American Legion to Congress: Keep government open

American Legion National Commander Paul E. Dillard has a blunt message for Congress. “Our troops are doing their job, now lawmakers need to do theirs,” Dillard said today about another potential government shutdown that could occur if Congress doesn’t reach a budget agreement by a Dec. 3 deadline.

“The American Legion is no fan of continuing resolutions, but keeping the government open must be a priority,” Dillard said. “We recall the shutdown of 2019, in which the Coast Guard continued to defend our shores while their pay was delayed. The American Legion stepped up and provided more than $1 million in grants to Coast Guard families in need. Two years later, Congress still has not passed legislation to guarantee that this essential branch be funded. Moreover, the Department of Defense and our national security are also endangered by prolonged shutdowns. Millions of Americans rely on Social Security to survive. I could go on and on about essential government services and programs. The bottom line is that Congress needs to put the American people ahead of partisan politics.”