Dear Neighbor,
Greetings from the House and I hope your fall is going well. Saturday is Veterans Day and I thought I would send a quick note of support for our heroes, along with some information regarding a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for high school juniors.
Veterans Day message
This Saturday, Americans across the country will pause to honor those who have sacrificed on our behalf to protect our great nation. I want to sincerely thank our veterans who put our country first and sacrificed so much to defend our freedom.
There is much that we can do to show our appreciation to those men and women who put on the uniform for our country. This year, I was proud to champion a veterans funding bill that provided our heroes with the resources they need and deserve:
- Additional funding in bonus payments to post 9/11 veterans and expanded eligibility so that more veterans could receive this financial support;
- Funding for new Veterans homes in Bemidji, Montevideo, and Preston; and
- Increased Veterans GI tuition and apprenticeship benefits so that veterans have access to more opportunities to further their careers,
If you would like additional information on any of the above items, please visit the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs website at www.mn.gov/mdva/.
I hope this Veterans Day you will say a prayer, and take time to express your gratitude for the brave men and women who have served to protect the wonderful and unique country we are blessed to call home.
May God bless all our veterans!
Page program deadline approaching
It’s always a pleasure to meet with high school page program participants and hear about their experiences.
There is a Nov. 22 deadline for high school juniors to apply to the House page program and spend a week working behind the scenes at the Capitol as a House page.
This is a rare opportunity to work behind the scenes at the Capitol. High school pages attend meetings with legislators, constitutional officers, members of the judiciary and others. Pages also assist members and staff during House floor sessions, participate in mock committee hearings and more.
The House of Representatives page program has been in place for 45 years and Minnesota is one of only a select few states in the nation to offer this program, providing young people with such an in-depth look into state government.
Program participants are selected through a formal process which includes an application, faculty recommendation and an essay. A dozen week-long slots are available from mid-February until mid-May and stipends are available to defray expenses.
More information is available at this House website or by calling (651) 296-7452. Local schools also can provide further assistance.
Until next time, have a good Veterans Day and let me know how I can help.
Sincerely,
Lisa