| Our advocacy volunteers and staff work with lawmakers year-round to change public policies that affect the cardiovascular health of Minnesota residents. Join our Grassroots Network. Help us by contacting your legislators. |  |
 | Rachel Callanan | American Heart Association |
You (and your friends and family) Are the Cure!
We need your help spreading the word about the You’re the Cure network. Tell your friends and family that they can help make Minnesota healthier - simply by pointing and clicking.
Minnesota Blogspot
Legislative action can happen fast and things are always changing in D.C. and St. Paul. Check out our new blog to find out everything happening across the state. http://heartofminnesota.blogspot.com
Join our page “You’re the Cure: Midwest Clicks for Hearts” at www.facebook.com/heartofthemidwest.
Make sure all your friends and family know you care about advocating for heart issues on Facebook! Our page has posts from all the states in our affiliate and highlights successes and opportunities in advocacy for heart and stroke issues.
American Heart Association Celebrates Our 2010 Legislative Victories!
American Heart Association has an impact goal of improving the cardiovascular health of Americans by 20% while reducing deaths from cardiovascular diseases and stroke by 20% by the year 2020. Legislation passed this year will help us achieve that goal by ensuring that our kids don’t get hooked on nicotine and learn the lifelong skills to lead an active lifestyle through quality physical education programs. Thanks to all of our You’re the Cure Advocates who contacted your legislators throughout the session! With the many competing priorities at the Capitol, it is YOUR VOICES that make preventing heart disease and stroke a priority!
The Healthy Kids/PE Bill
...passed the House 121-7 and the Senate unanimously supported the bill. The new law will strengthen physical education programs in our schools which has a two-fold positive impact by boosting academic achievement and promoting more physical activity and physical fitness. The bill also promotes more physical activity and healthier food in our schools through the Healthy Kids Awards program, promoting best practices in recess, and giving parents more information about their schools’ wellness policies and quality of physical education classes offered by their schools. Read more here about next steps to help implement this new law.
The Tobacco Modernization and Compliance Act (aka Tic Tac Tobacco Act)
...was signed into law on May 11, 2010. It will ensure that the new dissolvable tobacco products that are candy flavored and resemble mints and breath strips are taxed and regulated as tobacco products; require all tobacco products to be sold behind the counter and ensure youth do not have easy access to these products; and prevent the sale of new tobacco products and e-cigarettes to youth. These changes will help ensure that this generation of kids are not exposed to these new products and will have a direct impact on tobacco use among kids. Read more
Complete Streets Policy.
"Complete Streets" means that our roads are planned and designed to be safe and accessible for drivers, pedestrians, transit riders, and bicyclists--all users, regardless of age or ability. American Heart Association joined the Minnesota Complete Streets Coalition to support this bill because one of the key barriers to physical activity is the lack of access to safe walking/biking routes. This new law remedies the problem by involving stakeholders to help Mn/DOT implement Complete Streets; by addressing the existing barriers in relevant laws and regulations; it directs Mn/DOT to report back to the legislature on work to implement Complete Streets; and provide immediate design flexibility for local communities interested in implementing Complete Streets. The law encourages (but does not require) local governments to consider Complete Streets policies. Read more
Statewide Health Improvement Program (SHIP)
Additionally, American Heart Association and our public health partners successfully fended off proposed cuts to the Statewide Health Improvement Program (SHIP). The program will continue full steam ahead over the next year to reduce obesity and tobacco use in local communities across the state. Already thinking of next year, American Heart Association is working with a coalition on a campaign to significantly increase the price of tobacco in 2011 as well continue to make progress on tackling childhood obesity. Learn more on the Minnesota Department of Health web site.
Have You Taken Action Lately?
Things are always happening on Capitol Hill—in DC and St. Paul! Be sure to log-in and make sure you have taken action on all the latest issues: log in and view important action alerts.
