Dear Neighbors,
This was “First Deadline” week and all bills have to clear their relevant committee stops in either the House or the Senate by the end of today or it becomes significantly more difficult for them to move forward this session. So we have all been very busy in committee working to pass important legislation. Here are some of my bills that have worked through the committee process these last two weeks.
- HF1742 which would appropriate $225.6 million to establish a student support personal aid formula for schools to fund school counselors, school psychologists, school social workers, school nurses, or chemical dependency counselors. This bill takes a bold step towards rectifying this deficiency and it will improve several critical outcomes as well as providing our students with the learning environment they need.
- HF3953 appropriates $300,000 in fiscal year 2023 from the general fund for a grant to Building Strong Communities, Inc. for a statewide apprenticeship readiness program that focuses on preparing women, BIPOC people, and veterans for the building and construction trades.
- HF3378 requires schools to report that their anti-bullying policy has been shared and discussed with teachers and students every year. It’s important that we verify every school is taking their anti-bullying policy seriously and informing the entire school what they can do to prevent bullying.
Public Safety Innovation
This week, we proposed $150 million of new investment into data-driven, immediate crime prevention methods. We have worked with mayors, police chiefs, and other community leaders to develop this legislative package, delivering resources to urgently address the real problems communities across the state are facing. Republicans want to just throw money at crime. We know that their approach doesn’t work, and we’re following data and academic research. We’re investing in law enforcement, but we’re also investing in prevention services, social workers, and accountability measures to increase community trust.
House Preventive Health Committee Discusses PFAS Ban
Last week, the House Preventative Health Committee heard a bill to regulate use of the harmful PFAS chemicals in cookware, cosmetics, skiing equipment, and children’s products. The health outcomes when PFAS gets into our bodies are terrifying, especially when we consider the effects on our children.
PFAS contamination is affecting communities and costing taxpayers money now. We can and should be a leader in preventing further human exposure and environmental contamination by banning the use of PFAS in these products.
You can read more about this issue here. You can find a video of the hearing here.
Standing with Ukraine
The past few weeks have been full of harrowing images from Ukraine as Russia continues their violent invasion. In what has been a conflict of ever-growing atrocities, my heart goes out to the Ukrainian people, including the 17,000 Ukrainian-Americans who call Minnesota home. In a unanimous vote, the House voted to divest Minnesota’s state pension fund from Russia and codify Governor Walz’s Executive Order barring the state from contracting with Russian companies.
The senseless violence perpetrated by Russia has become increasingly distressing, especially as there is a high degree of certainty that war crimes have been committed. I am proud that Minnesota is standing with Ukraine and we are doing what we can to bring this war to an end.
You can read more about this legislation here.
Stay in Touch
Please feel free to reach out to me by email at rep.kaela.berg@house.mn or by phone at 651-296-5387. If you have a friend, neighbor, or relative who wants to receive updates about the Legislature, let them know they can subscribe to my email list here, and follow my Facebook here. It’s an honor to represent our community. Please stay in touch.
Sincerely,
Kaela Berg, District 56B
423 State Office Building
St. Paul, MN 55155