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Bill to let MDVA provide nonmonetary support for veteran food programs laid over after members seek clarifying language
Summary
House File 3467 would authorize the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs to provide nonmonetary staff time, space and expertise to veteran-serving organizations to address food insecurity. Legislators expressed support but asked for explicit language clarifying that no state dollars would be moved; the bill was laid over for amendment.
Representative Ray Rauer introduced House File 3467 as a permissive policy measure to clarify statutory authority for the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) to collaborate with veterans organizations by providing staff time, expertise, and space without moving state dollars.
John Kelly, MDVA director of government affairs, told the committee the bill is intended to give the department simple statutory authority to partner with external organizations to address veteran food insecurity and other priorities. "This is a bill that came through discussions with our general counsel... to allow the agency expertise — not moving money in any way," Kelly said.
Stephen (Stefan) Whitehead, adjutant of Disabled American Veterans (DAV) of Minnesota, described existing local efforts, including a Minneapolis VA food pantry that the DAV helped seed with a $50,000 grant and a local distribution averaging about 300 boxes per month. Whitehead said the DAV seeks MDVA's technical and staff support to expand statewide pop-up pantries and to ensure veteran verification onsite, not direct MDVA funding.
Committee members broadly supported the concept but asked staff to prepare an amendment clarifying "nonmonetary" resources and adding comfort language that the bill does not authorize moving funds or creating new full-time positions. MDVA officials said they were willing to add reporting requirements and work with the legislature on clarifying language. The chair said the bill would be laid over to allow staff and sponsors to draft the requested changes.
