Dear Neighbor,
Good luck to area spring athletes now that the snow has finally melted and seasons are underway. Spring sports already have short seasons in Minnesota, but this one seems to be even more compact.
At the Capitol, the House approved a series of seven veterans-related bills this week. But, before we get to that, I want to address a question I have been receiving from constituents: Yes, the House has approved a provision to make sure Disability Waiver Rate System providers are not will not be affected by an impending 7-percent cut of their rates at the federal level. We, at the state level, make them whole through the end of the year, by when a new rate increase is hoped to be approved by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Stay tuned on this.
As for the veterans bills the House approved, I am the chief House author of H.F. 2869 to provide National Guard members access to information regarding State-Sponsored Life Insurance (SSLI) program. There is a lack of awareness with what’s available with this program, which has caused National Guard members to miss out on benefits they are entitled to while serving and during retirement. I personally encountered this issue and my intent is to make sure National Guard members understand their options with SSLI.
A couple of other veterans-related bills we passed this week include:
- H.F. 2011/S.F. 1694: Designates Minnesota military hero Gen. John Vessey’s birthday – June 29 – as Gen. John Vessey Day in Minnesota. Vessey served 46 years in the military, advancing through the ranks from a 16-year-old Minnesota Army National Guard private enlistee to a four-star general, holding every rank available during his time in the military. He was selected by President Ronald Reagan to lead the nation’s military forces as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during that very distinguished military career.
- H.F. 3507/S.F. 3004: Adds a veterans’ status check-off box to state agency appointment applications. This check-off would be included with other statistical data the state already collects from individuals on a voluntary basis. The intent is to help better track how veterans fit into our state’s agencies, boards, councils, commissions, and task forces.
- S.F. 1703: Designates July 16 as Atomic Veterans Day.
On a quick side note, the federal government has granted a waiver to allow Minnesota’s standard state ID/driver’s licenses for use in boarding commercial, domestic flights at least until October of 2020 as work to comply with federal Real ID standards continues.
Only one full week remains in the 2018 session and much work remains. We expect a bonding bill to come to the House floor for a vote in the coming days, while budget negotiations with the Senate and the governor are ongoing. The Hands-free cell phone bill continues to move through the House, but appears to have stalled in the Senate. The House has provided initial approval of a full complement of supplemental finance bills and a tax bill.
Please ensure to remember to honor our Mothers on Sunday. They all have a very special place in our hearts for their love and attention.
Good luck,
Jeff