[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 12 (Tuesday, January 21, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E51]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING REPRESENTATIVE HODAN HASSAN

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. ILHAN OMAR

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 21, 2025

  Ms. OMAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the accomplishments 
of Representative Hodan Hassan, who served District 62B in Minnesota's 
House of Representatives for three terms. I wish to express my 
heartfelt gratitude to Rep. Hassan for her dedication to making 
positive change in our communities.
  Rep. Hassan emigrated to the United States from Somalia in 1999. 
After earning her bachelor's degree in social work from Metropolitan 
State, she earned a Master of Social Work and Public Health from 
Augsburg University. She went on to be a mental health practitioner and 
Executive Director of Pathways 2 Prosperity where she led programming 
to empower communities through education and support, and to address 
systemic gaps in behavioral health.
  In 2018, Rep. Hassan made history by becoming the second Somali-
American woman elected to the Minnesota legislature. While in office, 
she was Assistant Majority Leader during the 91st legislative session, 
chaired the Economic Development Finance and Policy Committee and was a 
member of the Housing Finance and Policy, Ways and Means, and Workforce 
Development Finance and Policy Committees, among others.
  Throughout Rep. Hassan's tenure, she championed many initiatives that 
significantly impacted the lives of her constituents. To name a few: 
Rep. Hassan co-authored the Rideshare bill to ensure fair wages, safe 
working environments, and workplace protections for drivers against 
discrimination and retaliation. Rep. Hassan also strengthened the 
Increase Teachers of Color Act to grow and maintain more diversity in 
Minnesota's teaching workforce, help to close the education gap, and 
enrich the education experience for all children. She also championed 
the MN PROMISE Act, a state-funded small business revitalization 
program that provides essential support through grants and loans to 
disadvantaged businesses.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking Rep. Hassan for her years 
of dedicated public service. From the beginning, she has demonstrated a 
strong commitment to justice that has made a profound difference on her 
constituents in District 62B and our community at large. Her leadership 
will continue to inspire us all.

                          ____________________