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Dear Neighbors,
House DFLers focused on supporting workers, ensuring access to health care, and investing in our local communities. With a surplus this year, the legislature was able to pass a supplemental budget, albeit small, that invests in Minnesotans and the pressing challenges our state faces. The compromise budget doesn’t include everything we championed, but we made significant investments in mental health care access, funding for frontline workers, supporting our veterans, and more.
As we look forward to the next session, we must put forward bold policies to make significant progress on climate change, housing, and racial and economic inequality. We need to rise to this moment and harness the power of the people to ensure all Minnesotans - of every race, zip code, and generation - can have a better life.
This will be my last e-update to you until after the election, due to the 60-day rule noted below. I appreciate all of the attention you’ve given to these e-newsletters, and will look forward to starting them up again in November.
I’m grateful to be able to do this work with you.
Sincerely,
Rep. Esther Agbaje
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TOWN HALL
Please join Sen. Champion, Rep. Lee and I for a virtual Town Hall on Thursday, July 21st from 6:00-7:00pm. We look forward to answering your questions and talking about this year’s legislative session. I would love to hear your thoughts. You can register and submit questions in advance here. Please also take a moment to share the event with your neighbors in the district.
Frontline Worker Pay
The deadline for frontline workers to apply for a bonus for their work during the height of the pandemic is TODAY, 7/22 AT 5 P.M. Money set aside for this program will be split equally among all approved applicants. Thank you to all who helped our society keep going at a critical time. Make sure to apply if eligible and to spread the word to friends and family.
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March for Reproductive Rights
On Sunday, thousands of Minnesotans gathered in Saint Paul for the March for Abortion Access. Following the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade ruling, Minnesota will still play a key role in providing safe and legal abortion care to women in this state and those from other states seeking this medical procedure.
Last week, a state court ruling struck down many of Minnesota’s abortion restrictions, including the 24 hour abortion waiting period. The district court held these unnecessary restrictions violated the rights provided in the Minnesota Constitution. Women facing a difficult decision about their own healthcare shouldn’t have to struggle to get the care they need.
I was happy to have a moment to speak at the rally as a member of the Black Maternal Health Caucus and the Reproductive Freedom Caucus. We know that people of color already experience unacceptable disparities in our healthcare systems, and that people of color and people with disabilities will be most detrimentally affected by the overturning of our federal reproductive freedoms. I’m working to make sure that everyone is able to get the healthcare that they need.
Public Safety Innovation
We’re all concerned about public safety right now. Crime typically upticks in the summer months, but right now we’re experiencing a rise in shootings and assaults.
Every day, we are asking Senate GOP members to come back to work with a special session so we can pass common-sense gun laws and important crime prevention measures. We know what it takes to solve this problem in the cities, but they don’t want to listen to the communities that are most affected. The House passed support for local law enforcement, data-driven crime prevention funding, police accountability measures, and many provisions that seek to make officers’ jobs easier, like our catalytic converter theft prevention bill. I’m in this with you. Be sure to engage with friends and family who are represented by GOP Senators to reach out to their Senator to ask for a special session.
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COVID-19 Update
Every home in the U.S. is now eligible to order a third round of free at-home COVID-19 tests. Click here to place your order. You can also call 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489). More COVID-19 updates are available through the Minnesota Department of Health website, or the U of M Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP).
Hometown Heroes Assistance Program Update
As a result of the bipartisan Hometown Heroes Assistance Program we passed into law, we’re already seeing an immense impact on firefighters' lives across the state – with free health and wellness resources to protect our hometown heroes and their families. I was glad to vote for this legislation for our dedicated firefighting community.
You or a firefighter you know can access these free benefits and support today. Learn more about the Hometown Heroes Assistance Program here.
Communicating during the legislative interim
Today marks the 60-day deadline from the end of the legislative session, therefore, state law dictates this will be my last update until after the election. During an election period, legislators cannot use state resources for unsolicited communications because it might create an unfair advantage for incumbents.
I can continue to help with the state-level problems and discuss important issues in our community, so if you have any questions or feedback you’d like to share, I welcome your questions and comments anytime. You can send an email to rep.esther.agbaje@house.mn or can call my office at 651-296-8659.
As always, the Minnesota House of Representatives Public Information Services offers nonpartisan recaps of high-profile bills, committee hearings, and floor sessions with their Session Daily publication. Subscribe to receive these here.
Also, please visit and “like” my Facebook page for more Capitol and community updates.
Thank you for the privilege of representing you in the legislature.
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