Interim Update
 Friends and neighbors,
After what felt like Minnesota reminding us who’s really in charge with a near-Arctic deep freeze last week, the warmer temperatures and sunshine have been more than welcome—and I’m soaking up every minute of it.
Beyond thawing out, it has been a busy and energizing week as our caucus gears up to return to the halls of the State Capitol. Precinct caucuses took place all across Minnesota, and I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who carved time out of their busy schedules to participate. Showing up, speaking up, and engaging in the grassroots process is what keeps democracy strong.
Seeing that level of involvement is always encouraging and serves as a powerful reminder of who we serve and why this work matters.
Putting Our Kids First, Not Ideology
I want to share some news that matters deeply to many families across our state—news focused on the health, safety, and long-term well-being of our children.
Recently, both the American Medical Association (AMA) and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) updated their positions regarding gender-related surgeries for minors. Additionally, Children’s Minnesota announced it will no longer provide gender-affirming treatments for minors, citing evolving federal guidance and updated recommendations from leading medical organizations.
To me, this represents a significant shift. It signals that the conversation around these complex and sensitive medical decisions is returning to where it should have always begun: careful research, thoughtful caution, and a commitment to fully understanding the lifelong impacts of treatments before they are performed on young people.
These are not easy conversations. They involve real children, real families, and real challenges. Every child deserves compassion, support, and care. At the same time, children deserve medical systems that proceed carefully—especially when treatments may carry permanent consequences.
For too long, many parents and medical professionals have expressed concern that we were moving too quickly toward irreversible surgical interventions without sufficient long-term research and evidence. The updated guidance from these national medical organizations reflects those concerns. The ASPS stated there is “insufficient evidence” to conclude that the benefits of irreversible gender-related surgeries for minors outweigh the risks. The AMA similarly indicated these procedures should generally be delayed until adulthood. Children’s Minnesota referenced this evolving medical guidance when making its decision, adding another dominant voice to a growing national discussion about ensuring the highest standards of care for our youth.
As your representative, and as someone who cares deeply about the next generation, I believe we have a responsibility to provide children with access to counseling, family support, and compassionate care—while also ensuring that life-altering medical interventions are approached with the highest level of caution and scientific certainty.
My priority will always be to advocate for policies that protect children, support families, and ensure medical decisions are guided by strong evidence, careful consideration, and what is truly in the best interest of our youth.
Minnesota families deserve nothing less.
Taking Minnesota’s Fraud Fight to the National Stage
 And now for some good news out of D.C.—yes, it still happens from time to time.
On Wednesday, Minnesota House Fraud and Oversight Committee Chair Kristin Robbins (R–Maple Grove) testified before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee at a hearing titled “Somali Scammers: Fighting Fraud in Minnesota and Beyond.”
Chair Robbins has been a champion in this fight—bringing in whistleblowers every day, following the facts wherever they lead, and refusing to allow this issue to quietly fade into government bureaucracy. She is now taking that fight to the national level, working alongside our congressional partners to shine a long-overdue spotlight on fraud schemes that have harmed hardworking Minnesotans across our state.
The timing could not be more important. After more than $9 billion in taxpayer dollars vanished into fraud, the Minnesota Department of Human Services announced this week a new effort to tighten oversight of state-run Medicaid programs. This includes expanded scrutiny of high-risk providers and a significant increase in unannounced site visits—an important step toward ensuring accountability and protecting taxpayer dollars.
Let me be clear: the scale of fraud we have seen in Minnesota is not a partisan issue. Stolen taxpayer dollars do not belong to one party or another. These are hard-earned dollars taken from Minnesotans across our state—money intended to help vulnerable families, support critical programs, and strengthen our communities.
And make no mistake—this isn’t a minor bookkeeping hiccup. This is serious money being siphoned off through sophisticated scams, some of which have been linked to funding terrorist organizations. That alone should seriously concern every Minnesotan.
The good news? Accountability is finally having its moment! Oversight is strengthening, investigations are underway, and after years of frustration, there’s real reason to believe meaningful progress is being made. Fraudsters, beware: your days of easy money in Minnesota are numbered.
Until Next Time...
As I close out this week’s newsletter, I want to sincerely thank you for sticking with me—for reading, staying informed, and caring about what’s happening in our community. A strong district isn’t built inside the Capitol; it’s built by the people who call this community home. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to serve you.
In just over a week, the 2026 legislative session begins, and I’m heading back to St. Paul with a full heart and a clear purpose: to represent you with integrity, honesty, and hard work. The most meaningful and effective policies don’t come from talking points or political pressure—they come from listening to the real experiences of the people who live, work, run businesses, raise families, and build their lives right here in our district. Your voices guide the work I do every single day.
Please never hesitate to reach out. Whether you have a concern, an idea, a question, or simply want to share what is impacting your family or your neighbors, I truly want to hear it. If it matters to you, it matters to me. My door, inbox, and phone are always open, and I mean that. The trust you place in me to serve in this role is something I carry with deep respect and responsibility.
Thank you for allowing me to serve as your voice at the Capitol. It is one of the greatest honors of my life.
Until next time,
Representative Erica Schwartz
Minnesota House of Representatives, District 18A
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