House bill seeks $5 million for Black veterans support program

Stephen Kent is a 25-year U.S. Army veteran who ended his career at the rank of colonel. Sean Payton is a former U.S. Air Force officer who served during the Gulf War.

Both are pushing for further support to help other Black veterans.

Each spoke to the House Veterans and Military Affairs Division Wednesday about the importance of HF1516.

“It is a critical step to ensuring that all veterans in Minnesota receive the support they need, particularly Black veterans, who often encounter systemic barriers to resources, health care, housing, economic opportunities. And this includes suicide prevention and solutions to homelessness,” Payton said.

Sponsored by Rep. Mary Frances Clardy (DFL-Inver Grove Heights), the bill would provide $5 million in fiscal year 2026 to an organization to establish a Black veterans support program.

Per the bill, “The support program must provide Black veterans assistance with mental health services and mental health case management, job training, seeking employment opportunities, accessing health care, achieving homeownership through financial literacy programming, and loans.”

It was held over by the division for future consideration.          

“Today we’re here to talk about brave American veterans who have served our country often facing discrimination along the way. These men and women have fought in every major conflict showing incredible courage and dedication even when their own country didn’t always treat them fairly,” Kent said, citing segregation, unequal benefits and fewer opportunities as examples.

“Challenges faced by African American veterans are not new,” he said. “I’ve lived them.”

“During the Civil War, slave owners would sell their slaves for enlistment in the military, showing a disregard for their humanity. The generational trauma of Black soldiers in this country runs deep, affecting families and communities for decades. We are here today because we must find a way to deal with systemic trauma that Black soldiers have endured. It is our responsibility to address these injustices and ensure that all veterans receive respect and the support we deserve.”

Rep. Bjorn Olson (R-Fairmont) acknowledges there were “significant barriers” to minority soldiers during the Vietnam Era, but asked what would be provided that isn’t now.

It was a question echoed by Rep. Bidal Duran (R-Bemidji), a veteran who has Black veteran friends. “The services and everything that they’ve gotten before have all been the same exact stuff that I’ve gotten. … If there’s a lack of services that are being offered to certain people, that’s an issue, we need to address that for sure, 100%.”

“Just because you’re not experiencing it does not mean that none exists,” said Rep. Jay Xiong (DFL-St. Paul), the division co-chair.

Payton said lawsuits have been filed against the Veterans Administration because of racial disparities. Kent added that many elder Black veterans are “reluctant” to go to the VA or to people who don’t look like them because of previous experience.

A Clardy-sponsored bill (HF1511) that seeks $5 million in in fiscal year 2026 for a veteran mentorship program for Black youth was also laid over.