Senate leaders on Monday announced the creation of a committee that would focus on easing racial disparities in jobs, housing, health, education and other topics.
15 state senators named to new Senate subcommittee on racial disparities
A bipartisan group of state senators will consider legislative proposals intended to ease racial disparities in jobs, housing, health and other topics, according to a news release.
April 4, 2016 at 9:43PM
The committee of 15 state senators will be led by the Minnesota Senate's two black members: Sen. Bobby Joe Champion, DFL-Minneapolis and Sen. Jeff Hayden, DFL-Minneapolis.
Gov. Mark Dayton recently outlined a $100-million legislative agenda aimed at ensuring racial equity. Of that, he has set aside about a third to be decided by lawmakers. His proposals, if enacted, would provide one-time infusions of capital into business-development programs, youth employment initiatives and down-payment assistance for lower-income first-time home buyers.
He also wants more funding for the Department of Human Rights, a state agency that investigates complaints of discrimination in workplaces.
The committee has six Republican state senators and eight DFLers. Among the members are Sen. Patricia Torres Ray, DFL-Minneapolis, the first Hispanic woman elected to the state Senate, and Sen. Foung Hawj, DFL-St. Paul, the only Hmong legislator in the Senate. A full list of committee members can be found here.
Our mission this election cycle is to provide the facts and context you need. Here’s how we’ll do that.
