Veterans
On Monday, the House passed a bill to expand enlistment bonuses for veterans of the Minnesota National Guard to reenlist. Current law limits eligibility for a bonus only to those with fewer than 12 years of service, and the bill eliminates this requirement. Guard members are dedicated members of our community who put their lives on hold to serve at a moment’s notice. This will be a great tool to incentivize soldiers to stay in the Guard and offer their experience and expertise.
Additionally, this week I chaired a hearing of the House Labor, Industry, Veterans and Military Committee where we discussed a proposal to deliver service bonuses for post-9/11-era veterans and Gold Star families who lost loved ones in combat. Historically, Minnesota has recognized Veterans’ service in major wars – including World War I, World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam War, and the Persian Gulf War – with monetary bonuses. This bill would invest $40 million in service bonuses for the veterans who served between September 11, 2001 and the conclusion of combat operations in the Global War on Terror in August of 2021. With a significant budget surplus, now is a perfect time to offer this additional level of thanks to those who’ve bravely served.
Supporting ALS Research, Caregiver Support
Our friend Sen. David Tomassoni of Chisholm has been a longtime champion for northern Minnesota in the legislature. Last year, he learned he has ALS. Despite how physically debilitating the disease has been, Sen. Tomassoni has been working hard to use his remaining time in the legislature to bring new awareness to this issue.
Yesterday, the House approved a bold package of investments to support research into a cure and to help caregivers of those with the condition. ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a neurodegenerative condition that results in progressive loss of motor control of voluntary muscles. It affects approximately 30,000 Americans, with about 5,000 new cases diagnosed every year. At any one time, there are an average of 450 Minnesotans living with ALS. It’s 100% fatal and there is no known cure.
The bill invests $20 million toward research into the prevention, treatment, causes, and cures of ALS, and invests $5 million for caregiver support programs for families of people with ALS. I’m proud we could come together on a bipartisan basis to quickly move this initiative through the legislature that will make a positive impact on people’s lives.
Supporting our Outdoor Heritage
Minnesotans deeply care about our outdoors, and we have a responsibility to protect our prairies, forests, and wetlands for future generations. As a member of the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council, I’m honored to be chief author of legislation containing the 2022 funding recommendations for the state’s Outdoor Heritage Fund, proceeds of which come from the Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Constitutional Amendment sales tax proceeds.
The bill invests $159 million toward 46 programs across the state to preserve, protect, and enhance wetlands, prairies, forest, and habitat for fish, game, and wildlife. Activities funded include native prairie protection, wetland restoration, trout stream enhancement, public wildlife land enhancements, shallow lake enhancement, forest fragmentation prevention, and more. In total, the legislation provides for restoration, protection, or preservation of 80,929 acres of wildlife habitat and 127 miles of shoreline. A complete list of projects is available here.
Don’t hesitate to contact me with your feedback and ideas, or if I can ever be of assistance. It’s an honor to represent you.
Sincerely,
Rob Ecklund
State Representative