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State Representative Michael Beard
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-8872
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NEWS COLUMN
HIGHLIGHTING VETERANS BENEFITS
By Mike Beard
District 35A, State Representative
As I write, several House and Senate conference committees are in meetings to work out differences between our respective finance bills. Along with Governor Pawlenty, we are working long days, often into the night, to balance the $466 million budget deficit and take action on our top priorities. With so much still up in the air and so many details prone to change, I would like to take an opportunity this week to discuss legislation that often flies under the radar, but is nevertheless very important.
As you know, Memorial Day is approaching and that gives us a chance to reflect on the sacrifices our military veterans made and what men and women face today as they serve in the Global War on Terrorism. The legislature continues to work without regard to partisan lines in passing bills aimed at providing benefits to active service members and veterans. What follows is a list of bills that have been signed into law or are being considered at some point in the legislative process.
Hire a Vet Month
Under this bill – signed into law by the governor – May is now known as “Hire a Veteran Month” in Minnesota. The law reflects the effort to actively recruit veterans to Minnesota by raising public awareness about the many benefits of hiring veterans. You may recall the legislature passed a similar bill last year, which prohibits employers from asking a prospective employee about his or her National Guard status. I think that Minnesota should welcome veterans, not turn them away or discriminate against those who may someday serve to protect our country.
World War II Memorial
The bonding bill signed in April authorized $670,000 to construct a World War II Veterans Memorial on the Capitol lawn. As World War II moves further into the past, it is important that this monument help keep its sacrifices and the lessons we learned from being forgotten.
Persian Gulf Commemorative Plaque
I co-authored House File 1394 to allow a plaque commemorating Minnesotans who served in the Persian Gulf War to be placed in the Court of Honor on the Capitol grounds. The plaque would be paid for by donations. The Court of Honor is home to plaques honoring veterans from every major American war as far back as the Civil War as well as women veterans and Prisoners of War/Missing in Action veterans of all wars. The bill is still working its way through the Senate and I hope it will come through with a unanimous “Yes” vote, as it did in the House.
Financial Need Check-off
Tucked away in the House tax bill is a small provision that will have meaningful impact on current service members. It creates a voluntary check-off on your tax for to donate part of your tax refund to members of the National Guard or Reserves and their families who have suffered financial hardships as a result of being called to active service since September 11, 2001.
Simplifying Pay Differentials
Recovering lost pay for active service can be a confusing process for state employees called to duty. Thanks to a new law, a service member’s monthly gross salary (excluding overtime) is now used when determining the pay differential between state employment and active military pay. This will not only help reduce confusion for service members seeking reimbursement, but it also ensures that people do not suffer a pay cut for protecting our country.
I believe these are all good things the legislature has come together to do in a bipartisan way that show our support for active service members and veterans. But with Memorial Day coming soon, perhaps the best we can all do is simply saying thanks to the veterans in our lives for the sacrifices they made and remembering those who aren’t here for us to thank. They are the true American heroes and they deserve our unending appreciation.
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