Friday, April 15, 2022
 Governor Walz visited Taopi on Thursday to meet with residents, volunteers, and local leaders after a tornado damaged the town earlier in the week. The Governor surveyed the damage and discussed ways the state can help the town rebuild.
"The town is devastated but the people are strong," said Governor Walz. "I told them that Minnesotans across the state stand with them and are ready to help rebuild."
 Governor Walz stopped in Rochester on Thursday on his statewide public safety tour to discuss what his public safety plan would mean for Rochester and communities across the state. Under the Walz-Flanagan Budget to Move Minnesota Forward, the average city in Minnesota would receive about $240,000 to invest in public safety – Rochester would receive over $2 million per year.
 Also on Thursday, Governor Walz and Senator Amy Klobuchar visited the Minnesota Veterans Home in Hastings to tour the facility and discuss how a state and federal partnership can help improve the safety and quality of life for Veterans living there. The Governor also highlighted proposed funding included in his bonding proposal for the current legislative session under the Walz-Flanagan Budget to Move Minnesota Forward.
 Governor Walz and Lieutenant Governor Flanagan stopped in Burnsville on Wednesday on their statewide public safety tour to discuss what their $300 million public safety plan would mean for Burnsville, Dakota County, and communities across the state. Under the Walz-Flanagan Budget to Move Minnesota Forward, Burnsville would receive over $1.1 million per year and Dakota County would receive nearly $350,000 per year.
 This week, Governor Walz became the first Minnesota Governor in 160 years to visit the Upper Sioux Community. During his visit, the Governor met with Chairman Kevin Jensvold and the Upper Sioux tribal government to learn about the community and discuss opportunities for improving tribal-state relations. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Sarah Strommen joined Governor Walz and Chairman Jensvold to tour the Upper Sioux Agency State Park.
 Governor Walz stopped in Moorhead on Tuesday on his statewide public safety tour to discuss what his public safety plan would mean for the Moorhead area and communities across the state. Under the Walz-Flanagan Budget to Move Minnesota Forward, Moorhead would receive nearly $764,000 per year, Dilworth would receive nearly $80,000 per year, and Clay County would receive nearly $179,000 per year.
 During Governor Walz's visits to Moorhead and Rochester, the Governor discussed the importance of delivering $2 billion in direct relief to Minnesota families through Walz Checks. Governor Walz and Lieutenant Governor Flanagan’s budget proposes distributing Walz Checks of up to $1,000 directly to Minnesotans – single tax filers would receive a payment of $500 while a married couple would receive a payment of $1,000. More than 2.7 million Minnesota households would receive a Walz Check under this proposal.
Governor Walz and Lieutenant Governor Flanagan reacted this week to Minnesota reaching its sixth straight month of job growth and its lowest unemployment rate since 1999, at 2.5%. Minnesota gained 11,500 jobs, up 0.4% in the last month, according to numbers released by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. Minnesota's labor force participation rate rose from 67.9% to 68.1% and the unemployment rate ticked down two-tenths of a point to 2.5% in March 2022 from 2.7% in February 2022, a tie with its lowest level ever recorded, in February 1999.
“Thanks to hardworking people across the state, we are moving Minnesota forward,” said Governor Walz. “For the sixth straight month, we have both added jobs and reached historically low levels of unemployment—outpacing states across the nation. Now, it’s time to pass a budget that builds on that success and invests in the people who are making our economy strong. We have an opportunity to lower costs for working families, drive job growth, and continue to expand our economy.”
More than 1,100 Minnesotans used the Minnesota Insulin Safety Net Program to access over $6 million worth of insulin in 2021, according to a recent report from the Minnesota Board of Pharmacy. In 2020, Governor Walz signed the Alec Smith Insulin Affordability Act to help Minnesotans afford their insulin through the Minnesota Insulin Net Safety Program.
“Minnesotans should never be forced to choose between putting food on the table and affording the health care they need to survive,” said Governor Walz. “Despite resistance from the pharmaceutical industry, we’re helping Minnesotans save millions of dollars on lifesaving insulin. The fight continues to expand access to insulin and lower the cost of all prescription drugs.”
Governor Walz celebrated news on Tuesday that the Biden Administration will lift a ban on the summertime sale of E15, which is cheaper than normal unleaded gas.
“Making E15 available this summer is the right move,” said Governor Walz. “This month, we urged EPA Administrator Michael Regan to make E15 available to help bring down prices at the pump and give drivers more choices. I’d like to thank President Biden and Administrator Regan for working to save families money, and I look forward to working with the EPA to deliver relief this summer.”
 In a social media post on Thursday, Governor Walz celebrated Minnesota's sixth straight month of economic and job growth.
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