Minnesota Passed a State COVID-19 Response Bill This Week: Here’s Our Take

Dear Friends,

Yesterday we put out a statement on the federal stimulus package. Today, the $2.2 trillion passed the U.S. House of Representatives. It’s better than nothing, but is not good, providing the largest, no-strings-attached corporate bailout in our nation’s history. Watch this clip from Congresswoman Ocasio Cortez.

House Dems have their hands tied, they can either:

1)Vote yes for a corporate bailout that does little to help working people
or
2) Vote no on the stimulus bill that's the only plan on the table before Congress goes on recess for a month

As @AOC said, these options are shameful pic.twitter.com/tK9lFdwJRV

— Sunrise Movement 🌅 (@sunrisemvmt) March 27, 2020

While Congress passed a federal stimulus package, legislators at the State Capitol also worked to pass a COVID-19 response bill yesterday.

What to know about the state’s COVID-19 bill

As we head into the weekend, we want to share a high level analysis about where things are at the state, and what needs to happen next.

First, we want to thank all of the legislators, staff, and people across the Administration who’ve been working tirelessly around the clock (with kiddos, quarantines, and family responsibilities) to meet this moment.

Second, there are three big things the Legislature failed to pass this week that were included in Governor Walz’s executive order and disproportionately affect women, families, BIPOC communities, the elderly, and people living with disabilities:

1. The Legislature didn’t pass Emergency Assistance for Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) Families. The Governor recommends providing an emergency assistance payment up to $500 for families with children enrolled in the Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) to help address significant challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. This would support 27,700 families in crisis across the state.
2. The Legislature didn’t grant DHS Temporary Emergency Authority. This is unacceptable and harmful to the most vulnerable Minnesotans in the state. The Governor’s Executive Order 20-12 allows DHS to temporarily issue waivers or modifications to state requirements to help ensure services are delivered without delay. The Governor recommends the legislature act to codify these temporary authorities and pass $13 million in implementation funding. Changes already being implemented are designed to protect benefits and ensure people do not lose health care coverage during this outbreak, cover COVID-19 diagnosis and treatment costs, allow for in-person work to be converted to phone work, and other shifts in protocol to allow Minnesotans supported by the Department of Human Services to shelter in place without losing their support. Without state funding from the Legislature, DHS will have to rely on federal funding.
3. The Legislature didn’t pass funding for the Family Homelessness Prevention and Assistance Fund. The Governor recommends funding for the Family Homelessness Prevention and Assistance Program (FHPAP). The program provides direct cash assistance for housing payments, utilities, and other housing related expenses. FHPAP serves households who are at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty guidelines, and who are more at risk of homelessness. Grantees include counties, tribal nations, and community-based non-profit organizations and are spread across all 87 counties.

59,000 MN children benefit from the MIFP program. The #mnleg bill doesn't include a one-time $500 emergency payment to families accessing this program. Why is it so difficult to support vulnerable children and families?

— Bharti Wahi (@BhartiEahi) March 26, 2020

What’s next

We have more clarity now about what’s in the federal stimulus package. Moving forward, we expect state leaders to continue working with the broader community on COVID-19 responses: immediate needs, necessary state actions, and gaps left by the federal stimulus.

While this week has felt like lobbying in the dark–Minnesotans are ready to work with legislators on solutions. All of us are tied together. We can’t let anyone fall through the cracks. Working people need action. Vulnerable people living in the community based settings need action.

Francis is a Homcecare nurse taking care of her grandson with supressed immune system. They have no access to Personal Protective Equipments (PPE).
Pls SIGN so healthcare workers have everything to ensure their safety & patients https://t.co/1VCWzxOhOj#ProtectAllWorkers @SEIU pic.twitter.com/mTEtMgbTAE

— SEIU Healthcare Minnesota & Iowa (@SEIUHCMNIA) March 26, 2020

We hope folks at the Capitol get rest this weekend – we know how hard everyone’s working and under urgent, unusual circumstances. And next week, we hope to come together and continue moving solutions with daylight and transparency.

Policy Resources & Action

Find Minnesota COVID-19 response policy resources and take action at mncovidresponse.com and blackmncovidresponse.com.

This is leadership from @BlackVisionsMN, an anchor organization of the Reclaim the Block campaign, during the coronavirus crisis. Share the link and sign the petition! https://t.co/wVRvG3xZ9D

— Reclaim the Block (@reclaimtheblock) March 25, 2020

We’ll get through this together or not at all. Stay safe and healthy this weekend. Email me thoughts, questions, or things we’re missing.

Kenza Hadj-Moussa

Director of Public Affairs