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Dear Neighbors,
As the days get shorter and the temperatures continue to drop, I want to draw attention to Minnesota’s Cold Weather Rule. Currently in effect until April 15, the Cold Weather Rule helps protect Minnesotans who struggle to afford their heating bill during the winter. You can find more information on this and other programs on the Minnesota Department of Commerce website. No family deserves to be left out in the cold.
Here’s an update on our work at the State Capitol.
Honoring Our Veterans
I hope everyone was able to take a moment last week to honor those that have sacrificed for our country. Outside of any single day, we owe it to our veterans to build a Minnesota that presents opportunities for them to succeed year-round.
This past legislative session, our work in St. Paul delivered full funding for both the state Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Military Affairs. This included funding for our Veterans Service Organizations, Honor Guards, the Gold Star Program, and the Minnesota GI Bill. We also invested in the expansion of the C.O.R.E (Counseling and Case Management, Outreach, Referral and Education) program to address veteran homelessness.
Our state budget also funded other priorities aimed at assisting veterans when they return home, like the Helmets to Hardhats program, which helps veterans enter building and construction apprenticeship programs which lead to rewarding, good-paying careers. Veterans’ Voices, a program through the Minnesota Humanities Center, was also funded to better help amplify and preserve the experiences, stories, and narratives of those who served.
Taking On Robo-Calls
On average, Minnesotans received 58 robo-calls so far this year. Not only are these calls annoying and disruptive, but they’ve also resulted in predatory scams. My colleagues recently introduced a plan to crack down on these calls and protect Minnesotans, and I look forward to supporting the bill during the 2020 legislative session. You can read more about the plan from MPR here or watch the WCCO clip here.
2020 High School Page Program
Modeled after the United States Congress Page Program, the Minnesota House of Representatives High School Page Program was established in 1975. Today, the program remains dedicated to providing students with meaningful opportunities, and has evolved into one of the top page programs in the nation.
The Minnesota House is currently accepting applications for the 2020 Legislative Session, and I highly encourage all interested high school juniors to apply. You can find more information on the program and how to apply on the Minnesota House webpage. The deadline to apply is November 21st.
Stay In Touch
We’re three months away from the 2020 Legislative Session. As we prepare for a new year of crafting bills and holding committee hearings on the issues that impact our state, please feel free to reach out with any questions, concerns, or comments you may have on the legislative process. You can contact me at (651) 296-0171 or rep.todd.lippert@house.mn. I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Todd Lippert
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