Transcript Highlights:

• I stand as a proud Hmong daughter of an SGU veteran and of all of our SGU veterans.
• I stand as a proud Hmong daughter of an SGU veteran and of all of our SGU veterans.
• I stand as a proud Hmong daughter of an SGU veteran and of all of our SGU veterans.
• I stand as a proud Hmong daughter of an SGU veteran and of all of our SGU veterans.
• I stand as a proud Hmong daughter of an SGU veteran and of all of our SGU veterans.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Bills: SB341, SB340

Keywords: SB341, Alabama, veteran license plate, veteran tag, distinctive license tag, specialty plate, radiation exposure, atomic bomb testing, ionizing radiation, World War II veterans, Vietnam veterans, Korean War veterans, Cold War veterans, Desert Storm, Desert Shield, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Inherent Resolve, Department of Veterans Affairs, probate judge

Transcript Highlights:

• My bill, we created a task force for the SGU veterans, and we included the Commander's Task Force in
• My bill, we created a task force for the SGU veterans, and we included the Commander's Task Force in
• on matters relating to veterans, the families of veterans, and the Minnesota Department of Veterans
• . veterans. veterans.
• </c> veterans communities. veterans communities.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Our objective is to honor the SGU veterans.
• I stand before you as a son of a Hmong Special Guerilla Unit, or SGU, veteran.
• My father like known as SGU veterans.
• This bill is deeply personal to our surviving SGU veteran and their spouse.
• But I will say that most of our SGU veterans do not have any documentation.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> American veterans who are sons of SGU American veterans who are sons of SGU veterans.<00:10:32.720
• Our SGU veterans have been called mercenaries.
• </c><01:50:20.880><c> of</c> SGU veteran Xiaon Pa constituent of SGU veteran Xiaon Pa constituent of
• SGU veterans left a Kolona Suyang our SGU veterans left a living<01:50:33.920><c> legacy</c><01:50:34.400
• the SGU veterans. the recognition of the SGU veterans.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• This is our first meeting of Veterans and Military Affairs.
• He was a veteran of the Iraq War, having served 43 years in the guard.
• Let's just help if you will help me to help our veterans that have passed.
• I'm so appreciative of all you do for our veterans.
• Forward for veterans, for our veteran homes, and for ODVA.

Bills: SB2026, SB1376, SB1355, SB2115, SB1533

Keywords: military discharge, veterans, DD Form 214, confidentiality, grandchildren access, Oklahoma National Guard, education assistance, military benefits, dependents, CareerTech Assistance Act, burial grant, memorial headstone, eligibility requirements, funding, Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs, fiscal management, state law, veteran burial, burial assistance, indigent veterans

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, the first one is the SGU veterans recognition.
• Um the first one is the SGU veterans<00:37:59.119><c> recognition.
• Um, Chair Jeang, your passion for the SGU veterans was admirable.
• </c><00:47:56.160><c> veterans</c> Jeang, your passion for the SGU veterans Jeang, your passion for the
• SGU veterans uh<00:47:57.359><c> was</c><00:47:57.599><c> was</c><00:47:58.000><c> admirable.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• There was nobody that came out to me as a veteran or other veterans in the Senate to talk about this
• The benefit is just an ID with a veteran statement on the ID and license plate that declare SGU as special
• veterans...
• SGU veterans. So what we pass is not a win.
• But I appreciate that we come this far confirming and recognizing the Mong SGU as veterans is not just

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Bills: SB2723, HB9

Keywords: law enforcement, State Sheriffs Day, Hawaii, commemoration, public safety, honor sheriffs, HB9, Hawaii Purple Heart state, Purple Heart, Purple Heart recipients, veterans, military, armed forces, service members, combat wounded, war veterans, military honors, state designation, symbolic legislation, honorary designation

Transcript Highlights:

• Mahalo noa for your time, consideration, and continued support of our Hawaii veterans, and I look forward
• At my school, we have a bunch of veterans and active duty, and many of my classmates are being trained
• , and I look forward to working veterans, and I look forward to working with<00:14:15.600><c> you</c>
• </c><00:14:26.160><c> Services</c> from um the Office of Veterans Services from um the Office of Veterans
• </c> my school um we have a bunch of veterans my school um we have a bunch of veterans and<00:16:09.519

