Rep. Samantha Vang (HD40B) Update: April 21, 2021


Dear Neighbors,

Finally, we are able to close a chapter in Minnesota with a sense of relief and justice for George Floyd. Still, it does not relieve the fact that George Floyd died. Read the POCI statement on the Derek Chauvin verdict here. Last week has been incredibly hard for us as a city in Brooklyn Center. In the midst of the Derek Chauvin trial, we could not have imagined any worst timing than to see another young black man killed by law enforcement. No matter what Daunte should have done, he did not have to die. At 20 years old, he should have lived a life full of opportunities and love from his family and friends.

While the community grieves and is re-traumatized, we saw our businesses looted and damaged. The places where we usually run our daily errands don’t look like the places we frequent. It pains me to see our community grieve another innocent loss of life and to see our home look not quite like home. 

However, over the week we built ourselves up. Brooklyn Center residents came together to organize donations, people, food and supplies to help those in need and affected by the events over the last week. I saw neighbors talking to one another and found healing to share our pain and mourn a tragedy. If you are a Brooklyn Center resident affected by the recent events, please contact my office and we can direct you to resources that can offer financial assistance, advocacy and direct services. 

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Minnesota House approves State Government, Elections, Veterans Budget

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SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – This evening, the Minnesota House of Representatives passed their proposal for the State Government budget bill, including provisions from the State Government Finance and Elections Committee as well as the Labor, Industry, Veterans and Military Affairs Finance and Policy Committee. The legislation funds the state’s constitutional offices, internal service agencies, and various boards, councils, and commissions. In addition to funding the state government, the bill also contains policies and funding to protect and strengthen Minnesota’s elections. The bill passed on a vote of 68-62.

“As our state addresses and recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, the investments in this bill facilitate the responsive state government Minnesotans deserve,” said Michael Nelson (DFL – Brooklyn Park), Chair of the House State Government Finance and Elections Committee. “Minnesotans hold elections in high regard, as seen by our consistent leadership in voter turnout. Following a safe, transparent, and secure election in 2020, our proposal strives to engage even more Minnesotans in the right to have their voices heard when exercising their civic duty.”

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House DFLers Highlight Public Safety Budget with Funding, Reform and Justice for Minnesotans

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SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Thursday, House DFL lawmakers discussed their 2021 Public Safety & Criminal Justice Reform budget bill. The legislation invests in law enforcement, improves police accountability, and listens to the victims of sex crimes. 

“Every person deserves to live with human dignity in their community. To deliver on this promise, we have the responsibility to ensure our systems treat all Minnesotans with fairness and respect, while delivering justice,” said Rep. Carlos Mariani (DFL – Saint Paul), chair of the House Public Safety & Criminal Justice Reform Committee. “In the midst of the Derek Chauvin trial, with the eyes of the world once again upon our state, it’s incumbent upon all of us to listen to Minnesotans and deliver the change they’re seeking so they can experience true public safety, no matter where they live or what they look like. Our work is inspired by the diverse citizens who are stepping up to be part of making communities safe, from multi-racial neighborhood based intervention work to advocates for juveniles and vulnerable adults. We have the ability to deliver critical funding while enacting reforms Minnesotans are counting on, and this bill does exactly that.”

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Rep. Michael Nelson (HD40A) Update: March 30, 2021

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Neighbors, 

Since my recent update on the vaccine eligibility in our state, we already have an exciting change. Starting today, all Minnesotans age 16 and older are now eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. While eligible, it’s still not the case that doses are readily available, and many locations are fully booked for appointments for the time being. An increased supply of vaccines is expected from the federal government in early April, so look for more opportunities to get your first dose in the coming weeks. 

At-risk Minnesotans are still being prioritized, so patience is key as we wait our turns.

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Legislation to Expand and Improve Hate Crime Reporting Advances in the House

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SAINT, PAUL, MINNESOTA – Legislation to expand and improve reporting of hate crimes has advanced out of the House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Division. The bill expands the categories crimes motivated by bias to include bias against a person due to the person’s gender, gender identity, or gender expression, and bias against a person who associates with someone in a protected group. 

“This important measure will raise awareness of the urgent need to update our hate crime statutes in Minnesota,” said Rep. Hornstein (DFL-Minneapolis), the bill’s chief author. “It gives law enforcement and communities the tools they need to address this mounting concern. All Minnesotans deserve to feel safe. Our communities should expect no less.”

The legislation also directs the commissioner of human rights to collect supplemental data on crimes motivated by bias and appropriates money for grants to assist in collecting the data and to provide support services for victims of those crimes.

Rep. Samantha Vang (DFL-Brooklyn Center) is a co-author of the legislation.

“This bill will go a long way toward giving us the data and full understanding needed to track our rising hate crime problem so we can actively work to put an end to stop hate,” said Rep. Vang, chair of the People of Color and Indigenous Caucus. “We will still have to overcome language, culture, and trust barriers to get a true picture of what our communities of color and indigenous communities are facing, but this bill will be a fantastic help in our fight against hate.”

