Dear neighbors,
This week I’m sharing some of the bills that the House has passed recently and more information about a plan that I introduced.
Veterans Suicide Awareness
The brave men and women who serve our country often face unique mental health challenges, and veterans are 1.5 times more likely than civilians to lose their lives to suicide. Last week, the House unanimously approved legislation to increase public awareness of this issue by establishing Veterans Suicide Awareness Day (HF 586). It’ll be the first Saturday of October every year. I’ll continue working with veterans and their families to support those who serve while they’re on active duty and after their service ends.
Equal Rights Amendment
We recently voted to put the Equal Rights Amendment on the ballot in 2020 (HF 13). The ERA would give all Minnesotans full and equal rights under the law, regardless of gender. Minnesotans should be able to vote to add it to our state constitution. In my mind, the ERA is the honorable thing to do for our women veterans. You can watch a video with more of my remarks here.
Ending the Opioid Epidemic
On Monday, the House voted for two bills that will save the lives of Minnesotans. The first addresses the opioid epidemic. As you all know, this crisis has been particularly hard on our northern Minnesota communities.
The bill we passed would invest in prevention, treatment, and recovery (HF 400). These services would be funded by fees on opioid manufacturers and distributors. It’s about time we take action to stop further tragedies and hold Big Pharma accountable for creating this epidemic.
Distracted Driving Prevention
Distracted driving causes one out of five crashes, leading to serious injuries and deaths. Many families who have lost a loved one due to an inattentive driver came to support the other bill we passed on Monday. The legislation requires drivers to use their cell phones in hands-free mode (HF 50) so they’re paying more attention to the road and less to their phone. In other states, hands-free cell phone laws have led to fewer deaths and crashes. I’m confident that it’ll do the same in Minnesota.
Funding for School Buses
The current formula for calculating how much money schools receive for buses is based on the number of students. That means that large districts like Bemidji get the same amount of money as small ones with the same number of students, even though buses need to travel farther. That’s not fair for our students because it forces schools to fill the gaps with funds that could be spent in the classroom.
I’ve introduced a bill to change the way that funding for school transportation is calculated (HF 525). You can listen to the first public hearing or read an article from the Bemidji Pioneer to learn more.
If you have questions or concerns, I’d like to hear from you. Please give me a call at 651-296-5516 or send an email to rep.john.persell@house.mn.
Sincerely,
John Persell
State Representative