Representatives of the Legion’s Legislative Division are attending a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing titled “Strategic Implications of Pakistan and the Region.” In light of recently intensified tensions between the U.S. and Pakistan over the Osama bin Laden operation, former National Security Advisor Gen. James Jones Jr. will testify.
Verna Jones, director of the Legion’s Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation division, is in Madison, Wis., for the National Association of State Women's Veterans Coordinators’ Annual Training Conference.
The American Legion Child Welfare Foundation (CWF) is accepting grant applications for 2012. CWF grants provide nonprofit organizations with a means to educate the public about the needs of children across this nation.
Legion Legislative staff is meeting with representatives of fellow service organizations and other officials to explore a Government Accountability Office report on the implementation and effectiveness of advance appropriations. An advance appropriation is one made to become available one year or more ahead of the year for which an appropriations act (budget) is passed. The Legion fought for years for the institution of this practice with regard to the Department of Veterans Affairs.
The Legislative Division is attending a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing entitled “Steps Needed for a Successful 2014 Transition in Afghanistan.” With the death of bin Laden and successes by the Afghanistan government and military, pressures will mount to change the role and mission of the United States within Afghanistan.
Staff of The American Legion Boys Nation and American Legion Auxiliary Girls Nation programs are meeting to coordinate plans and procedures for making Congressional appointments for delegates during their programs this summer.
Jacob B. Gadd, deputy director for Healthcare, is attending an Easter Seals press conference in Silver Spring, Md. Easter Seals has partnered with the Department of Veterans Affairs and has developed national training for VA’s caregiver program.
Attending NEC meetings, hearing reports from Americanism, National Convention, Veterans Affairs & Rehabilation, Foreign Relations, Children & Youth, Economic, Internal Affairs and National Security commissions.
National commissions and committees are meeting in Indianapolis today during the annual Spring Meetings, discussing Legion policy and programs, and drafting resolutions.
Members of the Legion’s National Security/Foreign Relations Division are meeting with the White House national security staff. The Legion is urging the Obama administration to reopen negotiations with North Korea with regard to its POW/MIA accounting procedures. Cooperative talks between the U.S. and North Korea on this issue were suspended in May, 2005.
