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Dear Friend,
We hope you all had a wonderful Independence Day holiday. Celebrating Independence Day in Minnesota with family and friends is a high point of our summer, and it was a pleasure to be able to spend time at home in the Sixth District during the holiday and the short Congressional recess that followed.
 Congressman Emmer with members of the Disabled American Veterans of Minnesota
During the week of the Fourth, we met with members of the Disabled American Veterans of Minnesota at VFW Post 428 in St. Cloud. We had a meaningful discussion about the needs of Minnesota’s veterans, the red tape many face at the VA, and the potential negative impact of recent changes to e-pull tab regulations. These changes threaten the viability of many local non-profits, including VFWs and American Legions, who rely on the revenue from these games to stay afloat.
The discussions we had with the veteran community provide invaluable insights into the issues affecting veterans and will be essential as we work to improve care for all our veterans.
 Congressman Emmer and Executive Director of the St. Cloud VA Health Care System Brent Thelen
I also had the opportunity to meet with Brent Thelen, Executive Director of St. Cloud VA Health Care System, and his team. This week, Brent announced his retirement after more than twenty years in service to the VA.
Brent and I had a productive conversation about their impactful work to provide medical care for Minnesota veterans. We also discussed some of the staffing challenges currently affecting the facility and potential solutions to address the issue. To learn more about our visit and our continued efforts to support St. Cloud VA, click here.
If you or a veteran you know need assistance with the VA or another federal agency, please contact my office by visiting our website or calling 763-241-6848. We are always here to help.
Sincerely,
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