SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Senator Ron Latz, DFL-St. Louis Park, DFL Lead on the Senate Judiciary & Public Safety Committee, released the following statement in the wake of the murder of George Floyd.

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) announced today that the agency has begun making Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) payments to people who are self-employed, independent contractors, and other eligible recipients who are not eligible for regular unemployment benefits. PUA is a new program that was authorized by Congress in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) and signed into law on March 27, 2020.