House District 40B , CD3 DFL

House DFL Lawmakers urge resignation of Minn. Board of Animal Health President

SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Rep. Rob Ecklund (DFL – International Falls), Rep. Rick Hansen (DFL – South St. Paul), House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler (DFL – Golden Valley), Rep. Sydney Jordan (DFL – Minneapolis), Rep. Patty Acomb (DFL – Minnetonka), Rep. Ami Wazlawik (DFL – White Bear Township), Rep. Kelly Morrison (DFL – Deephaven), Rep. Todd Lippert (DFL – Northfield), Rep. Ginny Klevorn (DFL – Plymouth), Rep. Jay Xiong (DFL – Saint Paul), Rep. Heather Keeler (DFL – Moorhead), Rep. Jamie Becker-Finn (DFL – Roseville), Rep. Samantha Vang (DFL – Brooklyn Center), Rep. Fue Lee (DFL – Minneapolis), Rep. Peter Fischer (DFL – Maplewood), Rep. Steve Sandell (DFL – Woodbury), Rep. Zack Stephenson (DFL – Coon Rapids), Rep. Liz Reyer (DFL – Eagan), Rep. Erin Koegel (DFL – Spring Lake Park), Rep. Jamie Long (DFL – Minneapolis), Rep. Michael Howard (DFL – Richfield), and Rep. Emma Greenman (DFL – Minneapolis) issued the following statement calling for the resignation of Minnesota Board of Animal Health (BAH) President Dean Compart:

“Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) poses a critical threat to Minnesota’s wild white-tail deer population, and the Board of Animal Health has the responsibility to hold cervid farms in our state accountable for their role in its spread. Unfortunately, by failing to act, the BAH and its leadership have continued to let down those who enjoy deer hunting. Worse, future generations potentially won’t be able to enjoy these cherished traditions if CWD is allowed to spread, and based on the frequency at which the disease is identified in new areas of the state, unless urgent action is taken, it almost certainly will.

“All Minnesotans deserve a healthy deer herd and comprehensive solutions to protect it. If the deer farms won’t be accountable to the BAH, and the BAH won’t be accountable to Minnesotans, it’s time for BAH President Dean Compart to do the honorable thing and resign.”

Minnesota POCI Caucus Statement on Public Safety Accountability

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — Today, Monday June 28, the People of Color and Indigenous Caucus (POCI) introduced a number of amendments to the Public Safety and Judiciary budget bill. This is in response to the absence of several necessary accountability measures in the current bill language. The POCI Caucus is also calling on Governor Walz to use his executive authority to enact several reforms. The POCI Caucus released the following statement.

“Minneapolis, Minnesota is the recent epicenter of a racial justice reckoning happening across the United States. After the murder of George Floyd at the hands of Derek Chauvin, people from all backgrounds took to the streets demanding change. Unfortunately the changes sought by so many, that would help diminish the killing of BIPOC people at the hands of the police, did not emerge.

“During the regular session and through the special session, the POCI Caucus and members of the House DFL Public Safety Committee worked tirelessly to move meaningful police accountability policies in negotiations with the Senate Republican Majority who refused to hold bad actors accountable. The bill as posted does not include the significant changes to hold police accountable or to prevent future harm.

Rep. Samantha Vang (HD40B) Update: June 14, 2021

Dear Neighbors,

Our regular session came to an end last month, however, our work for the year is far from over as we approach a special session set for next week. House and Senate leaders and Governor Walz have reached a budget agreement that we are using as guidelines in our conference committee negotiations. We have reached agreements on our Energy/Commerce, Taxes, Higher Ed, Agriculture, and Legacy Finance budgets. Some of the more contentious bills like E-12 Education and Public Safety still have a ways to go however. Details on the overall budget agreement and what the special session will look like can be found here.

Eviction Off-Ramp

It is critical that we prevent a massive housing crisis as we begin to return to normal. The House DFL proposed a common sense plan to give everyone the time they need to catch up on their rent and mortgage. Watch our press conference to learn more about our plan. It was announced today that we have reached a final agreement. Under the agreement, Governor Walz’s executive order on an eviction moratorium will be replaced by a stepped-down off-ramp that will conclude 105 days after enactment. Landlords will be required to send a notice to renters with outstanding rent 15 days prior to eviction. In addition, renters with an outstanding rental assistance claim cannot be evicted and will have that protection until June 1, 2022. If you are behind on housing payments, apply for aid here.

