Historic Veterans Bill Headed to the Minnesota House Floor for Vote

(KNSI) – A bill providing a massive boost for Minnesota Veterans passed a key committee on Wednesday and is headed for a vote.

Legislative Director for the Disabled American Veterans Trent Dilks told KNSI News that the Veterans Omnibus Bill, House File 1937, would allocate $367 million for the vets’ programs over the next two years. Dilks says that’s $118 million above base funding. “This is huge. We have never funded veteran suicide prevention and veteran homelessness. We’re making a real drive. The end is in sight when we can declare functional zero on veterans homelessness. It’s historic. Never before have veterans in Minnesota had a budget like this.”

Dilks explained the bill has money available for local programs. “Sometimes the nonprofit does it better. We don’t have to reinvent the wheel. Instead of hiring 50 new employees, we can send a little money to a nonprofit that can do it for much less and much better. So, there’s some grant money in there.”

He says it’s a great bill for vets.

The piece of legislation will go before the full House for a vote. The bill must still clear the Senate before heading to Governor Tim Walz’s desk. Walz has indicated he will sign the bill.

___