Dear Neighbors,

Happy July! Can?t believe it?s already here.?

We?ve been through so much lately, but the fight continues. The extremist Supreme Court has made a slew of harmful decisions in the last week: overturning abortion rights, upholding prayer in school, undermining tribal sovereignty, making it harder to regulate guns, and making it easier for police to enter your home in the name of immigration control. We?ve moved backwards and are fighting to protect rights that we always took for granted rather than being able to proactively move on healthcare, climate, and inequality. Justice Thomas made it clear in the decision that overturned Roe: rights to birth control and gay marriage are next.

I stand in solidarity with anyone who has a uterus. This decision will undoubtedly exacerbate already existing disparities within our healthcare system. It is reprehensible that we are the developed country with the worst maternal health disparities, and now we will be one of only a sliver of countries that does not guarantee reproductive rights. People will die and unrightfully go to jail because of this decision. Our POCI Caucus and the Black Maternal Health Caucus are working to address these unacceptable disparities, I hope that you follow our journey. My colleague, Rep. Athena Hollins, spoke about these disparities on Friday at a press conference. Please watch her speech here.

Minnesota Beyond Roe: The Leadership Agenda for Abortion Access?

The press conference on Friday with UnRestrict Minnesota and the Reproductive Freedom Caucus, that I am a part of, was to announce ??Minnesota Beyond Roe: The Leadership Agenda for Abortion Access.?

If you haven?t already heard, due to a 1995 Minnesota Supreme Court decision, Doe v. Gomez, Minnesota is the only state in our region to have a built-in protection for reproductive rights.?

?Our state constitution provides strong protections for our right to decide whether to continue or end a pregnancy, and to get an abortion if that is what we choose,? said Megan Peterson, Executive Director of Gender Justice. ?Three-quarters of Minnesotans agree that when a person decides to have an abortion, it should be safe, legal, and free from punishment or judgment.?

Minnesota?s restrictions already make it difficult for many people to get care in Minnesota and disproportionately hurt the most marginalized in our community, including low-income people, BIPOC, people with disabilities, immigrants, LGBTQ+ people, and individuals in rural areas. We need to expand access to abortion now. This agenda can do that.

The Leadership Agenda focuses on three main areas of action for Minnesota: repealing Minnesota?s unnecessary restrictions on abortion care, protecting patients and providers from post-Roe attacks, and ensuring equitable and affordable access to abortion care. This bold plan will need action from community partners, legislators, and all levels of government in Minnesota. I wholeheartedly support this agenda, and this will be a priority for our next legislative session.

The full Minnesota Beyond Roe: Leadership Agenda for Abortion Access can be found here.?

Governor Walz Takes Executive Action to Protect Reproductive Health Care in Minnesota?

It?s good to have a pro-choice governor. Governor Tim Walz took executive action last week to protect reproductive health care services in Minnesota. Executive Order 22-16 will help protect people seeking or providing abortions in Minnesota from laws in other states.??

?My office has been and will continue to be a firewall against legislation that would reverse reproductive freedom,? said Governor Walz. ?This order shows our administration?s commitment to protecting patients and health care providers. Our administration is doing everything we can to protect individuals? right to make their own health care decisions.?

To the maximum extent permitted under the United States and Minnesota Constitutions and Minnesota law, the Governor will decline to honor requests to extradite individuals who are accused of committing acts related to reproductive health care that are not criminal offenses in Minnesota.

Executive Order 22-16 also orders state agencies to work to protect Minnesotans providing, seeking, or obtaining lawful reproductive health care services to the fullest extent of their lawful authority. Except when required to do so by law, state agencies must not assist other states in attempts to seek civil, criminal, or professional sanctions against anyone who provides, seeks, or obtains health care services that are legal in Minnesota.??

Executive Order 22-16 is effective immediately.

Urgency to Address Gun Violence

The Fourth of July brought forward numerous mass shootings this year, including one close to home: Boom Island. What?s supposed to be a celebratory experience for families in our communities left families broken and traumatized. I?ve heard from so many of you on this issue - that we need to move swiftly on gun regulation to save more lives. We, as a nation, deserve better.?

More people were shot and killed in America over the weekend than are killed by guns in Japan and the UK combined during an average year. It?s not video games, lack of prayer, or anything else that caused it. It?s guns. It?s always guns.

It?s time that dissenters on the other side of the aisle develop the political courage to ban assault rifles, close loopholes that allow people access without background checks, and encourage safety in our communities with red flag laws. I?m constantly inspired by the incredible leaders within Moms Demand Action and Mothers Against Community Gun Violence, and I will continue to fight with them for a better, safer world for our kids.