POCI Caucus Statement on the Anniversary of the Murder of George Floyd

Saint Paul, Minnesota — Today, May 25, is the first anniversary of the murder of George Floyd. The Minnesota People of Color and Indigenous (POCI) Caucus released the following statement:

“We must ask ourselves: What has truly changed since last year? The fact remains that another name continues to replace George Floyd. Black men are still dying at the hands of law enforcement. Trust between our communities of color and police remains at record lows. BIPOC communities still do not feel that police keep them safe. Republican colleagues continue to devalue our lived experience and the experience of our communities as they use our calls for change as bargaining chips to secure tax cuts for the wealthy.

“Yet, we know we can never return to a world before the murder of George Floyd, our mindset on how our communities are affected by police and what role they play in our safety has permanently shifted. Whether this is a true sea change that will impact our entire nation remains to be seen. While the murderer was held accountable, and we managed to pass a modicum of police accountability legislation last year, we are meeting increased resistance from the status quo against our calls for more significant reforms.

Rep. Samantha Vang (HD40B) Update: May 24, 2021

Dear Neighbors,

Our regular session came to an end last Monday, however, our work for the year is far from over and we are headed towards a special session. Before the regular session ended leadership reached a major agreement on budget targets for this year. This will set the guardrails for the rest of our negotiations for the year. While there is a lot of good in this agreement, the Senate GOP refused to allow tax increases on the wealthiest Minnesotans (making over $1 million a year) meaning we are underfunding schools, housing, healthcare and so much more. We will continue to meet and negotiate in conference committees to iron out the more difficult policy details like police accountability and drivers licenses for all. Details on the overall budget agreement and what the special session will look like can be found here.

Cannabis Legalization

Two weeks ago we passed HF 600, a bill which legalizes and regulates adult-use cannabis in Minnesota, while expunging records of people convicted for nonviolent offenses involving cannabis.

I am proud of the bill we passed, it has come to fruition after years of hard work and careful planning. I know that by ending the prohibition on adult-use cannabis Minnesota will be able to heal the harm caused by prohibition. This bill takes into consideration the injustice caused by prohibition while ensuring that legalization will protect the health and safety of all Minnesotans.

Rep. Samantha Vang (HD40B) Update: May 10, 2021

Dear Neighbors,

Overall, the biggest responsibility for lawmakers this session is to enact a new two-year state budget. The House has approved all of our budget bills off the floor, all of which were put together with the goal of helping workers, small businesses, students, and families all emerge from the challenges of the past year with the ability to succeed and thrive. Here are each of the bills we’ve passed:

Minnesota House passes bill to prevent unnecessary interactions with law enforcement

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Today, the Minnesota House of Representatives passed legislation authored by Rep. Jamie Long (DFL – Minneapolis) and Rep. Samantha Vang (DFL – Brooklyn Center) that would prevent dangerous interactions between Minnesotans and police officers. The bill, which was introduced in response to the killing of Daunte Wright, aims to reduce encounters where police arrest people who have missed court appearances for certain low-level offenses.

“Reducing the number of occasions where police take people into custody will make Minnesotans safer,” said Rep. Long. “Our goal is to lower the temperature in police interactions whenever possible. Providing a court date to someone who never got the notice is a simple step but could have a big impact in promoting safety for both officers and the public.”

“This is a common sense change we can make to policing to ensure that individuals who interact with police officers can get home safely,” said Rep. Vang. “These are the kinds of changes we must make so that officers can focus more on emergency situations and Minnesotans of color can feel safe in their communities. Our goal is to prevent another traumatic event while allowing our justice system to function appropriately.”

House POCI Caucus Joins Call for Expedited Judiciary and Public Safety Conference Committee; Presses Senate to Act on Police Accountability

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — On Tuesday, April 27th, the Senate POCI Caucus sent a letter to Governor Walz and Legislative Leaders urging that the Public Safety and Judiciary conference committee begin it’s work immediately, that conferees be required to complete their work by the end of the week delivering the final bill that will be sent to the floor of both Houses by Monday, May 3rd, and be promptly sent to the Governor for his signature or veto. This is to ensure that these critical police reform decisions are given the time necessary to be discussed publicly and independently without being used as a bargaining chip in unrelated budget negotiations. The House POCI Caucus concurs with this call to action and released the following statement of support:

“In just two weeks since the killing of Daunte Wright, one week since the guilty verdict of Derek Chauvin, Senate Republicans are already sweeping police accountability under the rug. Our demands to transform our public safety and judicial system must not be ignored. Each day wasted is another day closer to another preventable tragedy. Governor Walz and the Legislative Leaders should not be fooled by the relative quiet. We are in the midst of a crisis, and our communities of color and Indigenous communities are demanding structural changes so we can live in a Minnesota where our lives are valued and protected. It is time that we learn from the loss of Daunte Wright, George Floyd, and countless others. We must pursue transformational police reform that will create a just Minnesota where everyone is treated fairly and safely.

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.

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

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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