I also had some enlightening meetings and tours outside of the district, including an Explore MN Tourism Council meeting in Ottertail, and a tour of the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension in St. Paul. I view each of these opportunities as a chance to listen to and learn from Minnesotans about how state policies and programs impact them, and I look forward to taking their ideas back with me to the Capitol when we reconvene in February.
Oak Park Heights Work Session
In August, I attended a work session with the Oak Park Heights City Council to discuss plans for two of my bills that impact our district. The first, House File 2496, requests state funding to help with safety and traffic improvements to the intersection of 60th Street and Norell Avenue. The second, House File 1919, would establish a Community Energy Transition Grant Program to support cities like Oak Park Heights. As many are aware, Xcel Energy has announced it will close the King Plant in Oak Park Heights within the next decade. Transitioning Minnesota to a clean energy economy is critical, but it is also essential that we support communities like Oak Park Heights, for which coal plants are a significant part of the local economy. My bill would provide grants to cities like Oak Park Heights to support economic development projects, efforts to support displaced plant workers, and community and land use planning,
I am working hard to make sure that the House Capital Investment Committee makes a visit to our community later this fall as part of a tour to evaluate projects throughout the state that are asking for bonding funds. These two bills are among my biggest priorities for the 2020 legislative session and I will continue to keep you updated.
Climate Action Caucus
Climate change is one of the top issues that I hear about from fellow community members. People from across the state are organizing in their communities and urging legislators to take action, and young people are particularly dedicated to fighting climate change. Last Friday, hundreds of Minnesota students kicked off Climate Action Week by participating in the worldwide Youth Climate Strike.
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