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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Tou Xiong (DFL)

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A quick recap of the past year at the Capitol

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

Rep. Xiong

Neighbors,

No matter what you celebrate, I hope you're able to spend some time with loved ones over the holidays and are looking forward to a happy New Year! I'm grateful for the opportunity to represent you at the Capitol, and for your engagement and input over the past year. 

Happy Holidays

Updates to our Laws

Several notable new laws take effect on January 1 based on legislation we passed during the 2019 session. Here's a quick overview:

  • Middlemen known as Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) – which have played a significant role in the increase in prescription drug prices – will now have to be more transparent.
  • Second, as part of our groundbreaking opioid stewardship law, medical professionals will be required to take classes to learn about best practices in prescribing pain medications.
  • Finally, trading of teeth, tusks, and horns from species such as elephants, hippopotamuses, or rhinoceroses will be prohibited. 

You can read more about these measures from House Public Information Services here.

Accomplishments Over the Past year

I wanted to share a few of my highlights over the past year - let me know what some of yours have been!

This year’s bipartisan budget agreement preserved funding for health care for 1.2 million Minnesotans. We increased funding for schools and passed the strongest wage theft law in the country to ensure Minnesotans receive the wages and benefits they have earned.

We passed bills in the DFL-led House to provide paid family and medical leave and earned sick and safe time so all Minnesotans can take time off from work to care for themselves or their family members without facing financial hardship. We will continue to work to convince Republican lawmakers that Minnesotans deserve paid family leave and earned sick and safe time.

We passed bills in the House to make health care more affordable — with a focus on lowering the costs of prescription drugs and establishing a public option for health insurance. That's something I am committed to continuing to work on.

We passed common sense gun legislation supported by as many as 90 percent of Minnesotans. “Red flag” laws and expanded criminal background checks for firearm purchases will save lives and I will continue to advocate for these.

Those are just a few of the highlights, and we have a lot more work to do!

Keep in Touch!

To get the most up-to-date news from the Capitol, follow my official Facebook page here. And don't hesitate to reach out to me! Share feedback, ideas, and questions with me at rep.tou.xiong@house.mn and 651-296-7807.

Sincerely,

Rep. Tou Xiong