|
Dear Neighbors,
The conservation of native, wild Turkey is one of the biggest environmental success stories in our state?s history. That history began 50 years ago with the creation of the National Wild Turkey Federation, which started in southern Minnesota!
Today, I spoke on the House Floor about the importance of the NWTF and its conservation efforts and wrote a House Resolution celebrating the 50-year anniversary of the organization. I was joined by the Speaker of the House, DNR staff, as well as members of the Minnesota chapter of NWTF, including Tom Glines for the resolution signing ceremony. You can watch my floor speech here.
Yesterday, I presented my bill updating the Packinghouse worker?s bill of rights, which was passed in 2007. My bill would require more disclosure to workers about their rights, provide that information in the language the worker speaks, and increase fines that have not been updated in over a decade. As I stated in our committee hearing, while the packing houses may have survived and thrived and made a great profit, some of the workers did not. You can read more from Public News Service.
The 2023 state budget framework invests $670 million dollars in the environment and natural resources. This is a historic investment in our environment and natural resources, protecting our environment, air, soil, water, and wildlife.
Today at 3:00 p.m. the Environment and Natural Resources Committee, which I chair heard and took testimony on our budget bill, which can be found here. You can also refer to this budget spreadsheet, which House nonpartisan staff explained in today?s meeting.
On Wednesday at 3:00 p.m. the committee will accept amendments and take a final vote on the bill. Updates will be posted to the Environment and Natural Resources Committee Webpage. Video of the hearing will be posted to the House Information Youtube Page shortly.
Yesterday I was proud to join my fellow legislators advocating for legislation to ban non-essential uses of PFAS chemicals in a host of products, to strengthen regulations on these harmful chemicals, and to increase health monitoring to better understand their impacts on our water, wildlife, and ourselves. You can read more about some of those bills here.
Please continue to share your questions, ideas, and feedback throughout the legislative session. You can reach me by email at?[email protected]?or by phone at 651-296-6828. You can contact my Legislative Assistant Sam O'Neill at 651-296-3305 or via email at?[email protected].?
Sincerely,
Rick Hansen
State Representative
|
