Minnesota Veterans deserve recognition and support for their sacrifice and brave service to our state and country. Veterans Day is one day dedicated to honoring their sacrifice and bravery, but their needs and concerns should be addressed all year long. Because they have given so much to serve our country and preserve our freedoms, it is incredibly important that we treat Veterans’ needs as a top priority when passing legislation.

In April, the Minnesota Senate passed a Veterans bill that had bipartisan support. I supported and voted for this bill because it provided much-needed support to those currently serving, and it also focused on care for veterans in their post-service lives. Unfortunately, there are many veterans in our state struggling with homelessness and PTSD. This bill prioritized funding that addresses those issues: funding for the Veteran Resilience Project, Veterans on the Lake, Camp Bliss, and the Veteran Homelessness Initiative, to name a few.

There was also an important section that increased funding for veterans’ cemeteries, so they can be laid to rest with the dignity and respect they deserve. After initially funding new veteran homes throughout the state in previous years, we also included funding to furnish the new homes in Bemidji, Montevideo, and Preston. $24 million was also allocated for post-war bonuses to Minnesota Veterans that served after September 11, 2001. Our state has a time-honored tradition of supporting veterans and their families and I was happy to be a small part of continuing this important work by voting for a bill that puts veterans’ needs first.

I was also proud to be the chief author of a bill that exempts disabled veterans from certain transportation taxes, including registration taxes, license plate fees, title fees, and driver’s license and identification card fees. It applies to veterans who have a 100 percent total and permanent service-connected disability rating. We were able to get this included in the final Transportation budget, which means this new exemption goes into effect on January 1, 2024.

This was a bipartisan bill that put our veterans and their needs first. These are the men and women who have put their lives on the line to serve our state and country and paid a price for our freedom. They deserve our support in every way, and I am happy we were able to deliver this tax exemption to those veterans with a service-connected disability.

As we honor veterans across the state and country on Veterans Day, let us also take a moment to understand that their needs do not end when their service does. These brave men and women who serve deserve our gratitude, respect, and support. I’m proud of the work we’ve done to support veterans and their families this past legislative session, but there is more work to do. I look forward to supporting future initiatives and legislation that put veterans’ needs first. This Veterans Day, remember that freedom is never free, and be sure to thank the veterans around you for their service and sacrifice.