The Legislature gaveled in Monday for our second special session. House DFLers
remain committed to completing unfinished business from the regular session —
including responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and safeguarding the health and
well-being of Minnesotans, enacting meaningful legislation on racial justice
and police accountability, passing a jobs & local projects bonding bill, and
rebuilding our twin cities communities that suffered property damage during
civil unrest by passing the PROMISE Act. This is a key priority for me,
especially with the recent denial of FEMA assistance.
It’s anticipated that moving forward, we’ll gather once every thirty days to
continue the Governor’s peacetime emergency, which has allowed him to take
quick, decisive action to protect Minnesotans through the COVID-19 pandemic. An
extension will ensure that Minnesotans continue to receive much-needed support
and relief as the pandemic evolves. The COVID-19 virus is still among us and
remains a real concern. Governors in states that re-opened have reinstated
restrictions — using the very emergency powers that Republicans want to end.
Housing Assistance Applications Open
Today, Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan announced a
$100 million housing assistance program to help prevent evictions, prevent
homelessness, and maintain housing stability for individuals and families
impacted by COVID-19. The $100 million investment will be funded with federal
dollars through the Coronavirus Relief Fund, which was authorized by the
federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
Learn more about the program here. Applications for assistance are due by 2:00
p.m. on Wednesday, July 22, 2020. If you or anyone you know may need
assistance, please apply here. Additional funds may become available and may be
awarded through either this application process or subsequent rounds.
House Resolution Declaring Racism a Public Health Crisis
A House committee today advanced a resolution declaring racism a public health
crisis, with a final vote on the House floor likely to occur Monday, July 20.
The resolution states that racism is embedded in the foundation of America,
beginning with chattel slavery in 1619, and that much of the Black experience
in America has been endured under slavery and Jim Crow, which created
preferential opportunities for white people while subjecting people of color to
hardships and disadvantages in every area of life. Click here to download a
copy.
MDE Back-to-School Survey Results
With still so much uncertainty around COVID-19 remaining, the House Education
Committees recently discussed what school could look like in the fall – whether
K-12 schools will fully reopen, if distance learning will continue, or if some
sort of a hybrid will be introduced. School districts are trying to plan for
all three scenarios.
The Minnesota Department of Education last week released the results of a
survey asking Minnesota families about their experience with distance learning
and their thoughts on the upcoming school year. They received over 130,000
responses, which showed that 64% of respondents selected that they would feel
comfortable sending their students back to school. The results also showed
significant concerns for public health remain.
A decision on the upcoming school year is expected to be announced later this
month.
Cub Foods Update
Our Cub Foods has opened a temporary market with a broad variety of grocery
items in front of their damaged store while they rebuild. It is open from 8:00
a.m.-8:00 p.m. daily and prices will not be increased to offset any rebuilding
costs. Cub will also be providing free transportation service daily from 10:00
a.m. to 6:00 p.m. with pickups starting on the hour and drop offs on the half
hour.
Bus from East Lake store goes to the Cub store at the Quarry in Northeast
Minneapolis.
Absentee Ballots Available
You can request an absentee ballot for the upcoming primary and general
elections on the Secretary of State’s website here. In addition to keeping you
and your family safe, absentee balloting minimizes the risk to election
officials and other voters. The online application tool will ask for an email
address and an identification number – either a Minnesota-issued driver’s
license, Minnesota ID card, or the last four digits of your Social Security
number. You can check your voter registration status here and update your
status here.
Please Respond to the Census
75.5 percent of Hennepin County residents have responded to the 2020 Census. I
encourage you to take a few minutes to respond if you haven’t done so already
and to remind friends and family to do the same. More online, mail, or phone
responses mean fewer census workers needing to go door to door in this time of
pandemic. Census data determines how billions of dollars in federal funding is
allocated and impacts representation at the local, state, and national level.
Getting a strong, accurate count is necessary to ensure fair distribution of
resources and equal representation. If you haven’t responded to the Census, you
can do so online here, by phone, or by mail.
Last Summer Newsletter
This is my last update until after the election. Whether running or not,
legislators cannot use state resources for unsolicited communications during an
election period because it might create an unfair advantage. While I won’t be
able to send out these updates for a while, you can still follow me on my
legislative Facebook page. I’m still available to meet via telephone, help with
state level problems, and discuss issues important to our community. Feel free
to give my office a call at 651-296-0173 or email me anytime at
<email obscured>.
Sincerely,
Jim Davnie
State Representative