ST. PAUL – The Minnesota House on Friday overwhelmingly approved legislation Rep. Chris Swedzinski, R-Ghent, said shows our state’s commitment to taking care of veterans.
Swedzinski said he was pleased with the bill (S.F. 4233) which, overall, appropriates an additional $2.2 million to the Department of Military Affairs and an additional $52.351 million to the Department of Veterans Affairs.
“It was good to see the Legislature come together to ensure our veterans who make such enormous sacrifices receive the care they need,” Swedzinski said. “This also shows the good work that can be done when we put a good, clean bill on the floor instead of mucking things up by adding unrelated issues to bills. The veterans bill was straight forward and I was pleased to support it to help the men and women who serve our nation.”
Swedzinski said the bill includes more than $10 million for construction cost increases for the three new veterans homes in Bemidji, Montevideo, and Preston, and more than $16 million for enhancements and furnishings to these facilities. Veterans and Gold Star families who served post-9/11 will receive a total of $24.8 million post-service bonus payments. The bill also includes funding to address veteran homelessness, money for the State Veterans Cemetery in Redwood Falls, and other veterans related programs.
The bill passed the House 122-1 and cleared the Senate with no opposition. It has been presented to the governor for enactment.
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