Dear Neighbors,

It’s exciting to be back at the Minnesota State Capitol for the 2020 legislative session. This session, we have the opportunity to advance solutions that will make our state work even better.

A Great Start for All Minnesota Children

The 2020 legislative session kicked off with a bold proposal to invest $500 million in early care and learning targeted at Minnesotans from birth to age three. We are facing two crises: education opportunity gaps and inaccessible and unaffordable child care. In 2020, House DFLers will invest in early care and learning to support families and close education opportunity gaps -- because DFL lawmakers believe all children deserve a great start in life. Children, parents, and childcare providers all stand to benefit from our proposal. Read more in this story from the Associated Press. 

Hometown Heroes

Minnesota’s 20,000 firefighters always answer the call and respond to often dangerous situations to protect us. The circumstances they encounter aren’t necessarily just dangerous in the moment though. Over the course of their work, firefighters experience unique health concerns including cancer and heart disease at disproportionate levels.

Tuesday, Minnesota firefighters joined my colleagues and me for a news conference advocating for the Hometown Heroes Assistance Program, which would provide up to a $30,000 support payment for firefighters diagnosed with one of these conditions. I’ve had the opportunity to meet with Duluth’s firefighters before the legislative session and heard some of their stories. I stand with them in co-authoring the bipartisan legislation to create this important program which takes care of those who take care of us in our communities. KBJR covered the initiative last month.

Yesterday was fire service day at the Capitol and I got to meet with members of the Duluth F.D. who shared how they need resources to tackle an increase in calls.

Minnesota Values Podcast

Season Two of the Minnesota Values Podcast is here! Every week, Rep. Jamie Long and I will bring your real stories from real Minnesotans about the values which influence our work at the Capitol and in our communities. Tune in to hear inside updates and stories! You can find the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and Stitcher.

Input from the community helps make me a more effective advocate for Duluth. I value hearing from you, so please don’t hesitate to contact me anytime.

Sincerely,

Liz Olson
State Representative