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Neighbors,
Have a safe and fun Halloween! As the weather changes, this is also a good time to remember (or remind friends and family) that Minnesota has a cold weather rule to help protect Minnesotans who struggle to afford their heating bill from having it shut off between October 15 and April 15. You can find more information about that here.
Here's a quick update from the Capitol.
Youth Vaping
We're only beginning to understand the dangers of vaping, but it's clearly not the cleaner, safer quit-smoking device we thought it was. Athletes are having trouble breathing during workouts, students are having trouble concentrating, and educators are spending time during class monitoring for kids sneaking hits of nicotine.
On Monday, my House DFL colleagues and I announced a comprehensive plan to combat Big Tobacco's youth targeting.
Here are some highlights of the plan:
- By raising the legal age to purchase tobacco age to 21, we will limit youth targeting.
- We will reduce youth access by stopping all internet sales of tobacco, e-cigarette, and vaping products.
- By prohibiting sales of all flavored tobacco products in our state, we will reduce the appeal of tobacco products for vulnerable populations.
- We will support prevention efforts with a dedicated office to combat the immense pressure of the tobacco industry with effective counter-marketing.
- Finally, we will fight to ensure that every Minnesotan has access to quit-smoking resources to help them break free from addiction. We’ll promote the state’s quitting program and remove barriers that prevent Medicaid patients and others from accessing quit-smoking medications and therapy.
Youth nicotine addiction isn’t just affecting families – it is touching health clinics, schools, and communities in every corner of Minnesota. This is about protecting our kids, and it’s time to take bold action to hold Big Tobacco accountable.
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Open Enrollment - Starting Tomorrow!
Open enrollment (which begins on Nov. 1) is your chance to change health care plans or enroll in a new plan through the MNsure marketplace—the only place where you can qualify for financial help in the form of monthly tax credits. Go to MNsure.org to compare plans and get ready for open enrollment!
Minnesota Values Project
Finally, I want to let you know about the Minnesota Values Project, which is an ongoing partnership between Minnesotans and the legislature. We want to represent the views of Minnesotans and create a shared vision for the future of our state, and your input is an important part of this process! You can let us know what’s important to you, your community, and Minnesota here.
As always, reach out with questions and comments!
Sincerely,
Rep. Alice Mann
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