[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 145 (Friday, September 9, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E902]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        HONORING MINNESOTA STATE REPRESENTATIVE CONNIE BERNARDY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. ILHAN OMAR

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 9, 2022

  Ms. OMAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Minnesota State 
Representative Connie Bernardy for her hard work, accomplishments, and 
service as a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives. Within 
her eight terms at the legislature, Rep. Bernardy has been a champion 
for her constituents and especially on the issues of Higher Education 
and Transportation. I had the great pleasure in serving alongside 
Representative Bernardy in 2017 and 2018.
  Rep. Bernardy was first elected to the Minnesota House of 
Representatives in 2000. She served until 2006 when she decided to 
switch roles and work for Education Minnesota as a government-relations 
specialist. She later returned to the House when she was reelected in 
2012. Within her District 41A, she currently represents neighborhoods 
in Fridley, New Brighton, and Spring Lake Park. Rep. Bernardy is the 
current Chair of the Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee, 
where she made significant progress on making higher education more 
affordable for students in Minnesota.
  During her fight for students, she has been a strong advocate on 
hunger free campuses, improving access through tuition and textbook 
affordability, dedicated funding for higher ed students of color 
training to become teachers. As a transportation leader, Rep. Bernardy 
has pushed for long-term sustainable multi-modal transportation 
funding. Focused on ensuring safe access to active transportation for 
Minnesotans who walk, bike, or have a disability.
  Having grown-up in the area, Rep. Bernardy truly knows her community 
and has fought for well-deserved changes. Key legislation that I want 
to recognize is her work on the Springbrook Wetland Restoration 
Project, the first urban wetland restoration of its kind in the nation; 
securing funding to establish the upcoming bus rapid transit F-Line; 
replacing the Railroad Bridge in New Brighton; enacting an Aquatic 
Invasive Species Emergency Response Plan for Long Lake; and 
spearheading the creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 
Citizen Advisory Committee.
  Although her time in the legislature is coming to an end, the work 
put towards her community and its legacy will never end. Representative 
Bernardy will truly be missed in the Minnesota House of 
Representatives.

                          ____________________