St. Paul, MN - State Representative Terry Morrow is working with local, statewide and national veterans organizations throughout this legislative session on a variety of proposals. This work builds upon Representative Morrow’s discussions with Hank Sadler, the retired Nicollet County Veteran Services Officer, about challenges that veterans face in Minnesota.

Terry and Representative Paul Marquart in committee

Last week, Representative Morrow’s bill to increase support for Minnesota’s homeless veterans was included in the House Agricultural Finance and Veterans Affairs budget bill. Working with Kathy Vitalis of the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans (MACV), Representative Morrow successfully argued that the state should increase its support for MACV’s outreach and housing services.

MACV operates housing and outreach programs in Mankato, Duluth, and the Twin Cities. MACV reports that estimates suggest that close to 4,000 Minnesota veterans will experience homelessness this year. Those wishing to learn more about MACV and those who would like to support its mission can visit http://www.mac-v.org/index.html

We must stand beside those who stood up for our country.  MACV offers an outstanding, successful range of services and support for our veterans. I am gratified that the House committee shares this concern and respect for our veterans and that funding for these programs is enhanced in the House bill.

Helping disabled veterans continue to solicit clothing donations is another initiative that Representative Morrow is pursuing this year. The Disabled American Veterans (DAV) organization operates the DAV Thrift enterprise, which asks for clothing donations that are then sold for funds that support DAV operations. More information on this program can be found at

http://www.davmnthriftpickup.org/app/davMN.pickup.public/default.aspx

The DAV learned that Minnesota law on automated telephone calls is inconsistent with federal law, which permits such calls by charities and those that are not for sales purposes. Because I am working with the DAV on other veterans issues and because I was on the Telecommunications Committee last year, I am happy to help create a solution that allows the DAV to continue supporting our veterans.

Transportation for Minnesota’s veterans seeking medical service is a third initiative that Representative Morrow is continuing to address. In 2006, Hank Sadler informed Representative Morrow and Congressman Walz about the financial challenges facing rural Minnesota veterans who need to travel to a Veterans Administration facility for health care. At that time, Representative Morrow and Congressman Walz held a fundraiser to help defray the costs of operating the van services.

As a member of the House Transportation committees, Representative Morrow is working closely with MnDOT on its statewide transit plan process. Working with the DAV, Representative Morrow has successfully requested that MnDOT include veterans-related transit as part of its overall process.

“Minnesota is working to create a statewide plan that addresses local, regional, state needs in a way that uses resources efficiently,” Morrow said. “We have a number of organizations, including the DAV and our county veteran service offices, who offer wonderful help to our veterans needing medical care. These services could be integrated into our statewide transit plan in ways that reduce costs and improve service.”

MnDOT is soliciting public input on its statewide transit plan and rail plan. A public hearing will be held this month in Mankato:

Best Western North Mankato
1111 Range St.

Wednesday, May 13

4-5 p.m. Transit Plan

5-7 p.m. Rail Plan

More information about MnDOT’s planning process can be found at

http://www.dot.state.mn.us/newsrels/09/04/07-rail.html

Representative Morrow is a member of the House Agriculture, Rural Economies, and Veterans Affairs Policy committee, the House Transportation and Transit Policy and Oversight Division, and the House Transportation Finance and Policy committee.