Measures to Strengthen the MN Indian Family Preservation Act, and To Fund Hard-Hit Food Shelves Both Pass Chamber Overwhelmingly
ST. PAUL, Minn. – Senate Majority Leader Kari Dziedzic (DFL-Minneapolis) said today that the Senate has overwhelmingly passed two more important bipartisan measures.
Keeping Native Families Together
The first, authored by Senator Mary Kunesh (DFL-New Brighton), will help tribes, counties, and government agencies work together to prevent the removal and disconnection of Indian children from their families, culture, and tribes. It passed by a vote of 66 to 1.
“Native families in Minnesota and across the country have been hurt throughout our history when Native children are separated from their families, and their tribal sovereignty was not honored,” said Majority Leader Dziedzic. “Senator Kunesh’s bipartisan bill will help ensure Native families stay together and their culture is respected. I look forward to the House acting on it, and the Governor signing it into law in the coming days.”
Emergency Help for Hard-Hit Food Shelves
Majority Leader Dziedzic said the Senate also overwhelmingly approved Senator Erin Maye Quade’s (DFL-Apple Valley) bill to provide $5 million in emergency funds to help Minnesota food shelves meet the unprecedented surge in food shelf visits across the state. The measure passed by a 60 to 7 margin.
“Senator Maye Quade’s bipartisan bill provides urgently-needed emergency funding to get Minnesota food shelves through a surge in visits by families across the state who would otherwise miss meals,” said Majority Leader Dziedzic. “The supplemental nutrition programs that were put in place during the pandemic will end soon, and this action will help stem the shortfall to ensure fewer Minnesotans go hungry.”
The House passed the same measure earlier this month, and it will now go to the Governor, who is expected to sign it into law.
###
Learn more about Sen. Dziedzic.
Read more news from Sen. Dziedzic.
