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Insight News
July 5, 2021 - July 11, 2021
Vol. 48 No. 27• The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com
$132 Million to Support Students Recovery from COVID-19
State government bill includes end to peacetime emergency By Mike Cook In a bit of irony, one of the last bills heading to the governor that would prevent a partial state government shutdown is the omnibus state government finance and policy bill. Sponsored by Rep. Michael Nelson (DFLBrooklyn Park) and Sen. Mary Kiffmeyer (R-Big Lake), SSHF12/SSSF2* provides funding — and some increases — for some state agencies, boards and commissions. It also contains elections provisions, including a process for absentee ballot drop boxes, and policy issues related to veterans. It was passed 7063 by the House, as amended, early Wednesday morning and 54-12 by the Senate about an hour later. It was expected to be acted upon by Gov. Tim Walz later in the day. When passed by the Senate June 25, the bill included an end to all of Walz’s current peacetime emergency declarations on July 1. While the discussion was occurring, the governor announced he plans to end the peacetime emergency after reaching a deal with the federal government to protect emergency food payments. “The peacetime emergency also made Minnesotans eligible for federal hungerrelief funding for 15 months. Our agreement with our federal partners to extend those benefits for Minnesotans, coupled with the thoughtful plan outlined in the House Democrats’ amendment to wind down the emergency response in state government, means that we can close this chapter of our history and celebrate the brighter days ahead,” Walz said in a statement. Funding The bill calls for nearly $1.25 billion in General Fund spending in the 2022-23 biennium, a $78.5 million increase over the current biennium. Among its increases, the Office of the Attorney General is to receive $7.86 million: nearly $5 million for investments in critical litigation technology resources necessary in modern litigation for a public law office, $1.03 million for security upgrades, $700,000 for wage theft enforcement, $600,000 to help maintain experienced staff and $578,000 for enhanced antitrust resources. Other changes include an $11.03 million increase for the Department of Revenue, mainly for an operating adjustment; $4.52 million for Minnesota Management and Budget; $4.38 million for MN.IT, mostly to implement recommendations from the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Council on Information Technology; $4.25 million for the Office of the Secretary of State, with $2 million for local grants for ballot drop boxes and $1.5 million for election equipment grants; $2.8 million for the state auditor’s office, including almost $1.49 million to create a School Finance Accountability team; and $2.39 million more for the Administration Department. Many smaller agencies would receive slight operating adjustments. The Market Bucks program, which matches Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program spending dollar-fordollar (up to $10) at participating farmers markets, would again be funded at $650,000 for the biennium. Funding for the program that helps lowincome residents to make more purchases at farmers’ markets was formerly funded in the agriculture bill.
FINISHING SESSION BUSINESS House Photography file photo
EXCLUSIVE — Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework Advances Economic and Public Health Opportunities for Communities of Color By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent @StacyBrownMedia The President Joe Bidenled bipartisan Infrastructure Framework released on Tuesday, June 29, addresses economic disparities in America’s economy and the consequences of decades of disinvestment in the nation’s infrastructure that have fallen most heavily on communities of color. Through critical investments, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework increases access to goodpaying jobs, affordable highspeed internet, reliable public transit, clean drinking water and other resources to ensure communities of color get a fair shot at the American dream. “These critical investments are first steps in advancing equity and racial justice throughout our economy,” senior White House officials said. “The President believes additional investments are needed in our nation’s caregiving infrastructure, housing supply, regional development, and workforce development programs to ensure that communities of color and other underserved communities can access economic opportunity and justice.” Earlier this month in Tulsa, Oklahoma, President Biden announced a whole-ofgovernment effort to increase the share of federal contracts going to small, disadvantaged businesses by 50 percent over the next five years, leveraging the government’s purchasing power to help more Americans realize their entrepreneurial dreams.
