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During the 69th Legislative Assembly, North Dakota Democratic-NPL Insider will provide updates and calls to action each day of the regular session. If you would like to have something added to the newsletter, email us at [email protected]. Spread the word of our newsletter by sharing our sign-up link today: https://demnpl.com/join-our-newsletter/.
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Join us for the People's Town Hall event in Fargo ND - let your congressional delegation know what you think of the direction they are taking the country. March 27th at 7 pm
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Real change starts with real conversations. People’s Town Halls are happening in all 50 states and 7 territories! They are your chance to connect with neighbors, community leaders, and organizers to discuss the issues that matter most. These events are open, inclusive, and built to amplify your voice! Check out more here: https://democrats.org/peoples-town-halls/
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What happened today?
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Rep. Bill Tveit's (R-33) bill (HB 1144) ostensibly seeks to enforce North Dakota’s bathroom bill from 2023 which was meant to target trans students. When it was in the house, Rep. Austin Foss (D-44), who is an architect, gave an in-depth testimony on how this bill prohibits bathroom design that would increase both privacy and safety for ALL students. Rep. SuAnn Olson's (R-8) bill (HB 1181) says any reference to gender, gender identity, or gender expression, would mean the individual's determined sex at birth in the ND Century Code. It has changed from when it was first introduced so that it doesn't explicitly say an individual must undergo a DNA test if someone challenges them on what they say their gender is. But this bill is still a waste of time. Both of these bills had hearings in the Senate Education Committee today.
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What's Coming Up?
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Democratic-NPL Bills
Rep. Mary Schneider's (D-21) bill (HB 1567) proposing a legislative management study to improve access to dental and oral health care for low-income children, Native American children, and individuals with disabilities has a hearing in the Senate Human Services Committee at 9:00.
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Rep. Lisa Finley-DeVille's (D-4A) bill (HB 1545) to change the name of First Nations Day to Indigenous Peoples Day has a hearing in the Senate Industry and Business Committee at 2:30.
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Follow Along!
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Did you know you can watch along with these hearings or watch them later on your own time?
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Help us spread our message—share these recent posts!
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'The Postal Service belongs to the people': Nearly 100 people rally in Fargo against privatizing USPS
Freezing temperatures and a relentless, biting breeze did nothing to dampen the passion of the crowd of letter carriers and other community members gathered Sunday afternoon, March 23, outside the downtown Fargo Post Office.
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The group of nearly 100 people waved signs and cheered as passing drivers honked in support of the rally against a reported plan to move the United States Postal Service under the Department of Commerce.
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Agriculture research loses momentum with federal payments uncertain
A North Dakota ag and conservation researcher is unsure if she will be able to complete some projects — or start new ones — because of delays in federal payments.
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“Because they can’t assure me I’m going to get paid, I have to stop work,” Rebecca Phillips told the North Dakota Monitor.
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North Dakota House reconsiders school surveys bill, narrowly votes it down again
Opponents have said surveys are important sources of information for schools and health officials on trends such as teen suicides, teen pregnancy and teen drug use and smoking.
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Letter to the editor: Protect Medicaid from harmful cuts – a lifeline for North Dakotans
Medicaid is not just a safety net — it is a pillar of North Dakota’s health care system. Beyond providing direct health coverage, Medicaid plays a critical role in supporting hospitals, schools, workforce development, and the financial stability of families.
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Letter: It's time to speak up for your constituents
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You are shutting down Social Security offices in our state, which we clearly want and which will benefit our elderly and disabled immensely. Surely, cutting the staff of Social Security will help people learn more patience by being on hold longer. Hold your chins high for making this happen!
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Fortunately for us, we will never even know how many victory celebrations we will miss from breakthrough discoveries about Alzheimer's research or cancer research. By cutting funding to the sciences, untold amounts of advances will be cut at the knees. Decades—or maybe even generations—will be impacted by what we don't discover. Thank you for your service!
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Letter: North Dakota women earn less than men
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North Dakota women earn 77 cents for every dollar a North Dakota man earns.
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Women of color across the US are paid even less. For every dollar made by men, Black women earn 69 cents and Native American women 59 cents.
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Equal Pay Day on March 25 is a time to raise awareness for this persistent issue of the pay gap between men and women. This pay gap means that women have lost opportunities and earnings over their lifetime of work.
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An introspection of trans life and politics in North Dakota
I look at the data about our kids, and I see myself in it. I see my childhood and bullying, and how I never reached out for help. I see kids under the unbearable weight and pain of navigating being trans or queer in our culture. And while all of their answers add up into a clear picture of outcomes, I know most of them are alone, without support or help.
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I think about Chance Houle constantly. Chance was a 12-year-old trans kid in Bismarck with a complicated family and school life. March 31 will be the seventh anniversary of his death by suicide, which was blamed on bullying, though never substantiated by local investigation.
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Check out these posts from the national Democratic Party
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The Trump Administration Accidentally Texted Me Its War Plans
The world found out shortly before 2 p.m. eastern time on March 15 that the United States was bombing Houthi targets across Yemen.
