 Dear Neighbors,
I hope this newsletter finds you well and looking forward to a hopefully milder weekend.
Our work continues at the State Capitol. This week, I had a chance to meet with Hopkins Fire Chief Dale Specken and St. Louis Park Fire Chief Steve Koering to hear about the priorities of the fire service. As the chief author of the new Hometown Heroes Assistance Program, which helps our firefighters access critical resources to help deal with trauma, cardiac, and cancer diagnoses and treatment, I’ll always have our firefighters’ backs.
 Rep. Kraft and I also had the opportunity to meet with constituents visiting the Capitol from the organization “We Choose Us”, who are advocating for fairer access to our elections. I also had the chance to talk with folks from the Minnesota Federation for the Blind.
 On Friday, I had the chance to meet with the Hopkins Schools Legislative Advocacy Coalition that included parents, school board members, and students. We discussed the needs the Hopkins district has around increased student supports and stability in education funding. Earlier in the week, I met with two members of the St. Louis Park School Board who echoed many of the same needs.
Community Conversations
Mark your calendars for my upcoming Community Conversations! Due to the St. Louis Park library's meeting room under renovation, all 46B residents should feel free to attend the meetings scheduled in Hopkins or Edina. It’s important for me to hear from you. Hope to see you there!
Governor Announces Children and Families Budget Proposal
Early this week, the Walz and Flanagan Administration announced their children and families budget proposals to fight child poverty and give families the resources they need to succeed. As the House Education Finance Chair, I look forward to working with our House Education team, the Governor and Lt. Governor, as well as the Senate Education team to put a bill together that focuses on providing our students what they need to succeed. And, how we can invest in our schools to meet our students where they are at. You can find the fact sheet with more information here.
 I had the opportunity to speak with WCCO to discuss my reactions to the proposals as the House Education Finance Chair and you can check it out here.
Committee Work
In the Education Finance Committee this week, we held a powerful public hearing dedicated to listening to student voices. Minnesotans from across the state joined us at the Capitol or on Zoom to share their challenges around mental health access, a one-size-fits-all approach to learning, and what it would mean to see themselves reflected in their teachers in the classroom.
These are all critical issues we need to address this session, and I’m proud of these young people leading the way to advocate for themselves and their quality of education. One of the students who spoke was Oscar Wolfe from Hopkins High School. He shared the need for mental health supports, more funding for public schools, and student food insecurity. You can listen to these incredible students’ testimony here.
Floor Action
Politics have no place in a doctor’s office. Yesterday, I proudly voted for the Protect Reproductive Options (PRO) Act, which the Minnesota House of Representatives passed. This bill protects Minnesotans’ right to contraception, the right to choose when to start a family, and ensures the right to privacy for personal reproductive health decisions.
I trust Minnesotans to decide when and how they want to start a family. Thank you to the bill author, Rep. Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn, for trusting Minnesotans too!
 The recent overturning of Roe v. Wade sends a clear message that we can’t take these rights for granted. The PRO Act will codify these fundamental rights into law which is essential in guaranteeing reproductive freedom for the long term.
Keep in Touch
Please continue to reach out anytime at rep.cheryl.youakim@house.mn.gov or 651-296-9889 with questions or input. Email is the quickest way to get in touch. For scheduling, you are welcome to contact my legislative assistant, Shamat, at Shamat.Abraha@house.mn.gov.
Thank you for the honor of serving our Hopkins, St. Louis Park, and Edina neighbors at the State Capitol.
Have a great weekend!
 Cheryl Youakim
State Representative
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