STATE OF MINNESOTA FIFTH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EIGHTY-SIXTH SESSION
VETERANS AFFAIRS DIVISION
MINUTES
Representative Koenen, Chair of the Veteran Affairs Committee, called the first meeting to order at 8:36 AM on Friday, March 13, 2009 in the Basement Hearing Room of the State Office Building.
The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.
Members present:
KOENEN, Chair
NEWTON, Vice-Chair
DETTMER, Republican Lead
DOTY
FAUST
LIEDER
MAGNUS
OTREMBA
SANDERS
SEVERSON
A quorum was present.
Representative Dettmer moved approval of the minutes from February 27, 2009. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE MINUTES WERE APPROVED.
Chairman Koenen moved HF 1295 be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs Policy Committee.
Chairman Koenen moves to amend HF 1295 as follows: (
H1295A1)
THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
HF 1295 (Thao) relating to veterans; extending veterans benefits to allied soldiers from Vietnam and Laos who assisted in the United Stated armed forces during the Vietnam War;
Representative Thao explained HF 1295 to the committee and took questions from the members.
Testifying on HF 1295 was:
Charles VU, Lao-Hmong American Coalition now living in St. Paul, MN
Chia Koua Vang, 1960, ADC group
Michael Pugliese, Deputy Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Veteran Affairs
John Cox, Legislative Representative, American Legion of Minnesota
Jerry Kyser, Veteran of Vietnam War
Al Loehr, Former Commissioner of Veteran Affairs
Stan Kowalski, State Commander, Veterans of Foreign Wars
Chairman Koenen Laid over HF 1295.
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Representative Newton moved HF 433 be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs Policy Committee.
HF 433 (Obermueller) relating to state government; designating March 25 as Medal of Honor Day;
Representative Sanders moves to amend HF 433 as follows;
Page 1, line 10, after "effective" strike "March 25, 2009" and insert "the day following final enactment."
THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Rep. Obermueller explained HF 433 to the committee.
Testifying in favor of HF 433 was:
Dave Hammer, Webmaster, Minnesota Department of Veteran Affairs.
Representative Newton renewed his motion that HF 433 be recommended to pass, as amended and re-referred to the Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs Policy Committee.
THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Chairman Koenen moved HF 1127 be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs Policy Committee.
HF 1127 (Eastlund) relating to veterans; clarifying the circumstances under which pay differential applies for deployed National Guard and reserve members who are teachers;
Representative Eastlund explained HF 1127 to the committee and took questions from the members.
Representative Dettmer moves to amend HF 1127 as follows:
Page 1, line 11, after "member’s" delete "basic" and insert "base"
Page 1, line 14, after "whose" delete "basic" and insert "base"
Page 1, line 21 after "member’s" delete "basic" and insert "base"
Page 2, line 1, after "member’s" insert "base"
Page 2, line 7, after "daily" insert, "base"
Page 2, line 9, after "daily" insert "base"
THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Chairman Koenen renewed his motion that HF 1127, be recommended to pass, as amended, and re-referred to the Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs Policy Committee.
THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Representative Magnus moved HF 1400 be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs Policy Committee.
Representative Magnus moved to amend HF 1400 as follows: (see amendment
A09-121)
THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
HF 1400 (Kalin) relating to veterans; declaring June 13, 2009, Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.
Representative Kalin explained HF 1400 to the committee and took questions from the members.
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Testifying for HF 1400 was:
Richard Jenkins, Sr., Department Commander, Military Order of the Purple Heart
Robert Connors, Department Adjutant, Military Order of the Purple Heart also Viet Nam Veteran
Representative Magnus renewed his motion that HF 1400 be recommended to pass, as amended, and re-referred to the Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs Policy Committee.
THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Representative Newton took over gavel at 10:05 AM
Chairman Koenen moved HF 1281 be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs Policy Committee.
HF 1281 (Koenen) relating to higher education; requiring in-state tuition status for veterans; requiring the creation of course equivalency guides for military coursework;
Chairman Koenen moves to amend HF 1281 as follows; (
H1281A1)
Page 1, delete section 1
Renumber the sections in sequence and correct the internal references
Amend the title accordingly
THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Chairman Koenen explained HF 1281 to the committee and took questions from the members.
Testififying in favor of HF 1281 was:
Michael Pugliese, Deputy Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Veteran Affairs
Mary Kosken, Director of Student Services, University of Minnesota
Michael Lovas, Veterans Coordinator, University of Minnesota
Colonel Eric Ahlness, Government Representative, Department of Military Affairs
Duane Baneo, Minnesota Department of Veteran Affairs
Chairman Koenen renewed his motion that HF 1281 be recommended to pass, as amended, and re-referred to the Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs Policy Committee.
THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Chairman Koenen retook the gavel at 10: 27 AM.
Representative Newton moved HF 1356 be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs Policy Committee.
HF 1356 (Newton) relating to transportation; public transit; allowing use of public transit free of charge for disabled veterans and current, uniformed members on active service;
Representative Newton explained HF 1356 to the committee and took questions from the members.
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Representative Newton renewed his motion that HF 1356 be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs Policy Committee.
THE MOTION PREVAILED.
The meeting adjourned at 10:27 AM.
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REP. LYLE KOENEN, Chair
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Mary M. Larson, Committee Legislative Assistant