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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Emma Greenman (DFL)

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Legislative Update - March 18, 2021

Thursday, March 18, 2021

Dear Neighbors, 

Thank you to everyone who joined Rep. Jim Davnie, Sen. Patricia Torres Ray, and me for our COVID-19 Vaccine Roundtable last Sunday. If you weren’t able to tune in, you can watch the virtual event on my Facebook page.


Addressing the Shootings in Atlanta

On Tuesday night, our country was again devastated by gun violence fueled by hate as a series of horrific shootings took place in Atlanta where eight people were killed, several of whom were of Asian descent. In response, my colleague Rep. Tou Xiong gave a powerful speech on the House floor, calling for action to end the hateful words and acts directed at Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. I’m standing with him, with the Minnesota Asian Pacific (MAP) Caucus, and the AAPI community against the escalating hatred and violence. We must do more to fight the rise of disinformation, hateful language, and hate crimes.


Creating a Budget that Reflects Minnesota Values 

There’s a lot of work ahead as we reach the halfway point of the legislative session. My colleagues and I are working hard to craft a budget that equitably responds to and centers the many needs of Minnesotans, particularly those most impacted by the pandemic. We are building a comprehensive budget that helps workers, kids, families, and small businesses emerge from this pandemic on a stronger path. We also know the status quo isn’t working for anyone except corporations and the wealthiest among us, and that’s why we must make investments in education, health care, housing, childcare, homecare, and economic security to ensure all Minnesotans thrive, and no one is left behind.


Recent Conversations about Democracy

On Tuesday evening, Secretary of State Steve Simon and I joined Rep. Ilhan Omar to discuss ongoing efforts to defend and strengthen our democracy. We talked about HF 1, the For the People Act, a democracy bill that the U.S. House passed last week, and the Democracy for the People Act, my bill to ensure Minnesotans can make their voices heard. You can watch our discussion here

I joined advocates, community leaders, and grassroots organizations yesterday to talk about the state of our democracy and what we can do to make it stronger and more inclusive. It was great to see so many people from our community and to come together to heal, regroup, and mobilize. You can watch the event here.


Gov. Walz Eases COVID-19 Restrictions

Several changes to Minnesota’s COVID-19 restrictions took effect earlier this week. The graphic below outlines these adjustments and others that will take effect in the coming weeks. You can find more details at staysafe.mn.gov

New Business & Gathering Guidelines

Minnesotans need to keep their guard up to protect the progress we’ve made. Wearing masks, social distancing, and taking steps to protect yourself and others is extremely important.


It’s an honor to represent you! Please continue sharing your questions, ideas, and feedback.

Sincerely, 

Emma Greenman
State Representative