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Dear Neighbors,
Weāve wrapped up the second month of the legislative session and we
continue to be busy with frequent committee meetings. Recently, Iāve had
public hearings on legislation Iām sponsoring including HF 554
(
https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?f=HF554&b=house&y=2019&ssn=0)
, which was heard in the House Judiciary Committee. It enables parents ā
if their parental rights were terminated for non-egregious harm
(substance abuse or mental illness, for example) and after proving
theyāve turned their lives around ā to directly petition for the
reestablishment of legal parent/child relationship. Legislation like
this bill and HF 342
(
https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?f=HF342&b=house&y=2019&ssn=0)
, the African American Family Preservation Act, are both aimed at
keeping families together, a goal we should all share as Minnesotans.
Presenting HF 554 to the House Judiciary Committee
Womenās History Month
All Minnesotans should have the opportunity to succeed, regardless of
their gender. Iām excited that our Minnesota House DFL Majority Caucus
is nearly gender-balanced. As we recognize March 2019 as Womenās History
Month, weāre proud to celebrate our trailblazing female leaders as we
keep building a Minnesota that works better for all of us.
Last week, the Minnesota House took a bold step forward for women by
approving HF 13
(
https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=House&f=HF13&ssn=0&y=2019) ,
a bill to explicitly guarantee gender equality in the Minnesota
Constitution. The Equal Rights Amendment ballot question would be put to
voters during the 2020 election. It is now up to the Minnesota Senate,
with a Republican majority, to decide whether or not to let Minnesotans
vote to give everyone full equality under our Constitution.
The next day, International Womenās Day, we held a rally in the Capitol
rotunda to celebrate.
Gun Violence Prevention
My DFL colleagues and I are committed to addressing the gun violence
epidemic in our state. Weāve seen too many tragedies at schools, at
workplaces, in movie theaters, at concerts, in places of worship, and at
other public spaces where everyone should expect to be safe. Two House
Committees have approved a pair of gun violence prevention measures.
House File 8
( https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=House&f=HF8&ssn=0&y=2019)
, authored by Rep. Dave Pinto of St. Paul, expands criminal background
checks to all gun sales and transfers -- helping to close loopholes
exploited by dangerous individuals such as domestic abusers. House File
9
( https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?f=HF9&b=house&y=2019&ssn=0)
, also known as the āred flag law,ā is authored by Rep. Ruth Richardson
of Mendota Heights. It gives law enforcement officials the ability to
remove firearms from an individualās possession for a temporary period
of time if a judge determines they are dangerous. You can learn more
about these bills on theMinnesota Values Podcast
(
https://soundcloud.com/mnvaluespod/episode-3-of-the-minnesota-values-podcast)
, featuring a conversation with both bill authors.
Responsible on Cannabis
The conversation around the potential of legalizing cannabis for
personal use has advanced rapidly. The tide is turning with many
policymakers recognizing the legitimate health benefits from cannabis
and its derivatives. Further, weāve seen other harmful effects of the
current criminal prohibition and so-called āwar on drugs,ā including
staggering racial disparities for enforcement, with Minnesota having
some of the worst. While African Americans and whites use marijuana at
similar rates, an ACLU report shows black Minnesotans are over seven
times more likely to be arrested for crimes like marijuana possession
than those who are white.
Minnesotans are right to demand a conversation about this, but we still
have many unanswered questions. Thatās why I joined my colleagues to
roll out a āResponsible on Cannabis
(
ā approach, which includes the
formation of a task force. With all viewpoints at the table, we can
better determine the most viable approach toward possible legalization.
The Health and Human Services Policy Committee, which I chair, and the
Public Safety Committee have held hearings on a number of bills making
changes to our current state cannabis policy, such as improving our
medical cannabis program and modifying some penalties.
Insulin Prices
People with diabetes depend on insulin and other supplies to maintain
their very wellbeing, and the price many of them have to pay is obscene.
