Legislative Update - Advocating for Veterans and Critical Services

Dear neighbors,

I’ve been sharing detailed information about the new state budget for several weeks, and today I’m covering the final section. You can read the full series of updates on my legislative webpage.  

Supporting Minnesota’s State Government and Veterans

Minnesotans deserve to have a state government that’s responsive to their needs and delivers critical services and support. The bipartisan State Government, Elections, and Veterans budget we passed this year funds the offices and agencies that offer services many people rely on, now more than ever. It provides the resources to:  

• Preserve the popular Market Bucks program, which allows more than 13,000 people who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to get healthy and affordable produce at local farmers markets.  
• Strengthen the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office’s ability to enforce wage theft laws.  
• Establish a new Legislative Commission on Cybersecurity.  

The budget also supports Minnesota’s veterans by:  

• Increasing funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs and investing in new veterans homes.  
• Creating the Veterans Safe Housing Initiative to help veterans experiencing homelessness.  
• Investing in a variety of programs that connect veterans with rewarding careers. 
• Establishing Veterans Suicide Prevention and Awareness Day to honor the struggles of those who served our nation and to highlight available resources.  

Community Spotlight

White Bear Lake Area Historical Society

The White Bear Lake Area Historical Society collects and preserves historical items, places, and information to share with the community. The organization offers tours and special events at the former White Bear Town Hall and Fillebrown House, a historic lakeside cottage. They also run a resource library at the White Bear Lake Armory. If you’re interested in the history of our area, I encourage you to check out these sites and the historical society’s online collections.  

Please feel free to email or call me if you have any questions or feedback you’d like to share. You can reach me at rep.ami.wazlawik@house.mn or (651) 296-3018.  

Sincerely,  

Ami Wazlawik  
State Representative