The Minnesota Senate today passed House File 707, the 2017 omnibus Legacy Finance bill. The Legacy bill appropriates funding from the proceeds of the 2008 Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Constitutional Amendment. The bill earmarks appropriations to fully fund both the Waseca and Rice County Veterans Memorials. Sen. John Jasinski (R-Faribault) was the chief sponsor of the original Senate bill to fund the Rice County Memorial, and a co-sponsor of the Waseca Memorial bill.

“A lot of people have worked really hard to make these memorials a reality, and they should be given all the credit in the world,” said Sen. Jasinski (R-Faribault). “All the volunteers involved did a terrific job of raising private funding, and I’m glad the state is able to step in and help complete these worthy projects. It’s a wonderful tribute to honor the men and women who served their country so bravely.”

 

These memorials have been in the works for a long time now,” said Sen. Jasinski. “The volunteers who have been spearheading both the Rice County and Waseca County memorials have done a terrific job of raising private donations, and I’m glad Minnesota is able to come through and help them get over the finish line.”

When the Legacy bill left the Senate, it included an appropriation to the Veterans Memorial Grants program, which could be used to finish construction of the two memorials that requested funding. The updated conference committee report changes this back to a direct appropriation.