HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
COMMITTEE ON MILITARY, VETERANS AND HOMELAND SECURITY
REP. JENNIFER CONLIN
CHAIR
COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
Tuesday, May 23, 2023
12:00 PM
Room 327, House Office Building
The House Committee on Military, Veterans and Homeland Security was called to order by
Chair Conlin.
At 12:03 PM, the Chair laid the committee at ease.
At 12:05 PM, the Chair called the committee back to order.
The Chair requested attendance be called:
Present: Reps. Conlin, Coleman, Tyrone Carter, Stone, Rogers, Wegela, Bezotte, Martin,
St. Germaine.
Absent: Rep. Markkanen.
Excused: Rep. Markkanen.
Representative St. Germaine moved to adopt the meeting minutes from May 16, 2023. There
being no objection, the motion prevailed by unanimous consent.
The Chair laid presentations on veteran's mental health before the committee.
Representative Brabec gave a presentation on veteran's mental health. Questions and
discussion followed.
Dr. Hosanqa Auinash, representing Michigan Medicine, gave a presentation on veteran's
mental health. Questions and discussion followed.
Tommy Aceto and Jessie MacLachan, representing Reason For Hope, gave a presentation on
veteran's mental health. Questions and discussion followed.
General Martin Steele and Brett Waters, representing Reason For Hope, gave a presentation
on veteran's mental health. Questions and discussion followed.
The Chair laid HB 4555 before the committee:
HB 4555
(Rep. Rogers)
A bill to designate June 12 of each year as Women
Veterans Recognition Day.
Erika Hoover, Women Veteran and Special Populations Coordinator for the Michigan
Department of Military and Veteran's Affairs, testified in support of HB 4555.
Representative Rogers testified in support of HB 4555.
Tony Kennedy, a U.S. Army veteran, testified in support of HB 4555.
The following people submitted a card in support of HB 4555, but did not wish to speak:
Heather Feeterstein, representing the Michigan Department of Military and Veteran's
Affairs.
Jack G. Devine, representing the Michigan Commanders Group.
Representative Coleman moved to report out HB 4555 with recommendation. The motion
prevailed 9-0-0:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Conlin, Coleman, Tyrone Carter, Stone, Rogers, Wegela, Bezotte, Martin, St.
Germaine.
Nays: None.
Pass: None.
The Chair laid an additional presentation on veteran's mental health before the committee.
Robert Near, Deputy Director of the Michigan Department of Military and Veteran's Affairs,
and Brian Webb, Veteran Liaison for the Michigan Department of Health and Human
Services, gave a presentation on veteran's mental health.
Representative Bezotte moved to excuse Representative Markkanen from the meeting. There
being no objection the motion prevailed by unanimous consent.
There being no further business before the committee, Chair Conlin adjourned the meeting at
1:24 PM.
Representative Jennifer Conlin, Chair
Matt Carnagie
Committee Clerk
mcarnagie@house.mi.gov