Our state can play a key role in supporting families – if we choose to make the necessary investments. I’ve been proud to be a champion for our community at the legislature and uplift the issues most impacting our children and their families.

I am proud to serve as Vice Chair of the Education Policy committee and sit on the Education Finance committee. In my first term, I got to work increasing access to early childhood education and investing in our public schools, educators, and students. 

I am most proud to be the Senate author of the READ Act and invest over $100 million into overhauling literacy education for our students. This crucial funding means students are developing phonemic awareness and reading at grade level each year, and it equips our districts and teachers with the training and curriculum they need to implement this robust policy.

I’ve also been proud to author bipartisan legislation to:

Increase trained special education teachers through an apprenticeship program with nearly 40 new teachers trained in the last two years 

Invest in early learning scholarships for our youngest Minnesotans from low-income families

Develop a model policy for student cell phone possession and use in schools

As a mom and gun violence prevention advocate, gun violence is one of the defining issues of our time. All of us deserve to feel safe wherever we go – our schools, grocery stores, places of worship, or just walking down the block. While universal background check, extreme risk protection orders, and school safety drill standards are great, there’s more we can do, including:

A ban on assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines

Safe firearm storage and required safety training before purchasing

Prohibition on the manufacturing and sale of binary triggers

We need legislative champions who will address the gun violence epidemic with proven solutions. 

District 56 is home to beautiful parks and public spaces that make it a great place to live. These spaces require investment, and I’m proud to have secured millions for our district including:

$31.7 million for the Minnesota Zoo including animal hospital renovations and asset preservation

$1.4 million for the Apple Valley Inclusive Playground

$1.4 million for the Rosemount Military Readiness Center

$7 million for the Apple Valley Transit Station skyway pedestrian bridge

$10 million for the Dakota County Minnesota River and Veterans Memorial Greenways

I care deeply about our community. As a lifelong resident raising a new generation in our district, I know how important it is to partner with parents, educators, and community members to uplift our children and families and get the resources we need to flourish.