For the past several years, Veterans Day on the Hill has provided Veterans – as well as their families, friends and community supporters – the opportunity to show their strength and unity on a number of critical issues. To work toward positive change for Veterans’ funding priorities while educating new Veterans advocates and champions along the way. To connect with legislators about the often-complicated legislative process where an idea becomes a bill, and a bill becomes a law. And to influence voting decisions that deliver on the benefits for which Veterans and their loved ones have served and sacrificed.

This year’s effort proved historically successful, with the first Veterans Omnibus Bill signed into law by Governor Walz on May 10. But this success did not come without effort.

On April 20, large contingencies of Veterans and their supporters gathered at the St. Paul Armory, participated in a luncheon with lawmakers to discuss this year’s legislative funding decisions, and then marched over to the State Capitol to participate in a rally hosted by the Commanders’ Task Force (CTF), the United Veterans Legislative Council (UVLC) and the Minnesota Association of County Veterans Service Officers (MACVSO). The rally’s goal was to demonstrate that voters are paying attention to how decisions are being made and tracking what actions are being taken to ensure Veterans needs are being addressed.

The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) had been closely watching the status of a number of initiatives that were waiting for a final legislative decision, including additional operational funding for the Redwood Falls State Veterans Cemetery that is currently under construction; increased financial support for housing options and landlord engagement activities to assist Veterans experiencing homelessness; and capital investment adjustments to cover construction cost increases on three new Veterans Homes being built in Bemidji, Montevideo and Preston, and to fund a significant upgrade to the Hastings Veterans Home campus living facilities and program and treatment spaces.

In a recent interview with Minnesota Military Radio*, Trent Dilks, Legislative Director at the Disabled American Veterans, Department of Minnesota, stressed the importance and impact of this event. “The Day on the Hill is where the voices of Veterans supporters are heard on issues from homelessness to suicide prevention to survivor benefits, and so much more,” said Dilks. “Decisions are made by those who show up.”

That sentiment was proven correct when Veterans and military affairs appropriations and policies that had been part of a larger general omnibus package were separated out and placed into a comprehensive, Veteran-specific omnibus bill – the first of its kind in this modern legislative era.

“Veterans Day on the Hill consistently provides Minnesota’s Veterans, and their loved ones and champions, with a place to gather as comrades, focus on the hard questions and hard work yet to be done and be heard,” said MDVA Commissioner Larry Herke. “It’s a key event where people can seek common ground on behalf of all Veterans, and MDVA is proud to be a part of it.”

*MDVA is proud to be a partner in producing this weekly public affairs program broadcast on more than 65 radio stations throughout Minnesota.