Dear Neighbors,

While 2020 is coming to a close, the COVID-19 pandemic unfortunately continues to pose a significant public health threat. Additionally, workers, businesses, and families have been harmed economically due to no fault of their own. There are bright spots on the horizon though, which give us reason for optimism. Here’s an update on what we’ve been doing at the Capitol, as well as other helpful information for community members.

Virtual Town Hall

I invite you to join Rep. Jamie Becker-Finn, Sen. Jason Isaacson, and me for a Virtual Town Hall Meeting on Saturday, January 9 at 10 a.m. The Town Hall will be held on Zoom (meeting ID: 831 1637 7275; passcode: 320937).

If you’d like to ask a question during the event, please email it to anna.borgerding@house.mn with “Town Hall” in the subject line, along with your name and address. You can also join the meeting by phone by calling 312-626-6799 and entering the ID and password when prompted.

We look forward to hearing from you about your ideas and priorities for the 2021 legislative session.

COVID-19 Economic Assistance

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused tremendous economic hardship for many small businesses and workers. They urgently need help, and Monday, the Legislature approved a new economic assistance package designed to help small businesses, workers, and other Minnesotans struggling due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Highlights of the plan include:

• A 13-week extension of unemployment benefits. Without this legislative action, over 100,000 Minnesota workers were on track to lose benefits on December 26 when funding under the federal CARES Act expires.
• $88 million of financial aid to businesses experiencing economic harm due to the pandemic. Those eligible businesses include restaurants, bars, coffee shops, breweries, wineries and distilleries with taprooms or tasting rooms, caterers, bowling alleys, and some gyms and fitness centers.
• $14 million worth of grants to movie theaters and large convention centers.
• $114.8 million for county grants to other affected businesses, including hotels, museums, arcades and live theater venues.
• Waiver or delay of a series of fees for the hospitality industry, including 2 a.m. liquor licenses for bars, caterers that serve alcohol, wastewater permitting fees for small breweries, and certain late payment penalties for food-related businesses.
• Extension of the deadline for families to apply for free and reduced-price lunch.

In the coming days, the Minnesota Department of Revenue will be reaching out to eligible businesses directly. More information on the Small Business Relief Program is available on the Department’s website.

To be clear, this legislation isn’t the end of the conversation. We’re still counting on the federal government to do its part and deliver a more comprehensive economic recovery package to help ensure everyone can emerge from this turmoil.

Unemployment Insurance for Student Workers

At the onset of the pandemic, high school students were initially deemed ineligible for unemployment insurance benefits under state law. The Minnesota Court of Appeals disagreed, and recently ruled that the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program, under the federal CARES Act, does in fact apply to student workers.

Unemployment benefits are now available for students whose employment was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and payments are being made retroactively. Student workers are encouraged to apply at www.uimn.org before December 26. More information is available from Youthprise.

Vaccine Distribution Plan

Perhaps one of the most promising developments since the pandemic emerged is upon us, as the first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered. Pfizer’s vaccine has earned FDA approval, and Moderna’s version is expected any day. The vaccines have limited side effects and are as much as 95% effective.

Last week, Governor Walz announced Minnesota’s COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Plan. The plan will be executed in partnership with the federal government, local communities, and health providers, with the goal of quick, equitable, and safe delivery of the vaccine to Minnesotans in every corner of the state.

Our first supply of the vaccine is limited, so it will be delivered in phases to priority groups. The first phase – those in Group 1A – includes health care personnel and long-term care residents. Within this phase are sub-prioritization groups. Other priority groups will follow. The vaccine likely won’t be available to everyone until spring, so we will all need to continue practicing important precautions in the short term, like social distancing, avoiding crowds, wearing a mask around others, staying home if we’re sick, and getting tested if there are symptoms. Nevertheless, this is a remarkable development – both regarding how quickly it was developed and the effectiveness – and it hopefully represents one of the final chapters in this awful saga.

Stay in Touch

The next legislative session begins on January 5. As a result of COVID-19’s continued public health threat, the Minnesota House will continue to operate remotely, likely throughout the entire session. Still, I value hearing from you and I hope you’ll be in touch with your input, ideas, or if I can be of assistance. My email is rep.kelly.moller@house.mn and phone number is 651-269-0141. I also encourage you to “like” or “follow” me on Facebook if you don’t already. Lastly, I hope you can join us for our Town Hall on January 9.

I’m wishing you and your family a safe and enjoyable and holiday season. It’s an honor to represent you.

Sincerely,

Kelly Moller
State Representative