Action Alert Update: Veterans Health Care in Jeopardy

The American Legion Legislative Division continues to work with the VA & R Division and Congress to ensure Community-Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) leases are protected from a change in Congressional Budget Office scoring methods which threaten them. 

Two weeks ago, an Action Alert was sent from the Washington, DC office requesting that American Legion members contact their Members of Congress,urging them to sign on to a bipartisan, bicameral letter to House and Senate leadership prepared by Senator Mary Landrieu (LA) and Representative Charles Boustany (LA) aimed at finding a solution to the problem. Almost 4000 emails to Congress and the White House resulted from that alert. Next week adjutants in the 22 states currently affected will be notified and provided with one or more one-pager(s) describing how the facility or facilities in their state will be impacted should this issue not be addressed, along with the Action Alert link to continue the push to pressure Congress to solve this problem.

In a sign that Congress is getting the message, the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee announced this week they will hold a hearing on the issue on June 27 entitled: “Assessing VA Capitol Investment Options to Provide Veterans’ Care.” Furthermore, Legislative Division staff has arranged meetings for next week with both House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs staff to further discuss the issue and possible solutions. 

Update on Flag Amendment Bill

On May 22, House Joint Resolution (H.J. Res.) 47 was introduced by Rep. Spencer Bachus (AL). This legislation is a proposed constitutional amendment to protect the American flag from physical desecration. Its text states simply: “The Congress shall have power to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States.” The measure now has 9 cosponsors.

The next task is finding cosponsors for this legislation. Please contact your representative and senators, and ask them to become cosponsors of the flag amendment in their respective chambers. [Resolution 272-2012]