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Friends and neighbors, It has been a snowy weekend here in Minnesota and many of us are still digging out from the storm. Stay safe! Last week I had the opportunity to present a bill on an issue that I’ve been working on for a couple years now. Stopping sexual exploitation, including trafficking and sextortion, is one of top priorities. Educating our youth and community members is one of the critical pieces of the solution, and that’s what my bill is about. Read more below. When I hear from constituents, high taxes are one of the top issues they talk about. The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce released some statistics on where Minnesota stands in the nation, and it’s clear that Minnesota taxes are too high. Senate Republicans last week introduced a legislative package to offer broad tax relief for Minnesotans, from lowering vehicle tab fees to putting a cap on property taxes. There are some resources below for students and young adults. Take a look and pass it along to the young leaders in your life. As always, my office is always open to hearing about your priorities. Reach out if you need anything. Thanks for reading, |
Educating youth and community members to stop sexual exploitation |
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Last Wednesday, I introduced a bill to strengthen public safety and fight sexual exploitation of youth and adults. Senate File 3938 appropriates $125,000 to Citizens Against Sex Trafficking (C.A.S.T.) for its Power over Predators (POP) program, a nationwide curriculum that educates middle school, high school, and community members on online safety, recognizing healthy versus unhealthy relationships, and knowing how to seek help when needed. This bill is a piece to the puzzle in stopping the sexual exploitation of our children and community members. It provides the critical education piece that will help inform our kids and communities how to recognize signs of sexual exploitation, intervene to stop it, and teach victims how to remove themselves from unhealthy relationships and environments. C.A.S.T., founded in 2017 and funded solely by community support since then, is dedicated to empowering communities to end sexual exploitation, including sex trafficking, commercial sex acts obtained through force, fraud, or coercion, and sextortion. The organization served over 4,800 community members in 2025 and anticipates reaching more than 8,000 in 2026. Ashley Moore, Executive Director of C.A.S.T., testified in support of the bill. “We want to make sure every person knows how to ask for help, knows how to leave that party or that sleepover, knows how to keep relationships that are healthy and not asking you to give something that is uncomfortable, unsafe, or illegal.” The $125,000 appropriation would support Power over Predators, C.A.S.T.'s largest and fastest-growing program. POP delivers evidence-based education on online safety, healthy relationships, and how to ask for help when needed. Jennifer Flaherty, a sexual exploitation survivor, shared her personal story of abuse and healing in support of SF3938. “Power Over Predators gives our youth what I never had—education, language, and tools,” said Flaherty. “If I had been taught Power Over Predators as a young girl, I might have learned what healthy relationships looked like, understood that my story mattered, and known that I was priceless, not dirty and unworthy. And maybe I wouldn’t have had to wait until I was 43 years old until I finally started the process of healing.” Jaime Bremseth, a resident of Olivia in Senate District 16, shared a heartbreaking personal story during the hearing about her son Carter’s death by suicide after falling victim to online sextortion. The day before he died, Carter was contacted on Instagram by someone posing as a 16-year-old girl. The perpetrator demanded nude images from Carter and then blackmailed him, threatening to send the images to his friends unless he paid money. The perpetrator was not a teenage girl, but a group of perpetrators based in Nigeria, using sophisticated strategies and tactics to extort victims. “Our children are being targeted, tortured, and shamed online,” said Bremseth. “Children and adolescents should not have to face these risks. And parents should not have to lose their kids because criminals are blackmailing them. Parents and kids need education so they understand the risks.” The bill would provide a Request for Proposal through the Minnesota Department of Human Services, open to any providers in the state that can provide this service. The bill was laid over in committee pending clarification of the Senate’s budget targets. |
Minnesota Chamber of Commerce Update |
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Minnesota’s taxes on private sector job creators and higher income taxpayers are higher than most other states. The gap between Minnesota and peer and neighboring states is wide, and getting wider. Minnesota’s corporate rate is 2nd highest in the nation. These tax burdens plus many new employer mandates and regulations create a barrier to economic growth as high tax rates undermine investment, entrepreneurship and attraction and retention of talent – all items needed for strong private sector growth. |
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Apply now for the 2026 Growing Local: Emerging Leaders cohort |
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Know someone who is passionate about making a difference in your community, but could use support to step into more formal leadership roles? Encourage them to apply for Growing Local: Emerging Leaders leadership education program. This program helps local leaders:
Applications for the 2026 Growing Local: Emerging Leaders cohort are open March 4 through April 3. Share the application with a leader you know, or apply for yourself! |
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MCCL's annual Student Day at the Capitol, a long-running program for young people, brings students to St. Paul for a day of pro-life education and advocacy. MCCL’s 2026 Student Day will be offered on March 20, April 17, and April 24. Students can pick any day to attend. The event is a unique opportunity for students in grades 7-12 to learn about and participate in the political process. The day begins with educational sessions that cover abortion, current legislation, the legislative process, how to lobby elected officials, and more. In the afternoon, most students are able to meet with their own legislators and lobby them to support life. The students may also tour the Capitol and hear from pro-life elected officials. If you are a student in grades 7-12, we invite you to register to attend. If you know students who are that age (in your church, school, or community), please invite them to participate. The program starts at 9:30 a.m. each of the days and runs until 2:00 p.m. A nominal $20 suggested donation per person covers the cost of lunch. MCCL will provide adult supervision, so parents do not need to stay for the program (although they are welcome to). |
FREE Paid Leave Workshops |
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Minnesota’s Paid Leave program brings new requirements for employers across the state. There are several free, online Minnesota Paid Leave workshops that offer practical guidance on compliance and how to prepare your workplace. Who Should Attend
Register |
MN Fraud Files |
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Originally created during the eight-year term of Gov. Mark Dayton, Center of the American Experiment’s Scandal Tracker was reopened to account for the ever-growing list of frauds and scandals perpetuated under the Tim Walz administration. |
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Have a great week! |
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Andrew R. Lang Minnesota Senate, District 16 |