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Dear Neighbors,
‘Tis the season! The season of celebrating our families, our faiths, our communities. These are challenging times, and boy, has this year been just that. This has been a year that makes people reflect on the importance of others in their lives and the gratitude for those who have helped them get through it all. I, and many I know, better recognize how our connections from loved ones, co-workers, to those in our book clubs, and kids’ activities mean everything. I am full of hope as I make the transition from the House of Representatives to the Senate. The message I hope to convey this year is that I continue to focus on the fact that we’re on the path to recovery, and we're ready for a fresh start within our communities and all of Minnesota. Let’s do that together!
Monday afternoon began our last Special Session in 2020. We ended sine die at 2:30 am Tuesday morning. The result of this long day is that we have been able to invest in so many ways to lift up those who are struggling the most. Here’s an overview:
House Passes New Covid-19 Economic Assistance Package
Yesterday, we met for our seventh special session of the year to pass an assistance package that will help our most vulnerable neighbors, and local businesses stay afloat during this ongoing crisis. The DFL led the way in designing this package and had to fight hard for this aid, particularly the unemployment insurance extension, as GOP Senators wanted to put corporations before the average worker. True to our bipartisan nature we managed to find a path that works for both sides of the aisle while also delivering a victory for our entire state. Here are a few of the key pieces of the Covid-19 Economic Assistance Package:
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Extend Unemployment Benefits: Provides up to 13 additional weeks in unemployment benefits for MN workers who have exhausted all federal and state benefits. There are an estimated 100,000 MN workers who could qualify for this extension, showing how needed this extension is.
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Business Assistance Grants: Provides $216.5 million from the General Fund in grants to restaurants, bars, gyms, theaters and many other entities directly affected by the executive orders and the pandemic. It is estimated that these grants will be able to assist over 6,000 businesses that have been hurt by Covid-19.
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Certain Fees Waived for Hospitality Industry: This is another straight-forward practical action we can take to help ease the financial burden our local businesses are facing. While this is a smaller portion of the total relief, it should go a long way towards helping these vulnerable businesses.
This aid is a much needed lifeline for many in our state, but it won’t help everyone who needs it. While this certainly is a win, our state, and the entire nation, desperately need congressional Republicans to come to the table and agree to deliver federal aid before it is too late.
Open Enrollment
Open enrollment for MNSure is ongoing with the deadline approaching on December 22nd. If you need health insurance please learn more and apply here.
Safer Holiday Celebrations
Holidays are one way Minnesotans celebrate the people, history, and events we care about. All of our celebrations, from major U.S. holidays to those of our diverse communities, are important expressions of culture, faith, and family connections. Each holiday is special in its own way. Click here to read up on MDH’s guideline to a Safer Holiday Celebrations during COVID-19.
Keep in Touch
I sincerely hope that you and your families will be well through this continuation of the Covid-19 pandemic. My best wishes for a safe holiday season and a very blessed new year!
Please know that I appreciate your communication. You can still reach out with comments and questions for me at: rep.mary.kuneshpodein@house.mn or 651-296-4331.
Stay well,
Mary
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