Bills: HB9, SB2723

Keywords: HB9, Hawaii Purple Heart state, Purple Heart, Purple Heart recipients, veterans, military, armed forces, service members, combat wounded, war veterans, military honors, state designation, symbolic legislation, honorary designation, Chapter 5 HRS, Hawaii Revised Statutes, military appreciation, veteran recognition, law enforcement, State Sheriffs Day

Summary: The Committee on Culture and the Arts heard testimony on HB 9 HD1, which would designate Hawaii as a Purple Heart State, and SB 2723, relating to State Sheriff’s Day. On HB 9 HD1, Takumi Abby of Purple Heart Chapter 483 testified in strong support, saying the bill would recognize the service and sacrifice of combat-wounded veterans and honor Purple Heart recipients and their families. Additional support was noted from the Office of Veterans Services, the Hawaii Military Affairs Council, and CARES, whose representative Angela Melody Young described related veteran-honoring efforts in Honolulu and across Oahu and said the state designation would extend that recognition statewide. Members then moved to decision-making on HB 9 HD1. One member briefly commented on family military service and the importance of remembering Purple Heart recipients. The committee voted to adopt the chair’s recommendation to pass the measure as is, with all members present voting aye. For SB 2723, the chair indicated the committee would further defer the date, while also recommending passage with amendments. The committee voted on the amended version and adopted the chair’s recommendation with no objections or reservations.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I'll touch a little bit on the SGU veterans.
• Specifically, our SGU veterans, and our office has worked with them for many years.
• Specifically, our SGU veterans, and our office has worked with them for many years.
• So a lot of SGU veterans in Minnesota.
• So a lot of SGU veterans in Minnesota.

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The subcommittee opened its first meeting of the session with member introductions and a statement from the chair that veterans issues would remain distinct and receive separate attention. The first item was an update on the Minnesota Military and Veterans Museum at Camp Ripley from Executive Director Randall Dietrich. He said the museum has operated for nearly 50 years, has outgrown its current space, and is building a new 40,000-square-foot facility with $32 million in state support plus several million more in private funding. He described construction progress, planned exhibits including restored military artifacts and the USS Ward gun, and said the museum is scheduled to open on September 12. In response to Senator Kunish, Dietrich said the museum is actively incorporating stories and flags representing women, tribal nations, and other underrepresented groups, including 11 tribal flags at the entrance, and is working to integrate those stories throughout the galleries rather than isolating them. The committee then received an update from the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs on the veterans suicide prevention plan from Rachel Johnson, Veterans Committee Health Director, with John Kelly later answering questions on department impacts. Johnson said the plan is a coordinated statewide framework built with legislative support, expanding regional coordinators, veteran health navigators, data analytics, and community partnerships, including a suicide mortality review pilot in Hennepin County. She said Minnesota loses about 100 veterans a year to suicide, that firearms remain the primary mechanism, and that prevention must address community connection, economic stability, and access to care, not just clinical treatment. She also said the plan aligns with state and federal strategies and is intended as a living roadmap. In response to questions, Johnson said the department is exploring data-sharing policy issues, has not seen a direct financial impact from federal VA staffing changes, and is tracking federal proposals affecting VA advisory groups. She also said 988 data is available in general but more Minnesota-specific data on the veteran option is still being gathered. Members asked follow-up questions about trends in veteran suicide, the role of families in identifying warning signs, and the Hennepin County mortality review pilot. Johnson said the annual number has remained around 100 for about 15 years, with a dip in 2024 and a return to that level in 2025, and that the Hennepin County pilot was chosen because it offers a manageable geography and existing coalition work, with an initial review expected by May or June. The final item began a presentation from the Minnesota Association of County Veteran Service Officers. Legislative chair Larry Fonder said the group’s priorities are protecting veterans from fraud and modernizing the property tax benefit for disabled veterans, but the presentation would focus on educating the committee about the role, training, certification, and accountability of county veteran service officers. President Tom Anderson, the Winona County VSO and a Navy veteran, began describing his background and office staffing when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• actually</c><01:02:39.680><c> wearing</c> SGU veterans Chair, I'm actually wearing SGU veterans Chair
• </c><01:02:53.640><c> veterans</c><01:02:54.120><c> and</c> establishing the SGU veterans and establishing
• </c><01:03:36.080><c> veterans</c><01:03:36.560><c> who</c> moment to recognize the SGU veterans who
• Mong and Lao SGU veterans deserve the Mong and Lao SGU veterans deserve the same recognition, the same
• Yia Shoua has spoken about, our SGU veterans among our American veterans all the same.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Last year, the legislature took an important step to establish the SGU Veterans and Irregular Forces
• Last year, the legislature took an important step to establish the SGU Veterans and Irregular Forces
• Last year, the legislature took an important step to establish the SGU Veterans and Irregular Forces
• the SGU Veterans and Irregular establish the SGU Veterans and Irregular Forces<00:03:32.640><c> Task<
• SGU veterans who are to recognize the SGU veterans who are here<00:03:54.879><c> in</c><00:03:55.040

