It’s time to ensure equal rights for women! Women have been waiting and working since 1923 for an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would formally recognize them and their equal rights. Ratification is a long process: 35 states ratified the the amendment, but it fell short of the 38 needed within the deadline. There has been a resurgence for… Read More »Equal Rights Now
Addressing the climate crisis (getting to Net 0 by 2050) requires a two–pronged approach. Although the primary means is stopping climate pollution, it is also necessary to protect and expand natural carbon sequestration through the preservation of lowland conifer stands. These treed wetlands occur on mucky mineral or wet organic soils and include richly forested peatlands or bogs. Minnesota lowland… Read More »Support Climate Crisis Mitigation
Kaiser Foundation reported in October that up to five billion pills are thrown away by hospitals and nursing homes, ending up in landfills, when three out of 10 people report they have not taken their medications, lacking money to pay for them (see 2/23/23 Star Tribune Editorial). HF 1032 and SF 868 provide for additional funding for Roundtable Rx, a… Read More »Fund Roundtable Rx
PFAS or “forever chemicals” have been linked to cancers, allergies, diabetes, and birth defects. New EPA guidelines confirm there is virtually no safe level of PFAS in drinking water. Forever chemicals are used in a variety of consumer goods including cookware, clothing, dental floss and children’s products. HF552 and SF2222 would prohibit PFAS in products designed for infants and children… Read More »Protect Children from Forever Chemicals
In two of the past six presidential elections, the candidate who won the most popular votes lost the election. Currently, most states use a “winner takes all” approach and award all their electoral votes to the candidate who wins the most votes in their state regardless of the overall vote across the country. Given this, candidates tend to focus on… Read More »Support the National Popular Vote Interstate Agreement
SF 14 and SF 53 will increase childcare provider rates statewide and provide grants to stabilize childcare providers, many of whom are struggling to stay open. The legislation will also provide one-time funding to immediately increase early learning scholarships, which are a proven resource for preventing child abuse and neglect. The legislation has already passed in the Minnesota House and… Read More »Increase Support for Childcare
The U.S. has suffered more than 70 mass shootings since the beginning of the year. Lives have been lost, and survivors and onlookers including the investigating police have been traumatized. The Minnesota State House has been debating several bills focused on gun safety. HF14 requires Universal background checks for all gun purchases including private sales and ownership transfers. HF15 allows… Read More »Common-Sense Gun Safety
In Minnesota, people who have completed a felony sentence and are back in community cannot vote until the probation or parole sentence is also complete. Minnesota has some of the highest probation and supervision rates in the nation, and currently, Black Minnesotans are seven times more likely to be disenfranchised than White Minnesotans. The rights restoration bill would grant voting… Read More »Restore the Vote
Conversion “therapy” is a discredited and harmful practice that seeks to change a person’s sexual orientation. Twenty states have banned the practice. Currently nearly 30 organizations in Minnesota conduct conversion “therapy” and 86 therapists use the practice, with 34 of those being licensed mental health professionals. HF16 and SF23 would ban conversion “therapy” targeting children or vulnerable adults, prohibit medical… Read More »Ban Conversion Therapy
The 100% Clean Energy Bill (SF4) will put us on the path to achieve 80% carbon-free electricity by 2030 and a 100% carbon-free electricity system by 2040. Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy experts analyzed this bill using modeling software and found that if it is passed into law, it would reduce climate pollution by a cumulative 273 million metric tons… Read More »100% Clean Energy
