I wanted to write to thank your area Representative Peggy Bennett for her support of the bill which passed the House and Senate Thursday on strong bipartisan votes. Legislators know that health care has been on the minds of many Minnesota families, and I’m pleased to report we’ve delivered in the first month of session. Help is on the way.

The Emergency Aid and Access bill will mean relief for thousands of Minnesotans struggling with skyrocketing premiums. The discount will be applied automatically to future bills for those who are eligible, and is retroactive to January 1. Perhaps more importantly, the bill includes a Republican-led measure to preserve care for Minnesotans receiving life-saving treatments. It also includes key reforms that will increase options for farmers and small businesses, improve consumer protections by ending surprise billing and making rates available earlier, and bring more competition to the individual market.

Governor Dayton signed the bill into law shortly after it was passed, and I believe it’s a positive sign of things to come. With this relief bill passed and signed, it’s now time to turn our attention to longer-term reforms to fix our health care crisis into the future. We know we have to make serious changes so we don’t find ourselves in this situation a year from now. I’m grateful that Rep. Bennett supported efforts to provide relief and the important first-steps to increase competition and choice moving forward, and know she is ready to work on long-term reforms so we can restore Minnesota’s place as a health care leader in our country.

Rep. Joe Hoppe

state representative, District 47B

chairman of the House Commerce and Regulatory Reform Committee