STATE OF MINNESOTA TENTH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EIGHTY-NINTH SESSION
Veterans Affairs Division
MINUTES
Representative Dave Hancock, Vice Chair of the Veterans Affairs Division, called the meeting to order at 12:51 on March 23, 2015, in Room 200 of the State Office Building.
The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.
Members present:
DETTMER, Bob Chair
HANCOCK, Dave Vice Chair
DAVIDS, Greg
FISCHER, Peter
LESCH, John
LUECK, Dale
NEWTON, Jerry
O’DRISCOLL, Tim
PERSELL, John
PUGH, Cindy
WARD, JoAnn
A quorum was present.
Representative Peter Fischer moved to approve the minutes of March 16, 2015. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Representative Cindy Pugh moved to recommend that HF 1942 be re-referred to the Committee on State Government Finance.
HF 1942 Pugh, Memorializing Congress and the President to provide funding to the Officers' Club building located at Fort Snelling and to provide additional funding to support the services the 934th Airlift Wing provides to officers, families, and civilians.
Representative Cindy Pugh moved the A15-0311 Amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Representative Cindy Pugh introduced HF 1942.
Rev. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr., the U.S. Army Chaplain (Colonel-Retired) at Fort Snelling Memorial Chapel Foundation, testified in favor of HF 1942.
James Johns, U.S. Army Aviation (Captain-Retired), testified in favor of HF 1942.
Don Patton, Co-founder of the Dr. Harold C. Deutsch WWII History Round Table, testified in favor of HF 1942.
Don Kerr, Executive Director of the Minnesota Department of Military Affairs, testified about a process by which the State of Minnesota could inherit the rights of ownership to the Officers’ Club building.
David Kelliher, Director of Public Policy and Communitty Relations for the Minnesota Historical Society, testified and answered questions about the history of the Fort Snelling area.
Representative Cindy Pugh renewed her motion to recommend HF 1942, as amended, be re-referred to the Committee on State Government Finance. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Chair Representative Bob Dettmer moved to recommend HF 146 be re-referred to the Committee on State Government Finance.
HF 146 Dettmer, Honor and Remember Flag designated as an official symbol of the state's commitment to military service members who have lost their lives in service to our country, and display of flag encouraged on certain days in certain public locations.
Chair Representative Bob Dettmer introduced HF 146.
Patricia LaBelle, Honor and Remember of Minnesota gave some background on the Honor and Remember Flag.
Tracy Clark, Gold Star Mother, testified about the loss of her son and her experience with Honor and Remember.
Ron Mackedanz, a member of the Honor and Remember Flag Board of Directors, testified about his experience with American Legion posts, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) posts, and why he believes the Honor and Remember Flag is an important symbol to adopt.
Mike MacDonald, President of the 28th Infantry Regiment Association, testified in favor of HF 146.
Tim O’Driscoll assumed the gavel at 1:45 PM.
Jerry Kyser, Vice Chair of the United Veterans Legislative Council, testified in favor of the Honor and Remember Flag.
Ralph Donais, Chair of the United Veterans Legislative Coaltion; and Paul Selge, Gold Star Father testified in favor of HF 146.
Chair Representative Bob Dettmer renewed his motion to recommend HF 146 be re-referred to the Committee on State Government Finance. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Chair Representative Bob Dettmer assumed the gavel at 2:07 PM.
Chair Representative Bob Dettmer moved to recommend HF 1420 be re-referred to the Committee on Job Growth and Energy Affordability Policy and Finance.
HF 1420 Metsa, Morrison County; solar photovoltaic module approval for a public utility solar project provided factors to be considered, and money appropriated.
Representative Jason Metsa introduced HF 1420.
Gary Shaver, President of Silicon Energy, testified about the technology behind solar panels and differences between solar panels from Minnesota or other states in the United States and Chinese or other imported panels.
Chair Representative Bob Dettmer renewed his motion to recommend HF 1420 be re-referred to the Committee on Job Growth and Energy Affordability Policy and Finance. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
The Veterans Affairs Division adjourned at 2:16 PM.
Representative Bob Dettmer, Chair
Jeremiah Wingstedt, Committee Legislative Assistant