Dear Neighbors, I hope you’re doing well, and this email finds you and yours enjoying the sunshine and lighter days. In response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a bipartisan coalition of state legislators recently introduced legislation to divest Minnesota’s state pension fund from Russia and codify Governor Walz’s Executive Order barring Minnesota from contracting with Russian companies into law. Prior to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the estimated worth of Minnesota's state pension fund investments in Russia was approximately $53 million. My heart aches for the people of Ukraine following Russia’s unprovoked attacks, including the unacceptable treatment of Africans in Ukraine. As a sovereign nation, this invasion by Putin’s autocratic regime is completely unacceptable, and it’s up to all of us around the world to stand in solidarity with those in Ukraine and in support of freedom, democracy, and peace. Minnesota’s New Budget ForecastLate last month, the Minnesota Management and Budget Agency released its February Budget and Economic Forecast, projecting a budget surplus of $9.3 billion. A historic surplus of this size presents a remarkable opportunity to use our budget to invest in health care, child care, our students, public safety, and economic security measures that support our residents and families. My House colleagues and I have been working since June of last year to secure pandemic hazard pay for the frontline workers who made it possible for us to carry on with our daily necessities as we anxiously awaited the arrival of COVID-19 vaccines. Early on this session, the House voted to deliver hazard pay to these workers. Our surplus gives us capacity to deliver a $1 billion investment that would allow for $1,500 checks for 667,000 workers. Despite Senate opposition, we continue to advocate for these frontline workers. International Women’s DayMarch 8 marked International Women’s Day, a time to reflect on the accomplishments and contributions of women across the globe. It’s also a reminder for us to renew our legislative efforts to close the ever-persistent equity gaps in our social and economic systems. According to UN Women, worldwide, women only make 77 cents for every dollar earned by men. That gap only widens between white men and women of color. Everyone deserves honest and equal pay for equal work, and an opportunity to succeed.  Legislation Update
Minnesota is one step closer to creating the nation’s first Missing and Murdered Black Women and Girls Office. I’m authoring this legislation which passed the House Judiciary Committee 16-1. We need the infrastructure in place to address the disparity in which cases involving Black women and girls stay open 4 times longer than other cases. Yesterday, I presented a bill to the House Health Finance Committee to establish a right for a pregnant patient to have a designated support person present while receiving care in addition to a doula. This is a step towards reducing our unacceptable Black and Indigenous maternal mortality disparities.  Paid Family and Medical LeaveA core priority we ought to consider as we narrow our focus on how to best utilize investments from the surplus is legislation to ensure every Minnesotan can access Paid Family and Medical Leave for up to twelve weeks. I’m authoring the bill to make this a reality for working families across our state. The leave would cover caring for a family member with a serious health condition, bonding with a new child, pregnancy, the worker’s own health, safety leave for victims of domestic abuse, and leave for when a family member is called to active duty in the armed forces. All of us are going to need time off due to illness or to welcome a new one to our family. Right now, paid leave systems are separate, uneven, and unequal. The bill has moved through all the necessary committees and now awaits a full Floor vote. Mental Health Support in SchoolsMinnesota was facing a mental health crisis before the onset of COVID-19; the pandemic’s impact on our students and families has only been exacerbated over the past two years. Investing in mental health care for our kids has bipartisan support in the Minnesota Legislature. As the Chair of the House Education Policy Committee, I’m working with lawmakers on a variety of bills to help close gaps by increasing access to critical mental health resources. Our committee recently discussed two proposals that increase mental health access for Minnesota students in K-12 public schools. One was a bill requiring mental health screening services, and the other piece of legislation would require the employment of at least one full-time equivalent licensed school counselor in each building. We’re committed to helping our students and families respond to the current issues COVID-19 presents in education and continuing to find solutions that make our schools and communities whole. The CROWN Act Passes MN House The CROWN Act (Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural hair) passed the Minnesota House with broad bipartisan support recently. The proposal would add a provision to the Minnesota Human Rights Act to explicitly prohibit discrimination on the basis of hair appearance and texture. There have been incidents in Minnesota where an employer has fired and/or taken action against Black workers for not changing their hair. We can’t talk about diversity, racial equity and justice in the workplace without talking about discriminatory policies such as a dress code and appearance code, which also prevents black and brown people from accessing economic opportunities, in addition to its impact on their mental health. Keep in TouchPlease continue to reach out anytime at rep.ruth.richardson@house.mn or 651-296-4192 with questions or input. I appreciate hearing from you. Thank you for the honor of elevating our communities’ voices at the State Capitol. Sincerely, Ruth Richardson
State Representative |