Legislative Update
I was honored to attend a send-off ceremony for the 612th Engineer Detachment in Duluth, Minnesota, on Sunday, January 5, 2025. This division has been serving since World War II, with combat engineers committed to protecting the United States. As I visited with veterans, families, and friends, it was a humbling reminder of the sacrifices made by veterans for the freedom we enjoy in our communities. As I left the ceremony and headed to St. Paul, I reflected on my own time away from home when the legislative session begins and was quickly reminded of the greatest sacrifice made by our veterans. While being a State Representative requires time away from family and friends, it cannot compare to the ultimate sacrifice our veterans make with every deployment. Though I have never served in the military, I have had the privilege of serving many veterans over my 40 years of caring for seniors, including those from World War I, World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam, and other conflicts. As I drove to St. Paul, I thought of them all. I am truly blessed to serve in this role because of the bravery of those who have served and continue to serve our country.
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I continue to serve on various appointed committees, including EMS (ambulance services) and the Aging Task Force. Additionally, I was appointed to the Health, Labor & Workforce, and Children & Families Committees. I have worked hard in a bipartisan manner to write and pass bills, such as one supporting EMT training in Lake County and a partnership with the high school in Two Harbors. This free program ensures the North Shore has staffed ambulances for residents, workers, and visitors of this beautiful region. I also authored a pilot project bill for a Regional Center of Excellence that creates a pathway partnership between unions, businesses, schools, chambers of commerce, and the community. Proctor, Hermantown, and Esko will lead the way in preparing high school students for pathways beyond a traditional four-year degree. As someone who pursued a Nursing Home Administration degree after my 10th-grade Health Occupations class, which provided a Certified Nursing Assistant pathway in 1983, I am passionate about expanding these types of programs across the state. With our region's aging demographic, this work is especially critical. Additionally, I successfully secured a grant to increase the number of licensed nurses in response to the critical nurse shortage. I will continue to work on finding solutions for these pressing issues. Many are aware that family childcare centers have faced over 50% closures in recent years, and I will seek meaningful solutions to reverse this trend and support stand-alone childcare centers during this legislative session.
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The legislative session begins on January 14, 2025, and I look forward to getting back to work. With a looming $5 billion deficit, it is imperative that all legislators come together to find solutions to ensure Minnesota has a budget that addresses the $500 million in fraud and deficit spending. I am eager to collaborate with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, as I did during the past two years. As always, please feel free to reach out with any suggestions, ideas, concerns, or just say hello. If you plan to visit the Capitol, let me know, and I will do my best to meet with you.
Stay warm,
Natalie
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