Dr. Michael Osterholm joined U.S. Rep. Angie Craig in a virtual town hall meeting April 16 to answer scientific and legislative questions about COVID-19. Osterholm, an adjunct professor at the University of Minnesota and world-renowned infectious disease expert, is also the director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy. Craig represents the 2nd Congressional District, which includes all of Scott County and stretches southeast along the Wisconsin border.
National policymakers have raised concerns that delivering special education services remotely will cause financial strain for school districts. Minnesota Reps. Angie Craig and Pete Stauber, and California Rep. Jared Huffman sent a letter to House leadership in late March, asking them to include more money for kids with disabilities in a federal aid package.
U.S. Rep. Angie Craig, D-Eagan, will hold a virtual town hall that will be streamed live at Craig’s Facebook page at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 16, focused on the coronavirus pandemic. The town hall will include Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy Director at the University Minnesota Dr. Michael T. Osterholm and President of the River Heights Chamber of Commerce Jennifer Gale.
On March 30th, Craig sent a letter to Rep. Richard Neal, Democrat of Massachusetts and chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, asking him to work with Republicans to broaden the definition of a qualifying child under the CARES Act. Craig wants the bill to be included in the next coronavirus stimulus package, due to be considered when Congress reconvenes in late April.
In hopes of giving those communities a hand up, Rep. Angie Craig, DFL-Eagan, has introduced the Small Cities and Towns Investment Act. If enacted, Craig’s plan would create an annual $10 billion block grant program for communities with fewer than 30,000 residents.
US. Rep. Angie Craig will hold a virtual town hall with constituents focused on the coronavirus pandemic at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 16 streamed live on Craig's Facebook page, to allow constituents to ask questions about the coronavirus while staying home.
"In the middle of a pandemic, we need to look out for our working families and make sure we are doing everything we can to provide financial support to those most in need," said Minnesota representative Angie Craig, who authored the All Dependents Count Act, in a statement when the bill was introduced. "When I learned that we were leaving out dependents over 17 and students up to age 24 as well as the disabled, I knew we needed to introduce legislation to fix this immediately. I urge the House to take up this legislation as quickly as possible or to correct this retroactively to the CARES Act in the next bill."
Craig stressed during the meeting that she understands the need for internet access throughout the Second Congressional District. She stated, “I am certainly prioritizing a huge investment in broadband through this next spending bill.”
Durand spoke during a Rural Impact Round Table hosted by U.S. Rep. Angie Craig, MN-2, who brought together rural leaders from cities, hospitals, transportation, schools and farming to talk about what might be needed next as communities struggle to survive the COVID-19 pandemic.
Craig’s staff have taken an active role in helping Minnesotans to return home. According to Craig, her office has helped Minnesotans stranded in Ecuador, Germany, Guatemala, Peru and the Philippines to return home.