Dear Neighbors,
We’re now in our second special session of 2020, and much of the work ahead is the same as before – responding to COVID-19 and its impact on the health and welfare of each Minnesotan and the future of our state, crafting common sense social justice and police accountability measures, and passing a robust jobs and local projects (or bonding) bill. As I continue to work on these and other issues, I want to hear from you.
When you have a few minutes, please complete this brief survey covering our community’s priorities and the impact of the pandemic on you and your family. You can access the survey here. Your input and feedback helps to shape my priorities during the interim and any future special sessions. I greatly appreciate your participation in our legislative process.
Virtual Town Hall
I’ll be joining my District 48 colleagues again for another virtual town hall next Thursday, July 23. Sen. Cwodzinski, Rep. Pryor, and I will be talking about the July special session and answering questions. Please submit your questions in advance here. You can join us live at 7:00 PM on my Facebook page. I look forward to hearing from you!
Federal Resources during COVID-19
Several new resources are now available thanks to Governor Walz utilizing federal dollars from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act that was passed earlier this year – the latest being the $100 million in housing assistance. With previously allocated dollars drying up, Minnesotans can begin applying for assistance with local grant administrators in the first part of August. More information about grants can be found on the Minnesota Housing website atwww.mnhousing.gov.
Additional funds were also utilized to provide support in food security and child care. $12 million has been dedicated to approximately 300 food shelves across the state, and information about food assistance resources is available on the state’s food emergency webpage. For child care, $56.6 million has gone to support providers who are facing enormous challenges during the pandemic. Families seeking care can call the Child Care Aware parent line at 1-888-291-9811 or visit mn.gov/childcare for a map of open providers.
Vote by Mail
Have you requested your no-excuse absentee ballots for the 2020 primary and general elections yet? Voting from the safety and comfort of your own home is a great way to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 by protecting other voters and election officials, as well as yourself. Applications are available for absentee ballots for the upcoming primary and general elections here. You can check your voter registration status here and update it here.
Stay Connected
This will be my last general update until after the November Election. Pursuant to House Rules, incumbent legislators cannot use state resources for unsolicited communications during an election period. While I won’t be able to send out these updates for a while, you should still feel free to reach out with any questions or comments you may have and I can respond to you individually. You may also follow along on my legislative Facebook page.
Please email me at rep.carlie.kotyza-witthuhn@house.mn or leave a voicemail at (651) 296-7449. It’s an honor to represent you in the Minnesota House, and I always look forward to hearing from you.
Some Personal News
My husband and I are expecting our fourth child in the coming days. We are thrilled to be raising our children in Eden Prairie and are excited to welcome our newest little one. I appreciate your well wishes and your patience as we transition into a family of six!
Be well! We’re all in this together.
Sincerely,
Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn