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. 

“This bill does so much to prioritize the needs of our veterans, and I’m so glad that we were able to support them in such a bipartisan way,” said Senator Karin Housley (R-Stillwater). “These are the brave men and women that have given so much as they’ve served our state and country, and it is so important that we support them and their families through all stages of their post-service lives. No bill will ever adequately thank them for their sacrifices, but this is a start.”

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.