Happy Summer! As I write this column – in addition to dealing with the hot days of June – I am closely watching the Minnesota Legislature in its Special Session. Activity is “hot” at the Capitol as well as we eagerly await the outcomes.

This year’s Legislative session has been focused on creating the budget for the Fiscal Year 2022-2023 biennium. MDVA is also working with the Legislature on agency policy initiatives and is fortunate to have historically received bi-partisan support for the work we do on behalf of Minnesota’s Veterans. We are hopeful that MDVA will receive funding for several priorities.

• Ending Veteran homelessness. Our goal is to become the fourth state in the nation to do so. Minnesota has achieved that goal in six of 10 areas in the state. Hard work remains in the more populated areas of Ramsey, Hennepin and St. Louis counties and in the St. Cloud area. We made great progress in the last two years, housing 538 Veterans in 2019 and 427 in 2020. We believe supportive services are critical when placing homeless Veterans and our updated plan recognizes this comprehensive approach.
• Preventing Veteran suicide. MDVA continues to participate in the “Governor’s Challenge” with support from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and is working on a comprehensive public health model/community-based approach. One area of focus is lethal means reduction as Veterans who die by suicide often choose to use firearms to end their lives. We are distributing free gun locks to address this concern. Request a gun lock by emailing MDVA.Communications@state.mn.us with your name and address.
• Expanding State Veterans Homes and State Veterans Cemeteries. To better serve Veterans and their families in all areas of Minnesota, we look forward to beginning construction on three new Veterans Homes in Bemidji, Montevideo and Preston and a new Veterans Cemetery in Redwood County. The Homes’ groundbreakings are being planned for late August and we hope to break ground on the new cemetery as well this fall.
• Remembering the 20th Anniversary of the 9/11 attacks and the subsequent Global War on Terrorism. MDVA created a task force last fall that continues to work to educate current and future generations of Minnesotans about the sacrifice and high cost of maintaining freedom. A remembrance event is planned at the State Capitol grounds on Saturday, September 11, 2021.

We look forward to the outcome of the Minnesota Legislature session and will continue to mission of supporting Minnesota’s more than 312,000 Veterans and their families.

If you need information or support on any Veteran issue, please visit our website, contact your County Veterans Service Officer, or contact LinkVet at 1-888-LinkVet.

Thank YOU for your service!