ST. PAUL – In an effort to bring needed veterans' homes to both western and northern Minnesota, State Representative Tim Miller (R-Prinsburg) is authoring the Minnesota Veterans and Quality of Life Act.
The bill would allocate bonding proceeds to both Montevideo and Bemidji to help meet the necessary state funding match in order for the veterans' homes to begin construction.
"There is a great need for veterans' homes in Minnesota, but we don't want to put lawmakers in the position of voting for one location over another," Miller said. "By combining the two plans into one bill, legislators don't have to vote for Montevideo or for Bemidji, they can simply vote for veterans."
The Minnesota Veterans and Quality of Life Act basically incorporates previous legislation Rep. Miller chief-authored that would secure $6 million in bonding proceeds to build a facility in Montevideo. To date, the City and Chippewa County have pledged all but $6 million of the state's contribution. Federal contributions would cover two-thirds of the costs for a new veterans' home.
"We really can't afford to wait any longer if we are going to make these veteran's homes a reality," Miller said. "I'm hopeful this legislative approach will have strong bipartisan support and will create long-awaited veterans homes in both Montevideo and Bemidji."