Dear neighbors,
It’s been a busy week at the Capitol! In the past four days, the House has passed several major bills. On Wednesday, for example, we passed our E-12 Education bill. This legislation will help meet the needs of all our students, starting in the earliest years of their lives. More than 20,000 of our youngest and most vulnerable Minnesotans will receive early learning scholarships thanks to this bill. When they turn four, these children will have access to the statewide voluntary pre-K program that it establishes. The bill also provides funding to support literacy programs and get more early education professionals into the field.
The E-12 Education bill also addresses the English Language Learner and Special Education cross subsidies so schools can pay for these critical services without cutting funding for other programs. It includes legislation to help increase the number of teachers of color and Indigenous teachers in Minnesota schools as well.
Some of my favorite parts of the bill are provisions that will enhance students’ wellbeing. For example, it invests $475 million in mental health resources! The bill expands mental health screenings, requires mental health training for staff, and delivers funding for school-linked mental health grants. Thanks to this legislation, schools will be able to hire more than 1,100 new counselors, social workers, psychologists, nurses, and other support staff.
Other Highlights
Other major bills we passed this week include:
- The Environment and Natural Resources bill, legislation that will help preserve these invaluable resources for future generations of Minnesotans.
- Legislation to deliver bonuses to frontline workers, refill the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund, and extend unemployment benefits to hourly school workers.
- A bill to protect and enhance Minnesota’s parks and trails, clean water, outdoor heritage, and arts and culture.
- Housing legislation to help more people become homeowners and increase the supply of affordable housing.
- An Agriculture bill that addresses avian flu, supports farmers, and increases access to food.
Update on My Bills
I’m happy to report that a few of these bills contained legislation that I introduced! The Environment and Natural Resources bill, for example, included legislation I authored to:
- Ban the use of hazardous chemicals known as PFAS in cookware, cosmetics, and ski wax
- Require manufacturers to disclose if their products contain PFAS
- Requires the MPCA to hold a public hearing before finalizing a settlement of more than $25,000 so residents have an opportunity to suggest additional conditions to benefit the community
- Make it clearer if food packaging is actually compostable or biodegradable
- Maintain scientific and natural areas across Minnesota
Make Your Voice Heard
Update on Water Gremlin
On Tuesday, the Minnesota Department of Health released a draft Public Health Assessment that outlines the potential health impacts of exposure to contamination from Water Gremlin. The PHA also describes steps the agency will take to protect the health of our community in the future. You can read a summary here, or view the full PHA here.
If you’d like to weigh in on the MDH’s conclusions or their plan for the future, you have until Thursday, June 9 to submit a comment. You can share feedback by emailing health.hazard@state.mn.us or call (651) 201-4897 for more options. The agency will consider these comments before finalizing the PHA.
Upcoming Informational Meeting
On a related note, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is holding an informational meeting to discuss a proposed amendment to Water Gremlin’s air emissions permit. The meeting will take place on Tuesday, May 24 at Century College’s East Campus. It will start at 6:00 p.m. in the Lincoln Mall, where MPCA staff will be available for one-on-one conversations with community members. At 7:00 p.m., the MPCA will give a presentation on the proposed amendment in Room E2315. This will be followed by Q&A. The meeting will be recorded for those who aren’t able to attend in person.
Stay in Touch
We’re planning to pass more bills over the next few days! If you’d like to stay updated, please follow me on Facebook. Feel free to share this email with friends, family, and neighbors who might be interested as well.
As always, feel free to share any questions or feedback you may have. It’s an honor to represent you at the Capitol.
Sincerely,
Ami Wazlawik
State Representative