Nicole Smith-Holt and James Holt, Jr. of Richfield, are the parents of
Alec Smith. Alec died at age 26
(
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/magazine/wp/2019/01/07/feature/insulin-is-a-lifesaving-drug-but-it-has-become-intolerably-expensive-and-the-consequences-can-be-tragic/?utm_term=.36f70efe5cfa)
because he could not afford to pay $1,300 for his monthly insulin bill
and felt like he had no alternative but to ration his supply. Following
Alecās death in 2017, his parents courageously began telling their story
in hopes of preventing the same tragedy from happening to anyone else.
The House Commerce Committee has considered a series of proposals to
address the price and availability of insulin. These include HF 485
(
https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?f=HF485&b=house&y=2019&ssn=0)
, which creates a mechanism for Minnesotans who are unable to afford
their needed insulin to get a temporary refill of their prescription. It
also authorizes pharmacies to fill a temporary supply of insulin for
patients whose prescription is out-of-date. Others include HF 289
(
https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?f=HF289&b=house&y=2019&ssn=0)
to improve drug price transparency; HF 288
(
https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?f=HF288&b=house&y=2019&ssn=0)
to bar insurance companies from removing coverage of insulin, equipment,
or supplies during someoneās contract year; and HF 284
(
https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?f=HF284&b=house&y=2019&ssn=0)
to direct the state Department of Health to determine if pharmaceutical
companies forcing excessive cost increases on users of insulin, and if
so, require reimbursements for Minnesotans. Profits for Big Pharma
shouldnāt get in the way of a quality way of life for all Minnesotans,
and Iām committed to supporting these measures.
Please continue to contact me with your input and ideas. Itās an honor
to be your voice at the Capitol.
Sincerely,
Rena Moran
State Representative
Rep. Rena Moran
Chair, House Health and Human Services Policy Committee
( https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/Committees/home/91008)
575 State Office Building
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155
www.house.mn/65A
Facebook
( https://www.facebook.com/RepRenaMoran/)
Phone: 651-296-5158
E-mail: <email obscured>
Legislative Assistant: Alyssa Fritz, 651-296-2491
Dear Neighbors,
Weāve wrapped up the second month of the legislative session and we
continue to be busy with frequent committee meetings. Recently, Iāve had
public hearings on legislation Iām sponsoring including HF 554
(
https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?f=HF554&b=house&y=2019&ssn=0)
, which was heard in the House Judiciary Committee. It enables parents ā
if their parental rights were terminated for non-egregious harm
(substance abuse or mental illness, for example) and after proving
theyāve turned their lives around ā to directly petition for the
reestablishment of legal parent/child relationship. Legislation like
this bill and HF 342
(
https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?f=HF342&b=house&y=2019&ssn=0)
, the African American Family Preservation Act, are both aimed at
keeping families together, a goal we should all share as Minnesotans.
Presenting HF 554 to the House Judiciary Committee
Womenās History Month
All Minnesotans should have the opportunity to succeed, regardless of
their gender. Iām excited that our Minnesota House DFL Majority Caucus
is nearly gender-balanced. As we recognize March 2019 as Womenās History
Month, weāre proud to celebrate our trailblazing female leaders as we
keep building a Minnesota that works better for all of us.
Last week, the Minnesota House took a bold step forward for women by
approving HF 13
(
https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=House&f=HF13&ssn=0&y=2019) ,
a bill to explicitly guarantee gender equality in the Minnesota
Constitution. The Equal Rights Amendment ballot question would be put to
voters during the 2020 election. It is now up to the Minnesota Senate,
with a Republican majority, to decide whether or not to let Minnesotans
vote to give everyone full equality under our Constitution.
The next day, International Womenās Day, we held a rally in the Capitol
rotunda to celebrate.
Gun Violence Prevention
My DFL colleagues and I are committed to addressing the gun violence
epidemic in our state. Weāve seen too many tragedies at schools, at
workplaces, in movie theaters, at concerts, in places of worship, and at
other public spaces where everyone should expect to be safe. Two House
Committees have approved a pair of gun violence prevention measures.
