|
 April 9, 2024
Reaffirming Minnesota’s Relationship with Taiwan
On Monday, April 8th, members of the Taiwanese Delegation visited the Capitol to attend the Senate session that passed a resolution honoring our state’s commitment to Taiwan during Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Month. As a founding co-chair of the Taiwan Friendship Caucus, I joined Senators Hoffman and Rarick in welcoming new Director General Dennis Yen-Feng Lei from the Taiwan Delegation as well as Taiwanese citizens living here in Minnesota.
Two years ago, we in the Taiwan Friendship Caucus had the opportunity to visit Taiwan and discuss issues that are important to the relationship between Minnesota and Taiwan. Monday’s visit and Senate resolution marked a reaffirmation of our commitment to a strong and supportive relationship with Taiwan. Unfortunately, we did not have the opportunity to pass the resolution in the House this week as the Leadership of the House was unwilling to do so, but we did read a similar proclamation last year that I was proud to support.
Since 1984, Minnesota and Taiwan have enjoyed strong bilateral trade and tourism, as well as educational and cultural exchanges. Taiwan is Minnesota’s 4th largest export market, with $610 million of goods exported in 2022. Overall, the United States is also Taiwan’s second-largest trading partner, with $160 billion in bilateral trading and Taiwan imported $4.4 billion worth of U.S. farm products.
The resolution includes the following commitment to Taiwan: “The Senate reaffirms its support for the Taiwan Relations Act, and encourages Minnesota Businesses to refer to Taiwan as Taiwan; That the Senate endorses Taiwan’s efforts to secure signing of a Bilateral Trade Agreement, the Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement, and the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity with the United States, and reiterates its support for a closer economic and trade partnership between the State of Minnesota and Taiwan.” As a co-chair of the Taiwan Friendship Caucus, I am proud to stand with the people of Taiwan and to support this resolution.
|
|
 Left to right: Representative Rarick, Director General Dennis Yen-Feng Lei, Senator Rarick
|
 Taiwan Friendship Cacus with Taiwanese Delegation
|
|
 Taiwan Friendship Caucus with Taiwanese Delegation
|
 Representative Rarick with Director General Dennis Yen-Feng Lei
|
|
 Representative and Senator Rarick present Senate Resolution and House Proclamation to Director General Dennis Yen-Feng Lei
|
 Meeting between the Senate Republican Caucus and the Taiwanese Delegation
|
|
 Members of the Taiwan Friendship Caucus stand with Director General Dennis Yen-Feng Lei after presenting him with the Senate Resolution and House Proclamation
|
|
Higher Education Policy Bill
Last week, we passed the Higher Education Policy bill off the House floor. The 2024 bill, which builds upon the significant reforms of the 2023 higher education law.
Authored by Chair Gene Pelowski, HF 4024 focuses on 48 policy changes, many of which adjust scholarships and grants overseen by the Office of Higher Education. Among these changes were: adding an academic progress requirement to the American Indian Scholars program; requiring schools to designate an employee as a navigator to better assist students who are pregnant or parents; making tribal colleges eligible for higher education grants for students with disabilities; requiring ordering students’ financial aid awarded to provide the greatest amount of aid to students; adding energy to the programs eligible for workforce development scholarships; and changing the specific purposes for which a 2023 appropriation can be used for the U of M Medical Schools’ CentraCare Health System Campus in St. Cloud. Additionally, the bill includes updates to the agency’s sexual assault, harassment, and violence policies some of which I authored in 2015.
It's important to note that these changes stem from an increase in enrollment across our systems. The bill received bipartisan support, with Rep. Nathan Coulter (D) and I emphasizing the importance of prioritizing and supporting students as they navigate higher education.
One particularly contentious issue is the budget shortfall faced by the Fostering Independence grant program which I addressed two weeks ago. A part of the bill that I am adamantly opposed to is changing this scholarship to a first-come-first-serve basis, with a waiting list. We made promises to these students, and it's wrong that we are now breaking that promise when the program has barely started. We offered an amendment to fix the $5 million deficit, but it was voted down along party lines. With a $19 billion surplus completely spent last year, it's ridiculous that $5 million can't be redirected to make these kids whole. Overall, the bill is a win for students across the state and these concerns can still be addressed during debates for Higher Education’s supplemental budget bill.
While four amendments were offered, only one was successful. My amendment, which was adopted unanimously, changes a $10 million appropriation to the U of M from a "scholarship endowment fund" to a "scholarship program." This aligns more closely with the legislative intent and removes the ability of the University of Minnesota to put the $10 million into an endowment and use only the interest from the endowment to grant scholarships at the U of M Medical Schools’ CentraCare Health System Campus in St. Cloud.
Overall, this bill represents a continued commitment to all students so they can be successful.
Sincerely,
Rep. Marion Rarick
|
 Please Contact Me
As always, if you need assistance on an issue pertaining to state government or have concerns or ideas about legislation, my office is available to you. You can e-mail at rep.marion.rarick@house.mn.gov or call my office at 651-296-5063. You can also write a letter to me. My office address at the Capitol is 201 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, St. Paul, MN 55155.
|
|
201 State Office Building
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Saint Paul, MN 55155
651.296.5063 |
|
|
|
|