With bipartisan support, the Minnesota Senate yesterday passed a Veterans and Military Affairs budget bill that recognizes the contributions of both current military members and veterans across the state of Minnesota. This legislation provides support during military service and care for veterans struggling with homelessness and PTSD. It also increases funding for veterans’ cemeteries so they can be laid to rest with the respect they deserve. 

“Supporting our veterans and their families is not a partisan issue, and I’m glad to see this bill pass with bipartisan support,” said Senator Andrew Lang (R-Olivia). “This bill continues our state’s time-honored tradition of supporting all the brave men and women and their families that have sacrificed so much to serve. These are the courageous individuals that put their lives on the line to defend our state and country, and this bill does the great work of addressing their various needs.”

Last year the Senate passedlanguage that provides bonuses to services members that served during global conflicts. With the end of the Global War on Terror last year, the bill allocates $24 million for post-war bonuses to Minnesota Veterans that served after September 11, 2001.  This bill increases the funding and eligibility for these bonuses.

Another notable inclusion is a one-time appropriation to honor service members on the fiftieth anniversary of the Vietnam War, Funding for a Minnesota Military & Veterans Museum at Camp Ripley, and continued funding for the three new veteran homes in Bemidji, Montevideo and Preston, which were originally funded in 2018, and grants for veteran participation in Camp Bliss.