March 26: Legislative Update, Vaccine Expansion

Dear Neighbors,

Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Flanagan recently announced the expansion of vaccine eligibility for people 16 years of age and older starting March 30th. The announcement is in response to the increased supply of vaccines by the federal government to arrive in April.

In the past months, Minnesota has proven to be a national leader in getting shots into arms, and will now be able to step into the final stage of distribution. 

Last week, Minnesota was ranked number one in the country for the percentage of vaccine doses administered to Minnesotans. For more information, please check out this article by the Star Tribune. 

If you haven’t been vaccinated yet, I encourage you to check out Minnesota’s COVID-19 Vaccine Connector, a tool to help people find out when, where, and how to get a vaccine. It can let you know when you’re eligible to be vaccinated, connect you to resources to schedule a vaccine appointment, and alert you if there are vaccine opportunities nearby. To sign up, visit mn.gov/vaccineconnector or call 833-431-2053.

District 45 Mid-Session Town Meeting

On March 20th, I met with Sen. Ann Rest, and Rep. Mike Freiberg for a virtual District 45 Town Meeting in New Hope, Crystal, Robbinsdale and portions of Golden Valley and Plymouth. You can watch the recorded broadcast here.

During the meeting, we talked about funding and masking in schools, peacetime emergency powers, criminal justice and policing, and ranked-choice voting. For a summary of the event, you can check out this article.

Healthcare: Our Health MN Panel

Join Our Health MN panel—a series of conversations with lawmakers, city and county officials, community leaders, and YOU about what a healthcare system that works for all of us looks like.

I will be joining the following legislators to talk about healthcare for Minnesota:
Representative Athena Holliins
Senator Jen McEwen
Senator Erin Murphy

Looking forward to seeing you and my fellow legislators talk about visions for what healthcare can look like in Minnesota.

Earned Sick and Safe Time for Minnesota Workers

One of the bills we advanced last week ensures that Minnesotans aren’t forced to choose between a paycheck and taking care of themselves or a loved one. Under this legislation, workers would earn at least one hour of paid Earned Sick and Safe Time for every 30 hours worked, up to 48 hours per year. Workers can use this time to stay home when they’re sick, to take care of a family member, or for an absence related to domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. 

Recently, I have been working on House File 41, legislation that would provide emergency leave to healthcare and other essential workers. Rep. Olsen's bill to offer workers earned sick and safe time is part of the same puzzle to ensure the protection of Minnesota workers so that they can get through this crisis without extensive burden.

During the hearing last night, I shared some of my own thoughts. You can watch a short clip of my speech here. 

Helping Hospitality and Service Sector Workers Return to their Jobs

Last Thursday, the Minnesota House of Representatives advanced legislation to help laid-off hospitality and service sector workers return to their jobs. 

This bill applies to Minnesotans employed by hotels, airports, and event centers; the facilities attached to them, including restaurants, bars, and retail; as well as related services, including maintenance, security, ticketing, ground-handling, and food and beverage services. It also applies to an enterprise providing maintenance and security services to office, retail, or commercial buildings, like a staffing agency.

To be eligible for rehire and retention benefits, Minnesotans need to have worked for their employer for at least six months in the year prior to January 31, 2020, and become unemployed after January 31, 2020, due to the pandemic. Employers would be required to provide eligible workers with information about available job positions for which they qualify, and to rehire employees based on a preference system of qualifications and seniority.

Lead author of the bill, Rep. Andrew Carlson issued a statement that I could not have put better myself:

"Displaced hospitality workers deserve our full support now more than ever. Today’s vote further demonstrates our promise to provide a safety net for workers, majority of which are Black and Latinx, who are suffering the disproportionate impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. I have full confidence and trust that Minnesota will emerge stronger than before, and build back our community with a flourishing economy."

Summer Learning Package Advances 

As many of you know, the future of education and learning in Minnesota is dear to my heart. As a father, legislator, and professional in the education field, I was extremely proud to vote in favor of the summer learning package this week.

Students, parents, and families are suffering the consequences of this pandemic more than many others, both academically and emotionally. On Tuesday, the Minnesota House passed a robust summer learning package to help address learning loss through hands-on tutoring and programming, ensure our students have an opportunity to get caught up, and provide critical mental health support to those who need it. I look forward to seeing it advance in the Senate to help get this across the finish line for our kids.

Please reach out to me at rep.cedrick.frazier@house.mn with any questions or concerns about legislative issues in the Minnesota House, I look forward to hearing from you!

In Service, 

Cedrick Frazier
State Representative, District 45A 
Minnesota House of Representatives