champion

Sen. Bobby Joe Champion

2303 Minnesota Senate Building

St. Paul, MN 55155

sen.bobby.joe.champion@senate.mn

(651) 296-9246

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: February 14, 2020

Contact: Shemeka Bogan

(651) 296-9246

shemeka.bogan@senate.mn

Senator Bobby Joe Champion Legislative Preview

It’s an incredible honor to represent the people of the North Minneapolis, North Loop, Downtown, Elliot Park and Bryn Mawr and I’m excited and optimistic for our work ahead to build a Minnesota that works better for all of us. There’s a great deal we can do – working together – to help ensure our children have the opportunity to achieve in the classroom, people can afford the health care and housing they depend on, families can experience a secure economic future, and communities like ours can thrive.

I have many priorities and issues I’m working on to better the lives of families in my district. As the lead minority member on the jobs and economic development committee, I am dedicated to ensuring urban jobs are available to those who need them. In 2016, equity funding began after a report found Minnesota was failing people of color economically. This year, I will push for increased equity funding which provides career education to people and communities that need it. This funding ensures people have a chance to secure a good paying job and make their lives better.

I am currently working on several bonding projects including the Firefighters Healing Center, which would provide a place for child burn victims, their families, and first responders to stay after a traumatic event. Families often come to the twin cities’ level one trauma center to care for life-threatening burns. After the initial shock and emotional distress from a traumatic event, it is often difficult for families to stay in the city for weeks and months without adequate housing and support. The Healing Center would provide this essential support to child burn victims and firefighters as well as their families, reaffirming Minnesotan’s dedication to caring for one another.

Another bonding bill I am proud to support is a $3,000,000 bond for a grant to the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board to design and construct a river overlook at 26th Avenue North and to design and construct a trail connection paralleling the Mississippi River between 26th Avenue North and the Minneapolis Grand Rounds at Ole Olson Park. This bonding appropriations bill would provide a scenic and inviting area for the residents and visitors of North Minneapolis to enjoy. Investing in diverse urban communities is important to me, and this bonding project would benefit not only the residents of our area, but visitors as well through its scenic tourism.

It is estimated that one in five Minnesotans have an arrest or criminal record and are therefore unable to vote until their entire sentence is completed (including parole/probation). Since 1974, the percentage of Minnesotans disenfranchised due to a criminal conviction has risen 400 percent and disproportionately affects African Americans and Native Americans. But studies show that re-enfranchising ex-offenders can produce tangible benefits for both our individual and the communities. A 2011 study by the Florida Parole Commission, found that ex-offenders whose civil rights had been restored were much less likely to return to prison than others in the released prisoner population, with respective recidivism rates of 11 percent and 33 percent. It is important for those who have been released from prison to be able to exercise their rights, to have their voice heard, and to feel a part of the community. My legislation to restore voting rights builds a stronger democracy, advances civil rights, engages future generations to vote, reduces recidivism and empowers family and communities.

Although the employer question asking if a person has had a criminal conviction has been removed under legislation I passed previously called “ban the box,” it is still in use for councils, boards and commissions. Ban the box should extend to these positions to allow for ex-felons to reach their full potential and affirm Minnesota’s belief in equality of opportunity regardless of past convictions. Criminal records can often be misleading and incomplete; often taking away a candidate’s opportunity to join a council, board or commission. I am hopeful to see this legislation pass into laws this session.

Finding safe and affordable housing is a growing problem in Minnesota, most notably the Twin-Cities area. I am working hard during this legislative session to ensure that everyone is able to secure housing that is safe and affordable. I am supporting the sprinkler bill which would call for residential high-rises 75 feet or more above a fire vehicle’s access to install automated sprinklers on every floor. Two devastating fires in Minneapolis public housing units late last year showed that we cannot afford to risk our residents’ lives for the sake of saving a dollar. I am ensuring that building owners and operators are held responsible for the safety and security of their buildings.

Last session we created a new Select Committee on Home Ownership Affordability and Availability which has increased our efforts to solve housing issues in Minneapolis. The Governor’s bonding requests which include $200 million in Housing Infrastructure Bonds and $60 million for Public Housing Rehabilitation Funding are a great start to ensuring every Minnesotan is able to access affordable housing.

Minnesota’s poorer urban communities are often left out from the conversation on environmental impacts and environmental health but are usually the communities who are most affected by environmental factors such as pollution and water contamination. Companies such as Northern Metals have disrupted our natural environment. This legislative session, I will fight to ban TCE, a volatile carcinogen associated with various cancers. It was discovered last year that a White Bear Lake Township company, Water Gremlin, had been releasing threatening levels of TCE through the community.

In regard to clean water, the legislation will be bringing forward several clean water policy bills which provide incentives for healthy soil, ensure safe and sustainable drinking water and drinking water infrastructure. It is important to me that Minnesotans have equitable access to clean drinking water across the state.

As always, I encourage you to email, write, visit, and contact me about issues that are important to you. You can reach me at: 2303 Minnesota Senate Building, St. Paul, MN 55155. My email address is sen.bobby.champion@senate.mn and my (651) 296-9245. Also, please sign up for my newsletter at: www.senate.mn/senatorchampion.