Dear Neighbors,

During the last two weeks we have made significant decisions to address the COVID-19 emergency, but we still have a long way to go to address many needs in our State. We are learning that the disparities that existed in education, health care, housing, mental health, transportation, and other areas, are exacerbating during this pandemic, and the resources available to address these needs are completely inadequate. 

In our district, constituents are bringing to our attention cases related to unemployment, education and housing. We are working with many of you to help resolve these specific issues.  

Many people in our district are part of larger efforts to resolve significant issues impacting people in our district, in neighboring districts and the entire State. Constituents are organizing Zoom calls with partnering organizations, faith based communities and activists to bring attention to the most pressing issues impacting the State. 

I’m grateful for your engagement, especially when you create opportunities to help us connect the voices of people in our district to the voices of people in other districts where voters and their representatives are simply not paying attention to these issues. 

Please continue to pressure all of us, not just the Senate. Continue to press the Governor and the House to pay more attention to the critical issues impacting the most vulnerable in our state, people of color, Indigenous people, seniors and children who live in poverty.

Thank you for all your efforts, please let us know how we can help amplify the work you do on behalf of others.

Patricia.

 

Education

Minneapolis Public Schools shared this week the racial breakdown of data regarding students at MPS lack of devices and internet access. Students and schools need our help NOW. Students of color are experiencing greater hardships than other Minnesota students. 

In our E-12 Education Committee hearing today, I offered the COVID-19 Mental Health and Technology Resource ACT amendment to:

  • Direct MDE to use $14 million in unencumbered funds from the CARES Act to mental health and technology needs. ($14/student)
  • Direct that the $20 million ($22/student) from the Permanent school Trust fund be used one-time for technology and mental health. 
  • Appropriate $8 million in broadband access grant dollars to school districts. 

We need to address these inequities and this proposal provides districts with the resources necessary to address their student concerns. Inequities have no boundaries and affect students in rural, urban and suburban schools. That’s why I have planned this amendment to use funds that ALL schools will receive.

Distance Learning to Continue for the Rest of 2019-2020 Year
On March 15, Governor Walz announced that Minnesota schools will remain closed for the remainder of the school year, requiring the Minnesota Department of Education to assist schools in distance learning - a requirement that began on March 30. Districts have been providing childcare options for essential workers and meals for students during the school closures, with local districts providing direction on the administration of these services. 

Minnesota K-12 students will not be required to take the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCAs) in 2020 due to school closures. The test waiver was received from the federal government after the Minnesota Department of Education requested the waiver.

 

Jobs

Pork Plant Outbreak Triggers Another Factory-Wide Closure
A third JBS plant has been forced to close indefinitely after a COVID-19 outbreak, this time in Worthington, Minnesota. Due to the systematic economic hardship placed more heavily on communities of color, the likelihood of contracting the virus is greater. Social distancing becomes more of a challenge in jobs that are now considered essential and are more likely held in underprivileged communities. These jobs pose higher safety risks as they are often lower paying, have higher exposure to the public, and are less likely to offer work-from-home options.

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Plants need to demonstrate their commitment to workers by acting early and aggressively to prevent further spread of the virus among the hard workers at these plants. Plants have had over a month to implement new safety guidelines; yet the primarily undocumented people working in these work spaces have been intimidated to continue working even without protective equipment and sanitizing materials. This is unacceptable. It's because of many of our immigrant and undocumented communities that MN is still running.

Funding for COVID-19 Impacted Businesses
S.F. 4481 appropriates an additional $20 million to the state-run Minnesota Emergency Loan Program and expands eligibility. The loan program is designed for those impacted by Executive Orders 20-04, 20-08, and 20-09.

The bill also provides $10 million for a new grant program that will be awarded through the Minnesota Initiative Foundation in Greater Minnesota and the Otto Bremer Trust in the metropolitan area. There are two components to the $10 million grants that may be made available. One component focuses on businesses located in Minnesota who employ 10 or fewer workers and can show financial hardship as a result of the pandemic. The other program would reserve a portion of the $10 million for microbusinesses - which are defined as having four or fewer employees - that are located in Minnesota, can show financial hardship as a result of the pandemic, and have a combination of assets and annual sales of less than $250,000.

 

DEED: Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) Payments

Since March 16, 2020, a record number of more than 540,000 people have applied for unemployment insurance benefits in Minnesota.

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) announced today that the agency has begun making PUA payments to people who are self-employed, independent contractors, and other eligible recipients who are not eligible for regular unemployment benefits. PUA is a new program that was authorized by Congress and signed into law on March 27, 2020. Minnesota is proudly one of the first states in the nation to implement all three components of the federal CARES Act and provide critical financial assistance to hundreds of thousands of people who have been impacted by this pandemic.

Here’s what Minnesotans need to know about applying for PUA:

  • If you have already applied for regular unemployment benefits, you do not need to do anything extra to qualify for PUA. DEED will automatically establish a PUA benefit account for you if you are eligible.
  • If you have not applied for unemployment benefits yet, special instructions for self-employed and 1099 workers are available here. These instructions include steps you can take to make your account easily identifiable as potentially eligible for PUA.
    • If you applied for unemployment benefits without following those instructions, don’t worry – you don’t need to change anything. Your account will still be reviewed for PUA eligibility.
  • If you have not heard from DEED yet, don’t worry. We expect to be in touch with most people who are eligible for benefits under PUA by the end of April. There is no need to call or follow-up; you will hear from DEED proactively if they need additional information to determine eligibility.
  • You will receive information about PUA benefits in your online account, by email, and by mail.
  • Applicants who receive PUA benefits will also receive the $600/week additional payment.
  • PUA benefits will be backdated to whenever you first became eligible due to COVID-19.
  • Additional information, including answers to many commonly asked questions, can be found here: COVID-19 information for self-employed people and independent contractors.