The bill awaits action in the Minnesota Senate.

Rep. Samantha Vang (HD40B) Update: March 26, 2021

Dear Neighbors,

Yesterday, Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Flanagan announced the expansion of vaccine eligibility for people 16 years of age and older starting March 30th. The announcement is in response to the increased supply of vaccines by the federal government to arrive in April. This is fantastic news and a clear sign that we are entering the final stretch of fighting this vaccine. Read more about this development here.

 If you haven’t yet, sign up for the state’s Vaccine Connector to get connected with opportunities once you’re eligible.

Heroes Week

This week was busy for us as we moved to pass significant legislation that would meet the needs of workers, families, and first responders who sacrificed the most over the last year to protect their communities. It’s not enough to call these folks heroes and credit them for all they’ve done, we must also back our words with action. Here is some of the legislation we passed this week to help Minnesota’s heroes emerge stronger from the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Rep. Samantha Vang (HD40B) Update: March 22, 2021


Dear Neighbors,

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an increase in violence against Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI), immigrants, and international citizens. Over the past month in particular, there has been a rise of anti-AAPI violence, and these violent acts have culminated in the horrific murders in Atlanta, which included six AAPI women. We must all stand up and confront hate when we see it, I stand with our AAPI communities and will work to ensure that we feel safe wherever and whoever we are. Please watch my colleague Rep. Tou Xiong’s speechon this tragedy, and the Minnesota Asian Pacific Caucuses statement on the issue.

Bills Progressing

Two bills of mine were heard in committees. One, HF 718, would allow cities to adopt pesticide control ordinances, which is currently prohibited and would create more pollinator-friendly habitats. You can watch my presentation on this bill here. The second bill, HF 970 diversifies mental health providers across the state. We have a long standing workforce shortage in our mental health providers combined with increased needs for mental healthcare due to the pandemic, my bill seeks comprehensive support to diversify providers from rural Minnesota and BIPOC providers.

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Rep. Mike Nelson (HD40A) Update: March 20, 2021

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Neighbors, 

More Minnesotans are now eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. We reached our goal of vaccinating 70% of Minnesotans 65 and older last week, despite original projections showing that wouldn’t be the case until the end of this month. With vaccine administration being ahead of schedule, it’s highly possible that full vaccination could be a reality for all Minnesotans who want it by this summer. Events like the State Fair are within our reach, as long as we play it smart in the coming months.

Who's Eligible for Vaccine Now


Minnesotans who are now eligible to receive a vaccine include the following:

  • People with certain underlying conditions, including sickle cell disease, down syndrome, and oxygen-dependent chronic lung or heart conditions, and those who are in active cancer treatment or immunocompromised from organ transplant
  • People with rare conditions or disabilities that put them at higher risk
  • Food processing plant workers
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Minnesota Asian Pacific Caucus Issue Statement on Atlanta Shooting

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SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – On Tuesday, March 16, a series of shootings took place across several Atlanta massage parlors resulting in the deaths of eight people, several of whom were of Asian descent. While the motives of the shooter have not been made clear, there is a strong possibility that this was a hate crime. The Minnesota Asian Pacific (MAP) Caucus released the following statement:

“This is the tragic result of increasingly hateful, offensive, and inflammatory rhetoric against Asian people that has taken place over the last year. Racist language and attacks on Asian Americans have skyrocketed as a result of COVID-19 misinformation, and racial epithets spouted by our previous president. Asian Minnesotans have felt this increase in hatred as well. We experience hate in many forms every day, leaving us with the fear of, ‘will our community be next?’ 

We ask that state and federal governments do more to fight disinformation, hateful language, and hate crimes by funding improved data collection and reporting of hate crimes and consistently working to reduce disinformation. Today, we mourn for those who lost their lives due to the hate and fear that has built up in this country. We will continue to fight this hate, but we ask that our friends, communities, and politicians stand up for all Asian Americans to ensure a tragedy like this never happens again.”

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Rep. Samantha Vang (HD40B) Update: March 8, 2021


Dear Neighbors,

I hope you have been able to get outdoors and enjoy this early taste of spring! Our days are getting brighter both literally and figuratively. Minnesota was recently ranked 3rd in our ability to distribute the Covid-19 vaccine. At our current rate we should be able to vaccinate 70% of Minnesotans 65 years or older by the end of the month! With the new single dose vaccines now available, this pace will continue to speed up.

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Renters Rights

This week my bill, HF 969, was heard in the Housing Finance and Policy Committee. This important bill would require landlords to follow the same debt collecting practices of debt collectors and prevent them using abusive practices to collect rent. This is just one more protection we can give renters to ensure that they are treated fairly. You can watch my presentation on the bill here

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