Legionnaires headed to D.C. to hear from nation's leaders, meet with Congress, take advantage of employment assistance during annual Washington Conference; National Commander Barnett also will delivery testimony during congressional hearing.
Legionnaires from throughout the nation will descend on the nation’s capital starting this weekend for The American Legion’s 56th annual Washington Conference. A full schedule of events will be capped by National Commander Dale Barnett sharing the Legion’s legislative priorities with a joint session of the House and Senate Committees on Veterans’ Affairs at 10 a.m. Feb. 24.
American Legion commissions and committees will meet Feb. 22; that same day, Operation Comfort Warriors donations will be made at the Washington, D.C., VA Medical Center and the Armed Forces Retirement Home.
During the Commander’s Call Feb. 23, the Legion will present Sen. Johnny Isakson of Georgia with its Distinguished Public Service Award. Recent previous recipients include former U.S. Sen. Jim Webb and former U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud.
Also during the Commander’s Call, Legionnaires will hear from Barnett, U.S. Rep. Tim Walz and Department of Veterans Affairs Deputy Secretary Sloan Gibson. And following the Commander’s Call, and again on Feb. 24, Legionnaires will head to Capitol Hill to meet with their congressional representatives to share the Legion’s legislative agenda.
The Commander’s Call will be live streamed live at www.legiontv.org., while Barnett’s testimony will be streamed here.
On the employment side, the Legion is teaming up with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Hiring Our Heroes program for a Winter Meeting Employment Forum and job fair Friday at the Washington Hilton. And Feb. 23-24, the Legion is joining with Vets GSA LLC, Goldschmitt & Associates LLC, and the National Veterans Small Business Coalition for a two-day Veterans Small Business Workshop.
The Legion’s TBI and PTSD Committee will meet over the weekend, and the Legion also will conduct a homeless veterans roundtable discussion during the course of the Washington Conference.
- Legislative