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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Ami Wazlawik (DFL)

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Legislative Update - Priorities for 2021

Thursday, January 14, 2021

Dear neighbors,

The first full week of the new legislative session has kept me busy! I spend most days attending committee hearings, working on legislation, and having conversations with Minnesotans about issues that are important to them. If you have questions, ideas, or feedback that you’d like to share, please feel free to reach out.  


Priorities for the 2021 Session 

Today, House DFL leaders and legislators announced priorities for the 2021 legislative session. We’re championing legislation to provide assistance to Minnesotans impacted by COVID-19, strengthen worker protections, protect those who live and work in long-term care facilities and people experiencing homelessness, support our students, and ensure affordable child care is available to those who need it.  

Session Priorities

In addition to these caucus priorities, I will continue working with my colleagues to help families, businesses, and communities recover and rebuild from the pandemic. I will also continue working on legislation related to Water Gremlin and other environmental and public health issues.  


Vaccine Distribution Update  

Approximately 153,300 Minnesotans have received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, including more than 13,300 Ramsey County residents and 6,700 Washington County residents. As you may have heard or seen in the news, the vaccine is being administered in phases. Health care workers and long-term care residents will be the first to receive it, followed by essential workers, those 65 or older, and those with underlying health conditions. If you’d like to stay updated throughout the vaccine distribution process, Minnesota’s new Vaccine Data Dashboard is a great resource. 


Make Your Voice Heard  

Since House committees began meeting earlier this week, I wanted to take this chance to describe what happens in a typical committee hearing and how you can participate.  

Most committees hold public hearings once or twice a week. During each hearing, legislators who serve on that committee will discuss issues Minnesotans are facing, consider legislation, and hear testimony from people with relevant experience or expertise. This process brings people with different backgrounds, knowledge, and opinions together to have a conversation and ultimately make decisions about the issue or bill the committee is focusing on that day. 

Public hearings are a great opportunity to learn and participate in the legislative process. All of them are live streamed on one of the House webcast channels, and you can view the agenda and materials that legislators receive on each committee’s webpage. If you can’t catch a hearing live, they’re usually uploaded to House Public Information Service’s YouTube channel later that day. I encourage you to check out the hearing schedule and get involved!  


Thank you for the honor of serving our community. As always, please don’t hesitate to contact me if I can be of assistance. You can reach me by email at rep.ami.wazlawik@house.mn or by phone at 651-296-3018.  

Sincerely,  

Ami Wazlawik  
State Representative