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I, however, knew two hours before the first bombs exploded that the attack might be coming. The reason I knew this is that Pete Hegseth, the secretary of defense, had texted me the war plan at 11:44 a.m. The plan included precise information about weapons packages, targets, and timing.
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'Real America' Won't Mind If They Miss a Social Security Check—Lutnick
"Let's say Social Security didn't send out their checks this months. My mother-in-law is 94, she wouldn't call up and complain. She just wouldn't. She would think something got messed up and she'd get it next month," he said. "A fraudster always makes the loudest noise, screaming, yelling and complaining."
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Gay Venezuelan Makeup Artist Among Hundreds Deported Without Due Process
Telling Maddow her team is “pursuing all avenues” to seek Andrys’ release, she added, “Because our client’s life is at risk. We’re concerned for his safety. And the fact that he was forcibly taken from the United States with no due process ... it’s something that really shocks the conscience in a way that we haven’t seen since family separation happened in 2018.”
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We’re In For A RUDE AWAKENING If We Don’t FIGHT NOW (w/ Bill Kristol)
Bill Kristol joined Tim Saturday in Arizona to rip the atrocious behavior of our government—depriving even lawful Venezuelan migrants of due process, and shipping them off to a mega-prison in San Salvador where they may be being tortured. Any Democratic politician failing to speak out on this is wrong politically, morally, and ethically. Meanwhile, the DOJ is gearing up to charge Tesla vandals with domestic terrorism and Trump sent a Putin fanboy and very useful idiot, Steve Witkoff, to negotiate over Ukraine. Plus, AOC, Bernie, and Bill 2003 vs. Bill 2025. Bill Kristol joins Tim Miller.
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New Social Security requirements pose barriers to rural communities without internet, transportation
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New requirements that Social Security recipients access key benefits online or in person at a field office, rather than on the phone, would be nearly impossible to meet without help.
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“If that’s the only way I had to do it, how would I do it?” Taylor said, talking about the changes while eating a plate of green beans, mac and cheese and fried fish with a group of retirees at the McDowell County Senior Center. “I would never get nothing done.”
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Special education experts worry about students with disabilities post-Education Department
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The Department of Education has long enforced the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which guarantees about 7.5 million children with disabilities in the U.S. a "free appropriate public education." The law protects these students from being turned away at public schools and requires schools to provide them with Individual Education Programs, or IEPs, to help them thrive academically.
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For years, the Education Department has dispersed federal dollars to states to spend on students with disabilities, conducted national research by analyzing state-to-state data and collected and investigated special education-related civil rights complaints.
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'Pure carelessness': Top security officials accidentally texted war plans to Atlantic journalist
The Atlantic editor-in-chief was accidentally added to a group chat with top national security officials discussing war plans of Yemen strikes. National Security Analyst Kevin Baron, Former State Department Spokesman Ned Price, and Politico White House reporter and Co-author of Politico’s West Wing Playbook newsletter Eli Stokols join Katy Tur to react to the “dangerous” mistake.
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Committees
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Every bill is voted on in the North Dakota legislature, but first, it must go through a committee hearing. The committee will vote to give the bill a "Do Pass" or a "Do Not Pass" recommendation. Below is a list of Standing Committees this legislative session.
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Senate Standing Committee Members
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Meets Thursday and Friday
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Meets Monday through Friday
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Meets Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
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Meets Thursday and Friday
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Desiree Van Oosting (R-36)
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Meets Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
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Meets Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
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Desiree Van Oosting (R-36)
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Meets Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
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Meets Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
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Meets Thursday and Friday
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Meets Thursday and Friday
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Meets Thursday and Friday
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House Standing Committee Members
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Meets Thursday and Friday
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Gretchen Dobervich (D-11)
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Cynthia Schreiber-Beck (R-25)
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Meets Monday through Friday
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Meets Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
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Cynthia Schreiber-Beck (R-25)
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Patrick R. Hatlestad (R-1)
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Meets Thursday and Friday
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Meets Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
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Mike Motschenbacher (R-47)
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Meets Thursday and Friday
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Gretchen Dobervich (D-11)
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Meets Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
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Lisa Finley-DeVille (D-4A)
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Meets Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
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Lawrence R. Klemin (R-47)
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Meets Thursday and Friday
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Patrick R. Hatlestad (R-1)
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Lawrence R. Klemin (R-47)
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Mike Motschenbacher (R-47)
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Meets Thursday and Friday
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Lisa Finley-DeVille (D-4A)
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The Century Club supports our year-round work to build party infrastructure supporting candidate recruitment, local district and regional leadership, issue-based education, and tools for Dem-NPL success.
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Help us elect great Democrats up and down the ballot!
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The North Dakota Democratic-NPL is launching a new grassroots program called “Neighbor to Neighbor” where volunteers will connect with voters in your community to elect Democrats up and down the ballot. As a volunteer, you will be responsible for connecting with voters in 25 homes in your neighborhood or friends and family to help elect Democrats up and down the ballot about 3-4 times this year.
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Grassroots organizers are the lifeblood of the Dem-NPL! Sign up to volunteer with the Dem-NPL!
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