Lawmaker vows to re-fund honor guard for veterans' funerals
The chair of the state Senate's Veterans Affairs Committee says he intends to put funding for funeral honors into state law next session.
The issue came up after language from a state budget bill last year wasn't renewed. Veterans groups worried they would no longer receive small state grants that fund flag ceremonies, buglers and other funeral rites.
Sen. Mike Perry, R-Waseca, says he'll include language in state law that authorizes an existing fund, the Support Our Troops account, to pay for funeral honors.
"I have asked my staff to prepare additional language to help in the funding for the commissioner to use in reimbursing the honor guard services. We will be offering legislation to clarify the use of the support our troops account for this purpose," said Perry.
In a statement issued Friday morning, Gov. Mark Dayton said he supported the legislation and also wanted a permanent source of funding for funeral honors.
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