The American Legion and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce are conducting a hiring fair in Traverse City, Mich., open to veteran job seekers, active-duty military members, Guard and reserve members, and military spouses. The event is from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at Northwestern Michigan College’s Hagerty Conference Center, 715 E. Front Street. http://www.uschamber.com/hiringourheroes/traverse-city-mi
Staff from the Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation Division are discussing issues and concerns about mental health care during a meeting with representatives from the following organizations: the National Board for Certified Counselors, American Counseling Association, American Mental Health Counselors Association and the California Association of Marriage and Family. Mental health care will be the focus of the Legion’s System Worth Saving Task Force for its upcoming round of site visits to VA medical centers this fall.
The finals of the National Oratorical Contest are at 10 a.m. today in Indianapolis. Three youth will compete for a total of $48,000 in college scholarships. The finals will be streamed live at 10 a.m. (EDT) on legiontv.org.
The American Legion and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce are conducting a hiring fair in O’Fallon, Ill., open to veteran job seekers, active-duty military members, Guard and reserve members, and military spouses. The event is from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at The Regency Conference Center, 400 Regency Park. http://www.uschamber.com/hiringourheroes/ofallon-il
Brian Bertges of The American Legion’s Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation Division is participating in a roundtable discussion on solutions for patient-centered procurement reform, conducted by the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health; Ian de Planque of the Legion’s Legislative Division is also attending.
Legislative Division staff are attending three congressional hearings: the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security, “Chained Consumer Price Index”; the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies (MCVA), “FY 2014 MCVA Appropriations”; and the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on MCVA, “FY 2014 Budget Hearing.”
Peter Gaytan, executive director of The American Legion in Washington, is attending a bill-signing by Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley at the State House in Annapolis. The Veterans Full Employment Act of 2013 will enable veterans who apply for occupational and professional licenses in Maryland to get credit for their military training, education and experience.
Legislative Division staff are attending two congressional hearings: the Senate Armed Services Committee, “Air Force FY 2014 Authorization”; and the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel, “AGR (Active, Guard, Reserve) and civilian personnel programs for FY 2014 Authorization.”
Economic Division staff are meeting with Frank DiGiovanni, director, Training and Readiness and Strategy, Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, other senior DoD members and senior leadership of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters to discuss progress made since February 2013 on our joint state-by-state initiatives, as well as continued barriers moving forward.
The American Legion’s System Worth Saving Task Force is evaluating the quality of VA health care, especially for women veterans, at the St. Cloud VA Healthcare System in Minnesota.
