Report
Meeting at Building 9, VAMC Campus
● Call to order – 9:30, Invocation – Pledge of Allegiance
● Greetings: Recognition of visitors and guests
● Announcements –Jerry Kyser, Chair, Mike Rivard, Vice Chair.
● Introducing Col. Chris Sedlacek from the 934th Airlift Wing.
● Introducing Natalie Gries, the new Public Affairs officer at the St. Paul regional office.
● Introducing Jemina Faiella, the new Congressional Liaison officer of the
Minneapolis VA.
● The House is under Democratic control. We currently do not know who the House Speaker will be.
● The Senate has majority GOP control.
● The National Guard will be deploying 1,200 to 1,400 troops over the next year.
● Shawn Schoesser of Congressman Walz’s office was presented a Certificate of Appreciation for his eight years of service and valued contribution to the UVLC.
● Rick Olseen of Congressman Nolan’s office was presented a Certificate of Appreciation for his dedication and wonderful service to veterans.
● Our December is December 5th and the January meeting is January 9th at VAMC campus usual location.
1. Federal Congressional Representatives
Senator Amy Klobuchar – Kurt Johnson
*Not present.
Senator Tina Smith – Alex Schueller
*Not present.
1st District Representative – Tim Walz – Shawn Schoesser
*The election is over and we do not expect any changes to the veteran legislation already submitted.
*There will be a hearing on December 6th to discuss the VA Mission Act.
*Walz has been focused on listening to communities of less than 10,000 residents and found similarities across the board concerning their needs. Walz has developed a cost-sharing bill to cover these needs, the Small Town and Regional Vitality Investment Act of 2018. The money will be managed at the county level. We would like your organizations to consider the resolution and decide whether or not you support this legislation. This is not a partisan bill. We are asking specific communities to declare whether or not they support this resolution. Veterans service organizations are deeply connected to the vitality of small towns, which this resolution hopes to serve. This resolution will continue after Walz retires.
2nd District Representative – Jason Lewis – Tom Tschida
*Not present.
3rd District Representative – Erik Paulsen – Margret Cavanaugh
*Not present.
4th District Representative – Betty McCollum – Connie Haddeland reporting
*The House of Representatives has shifted to the Democrats. This will mean changes for McCollum. There is a possibility of movement on the interior, which includes national park services, memorials at national cemeteries, and changes in House appropriations.
5th District Representative – Keith Ellison – Mike Siebenaler
*Not present.
6th District Representative – Tom Emmer – Alejandra Henriquez
*Not present.
7th District Representative – Collin Peterson – Meg Louwagie
*Not present.
8th District Representative – Rick Nolan – Rick Olseen reporting
*Congress-Elect Stauber’s wife did two tours in Iraq.
2. Federal Agencies
VISN 23 – Director Robert McDivitt – Andre Kok reporting
*The new director, Robert McDivitt, came on board on October 1st. He has been visiting the region and we expect him to attend the UVLC meeting on January 2nd.
*The Mission Act is being implemented and the third party provider has changed from Choice to TriWest.
VA Regional Office – Kim Graves – Ron Woolery reporting
*Introducing Natalie Gries as the new Public Affairs Officer. She has prior experience as a change management agent.
*There will be a town hall meeting in the Minneapolis VA Medical Center on November 19th from 6 to 8 PM.
*We expect veteran ID cards to be available soon.
*We have had significant IT issues with the educational benefits payments. Currently educational benefits payments are plugged up at our center (Name), which has bandwidth issues.
*The VA has made changes in the allowance for aid and attendance. See your CVSO for updates.
VAHCS Minneapolis – Director Patrick J. Kelly – Mike Rosecrans Reporting
*Introducing Gemina Faiella, our new congressional liaison. She can be reached at (Gemina.Faiella@gmail.gov) and her phone number is (612) 467 5416.
Q. When our Minneapolis VA Medical Center provider leaves us a voice mail, we have only the 612 725 2000 number, which doesn’t get us back to the actual person we need to contact. What can you do about this?
A. We accept your concern and will recommend that your voicemail have the specific clinic or individual’s phone number.
St. Cloud VA HCS – Director Stephen D. Black – Tyler Bieniek Reporting
*To get November’s newsletter, please go to our website
(https://www.stcloud.va.gov/news/)
*We have increased access to our optometry area.
*We are doing construction in our IT building this week to expand our ability to do tele-health.
Ft. Snelling Cemetery – Bob Razor
*Not present.
3. State Agencies and MN Veteran Assistance Organizations
MN Assistance Council – John Lovald Reporting
*We have closed on the house for women.
MN Department of Veteran Affairs – Ben Johnson Reporting
*The bridge was closed in the summer of 2014. The state received approximately $650,000 for the analysis in 2014. In 2015, a bonding bill was passed giving MDVA $7.8 million to fix the bridge. Part of that money has been spent. During the final inspection last February, it was identified that that the steel used in the construction was not compatible with the 1908 steel originally put on the bridge. The bridge did not pass inspection. November 19th, the Department of Administration will be convening to develop a new plan. It is still on timeline to be fixed, hopefully by next summer.
*Another problem came up with the Minneapolis Veterans Home bridge, concerning the approach spans. We will provide an update.
*Veterans Day at the Duluth cemetery is coming up. We are still authorized in statue to build a fourth cemetery in Redwood County.
*There will be a breakfast for Veterans Day at Inver Grove Heights from 8:30 to 9:30 AM. The ceremony will begin at 10:00 AM. The congressional delegation will be in attendance.
