Clarification sought for state department resources to aid groups helping veterans

Clarity is the goal of a cost-free proposal receiving support on a foggy morning outside the Capitol.

And it’s a proposal aiming to help groups who serve veterans.

Sponsored by Rep. Kari Rehrauer (DFL-Coon Rapids) HF3467 would provide clear statutory authority that Department of Veterans Affairs staff and non-monetary resources can, if available, be used to “support initiatives relating to veterans’ food insecurity, homelessness, suicide prevention, and other critical issues.”

This is not moving money; it is to allow staff and support time, when possible, Rehrauer told the House Veterans and Military Affairs Division Wednesday.

Rep. Kari Rehrauer

For example, Rehrauer said Disabled American Veterans wanted to create a food pantry network. “MDVA was able to find a partner for funding them. They wanted to build off the Lutheran Social Services program and the Meal on Wheels program that we already have. And currently we have food pantries that serve the Minneapolis VA, but they wanted to have a more statewide program. … MDVA would like to be able to support this initiative with some staff time and by sharing their expertise.”

Jon Kelly, director of government affairs for the department, said the request comes from its general counsel. “This is us being able to not have three meetings to find where in (statute) we have the authority to partner on an initiative that’s maybe happening quickly.”

He later added: “In a time of tight fiscal resources, if we can lend our expertise, our networks and our connections to help something get off the ground that others are working on without having to come to the Legislature and ask for money, if we can put folks together and connect them to solve a problem, we want to do that.”

[MORE: View the department’s bill overview]

While supportive of the idea, Rep. Matt Bliss (R-Pennington) and Rep. Bjorn Olson (R-Fairmont) requested a future amendment to the laid-over bill that’d clarify approving this will not lead to additional staffing or budgetary requests tied to this nicety in future years.