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State Representative Leon Lillie
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-1188
For more information contact: Matt Swenson 651-297-8406
NEWS COLUMN
ENERGY, VETERANS, & FARMERS BENEFIT FROM HOUSE BILL
After conferring the bill with the Senate, the Minnesota House of Representatives passed the Agriculture and Veteran's Affairs Conference Report (HF2227) on the floor this week by a vote of 130 to 1. The bill will help Minnesota farmers remain competitive in the global economy, promote and sustain the development of a booming renewable energy industry in Minnesota, and provide our veterans with the benefits and services they both need and deserve.
One highlight of the bill is increased support for the use and development of renewable energy in the state, with a focus on biofuels. Other renewable energy initiatives included in the bill area 25% renewable goal for ALL energy (not just electricity) by the year 2025, the creation and funding of the NexGen Renewable Energy Board to award low interest loans and grants for bioenergy projects, and instructions for the state's Agriculture Utilization Research Institute to continue statewide renewable energy coordination efforts via their Renewable Energy Roundtable. This is good news for our state.
In addition to these renewable energy initiatives, the bill also increases the state's overall funding for agriculture, including dairy development and profitability grant programs, ag-related clean water research, invasive species monitoring and control, organic certification cost share, and more. It also increases funding for the purchase of Minnesota produced milk for Minnesota food shelves (a project that Second Harvest in Maplewood worked hard to achieve), and expansion of the Minnesota Grown program and creates a Fertilizer Check-Off program to fund research into the appropriate levels of fertilizer needed in different applications.
HF2227 also provides important resources and benefits for our veterans. It benefits all veterans from those who served in WWII to those veterans returning from the current conflict in Iraq. Mindful of the nearly 3,000 Minnesota service members currently stationed overseas, HF2227 significantly increases the support those veterans will receive when they return home in the coming year.
Highlights of the veterans' initiatives in the bill include: funding for suicide prevention and psychological support for returning combat veterans; a 14% increase in funding for the State Soldier Assistance Program;
increased funding for Veterans County Service Officer Assistance grants to enhance programs provided to veterans; increased funding for Veteran's outreach, including tribal veterans service offices; extension of education benefits for the spouses of soldiers killed in action.
These are all excellent initiatives that will benefit our veterans significantly. Upon their return, they deserve our support for themselves and their families.
Please continue to contact me with any questions, suggestions, or concerns you have on any issue. You can reach me by phone at (651) 296-1188 or by email at rep.leon.lillie@house.mn. I look forward to hearing from you.
News Items
- SUPPORTING RESPONSIBLE HOMEOWNERS AND STABILIZING NEIGHBORHOODS - (Posted: 2012-03-01 00:00:00)
- Email Update -- Feb. 16, 2012 - (Posted: 2012-02-16 00:00:00)
- 2012 LEGISLATIVE SESSION PREVIEW - (Posted: 2012-01-26 00:00:00)
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