Dear Neighbors,

I hope you and your family are doing as well as can be during this impossibly difficult time. Students moving to a distance learning model has been one of the most challenging adjustments, and last week Governor Walz announced students will continue to attend class remotely for the rest of the 2020 school year. I know this was a hard call for the governor as a former teacher himself, but this is the best decision for the health and safety of those in classrooms and everyone else in our communities. Minnesota’s students, teachers, and families are to be commended for their commitment to adapting to this new model.

Investing in Broadband Development

One of the biggest barriers toward successful distance learning is inadequate technology for many families, and specifically a lack of access to high-speed broadband. For thousands of families across Greater Minnesota, students struggle to get online to access the learning materials they need. For many teachers, unreliable connectivity makes it difficult to communicate with students over video platforms like Zoom or Google Hangouts.

This week, the House Greater Minnesota Jobs and Economic Development division – on which I serve – approved legislation to increase investments in broadband infrastructure.  The bill invests an additional $10 million in the state’s Border-to-Border Broadband Grant Program – a proven competitive match program that leverages investments from telecom providers to expand access across the state. It also creates a new Distance Learning Broadband Access Grant Program – with $8 million of funding – to reimburse school districts for their costs in getting students hooked up to broadband right now during the statewide emergency. Finally, it invests $2 million toward telemedicine equipment reimbursement for health care providers for equipment they’ve purchased to connect with patients during the pandemic.

All Minnesotans – in every corner of the state – deserve fast, reliable internet access in the year 2020 and our approach should mirror the rural electrification initiatives in the 1930s. This legislation is one more step to making that a reality.

New COVID-19 Testing Strategy

Last week, Governor Walz announced a major breakthrough that will significantly boost our state’s COVID-19 testing capacity. In cooperation with Mayo Clinic, the University of Minnesota, Hennepin Healthcare and other providers, the new strategy aims to test every symptomatic Minnesotan; as many as 20,000 per day.

The new COVID-19 testing website shows Minnesotans where they can find their closest testing site, and has an interactive screening tool to help Minnesotans determine if they need a test. The plan was funded in part by $36 million from the COVID-19 Minnesota Fund approved by the Legislature earlier this spring. This is an exciting development that will help us isolate the disease and lead to the safe reopening of our society.

Reopening Businesses: Next Steps

One of the most difficult parts about this pandemic from an economic perspective is the uncertainty about when things will be back to normal. Businesses and workers have experienced tremendous economic hardship and I know how anxious many people are to resume operations. Starting this week, some manufacturing, industrial, and office-based settings were allowed to reopen where there isn’t direct contact with customers. Gradually, more businesses will be allowed to reopen but we have to proceed cautiously, and this directly relates to our strategy to increase testing.

Once we’re able to test more cases, we will be able to better isolate the condition – and along with increased health care capacity – we can “turn the dials” to allow more businesses to safely open and more types of gatherings to occur. The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development has more information on the roadmap here.

The state COVID-19 Dashboard is a great source for information about the pandemic, and the Minnesota House webpage outlines steps lawmakers have taken and has links to helpful resources. Also, call me at 651-296- 0172 or email me at rep.julie.sandstede@house.mn if I can be of help in any way. These times are challenging, but I truly believe Minnesotans will emerge stronger and more united once this storm passes. Continue to take care of yourself and your family.

Together,

Julie Sandstede
State Representative