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Department of Veterans Affairs.
• We don't know where we'll end up, but we do prioritize our veterans and veterans homes.
• assistance around women veterans, suicide prevention, and system-involved veterans.
• The first one is the SGU veterans recognition. My district has a large Hmong population.
• Chair Zhang, your passion for the SGU veterans was admirable.

Transcript Highlights:

• I would like to recognize our SGU veterans here.
• These are SGU Special Guerrilla Units veterans who served during the Secret War.
• This morning in the Veterans Military Affairs Committee, this bill will provide critical funding to SGU
• My name is Megan Lee, and I am a board member for the nonprofit organization SGU Veterans and Family
• veterans that are here today.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> that would go to DVS to set up the SGU that would go to DVS to set up the SGU Veterans<00:30:51.400
• ><c> forces</c> of our SGU veterans and irregular forces of our SGU veterans and irregular forces veterans
• </c><00:31:34.880><c> Veterans</c><00:31:35.400><c> Task</c> step to establish a SGU Veterans Task step
• </c> brief moment to recognize the SGU brief moment to recognize the SGU veterans<00:32:33.280><c> who
• </c> full recognition of our SGU veterans. full recognition of our SGU veterans.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Keywords: KY LRC YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnkELPpht7A, 2026-06-21T07:17:06+00:00, 2.2.24, Data collected via generic collector engine, 00:00:05 – Roll Call Attendance 00:02:20 – Distinguished Veteran 00:04:25 – Distinguished Airman 00:09:36 – 24RS HB 219 Discussion 00:13:15 – 24RS HB 219 Vote, 958, all, 2.2.42, 2.1.47

Transcript Highlights:

• , and you have your veterans, then you have your disabled SGU veterans, and then you have your regular
• SGU veterans.
• DISABLED VETERANS AND YOU HAVE YOUR VETERANS, THEN YOU HAVE YOUR DISABLED SG USE VETERANS AND THEN YOU
• HAVE YOUR REGULAR SU VETERANS.
• We heard from veterans of this secret war, from our own Minnesotan veterans, but also from CIA field

