Dear Neighbors,
Session is continuing to move along and we are as busy as ever! Here are some of the top updates so far.
ERA
The Equal Rights Amendment is now the 28th amendment of the United States, but we now need the Minnesota constitution to comply with this amendment and guarantee equal rights. It’s been more than 100 years since women fought and achieved the right to vote. Yet, women still don’t have equality in so many areas of our lives like pay inequity, gender violence, and discrimination that women still face every single day. Minnesota can only truly be a great state if every one of its residents are treated equally.
I am proud to support this legislation and I was happy to attend the ERA Rally on the first day of session.
Last Week's Town Hall
Thanks to everyone who came out to our town hall last week! I enjoyed speaking with our community members and listening to their top concerns. If you missed it, you can watch a recording of the event here.
Hazard Pay for Workers and Economic Security for Small Businesses
The House Workforce and Business Development Finance and Policy Committee heard testimony on two key pieces of legislation: HF 2900, which provides hazard pay to thousands of frontline workers, advanced through committee, and HF 1035, which would appropriate $1.2 billion to settle the state’s Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund debt. Both passed out of the committee. We know workers and main street businesses have made many sacrifices to keep us safe while risking their own safety and livelihoods. We can and should deliver relief to both.
Legalizing Affordable Housing Act
My zoning and planning reform bill HF 3256 was formally introduced in the House, today. (This bill was the subject of another recent bulletin). The bill would remove institutional barriers to the construction of more affordable housing around Minnesota. This recent MinnPost story does a good job of discussing the issues.
COVID-19 Update
The ‘Kids Deserve a Shot’ vaccine incentive program to encourage families in Minnesota to get their kids 5- to 11-years-old fully vaccinated against COVID-19 is still ongoing. It is paramount that we vaccinate our children so they can learn in person as much as possible. You can learn more about the ‘Kids Deserve a Shot’ program here. Here are some important details on the incentives:
- Families in Minnesota who get their 5 to 11 year olds fully vaccinated in January and February can get a $200 Visa gift card. To be eligible, kids in Minnesota ages 5-11 must receive their first and second dose between January 1 and February 28. Registration will open at 10:00am on January 24, 2022 and close at 11:59pm on February 28, 2022. Learn more here.
- Later this spring, there will be drawings for five $100,000 Minnesota college scholarship drawings for all 5-11 year olds who are fully vaccinated. Details will be released soon.
Families in Minnesota can visit mn.gov/vaxforkids to find local vaccine clinics. Families can also check with their pediatrician, family medicine clinic, or local pharmacy about appointments. In addition, please be sure to watch for vaccination clinics being offered at schools or other community locations around Minnesota.
The federal government is now offering free at-home COVID-19 tests to every household. As the COVID-19 omicron variant continues to spread across our state, testing frequently and isolating if positive are some of the best preventative measures after getting vaccinated. Get your free tests here.
Keep in Touch
Don’t hesitate to reach out if I can provide any assistance. Please follow me on my Facebook page for further updates and invite your friends and family to do so as well.
Thanks for the honor of representing you at the Capitol.
Sincerely,
Steve Elkins
Representative, District 49B
Minnesota House of Representatives
515 State Office Building
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55155
(651) 296-7803