Claudia Meier Volk

Meier's tenure included efforts to bolster the rights of women, gays, and lesbians; she coauthored a bill that would have banned discrimination against gays and lesbians. She also wrote a law that freed women from having to take their husbands' last names when they got married; shortly after the law was passed, Meier married Martin Volk and took his last name. Claudia Volk moved to Ray, North Dakota, to live with Volk, and chose not to seek reelection in 1976. Her term expired in 1977.

Meier took office on January 7, 1975; she served on the Agriculture and Judiciary committees, as well as the Health and Welfare committee. That year, a bill came up on the House floor to appropriate $3.8 million to St. Cloud's healthcare system. Meier spoke out against an offered amendment which would have prohibited using state funds for family planning services, including contraception. Meier voted against the amendment, which failed, and for the final bill.

In 1975, Meier married 38-year-old Martin Volk, a longtime friend, distant relative, and business manager at a telephone co-op in Ray, North Dakota. Due to her work as a legislator in another state, they chose to maintain separate homes and commute to each other on the weekends. Despite her push for the maiden names bill, she chose to take Volk's last name; she told the St. Cloud Times that "I sponsored it because I believe everybody should have the choice, but we're both pretty traditional". Rick Nolan attended the wedding. Claudia Volk did not seek reelection in 1976, having moved to Ray.

In 1974, she was unanimously endorsed by the DFL as a candidate for the Minnesota House of Representatives from district 18-A, which covers parts of the counties of Benton, Sherburne, Millie Lacs, and Isanti. Meier was a resident of Rice at the time. The incumbent representative, Lynn Becklin, was retiring and chose not to seek the seat for another term. A month after the endorsement, she filed for office with the Secretary of State, emphasizing health care in rural Minnesota as a part of her platform.

Claudia Meier Volk (born Claudia Meier; November 6, 1947) is an American politician and nurse. After serving in multiple executive positions in government, politics, and public health in the U.S. state of Minnesota, Meier was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives at the age of 26 from district 18-A, on a platform primarily focused on health care.

Claudia Meier was born in Strasburg, North Dakota, on November 6, 1947. Her family moved to Minneapolis when she was five. Meier says that she has been active in politics since ninth grade; she attended Osseo High School, the College of St. Scholastica, and the University of Minnesota, receiving a B.S.N. in nursing from the last.