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.
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.
