Committee advances bill to enshrine SGU Laos veterans in state benefits list
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Summary
The House Transportation Finance and Policy Committee heard testimony on HF3919, a bill shaped by an SGU task force to add Special Guerrilla Unit veterans from the secret war in Laos to Minnesota benefit lists, adopted a funding‑source amendment and re‑referred the bill to the Veterans and Military Affairs Division. Veterans and MDVA staff outlined task force work and the bill’s language.
Representative Cha presented House File 3919, saying the bill would extend state benefits to veterans who served in the Special Guerrilla Unit (SGU) and other irregular forces in Laos from 1961–1975. Cha told the committee the measure reflects task‑force negotiations and asked Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs staff to explain the technical language.
John Kelly, director of government affairs for the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs, said the bill incorporates task‑force recommendations and technical edits from MDVA. He described how last year’s law created a separate statutory definition for a Laos‑secret‑war veteran and established a task force to recommend benefits; the current bill would finalize a list of benefits and add specificity for how a veteran designation appears on a Minnesota driver’s license. Kelly said the department has no formal position but that the bill reflects task‑force work and legislative negotiations.
Tu Young, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel and member of the SGU task force, testified in support. He described his family’s SGU service and argued the SGU operated as a U.S. proxy force under CIA direction during the conflict in Laos; he said the task force fulfilled its statutory charge and that the legislature should now enact the recommended benefits.
Representative Olson moved an amendment (A3) to adjust the funding source so costs would come from the general fund rather than Public Safety; Olson said this change would help the bill move out of transportation and to veterans, where financing details could be resolved. The committee adopted that amendment by voice vote. Chair Tabke subsequently renewed the motion to re‑refer HF3919, as amended, to the Veterans and Military Affairs Division; the motion carried.
The committee’s action sends the bill for further consideration by the committee with subject‑matter jurisdiction over benefits and funding; no final benefit list was enacted at today’s hearing and questions about funding and implementation remain.