Sad News

It's been announced there will be no special session. I'm extremely frustrated. It's our job to invest in our communities and improve our state. The Senate GOP walking away from that job, and from their budget deal with House leadership, is a slap in the face to Minnesotans. I didn?t realize that the values of working families- affordable housing, accessible healthcare, transportation, fully funded public education- were able to be ignored to this degree.

We spent months negotiating in good faith to be able to use the surplus for our communities. We even came to an agreement on tax cuts (largely for well-off individuals) in exchange for investment in healthcare, housing, education, crime prevention, clean energy, and infrastructure. It seems that GOP elected officials do not want to do the work of explaining to their base that these important investments do not equal big government; they equal adequate government.

Months and months of work this year amounted to nothing because the Senate walked away. I am so grateful for all of the volunteers, advocates, experts, and staff that work tirelessly, crafting and organizing around important legislation. It?s important that we have a legislature that will do the things that people depend on.

What We Accomplished

Though I?m angry about the important things that were left on the table, I?d still like to highlight a few wins from this year. We were able pass legislation that:

Gave bonuses of $750 or more to hundreds of thousands of frontline workers who did not have the option to work from home during the pandemic.?
Distributed unprecedented amounts of money to address the opioid crisis.
Reduced the cost of health insurance for Minnesotans who use the individual market.
Passed a sweeping package of mental health investments and improvements for Minnesotans? mental health to increase hospital bed capacity, attract new mental health care professionals, and expand the use of mobile crisis units.
Made the largest investment in high-speed broadband internet in state history, helping to connect students to classrooms, businesses to customers, and senior citizens to tele-health services.?
Funded public health infrastructure to keep people healthy and safe as the COVID-19 pandemic evolves.
Protected and supported veterans and Gold Star families.
Replenished funding for Minnesota?s Unemployment Insurance Program while keeping businesses? unemployment insurance tax rates flat.
Extended the COVID-19 worker?s comp presumption for first responders, including fire fighters, police officers, paramedics, and more.
Modernized state liquor laws to support Minnesota?s breweries and distilleries.?
Funded nation-leading ALS research.
Provided financial relief to farmers impacted by the 2021 drought and delivered resources to control and contain the avian influenza outbreak.
Small amounts of THC in gummies allowed for adults over the age of 21.
Divested the state?s pension fund from Russian and Belarusian assets.

What Republicans Blocked

We have more work to do to build a Minnesota where everyone can thrive. I will continue to advocate for:?

Affordable and accessible healthcare, including mental health and disability services.
Affordable and accessible housing and fair renter protection.
100 percent clean energy.
Supporting our students and teachers with the investment they need.
Fully funding the Special Education and English Learner programs.
Public safety for everyone by enacting meaningful safety and police accountability measures, including a ban on no-knock warrants.
Paid family and medical leave and earned sick and safe time. Further worker protections so companies like Amazon can?t harm their workers.?
Unemployment Insurance expansion for school workers.
Corporations paying their fair share in taxes so we can invest in kids, families, and communities.
Legalizing and safely regulating cannabis in an equitable manner.

COVID-19 Resources

Though it feels like we ?went back to normal? in terms of the pandemic, you should still get tested when necessary, and quarantine if you test positive. Those who are vaccinated are unlikely to have harsh symptoms, but it?s important that we try to be conscientious as many people still cannot be vaccinated.?

Where to find COVID-19 testing

Minnesotans have many COVID-19 testing resources.

Healthcare systems, clinics, pharmacies, local public health, and other private labs are offering free testing for Minnesotans. A continuously updated list of participating sites can be found at Find Testing Locations.
Under a Biden Administration order, insurers are required to cover the cost of up to eight at-home COVID-19 test kits per month for enrollees. Check with your insurance company about ways to get free rapid testing from pharmacies.?
Minnesotans can order up to four at-home rapid test kits (eight tests) for free from the State. Visit Order your free at-home rapid tests.
Minnesotans can request up to eight free rapid at-home test kits (16 tests) per household at CovidTests.gov.
Under the Biden Administration?s test-to-treat program, 61 Minnesota pharmacies and community clinics are conducting on-site rapid testing and prescribing anti-viral medicine for at-risk individuals who test positive. Find a list of participating providers at the federal government?s Test to Treat locator.?

When to Get Tested

Testing continues to be an important tool for preventing the spread of COVID-19.
To keep COVID-19 from spreading, you should use testing if:

You have symptoms of the virus.
You have had close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19.
You are returning from international or domestic travel.
You attended a high-risk event.
You work in a setting that has regular, close contact with many people.

Minnesotans can find up-to-date guidance on when to get tested at MDH: COVID-19 Testing.?

ICYMI: More Women of Color are Starting Businesses

I wanted to boost this episode of MPR News. It?s a great deep dive into the success of women in our community, despite systemic barriers. You can listen to the episode here.