Dear Friends, as we continue to monitor and respond to the COVID-19 crisis, we all need to maintain our focus and take the outbreak seriously. We also can, and must, find ways to reopen our businesses and communities in a responsible and safe manner as soon as possible.

The impending economic devastation is becoming as concerning as the pandemic itself. I look forward to working with Governor Walz, members of his Administration, and my colleagues in the legislature, to help our state recover and rebuild from these challenging times.

The work at the legislature has started to pick up as we head into the final weeks of the 2020 Legislative Session – constitutional adjournment is Monday, May 18. Floor sessions in the Minnesota Senate are now occurring biweekly, and committees have begun to meet more frequently as well.

This past week we passed several pieces of legislation including the “Prescription Drug Transparency Act” authored by Senator Rosen.

I also had the opportunity to present my bill to help small business in the wake of the pandemic, Senate File 4481.

Please take a few minutes to read some of the highlights and updates from the past week.

Small Business Relief – Senate File 4481

On Wednesday, during a virtual meeting of the Senate Jobs Committee, I had the opportunity to present my bill, Senate File 4481. The bipartisan bill appropriates $20 million to the Small Business Emergency Loan program. The legislation also establishes Small Business Relief Grants using $10 million from funds allocated to the state from the federal CARES Act.

Every day we hear devastating stories from small businesses across Minnesota who are suffering tremendous financial losses due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Running a small business is challenging enough during normal times. With the sudden economic downturn and the shelter-in-place orders, the crisis has brought many of those businesses to the brink of permanent closure.

The Small Business Relief Grants will be split evenly between the seven-county metro area and Greater Minnesota, with each region receiving $5 million. Of the $5 million to each region, $1 million is allocated for micro-businesses, which are identified as businesses with five-or-less full-time employees and assets and sales less than $250,000 per year.

Eligible businesses must be located in Minnesota, employ ten or fewer full-time staff, or five or fewer for micro-businesses, and demonstrate financial hardship as a result of COVID-19. Grants can be used for working capital to support payroll expenses, rent, mortgage payments, utility bills, and other similar business expenses.

Once approved, the business could receive up to $10,000.

This bill will not remove all the pain and suffering for our small businesses, but it can bring the needed hope, and a lifeline, for our small businesses to help get them through the next few weeks. By providing the needed relief for our entrepreneurs, workers, and their families, we can help our mom-and-pop stores and our shops on main street Minnesota not only survive but come back stronger than ever.

SF 4481 passed the Senate Jobs Committee with a unanimous vote and now heads to the Senate Finance.

You can read the full text of the bill here.

Expanded COVID-19 Testing

Earlier this week, Governor Walz announced a new testing partnership between the Mayo Clinic, the University of Minnesota, and the Minnesota Department of Health.

The testing partnership aims to test all symptomatic people and has the capacity to increase testing to as many as 20,000 Minnesotans each day.

The testing is funded in part by $36 million from the recently established COVID-19 Minnesota fund. Requests totaling more than $1 million require approval by Senate and House leaders.

We are so fortunate to have such world class institutions as the University of Minnesota and the Mayo Clinic in our state. These institutions have been integral to the state’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak. These new efforts will help ensure Minnesota gets back to work as quickly and safely as possible.

You can find more information on the partnership here.

Prescription Drug Transparency

On Tuesday, the Senate overwhelmingly approved Senate File 1098, the Prescription Drug Transparency Act.

According to the legislation, drug manufacturers must submit information to the commissioner of health about drugs that have seen a price increase of 10% or greater over the previous 12 months, or a 16% increase over the previous 24 months for brand name drugs; or generics that have had price increases of 50% or greater during the previous 12 months.

The legislation will empower consumers by asking pharmaceutical companies to justify sudden and dramatic price increases on important drugs.

Governor’s Executive Orders

This week Governor Walz signed additional executive orders in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Executive Order 20-40 allows for the re-opening of non-critical industrial, manufacturing, and office-based businesses. Before workers may return, the business must develop a COVID-19 preparedness plan. At a minimum the plan must include work from home where possible, ensure sick workers stay home, establish social distancing protocols, establish hygiene and source control policies, and cleaning and disinfection protocols.

Executive Order 20-41 Unfortunate but not unexpected, EO 20-41 directs the commissioner of education to extend the distance learning period through the end of the school year.

A full list of the Governor’s executive orders relating to the COVID-19 crisis can be found here.

Great resources related to COVID-19

• Senate Republicans have established a new online portal for Minnesota businesses and workers to share feedback on reopening Minnesota’s economy. The website asks users to share plans for enhanced safety and social distancing protocols amid the extraordinary circumstances. The website can be found here.
• Minnesota COVID-19 Public Dashboard.
• Many Minnesotans are experiencing layoffs or furloughs from their jobs. Updates on unemployment benefits and the application can be found here.

COVID-19 Information

IF YOU ARE SICK

Symptoms of COVID-19 can include fever, cough, shortness of breath, muscle aches, headache, sore throat, or diarrhea.

These symptoms may appear 2-14 days after you are exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE SICK

If you have symptoms of COVID-19 and you can manage them at home, you do not need to go to the doctor or get tested. You should:

-Stay home.
-Wash your hands often.
-Cover your coughs and sneezes.
-Avoid sharing personal household items like dishes, towels, bedding, etc.
-Clean surfaces that you touch often.

WHEN TO SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION

If your illness is getting worse or you notice any of these emergency warning signs, call your health care provider right away. Emergency warning signs can include:

-Trouble breathing.
-Ongoing pain or pressure in the chest.
-New confusion or not being able to wake up.
-Bluish lips or face.

Call your doctor or clinic before going in. Tell them about your symptoms and they will give you instructions to help protect you and other patients.

Closing thoughts

Thanks for reading this week’s update.

Despite the challenging circumstances we are faced with these days, I remain thankful for my faith, my family, and my friends. Thank you for your encouragement and support as we work through these difficult circumstances.

To our first responders and healthcare workers, THANK YOU! Thank you for your heroic actions every day to serve the rest of us. Truly amazing.

You may get tired of hearing it, but please continue to follow the stay at home order and social distancing guidelines. We are making progress in this battle and I am hopeful we will be able to see the light at the end of the tunnel sometime soon.

As always, please reach out to my office if we can be of service.

You can reach me with your concerns and questions at 651-296-9261 or reach me by email at sen.paul.anderson@senate.mn.

Hang in there.

Sincerely,

Paul T. Anderson
State Senator