The President followed through in announcing the bipartisan Infrastructure Framework which includes delivering high speed internet to every American household. Access if vital, particularly for African Americans whom the White House said are 9 percent less likely to have high-speed internet than their white peers (Latino Americans are 15 percent less likely). About 35 percent of individuals living on Tribal lands also lack access to broadband service. The Framework invests $65 billion to make high-speed broadband available to all Americans, to bring down high-speed internet prices across the board, and to close the digital divide. The President’s plan will also invest in long overdue expansion of broadband on Tribal lands, in consultation with Tribal Nations. “With the 1936 Rural Electrification Act, the Federal government made a historic investment in bringing electricity to nearly every home and farm in America, and millions of families and our economy reaped the benefits,” White House officials noted. “Broadband internet is the new electricity. It is necessary for Americans to do their jobs, to participate equally in school learning and health care, and to stay connected.” The Framework will drive down prices for internet service and close the digital divide by making broadband more affordable, including in low-income communities and communities of color. It also will eliminate lead pipes and deliver
clean drinking water to every household, the White House official asserted. “Across the country, pipes and treatment plants are aging and polluted drinking water is endangering public health. There are up to 10 million homes with lead service lines and pipes. Children in up to 400,000 schools and childcare facilities are at risk of exposure to lead,” the officials continued. “Across the country, families of color are at the highest risk for lead exposure at home and in schools. Communities of color in cities like Chicago, Milwaukee, and Newark are also at particular risk.” For kids, higher exposure to lead can negatively affect academic performance, and can lead to cardiovascular disease later in life. By some estimates, each lead service line replaced at a cost of $5,000 per line leads to $22,000 in health savings. The Framework makes the largest investment in clean drinking water in American history, replacing all of the nation’s lead pipes and service lines. It also invests in more public transit options and address the backlog of repairs. Asian American and African American workers commute by public transit at nearly 4 times the rate of white workers. For example, lowwage Black residents in Chicago spend 70 additional minutes commuting to work than their white peers. In New York City, the average Black resident spends 110 minutes more per week commuting to work than the average white resident. “The Framework’s
historic investment in public transit – the largest federal investment in history – will reduce commute times and create more economic opportunities in communities of color,” according to a White House Fact Sheet. The Framework invests $48.5 billion to modernize transit and improve accessibility for older Americans and people with disabilities. Significant portions of the interstate highway system were built through Black neighborhoods, destroying homes, schools, churches, and parks and causing lasting disconnection and disinvestment for residents who stayed. “More broadly, historic investments in transportation infrastructure, especially highway construction, cut too many Americans off from opportunity, dividing and demolishing communities, and perpetuating economic and racial injustices,” The Fact Sheet noted. The Framework creates a first-ever program to reconnect communities divided by transportation infrastructure. The program will fund planning, design, demolition, and reconstruction of street grids, parks, or other infrastructure. Further, the Framework will make a critical down payment on helping the more than 25 million children and thousands of bus drivers who breathe polluted air on their rides to and from school. “Diesel air pollution is linked to asthma and other health problems that hurt our communities and cause students to miss school, particularly in communities of color and Tribal communities,” officials wrote in the Fact Sheet.
Governor Tim Walz last week outlined how Minnesota will spend $132 million in flexible federal education funds the state received as a part of the American Rescue Plan (ARP). Minnesota received a total of $1.3 billion for E-12 education under the ARP, 90 percent of which was allocated directly to schools through a federal formula. The $132 million represents the remaining 10 percent. “Minnesota’s students and families faced so many challenges throughout the pandemic and supporting every one of them remains a top priority, especially as we head into the next school year,” said Governor Walz. “This funding allows us to invest in things that did not find agreement in the education budget, but that we know our students need in order get back on track and stay on track in school.” “As a mom of a soonto-be third grader, I know how hard this school year was on our students and families,” said Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan. “We owe it to them to do everything we can to support not only their academic learning recovery, but also their social-emotional and mental health.” “We know that this pandemic has impacted all Minnesotans differently,” said Education Commissioner Dr. Heather Mueller. “These investments will give every public school in the state resources to build a foundation for supporting the students in their schools that need the most help. With this federal funding, we have an opportunity to change our education system to better meet the needs of each and every student.” Under the federal law, Minnesota is required to spend most of the $132 million in four areas of focus: learning recovery, after-school programs, summer enrichment and other state activities to support students and schools. A small portion can be used for grant administration. Learning Recovery In the area of learning recovery, MDE will allocate $66 million directly to public schools to support our students using evidencebased strategies. Schools are also encouraged to partner with community organizations to support students. After School Programs The $13.2 million dedicated to after-school programs will be allocated to Ignite Afterschool, an organization and network leader with expertise in evidence-based after school programing, for grant distribution. Fifty percent of the funds will be directed to community organizations. The other half of the funds will be directed to culturally specific community organizations to ensure their expertise is recognized and supported. Summer Enrichment Another $13.2 million dedicated to summer enrichment will be allocated through grants with 50 percent going to community organizations. The remaining 50 percent will be dedicated to culturally-specific community organizations to ensure students can access programming where they will be represented in their learning and enrichment experiences.