Neighbors,
 
This is an important week at the Capitol – Governor Walz released his two-year state budgetand it will set the tone for the rest of the legislative session. I’m excited about the investments the Governor proposed in education, healthcare and infrastructure improvements. I look forward to continuing to go through the budget to make sure we’re doing everything we can to improve the lives of Minnesotans.
 
Families in our community will benefit from the much-needed investment in affordable childcare, paid family and medical leave, and dependable transportation. This budget would help ensure that all of our communities are safe, healthy, and inclusive

Senior Care
I’ve been working on a bill to increase access to medical assistance for people who are elderly, blind, or have disabilities. The bill was heard last week in the Ways and Means committee and will go next to the Health and Human Services committee. All Minnesotans deserve to be safe and healthy. That shouldn’t stop at retirement. This bill would help alleviate the financial burden of healthcare for those who are elderly, blind, or have disabilities.
 
I have also signed on to bipartisan legislation that would require the Department of Health to provide notices and information to vulnerable adults subjected to maltreatment reports, so that they are aware of potentially negligent or abusive health care workers. Next week I am going to sign on to a bill to establish additional protections for assisted living residents. Minnesotans want affordable, high quality health care, both for ourselves and for our neighbors. 
Sovereignty Day
Monday was Sovereignty day at the Capitol and for the first time all 11 of Minnesota’s tribal nations were welcomed into the House Chamber for an open conversation. It was an incredibly powerful day, and I look forward to continuing a partnership with Minnesota’s sovereign nations.

 Please reach out if you have any questions, comments or concerns. I look forward to hearing from you.
 
Tou Xiong
State Representative – District 53A