Tate, Dems Bring Veteran Aid Bills Front And Center

(Source: MIRS.news, Published 11/17/2025) Rep. Joe Tate (D-Detroit) announced a package of bills on Veterans Day that aim to exempt military retirement pay from state income tax, expand mental health and suicide prevention services and allow the state Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) to accept tax-deductible private donations for projects related to veterans' wellness.

At a press event held at the Michigan Veterans Foundation, Tate, a marine veteran, was joined by Reps. Erin Byrnes (D-Dearborn) and Mai Xiong (D-Warren), and Derek Blumke, an Air Force and Michigan Air National Guard veteran.

Tate said the more than 20-bill package will help veterans get better access to benefits and resources they've earned and deserve.

Bills in the package would create a peer mentorship program within the Office of Mental Health in the DVMA, establish a grant program for veterans to obtain a service animal, allow the Michigan veterans' facility ombudsman to investigate reports of abuse, neglect or exploitation in a veterans' facility, and more.

Blumke, the Michigan legislative director of Veterans of Foreign Wars, spoke at the event thanking the legislators for their introduction of the bills. He said making sure the government is taking care of veterans is an important commitment.

"When someone signs up to serve our nation, they've put themselves at risk of being in harm's way," Blumke said.

Blumke said when he served, in 2001, he was sent to a base in Southern Uzbekistan where over 15,000 troops were exposed to radiation and chemical weapons as a result of tactical nuclear weapons being detonated there in 1991. Later in life, an MRI found he had a brain tumor.

"I share this because those who serve our nation don't always know the long-term impacts of the commitment they're making, and it's important and incumbent on our nation and those in elected office to ensure we're living up to their commitment," Blumke said.

Tate has a HCR 3 that calls on Congress to allow reservists and National Guard members to receive disability and military drill pay.

Tate said those that serve shouldn't have to choose between serving and receiving the benefits they've earned.

The bill package includes HB 5257, HB 5258, HB 5259, HB 5260, HB 5261, HB 5263, HB 5264, HB 5265, HB 5266, HB 5267, HB 5268, HB 5269, HB 5270, HB 5271, HB 5272, HB 5273, HB 5274, HB 5275, HB 5276, HB 5277, HB 5278, HB 5279 and HB 5280.