Dear friends and neighbors on the Iron Range,
We are back to work in St. Paul after the one-week long Easter break. I was truly blessed to take a brief vacation with my family to relax and reset just a bit as well.
Now that we’ve returned, the pace has picked up quickly. With only a few weeks remaining, the Legislature is focused on budget negotiations, debating bills on the House floor, and working through key priorities before our constitutional deadline. There is still a lot of work to be done, and I remain committed to finding practical solutions that support families in their communities and deliver results for Greater Minnesota.
Preserving Girls’ Sports
Republicans hit the ground running this week with three bills on the House floor focused on protecting fairness and opportunity in girls’ sports. HF12, HF2685, and HF1233, were all brought forward to ensure female athletes can compete on a level playing field and continue to benefit from the opportunities that girls’ athletics provide.
These bills were designed to preserve fairness in competition, protect opportunities for scholarships, and ensure that girls’ sports remain a place where young women can grow, compete, succeed and feel safe. For many families, this issue is about maintaining the progress made over decades to expand opportunities for female athletes and making sure those opportunities remain available for future generations.
While there was meaningful discussion on the House floor, the bills ultimately did not receive enough votes to pass. Even so, I believe this conversation is important and will continue. Protecting fairness in girls’ sports is about supporting young women, strengthening opportunities, and ensuring that every athlete has the chance to compete on equal footing.
MN Forest Resources Council
Before the break, I had a productive conversation with members of the Minnesota Forest Resources Council. We discussed a range of topics, including forest management, woody biomass, Sustainable Aviation Fuel, SFIA versus 2c managed land, and conservation easements.
Minnesota’s forests are an important part of our economy and our way of life. We all share the goal of keeping our forests healthy and sustainable for future generations. A healthy forest is also one that is responsibly utilized, and emerging industries like Sustainable Aviation Fuel (utilizing some woody biomass) present new opportunities to support jobs while maintaining strong conservation practices.
I appreciate the thoughtful discussion and look forward to continuing to work together on solutions that support both forest health and economic growth across Minnesota.
Progress Parkway Project in Eveleth
I recently testified in the Transportation Committee alongside Jim Foldesi, Director of Public Works for St. Louis County, regarding the Progress Parkway project in Eveleth. The project is already underway, but we needed an extension for previously allocated funds. Following a brief hearing, HF4006 advanced to the Ways and Means Committee, its final stop before heading to the General Register.
It was also a pleasure to see Commissioner McDonald at the Capitol that same day. I appreciate the hard work our northern commissioners do to advocate for our region.
Minnesota’s Main Streets Initiative
I had a good conversation recently with a man named Dawson from Northfield and Teresa Appelwick about Minnesota’s Main Streets initiative. We discussed funding sources and how these resources support local communities and businesses. So good of them to take time to meet with me and share their insights.
Meeting Tanya and Lisa
Tanya Hovi and Lisa Hesse recently made the journey to the Centennial Office building to have a meeting with me. We discussed topics like stewardship of natural resources, protecting and harvesting wild rice, and the benefits of battery recycling. Our conversation also touched on data centers and the importance of sourcing mined materials locally and responsibly. I so appreciate the opportunity to hear their perspectives and concerns firsthand – thanks for coming!
Standing Against Gun Control
Just before we began our break, House members spent several hours debating bills related to high-capacity magazines and semi-automatic firearms. While our DFL counterparts focus on adding more gun-control measures, we stood firm in defending our Second Amendment rights, making sure these proposals did not pass. Protecting law-abiding Minnesotans’ right to keep and bear arms will always be a top priority, and I will continue to speak out for these freedoms on the House floor.
Council of State Governments
Earlier this week, I had the opportunity to attend the Council of State Governments reception in St. Paul. This event serves as an important primer for the Annual Midwestern Legislative Conference later this summer and provides a great chance to connect with legislators from across the region, build bipartisan relationships, and share ideas on issues affecting our communities.
At the reception, I had a valuable conversation with Patrice Relerford from the Minneapolis Foundation. We discussed rural broadband projects, past and present mining operations on the Iron Range, and other initiatives that impact both urban and rural Minnesotans. I’m looking forward to hosting Patrice for a tour of the area so she can see firsthand the work being done and the opportunities available in our northern regions.
It was also wonderful to see my friend Aaron Annable, the Consulate General of Canada in Minneapolis. I first met Aaron when he visited Virginia during the Pan Continental Curling Championships last fall, and we had a chance to catch up on shared interests and regional initiatives. I’m still hoping to get a game in with him someday!
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