ST. PAUL – On a 121-1 vote, the Minnesota House of Representatives approved legislation that will better fund numerous veterans and military affairs needs across the state. State Representative Rod Hamilton (R-Mountain Lake) voted in favor of the measure.
“This is the rare instance when politics were put to the side in order to do what was best for those who have fought for our freedoms,” Hamilton said. “Properly funding veterans’ needs is a nonpartisan issue, and I’m very pleased we were able to overwhelmingly approve this commonsense plan.”
Hamilton said the omnibus veterans and military affairs supplemental budget bill provides bonuses to our post 9/11 veterans and gold star families, and funding to help combat veteran homelessness. It also prioritizes veterans’ facilities, as the bill includes more than $10 million for construction cost increases for the three new veterans’ homes in Bemidji, Montevideo, and Preston, and more than $16 million for enhancements and furnishings to these buildings.
Of local interest, Hamilton said the bill also includes an $830,000 appropriation for the operation of the new veterans’ cemetery in Redwood Falls that is set to open in late 2022.
“I am hopeful we will see more bipartisan legislation like this before session ends,” Hamilton said. “There is no reason we can’t approve stand-alone proposals where all sides agree, rather than mixing them in with large, comprehensive budget bills.”