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Howard Banner




Dear Neighbors, 

This week at the Minnesota House, we passed our first bills off the floor. As I’ve covered in this year’s newsletters, there’s no shortage of important issues that have been moving slowly or not at all due to Republican inaction, but for a few issues yesterday we were able to move the ball forward.

One of the first bills we passed renames Minnesota’s Community Solar Garden Program [ [link removed] ] for Speaker Emerita, and former Energy Committee chair, Melissa Hortman.

In 2013, Melissa authored the law that established the Community Solar Garden Program and set the state’s solar standard, leading to a dramatic increase in the state’s use of solar power and a growth in green economy jobs. As Speaker, Melissa continued to work to support the community solar program and led efforts to pass the state’s 100% Clean Energy by 2040 goal.

The community solar program was one of the accomplishments Melissa was most proud of in her entire legislative career, and it’s more than fitting that we name the program after her. 

Another bill we passed was one I authored with support from legislators on both sides of the aisle [ [link removed] ]. One of President Trump’s many senseless, heartless budget cuts was to supportive housing providers, a move that would trigger a homelessness crisis in our state.

To act fast and fix the immediate issue before us, my bill directs $9 million dollars to Minnesota’s supportive housing providers who were caught in limbo. This is just the latest example of the federal government abandoning Minnesotans out in the cold, leaving us to step up to provide triage to an emergency. This bill helps keep the doors open for housing providers and in turn aims to prevent a manufactured homelessness crisis caused by President Trump.

While I’m grateful we were able to pass this emergency bill with bipartisan support, it’s frustrating my Republican colleagues can see the need to address this homelessness crisis caused by President Trump, but not the rental crisis caused by his Operation Metro Surge. 

Again in the Housing Committee this week, Republicans were given the opportunity to advance legislation delivering emergency rental assistance, and again they voted it down [ [link removed] ]. We cannot afford to treat the housing crisis as disconnected issues. This rent crisis WILL turn into a homelessness crisis unless we act.

We’ll continue to push Republicans to recognize that fact. We need to deliver housing support to ALL Minnesotans. 

In partnership, 

 

Michael Howard








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