*The first internment at Duluth will be on November 11th.
*MDVA has developed and submitted their budget.
Q. Is the Minneapolis Park Board involved with the bridge?
A. No.
Q. If it looks like there will be a delay on construction, is there a way to open the bridge up in the meantime?
A. It is closed now because it is dangerous. There are liability issues.
Q. Is there a concern that the bridge might fall?
A. It’s a load issue.
Q. What happens with staffing?
A. There are classified and unclassified appointments. Several positions are classified. The new administration can appoint new people or keep the old team. We will see.
MN National Guard – LCOL Brian Winters Reporting
*For the upcoming legislative session, our focus will be on increasing the enlisted incentives appropriation, including reenlistment bonuses and tuition reimbursements.
*On the federal side, our focus this quarter will be on helping with the transition and the new governor.
*In October, we conducted our quarterly delegation visit out to DC. Several members of the 148th Fighter Wing were in attendance. The focus was on F-16 fighter issues in Duluth, briefing the delegation on recent deployments, and issues during deployment. Duluth requested new radars for the fighter mission and discussed extending the secondary crosswind runway at Duluth International Airport.
*Connie Haddeland was part of the groundbreaking ceremony on October 15th for the new 34th Infantry Division headquarters. Congresswoman Betty McCollum was also in attendance. It will be completed towards the end of 2020.
*Upcoming legislative priorities include continued full time manning for the National Guard, access to TriCare for full time technicians, and fixing the 12304 Bravo Mobilization Authority.
*Last month the St. Cloud VA and Capital One in St. Cloud were recognized as Yellow Ribbon Companies. The kickoff for Ecolab will be December 3rd.
*Other companies that are in the process of becoming Yellow Ribbon Companies include CHS, St. Cloud Technical and Community College, Replenix, Central Lakes College, Comcast, MN State University in Mankato, CH Robinson, and St. Jude Medical.
Q. How do we hold Yellow Ribbon Companies to task on maintaining that status?
A. There is a review process.
MN Military Affairs – Major General Jon Jensen, Annette Kuyper
*Not present.
MN Assistance Council For Veterans (MACV) – Jon Lovald Reporting
*We have closed on the purchase of the women’s veterans house. Three women have been identified and will be moving in soon. We are working with BATC Housing First and Lennar on doing this again next year, potentially with a two-house platform.
*MACV continues to provide services with the renewal of our SSVF grant. There was a slight increase in funds for the next two years.
*November 15th is Give to the Max Day.
*WCCO has selected MACV for two more telethons on December 5th and 19th.
*We will be doing another holiday meal with the Twins on December 13th from 8:30 to 2:00 PM at Target Field. Space is limited. A Stand Down-like event will be held at the same time. Invitations will be going out soon. Volunteers will be needed.
Q. On Monday, the VA announced they are mobilizing federal agencies to free legal services for veterans. Have they reached out to organizations like yours that already offer this?
A. We are tracking this, but do not have any details yet.
Military Action Group (MAG) – Jerry Kyser Reporting
*The next MAG meeting will be December 17th at 10:00 AM.
*We are considering moving to a bigger space. More details will be forthcoming.
*Priorities include pushing for a veterans omnibus bill. For the VFW/American Legion chapters, we continue to support the push for Charitable Gambling. The University of MN claims they are providing in-state tuition for non-resident veteran students. Discussions are ongoing.
*The veterans home dental clinic was held with Delta Dental, but only 100% disabled veterans received coverage.
*We support the Hmong Veterans Service Recognition Act. Disabled American Veterans – Trent Dilks
*Not present.
Minnesota County Veteran Services – Robbie Robinson Reporting
*Military retirees receiving TriCare benefits will need to pay a premium in either 2020 or 2021. More information is forthcoming.
*The TriCare retiree dental plan is going away, replaced by the Federal Employees Dental and Optical Plan. Open enrollment starts November 12th through the 14th.
*Goodhue County was designated as a Purple Heart County.
*Veterans Day on the Hill meetings will begin on November 16th. Next year will be the 75th anniversary of MN CVSOs.
*The Pearl Harbor Day ceremony will be December 7th at the Ft. Snelling visitor’s center.
Veterans For Peace – David Cooley Reporting
*There will be a book reading by Zan Gordon at 7:30 PM in the East Street Freedom Library in St. Paul November 30th.
*The Veterans Healthcare Policy Institute has a weekly newsletter. Sign up by going to (veteranspolicy.org).
*Claims processing for Hurricane victims have been accelerated.
*The contract for changing over the computer systems for the VA medical records has significant problems and has been reviewed in-house.
Paralyzed Veterans of America – Todd Kemery
*Not present.
Minnesota Humanities Center – Blake Rondeau
*Not present.
Project Got Your Back – Alison Astrin
*Present but not reporting.
Minnesota VFW – Tommy Johnson Reporting
*In January of 2014, MN Public Radio put out a story that this was the year that veteran homelessness would end. This is unacceptable. There are sixty-five communities in over thirty states that have ended veteran homelessness. Hennepin County is not among them.
*There was a homeless veterans summit at the VA medical center in 2015 discussing strategies to end veteran homelessness, including Veteran Preference.
*Currently there is no Veteran Preference in Hennepin County. Veterans are currently not eligible for many programs that other citizens are. Hennepin County has not adequately responded. We need to enact legislation to require that all state expenditures have a Veteran Preference.
4. Announcements
Next UVLC meeting will be December 5th.
The Minneapolis chapter of Veterans For Peace has been accepted as a UVLC member.
End of the UVLC November Report.