Neighbors,

This is going to be a busy week, and it will set the priorities for the rest of the legislative session. Governor Walz released his budget for Minnesota today. I look forward to reviewing the budget, and I’m hopeful that it will reflect our Minnesota values. By working together, we can strengthen communities across the state by increasing access to affordable health care, investing in education, focusing on economic prosperity for families, and ensuring safe and healthy communities. 
 
Healthcare
I’m currently working on several ways to deliver more affordable and more comprehensive health care for Minnesotans. At the forefront of this, I am working on a Universal Health Care bill, which I introduced last week.

We live in one of the wealthiest countries in the world, yet it is all too common for a simple medical procedure to send someone into bankruptcy. People are dying because they can’t afford to go to the doctor. Creating a GoFundMe cannot be our safety net.

We are the only highly developed country in the entire world that does not care for our own citizens. We can afford Universal Health Care. In fact, we cannot afford to continue with our current system.

I’m also working on a bipartisan bill to establish an advisory council at the University of Minnesota on rare diseases. The council would provide advice on research, diagnosis, treatment and education related to rare diseases. The bill will also identify problems faced by patients with a rare disease when changing health plans, and include recommendations on how to remove obstacles faced by those patients in finding a new health plan that meets their needs. This important legislation will help extend the highest quality standard of health care to people with all medical conditions.
 
Quit-Smoking Help 
Last Tuesday the House Health and Human Services Committee heard and advanced my billwhich would fund services to help people quit smoking tobacco. (SF461/HF350).
 
QUITPLAN® Services, the state’s current free quit-smoking help program, is ending in 2020. Lawmakers must fund quit-smoking resources this year so there is no gap in help for Minnesotans who are trying to quit tobacco. If Minnesota does not fund a statewide service, it will become the only state in the nation that doesn’t provide this form of healthcare.
 
As a physician, I watch patients struggle with tobacco addiction. We know that helping people quit smoking saves money – but most importantly it saves lives. The bill will have to be heard in a few more committees but I’m hopeful it will be signed into law.
Video coverage of the hearing is available here.

Rep. Mann joins committee members and advocates from Minnesotans for a Smoke-Free Generation at the February 12 HHS Policy hearing. Rep. Mann’s bill, which provides funding for quit-smoking help for all Minnesota residents, advanced out of the committee without opposition. 

Clean Water
I’m currently working with Senator Matt Little on a bill to fund clean water infrastructure in Lakeville. The money would go toward the much-needed rehabilitation of six wells and pumps in the city’s clean water delivery system. Part of making sure all our communities are safe and healthy means we have to invest in the infrastructure needed to provide all Minnesotans with safe drinking water.
 
Sovereignty Day
Today, the legislature honored Sovereignty Day by inviting all 11 of the state’s tribal nations to the House Chamber for an open conversation and presentations about history, culture, tribal law, and the relationship between tribal, federal, and state governments. A meeting like this – with all 11 tribal nations and legislators – has never happened before. I look forward to more meetings like this while we work together to provide greater economic security for families and improve public health.

Last Week
I had the opportunity last week to attend the Burnsville State of the City address by Mayor Kautz. I’m excited to continue working together to improve our community by increasing economic development, improving public health and providing a great education for our kids.

We had some unconventional testifiers when the Como Zoo came to a committee hearing last week. The sloth was especially compelling!

I hope you will continue to stay in touch! You can reach me any time at rep.alice.mann@house.mn or 651-296-5387. You can also stop by our office in room 507 of the State Office Building.

Sincerely,
Alice Mann
State Representative – District 56B