The Minnesota House on Friday overwhelmingly approved legislation Rep. Paul Anderson, R-Starbuck, said shows our state’s commitment to taking care of veterans.

Anderson said he was pleased with the veterans and military affairs package (S.F. 4233) which, overall, appropriates an additional $2.2 million to the Department of Military Affairs and an additional $52.351 million to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

“It was encouraging to see legislators come together in such a unified fashion to support our veterans,” Anderson said. “I am glad we were able to get this bill through so we can continue to keep working toward opening these three new veterans’ homes in parts of the state where those services are lacking.”

Anderson said the bill includes more than $10 million for construction cost increases for the three new veterans homes in Bemidji, Montevideo and Preston, and more than $16 million for enhancements and furnishings to these facilities. Veterans and Gold Star families who served post-9/11 will receive a total of $24.8 million post-service bonus payments. The bill also includes funding to address veteran homelessness, money for the State Veterans Cemetery in Redwood Falls, and other veterans’ related programs.

The bill passed the House 122-1 and cleared the Senate with no opposition. It has been presented to the governor for enactment.