Friends and neighbors,
It was a very productive week at the Capitol with a variety of important legislation having been passed by the Senate. This includes the passage of legislation to stop devastating tax increases on small businesses and provide meaningful bonuses to frontline workers.
The agreement resolves the differences between repaying and refilling the Unemployment Insurance (UI) Trust Fund and providing bonuses to workers who worked the frontline during the COVID pandemic. The agreement means $2.7 billion will be used to pay off the loan from the federal government and refill the UI fund to its necessary balance using mostly federal funds.
As part of the agreement, $500 million from the surplus will go to frontline workers who were most at risk during the COVID pandemic. The agreement also spends the remaining federal American Rescue Plan Act funds available to Minnesota for COVID, which otherwise would have been available to Gov. Walz on June 1, 2022, if left unspent.
Our small businesses are currently recovering from the pandemic, and it’s imperative that they are not further burdened with a new tax increase. I am happy to have supported this legislation to protect Minnesota employees’ benefits and show our gratitude for our frontline workers.
The Minnesota Senate also recently passed a significant Agriculture, Broadband, and Housing bill to help Minnesota farmers and families. This legislation expands broadband funding, addresses urgent concerns in our agriculture sector and improves access to affordable housing.
Throughout session, I have been providing updates on legislation that will support our local farmers. And with the Senate’s passage of this key Agriculture package, Senate Republicans continue our commitment to Minnesota’s agriculture industry.
A highlight of this legislation is the inclusion of $500,000 for avian influenza testing supplies to help our farmers combat the ongoing Avian influenza outbreak. Additionally, the package provides $350,000 for the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at the University of Minnesota for equipment to test for Chronic Wasting Disease, African Swine Fever, Avian Influenza, and other animal diseases.
The package also includes funding to help reimburse and offset lost revenue for Minnesota deer farmers who were impacted by the ban of deer movement by the Department of Natural Resources. The movement ban has had a devastating impact on Minnesota deer farmers.
Finally, the Agriculture section of this legislation builds on past programs successfully championed by Senate Republicans to support livestock processing. This includes investments in meat cutting and butchery training programs; money to start, modernize or expand meat, poultry, dairy, and egg processing facilities; and grants for training high school students and employees of small processors.
As a member on the Senate Agriculture and Rural Development Finance and Policy Committee, I have had the opportunity to hear testimony about the many issues our agriculture sector is experiencing and the many struggles of our farmers. I strongly believe the support provided in the Senate’s Agriculture package will address their critical concerns, including the current animal disease outbreaks and processing issues.
Additionally, I am excited to share that Take a Mom Fishing Weekendwill take place on Saturday, May 7, and Sunday, May 8. This event serves as a unique opportunity for moms who live in Minnesota to fish without purchasing a license.
The Minnesota State Legislature established this special weekend in 1988 to correspond with Mother’s Day. The fishing opener and Take a Mom Fishing Weekend are typically on the same weekend, but not this year. On Take a Mom Fishing weekend, fishing is open for many species like crappie, sunfish, catfish, or native fish like buffalo, sucker, bullhead or sheepshead. Walleye and northern pike seasons will open the following weekend on Saturday, May 14.
I want to hear from you, my constituents, on issues that are important to you. Please feel free to reach out to my office with any concerns or ideas you may have. As session moves forward, I will keep your thoughts and concerns in mind as legislation comes before me. You can contact my office at sen.bruce.anderson@senate.mn or 651-296-5981.
Sincerely,
Bruce Anderson