SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Tonight, the Minnesota House is expected to pass the Veterans & Military Affairs Finance Bill. The legislation includes measures to address veteran homelessness, mental health, and economic security.
“Minnesota’s courageous military veterans and service members deserve more than our thanks. They deserve to have excellent health, wellbeing, and economic security in our state, but too many veterans face challenges such as mental health difficulties or struggle to find a place to call home,” said Rep. Rob Ecklund (DFL – International Falls), author of the bill’s Veterans and Military Affairs investments. “The investments in this budget build upon House DFLers’ commitment to ending veteran homelessness and veteran suicide, two critical, interconnected issues. I’m confident the solutions in this legislation will deliver a brighter future for those who’ve served.”
In all, the bill invests $44 million in new funding for the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs and the Minnesota Department of Military Affairs, nearly all of which are also part of Governor Walz’s supplemental budget proposal.
Over the last three years, House DFLers have demonstrated a dedication to ending veteran homelessness in Minnesota, and this bill funds several strategies to continue these efforts. The legislation delivers additional funding toward housing for veterans, including a grant for the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans to establish permanent housing and support for veterans, additional annual funding for short-term housing, and incentives to encourage landlords to take on veterans as tenants.
House DFLers also continue their focus on veteran mental health and suicide prevention through additional investment in MDVA’s programming. The bill funds a series of strategies including representatives at major hospitals throughout the state to connect with veterans who have been admitted, collaboration with gun shop owners to encourage safe storage of firearms, and a mobile, mental health-based, veteran connection program. The budget also includes a grant for Holistic Health and Fitness initiatives across the Minnesota National Guard.
“Ending veteran homelessness and preventing suicides has always been a bipartisan priority for the Legislature,” said Speaker Melissa Hortman. “The men and women who protect and defend us from all threats, foreign and domestic, deserve more than our thanks – they deserve a safe, healthy, and prosperous life after their service concludes. It starts with providing safe, stable housing for our courageous veterans and getting them the mental health support they need both proactively and in times of crisis.”
The bill includes a grant for Meals on Wheels to expand its services to veterans. Not only would this help ensure veterans have access to healthy meals, but it creates another point of contact to identify those with possible mental health concerns or housing insecurity.
In recent years, we’ve increased our reliance on the National Guard to mobilize in response to natural disasters, public health emergencies, and situations impacting public safety. To attract additional highly qualified candidates, the bill appropriates additional funding to the Minnesota National Guard for enlistment incentives.
“One way Minnesota can honor our veterans is by ensuring they have a safe place to call home and by providing better mental health support for coping with trauma and injuries suffered in the line of duty,” said House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler. “That’s why House Democrats are passing legislation to eliminate veteran homelessness and prevent veteran suicide. Giving veterans our ‘thanks’ is not enough, we need to back up our words with action.”
The budget includes funding to recognize post-9/11-era veterans with service bonuses of up to $2,000. There are approximately 48,000 eligible veterans, over half of whom deployed to combat operations including those in Afghanistan or Iraq. Minnesota has previously recognized veterans’ service in major wars—including World War I, World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam War, and the Persian Gulf War. Gold Star families would also be eligible for these bonuses.
Additionally, the bill increases funding for County Veteran Services Offices, and includes grants to Veteran Service Organizations including the American Legion, the VFW, Disabled American Veterans, and the Order of the Purple Heart.