Two State Legislative Victories This Week!!!

Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Funding Moves through the House
On Wednesday, March 4, the House Public Health Finance Committee listened as experts testified about the benefits of funding the Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Unit at the Minnesota Dept. of Health (HF 499).

Dr. Jackie Huebsch, Senior Research Fellow, HealthPartners Research Foundation, presented research that demonstrates the huge impact made by preventing heart disease and stroke. Dr. Russell Luepker, Mayo Professor of Public Health, University of Minnesota and a member of the AHA State Advocacy Committee, provided information about the prevalence of heart disease and stroke across Minnesota and how the plan developed by the Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Steering Committee could be put into action with an increase in funding.

Because of these great testifiers and letters from grassroots advocates, the committee members agreed to consider including this important funding in the House Public Health Omnibus bill! Thanks for your help!

Next steps: working with our Senate champions to secure Senate committee hearings and ensuring this funding is included in the House Public Health Omnibus bill. We will keep you posted!

Physical Education Bill is Gaining Momentum in the House
On Thursday, March 5, our physical education bill (HF 439) made its next move in the House Education Finance Committee. Again, we had impressive testifiers who made a persuasive case for the importance of strong physical education programs statewide: Dr. Marc Manley (Blue Cross/Blue Shield), Jack Olwell (PE teacher, Farmington) and Dr. Steven Geis (principal, Farmington).

There are some general concerns in the legislature regarding additional obligations placed on school districts. The Minnesota School Board Association testified to this point. The American Heart Association reiterated that this bill does not cost the state at all and that most school districts already require a half credit phy ed graduation requirement and meet the proposed standards.

Because of these awesome testifiers and letters from grassroots advocates, the committee members agreed to consider including this important policy in the House Education Finance Omnibus bill! Thanks for your help!

Next steps: working with our Senate champions to secure Senate committee hearings and ensuring this policy is included in the House Education Finance Omnibus bill. We will keep you posted!

You can watch a video of the committee hearing (click on the first link and fast forward to the 1-hour mark)

Learn more about each of these key policies:
Heart Disease and Prevention Funding
Quality Physical Education can address Childhood Obesity