Ellison Votes to Save Education Jobs and Health Care Meeting with Community Health Professionals
Press Release
Congressman Keith Ellison (DFL-Minneapolis) voted today to save and create 160,000 education jobs, including 2,800 in Minnesota, and to provide emergency federal aid to shore up state budgets. The legislation - H.R. 1586 - provides $10 billion to states and local school districts to save hundreds of thousands of education jobs and allocates $16 billion to support state Medicaid programs. Under the bill, Minnesota will receive $166 million from the education fund and $263 million in increased federal payments for Minnesota's health care programs.
"Minnesota communities are being forced to cut critical public services that compromise our children's future and the safety of our streets," said Ellison. "I came back to Washington to make sure that our kids have teachers, our families have health care, and our communities are safe."
Due to the economic downturn, states have been forced to make deep cuts in education, health care, and other basic public services. Under the Recovery Act passed in February, 2009, states were provided with federal funding to support state Medicaid programs and additional federal support for state education systems. Both federal supports end this year.
"Washington's policies have a direct impact on real people in Minnesota," Ellison said. "That's why I'm meeting with community medical professionals in Minneapolis tomorrow to discuss exactly what this funding means for them on the ground."
Rep. Ellison is convening a Community Health Roundtable event on Wednesday August 11, at 2pm at NorthPoint Health and Wellness Center in North Minneapolis. Ellison, State Sen. Linda Berglin, and State Rep. Paul Thissen will talk with board members, doctors, nurses and patients of NorthPoint about the federal Medicaid assistance and community health impacts.
For more information about the Community Health Roundtable, please contact Brian Elliott at brian.elliott@mail.house.govThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 612-522-1212.
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