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Senate panel adopts subcommittee report to redefine veterans to include Hmong SGU members, refers bill to State and Local Government
Summary
The committee adopted the subcommittee report on Senate File 568, a measure to recognize Special Guerrilla Unit (SGU) Hmong veterans who fought alongside U.S. forces during the Secret War in Laos, and referred the bill to the Committee on State and Local Government by voice vote.
The Minnesota Senate Committee on Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband and Rural Development adopted the subcommittee report on Senate File 568 and voted to pass the bill to the Committee on State and Local Government.
Senator (proponent not specified in the transcript) described the bill as a redefinition of “veteran” to include members of the Special Guerrilla Unit (SGU) who served as U.S. proxies in the Secret War in Laos and who, supporters say, have not been recognized as veterans for state benefits. A testifier, Jean Lee, president and executive director of Children’s Hope International, supported the bill and urged lawmakers to honor the SGU veterans and their families.
A voice vote was recorded in committee for both the adoption of the subcommittee report and the committee motion to pass the bill and refer it to State and Local Government; the committee chair announced the measures were adopted and referred. Committee members discussed concerns and said the measure had already passed a veterans subcommittee earlier; senators reported progress in resolving fiscal concerns and noted amendments in the other body shaped benefit levels to address cost questions.
Ending: Committee leaders said additional work on amendments and benefit definitions continues in the receiving committee; the bill passed out of this committee by voice vote and was referred to State and Local Government.
