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Neighbors,
Happy Friday! I'm sorry to have missed you last week, I spent the week in Puerto Rico while the legislature recessed to rest and prepare for the last (and busiest!) month of session. We're back now, working nearly nonstop to pass our budgets. This week we took up and passed E-12 education, health and human services, jobs, and energy, agriculture and housing. These bills are packed with positive outcomes for all Minnesotans across all communities.
Education
The Minnesota House passed the E-12 education (HF1711) budget late Tuesday night. Under the bill, the Columbia Heights School District would receive approximately $808 in additional funding per student due to the per-pupil formula increase. My teacher co-workers are one of Minnesota’s greatest strengths and our students are our biggest investment for the now and for the future. I, along with by co-legislators, know that we owe it to families to make these investments and ensure that every child in Minnesota, no matter where they live or the barriers they face, get off to a great start and succeed.
Minnesota struggles with one of the largest achievement gaps in the country. By including mental health support, providing funding to recruit and retain teachers of color and Indigenous teachers, along with the community support provided in this bill, we are working hard to change that. Our education investment will improve the lives and the opportunities afforded to our kids, to our neighbor’s kids, and to students around the state who are deserve a good education.
The bill:
- Includes my bill to increase teachers of color and Indigenous teachers.
- Includes my bill to strengthen teacher licensure.
- Increases the per-pupil funding formula by 3% in 2020 and by another 2% in 2021.
- Addresses Minnesota’s special education funding shortfall.
- Protects access to Pre-K programs for 4,000 children.
- Makes it possible for schools to hire additional student support staff, such as licensed counselors, psychologists, social workers, and nurses.
Rep. Mary Kunesh-Podein talking with educators about the importance of teacher licensure
Bursting with pride for these young leaders from the YMCA, championing youth intervention services so they and others are able to overcome the barriers they work so hard to overcome!
Jobs & Energy
This week (late in the night) the House passed the Jobs and Energy budget (HF 2208). It includes access to paid family and medical leave, earned sick and safe time for all Minnesotans, tougher protections for the 39,000 Minnesotans who report wage theft every year, and a pathway to adopt 100 percent carbon-free energy by 2050.
Minnesotans are rightfully demanding that we take responsible environmental action right now and for generations to come. This budget makes sense for our environment and for our economy; creates jobs while protecting our water, air and land. The House DFL is listening to the overwhelming science that confirms that climate change is real and caused by humans. I was disappointed when the Republican response on the floor to the statement, "The Legislature finds and declares that greenhouse gas emissions resulting from human activities are they key cause of climate change," was to vote, almost unanimously, to deny climate change. I will continue to work forward so that our environment is healthy for at least the seven generations to come.
Health Care
As a member of the Health and Human Services Committee, I'm proud of the budget bill (HF2414) that Chair Tina Liebling, along with committee members, have put together. It strengthens health care for all Minnesotans by lowering the cost of care, making drug prices more affordable by holding Big Pharma accountable, addressing health disparities, and improving health care for women, while expanding coverage options for Minnesotans.
It also includes a long overdue increase in cash assistance available to lower income children and families through the Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) — the first increase since 1986! This was an issue that was examined in-depth in our division and I am proud to be the author and appreciate the strong bipartisan support this bill has received.
Four more weeks are left in the legislative session 2019! We return on Monday to hear the balance of the division omnibus bills and then on to conferencing with the Senate to match up policy and funding.
I want to remind you that you can access the Session Daily page, chock full of current articles, video, and media by clicking here.
If you’d like to watch floor sessions live, click here to access the Minnesota House Live Webcast and Mobile Stream.
As always, if you have questions or input my door is always open, and you can reach me at rep.mary.kuneshpodein@house.mn and 651-296-4331.
Wishing you all a great Spring weekend!
Sincerely,
Mary KP
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