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The Minnesota Senate Subcommittee on Veterans heard a Department of Military Affairs presentation on bonding, tuition benefits, and cyber response. The department requested $3.5 million in design funding for a new hangar at the 148th Fighter Wing in Duluth, citing safety problems with the aging 1950s-era hangars and the need to improve the wing’s competitiveness for future federal military construction funding. It also sought $2.5 million for asset preservation at Army facilities statewide, emphasizing that state dollars are often matched by federal funds. A National Guard lieutenant also testified about the State Tuition Reimbursement Program, describing how it helped pay for her undergraduate and doctoral education and reduce student debt. The committee also received an update on Minnesota National Guard cyber operations, including the response to the July 2025 ransomware attack on the City of Saint Paul. Testimony described the cyber coordination cell’s role in planning, interagency coordination, and support during the incident, including helping re-image about 500 computers and assisting with network recovery. Members heard that the Guard’s cyber teams conduct extensive partner engagement and are prepared to support state and local entities when civil resources are exhausted and the incident exceeds local capacity. Three bills were then heard and advanced. Senate File 4075, as amended, would implement recommendations from the task force on Special Guerrilla Unit and regular forces veterans from the Secret War in Laos, including eligibility and benefit changes; the committee adopted an amendment and passed the bill to the full committee. Senate File 3956, as amended, would clarify that the Department of Veterans Affairs may partner with veteran-serving organizations using nonmonetary resources to address food insecurity, homelessness, and suicide prevention; it was also referred onward. Senate File 4056, as amended, would add veteran or military status as a protected class under the Minnesota Human Rights Act; testimony supported the change, including concerns about service members losing educational opportunities while on state active duty, and the bill was passed to the full committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• Navy active duty veteran.
• </c> veterans are directly serving veterans veterans are directly serving veterans and<00:21:52.000><
• </c> the Disabled Veterans of Minnesota. the Disabled Veterans of Minnesota.
• </c> gathering of veterans for Minnesota. gathering of veterans for Minnesota.
• War Veterans, Disabled League, Jewish War Veterans, Disabled American<00:49:19.400><c> Veterans,</c>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard an introductory presentation from Sam Daily of Believe It Canine Service Partners, a nonprofit that trains service dogs free of charge for disabled veterans. Daily described the organization’s work with veterans, including placements with MACV and a service dog at Veteran Village in Eagan, and said the group has placed 80 teams so far. Senator Howe asked whether the organization had pursued Support Our Troops grants, and Daily said it had received two SOS grants. The first bill taken up was Senate File 4172, as amended, which would expand eligibility for burial in Minnesota state veterans cemeteries to honorably discharged reservists, National Guard members, and Air National Guard members, and would allow some honor guard use for eligible people. Senator Howe said the bill corrects an inequity for Guard and reserve members who served honorably but are not currently eligible. Glenn Pence testified in support, saying the bill recognizes National Guard service and should allow those veterans to be buried with others they served alongside. MDVA’s David Swantek supported the concept but warned that expanded eligibility would increase demand, especially at Little Falls, and could shorten its projected capacity timeline from about 48 years to about 30 years. The committee adopted the A1 amendment and then laid the bill over for inclusion in the Veterans and Military Affairs Finance Omnibus Bill. The committee then heard Senate File 4026, which sets standards for MDVA competitive grants and adds accountability and residency requirements. Senator Koran said the bill would help the department review grants and ensure funds serve Minnesota veterans and families. MDVA chief of staff Dave Belfi supported the bill, saying it reflects agency feedback, aligns with existing residency rules, and does not affect CVSO, VSO, or Support Our Troops grants. The A1 amendment was adopted, and the bill was laid over for inclusion in the omnibus bill. Next, Senate File 4807 was heard, a bill to update pay for National Guard soldiers and airmen called to state active duty. MDVA and National Guard officials said the bill would simplify statute language and raise the minimum base pay for lower ranks to the E5 level, with future adjustments tied to federal pay tables. Senator Kunesh asked about funding, and staff explained the cost would come through an open general-fund emergency appropriation, estimated at about $30,000 annually but varying with activations. The committee adopted amendments to incorporate SF 4172 and SF 4026 into SF 4807, made technical corrections, and then recommended SF 4807, as amended, to pass and be referred to the full committee. Finally, the committee heard Senate File 3603, which would create a program allowing school districts to issue high school diplomas to Minnesota veterans who left school to serve during the Korean conflict or Vietnam War. Senator Rasmussen said the bill recognizes veterans who interrupted their education for service. MDVA’s John Kelly supported the bill, noting it reflects input from MDVA and the Department of Education and that similar programs exist in other states. The committee voted to recommend the bill to pass and refer it to the full committee. The meeting also began discussion of Senate File 4560, which would formalize the Commander's Task Force, but the transcript cuts off before that bill was acted on.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> line 1.28 for state veteran cemeteries. line 1.28 for state veteran cemeteries.
• The original language included an expansion of all veterans benefits to the eligible members of the SGU
• to go to any county allow any veteran to go to any county veteran<01:32:13.679><c> service</c> veteran
• veteran because the veteran to a Vietnam veteran because the veteran service<01:33:17.679><c> officer
• to veteran service other veterans to veteran service officers<01:33:38.480><c> that</c><01:33:38.800

Keywords: 1187, senate, all