ST. PAUL – The Minnesota House on Friday overwhelmingly approved legislation Rep. Joe McDonald, R-Delano, said shows our state’s commitment to taking care of our veterans.
McDonald said he was pleased with the veterans and military affairs package (S.F. 4233) which, overall, appropriates an additional $2.2 million to the Department of Military Affairs and an additional $52.351 million to the Department of Veterans Affairs.
“Our veterans put their life on the line to protect us and we owe it to them to provide the resources they need not only when they are active, but when their service concludes,” McDonald said. “It is good the Legislature came together with such strong, bipartisan support for our military members.”
McDonald said 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 facilities. Veterans and Gold Star families who served post-9/11 will receive a total of $24.8 million post-service bonus payments.
The bill also includes funding to address veteran homelessness, money for the State Veterans Cemetery in Redwood Falls, and other veterans related programs.
The bill passed the House 122-1 and cleared the Senate with no opposition. It has been presented to the governor for enactment.
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