Minnesota House Passes Veterans Budget Bill
SAINT PAUL, MN – Today, the Minnesota House of Representatives passed the Veterans and Military Affairs budget bill on a vote of 126-6. The bill delivers robust support for Minnesota veterans and their families and funds the operations of the Minnesota Department of Military Affairs.
“In Minnesota, we take care of our veterans, especially as Donald Trump and Elon Musk slash services and resources our military members rely on to recover and thrive,” said Representative Jay Xiong (DFL-St. Paul), Co-Chair of the House Veterans Affairs Division.
The Veterans Budget bill contains provisions to help Minnesota vets get important benefits faster by speeding up the eligibility determination process. Importantly, the bipartisan budget bill invests $1 million in ongoing funding into statewide food delivery services through Lutheran Social Services and Meals on Wheels.
As the Trump Administration slashes federal funding to the U.S. Veterans Affairs Department, laying off millions of veterans and impacting delivery of services, the Minnesota House is increasing state investments in County Veteran Services Officers. These officers are essential in helping veterans receive health care, mental health support, job placement assistance, education, and pension benefits.
The legislation includes long-overdue recognition for Hmong and Lao veterans who served in Special Guerrilla Units during the Secret War, risking everything for American interests after being promised support that never fully materialized. The Veterans Budget immediately grants “Veteran of the Secret War in Laos” status to Minnesota residents who were naturalized for their service. Additionally, the bill would create a task force charged with creating a verification process and determining the eligibility criteria for “Veteran of the Secret War in Laos” status for Minnesotan SGU Veterans. Representatives from the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs, military historians, SGU veterans, and veterans organizations would comprise the task force.
“We have a moral responsibility to recognize our heroes who later built vibrant communities in our state,” Co-Chair Xiong added. “This initiative represents a critical step toward fulfilling our long-overdue commitment to these courageous individuals and immigrants who sacrificed so much for a country that wasn’t yet their own.”
The Minnesota Senate passed its version of the Veterans Budget bill on April 23. A conference committee of House and Senate members will meet to reconcile differences for a final bill.