House File 8
( https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=House&f=HF8&ssn=0&y=2019)
, authored by Rep. Dave Pinto of St. Paul, expands criminal background
checks to all gun sales and transfers -- helping to close loopholes
exploited by dangerous individuals such as domestic abusers. House File
9
( https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?f=HF9&b=house&y=2019&ssn=0)
, also known as the āred flag law,ā is authored by Rep. Ruth Richardson
of Mendota Heights. It gives law enforcement officials the ability to
remove firearms from an individualās possession for a temporary period
of time if a judge determines they are dangerous. You can learn more
about these bills on theMinnesota Values Podcast
(
https://soundcloud.com/mnvaluespod/episode-3-of-the-minnesota-values-podcast)
, featuring a conversation with both bill authors.
Responsible on Cannabis
The conversation around the potential of legalizing cannabis for
personal use has advanced rapidly. The tide is turning with many
policymakers recognizing the legitimate health benefits from cannabis
and its derivatives. Further, weāve seen other harmful effects of the
current criminal prohibition and so-called āwar on drugs,ā including
staggering racial disparities for enforcement, with Minnesota having
some of the worst. While African Americans and whites use marijuana at
similar rates, an ACLU report shows black Minnesotans are over seven
times more likely to be arrested for crimes like marijuana possession
than those who are white.
Minnesotans are right to demand a conversation about this, but we still
have many unanswered questions. Thatās why I joined my colleagues to
roll out a āResponsible on Cannabis
(
ā approach, which includes the
formation of a task force. With all viewpoints at the table, we can
better determine the most viable approach toward possible legalization.
The Health and Human Services Policy Committee, which I chair, and the
Public Safety Committee have held hearings on a number of bills making
changes to our current state cannabis policy, such as improving our
medical cannabis program and modifying some penalties.
Insulin Prices
People with diabetes depend on insulin and other supplies to maintain
their very wellbeing, and the price many of them have to pay is obscene.
Nicole Smith-Holt and James Holt, Jr. of Richfield, are the parents of
Alec Smith. Alec died at age 26
(
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/magazine/wp/2019/01/07/feature/insulin-is-a-lifesaving-drug-but-it-has-become-intolerably-expensive-and-the-consequences-can-be-tragic/?utm_term=.36f70efe5cfa)
because he could not afford to pay $1,300 for his monthly insulin bill
and felt like he had no alternative but to ration his supply. Following
Alecās death in 2017, his parents courageously began telling their story
in hopes of preventing the same tragedy from happening to anyone else.
The House Commerce Committee has considered a series of proposals to
address the price and availability of insulin. These include HF 485
(
https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?f=HF485&b=house&y=2019&ssn=0)
, which creates a mechanism for Minnesotans who are unable to afford
their needed insulin to get a temporary refill of their prescription. It
also authorizes pharmacies to fill a temporary supply of insulin for
patients whose prescription is out-of-date. Others include HF 289
(
https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?f=HF289&b=house&y=2019&ssn=0)
to improve drug price transparency; HF 288
(
https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?f=HF288&b=house&y=2019&ssn=0)
to bar insurance companies from removing coverage of insulin, equipment,
or supplies during someoneās contract year; and HF 284
(
https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?f=HF284&b=house&y=2019&ssn=0)
to direct the state Department of Health to determine if pharmaceutical
companies forcing excessive cost increases on users of insulin, and if
so, require reimbursements for Minnesotans. Profits for Big Pharma
shouldnāt get in the way of a quality way of life for all Minnesotans,
and Iām committed to supporting these measures.
Please continue to contact me with your input and ideas. Itās an honor
to be your voice at the Capitol.
Sincerely,
Rena Moran
State Representative
Rep. Rena Moran
Chair, House Health and Human Services Policy Committee
( https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/Committees/home/91008)
575 State Office Building
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155
www.house.mn/65A
( https://www.facebook.com/RepRenaMoran/)
Phone: 651-296-5158
E-mail: <email obscured>
Legislative Assistant: Alyssa Fritz, 651-296-2491