Anyone who has been separated from their job, had their hours reduced or cannot work due to the COVID-19 pandemic is encouraged to apply online at uimn.org.

 

Health and Human Services

Prescription Drug Pricing Transparency Act
S.F. 1098 passed the Senate this week with a stated goal “to promote public health in Minnesota by preventing unconscionable price gouging with respect to the price of essential prescription drugs sold in Minnesota." The problem is the bill doesn’t ensure any way of doing that. The bill requires companies to disclose when a price jumps above a certain threshold, but simply reporting the changes with no real consequences does not address the problem of rising costs.

DFL legislators offered an amendment that would have allowed the Attorney General to investigate price gouging and administer a civil penalty of up to $25,000 for each violation; it was an actionable method for holding pharmaceutical companies accountable for their actions. Despite this, every single Senate Republican on the floor voted against efforts to strengthen the bill.

First Emergency Childcare Grants Awarded by the State
The Minnesota Department of Health announced this week that the first round of emergency childcare grants have been appropriated; approximately $9.8 million has been given to more than 1,200 childcare providers. While these funds will allow providers to continue providing childcare to essential workers during the pandemic, I have heard from some of you in the district who applied for but did not receive funding given that the demand for help exceeds the funds currently available.

I am committed to adding more funds to this grant program to better meet the demand across our State and ensure that no providers and essential worker families are left behind and worried about their childcare remaining available during this crisis.

Supporting Disability Service Providers and Direct Care Workers
Like many businesses, disability providers are struggling to cover their rent, utilities, and other fixed costs as a result of the pandemic, leaving thousands of older adults and people with disabilities with gaps in care. I am working with my colleagues to find solutions to ensure the state’s day and employment service providers are given help for their required expenses and are exploring options for alternative billable services.

PCAs are also facing an increased risk during COVID-19 as their work limits options to stay at home and self-isolate. On top of this, PCAs have been historically underpaid, and Minnesota was already facing over 5,000 unfilled jobs necessary to serve over 44,000 individuals in need of PCA services. Today, positions are even harder to fill, and options for overtime and paid sick leave are limited.

 

Environment

Reopening Some Outdoor Activities
In Executive Order 20-38, Governor Walz reopened some outdoor recreational activities last week, such as golfing, boat landings and marinas, and state parks. Regular physical activity, including outdoor activities such as walking in parks, bicycle rides, and gardening can help with the adjustment to new routines and support social, mental, and physical wellbeing. Participating in outdoor activities is a good way to stay healthy, reduce stress, and enjoy time with family.

As we move into trying to open more activities and businesses, we must use science to guide our decisions. We haven’t reached the peak of the pandemic yet, and it’s imperative we remain smart in the decisions to keep Minnesotans safe, help our health care system handle the ill, and save lives.

Minnesota Celebrates Earth Day

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Thank you to the Minnesota Interfaith Power and Light Network for inviting me to be part of ACall to Collective Care, to Celebrate Earth Day. This moment of pandemic reminds us how deeply connected we are to each other and to the earth. The Call helped us find new ways to care for one another and for our planet.

Minnesota is home to rich ecosystems that inhabit our 10,000 lakes, the Boundary Waters, Northwoods, rich farmable land, and much more, but with the ever-growing threat of rising average temperatures across the state, Minnesota’s ecosystems are already being affected by climate change.

I am proud to be part of the DFL Clean Energy and Climate Caucus to address the very real threat of climate change and more intentionally pursue clean energy. We must continue to prioritize efforts to expand clean energy resources and protect the state we love so much.

 

 

Energy

Minnesota’s Energy Assistance Program
The Minnesota Energy Assistance Program can help those behind on their energy bills or help pay for home heating and furnace repairs for income-qualified households. It is important that those who have newly become unemployed, those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and households with young children, people with disabilities, veterans, and seniors apply. The deadline for applying has been extended until July 1.

It’s important to note that both renters and homeowners are eligible. Assets such as the value of your home are not considered in determining eligibility. The grants range from $200 to $1,400, based on household size, income, and fuel cost, with the average grant being about $500.

How to Apply:
New applicants have until July 1 to apply. Funding is limited and administered on a first-come, first-served basis. Households apply at their local Energy Assistance Program service provider.

Households can find their provider by calling 1-800-657-3710 and following the prompts to enter their zip code, or use this link to find a list of service providers by county or tribe.

 

Housing

Need for Extensive Rent and Mortgage Moratorium
The executive order issued by the governor to suspend evictions and foreclosures amidst the COVID-19 pandemic offers a short-term solution to a problem with lasting repercussions. As the debt of foregone rent and mortgage payments continues to grow along with the number of Minnesotans experiencing unemployment, the need is growing for rent and mortgage moratoriums that provide a financial solution.

I support H.F. 4541 to provide the necessary help to landlords, renters, and homeowners. The legislation proposes a $100 million housing package that would offer financial relief to renters, homeowners, and landlords. It’s time for the Senate to follow suit and pass legislation that provides financial relief to those struggling to stay safe in their homes.