National commander calls on Congress to end government shutdown, pass the Pay Our Military Act during remarks to National Executive Committee.
Amid the second week of a partial government shutdown – one that will see members of the U.S. military go unpaid until a budget compromise is reached – American Legion National Commander Dan K. Wiley had strong words for those responsible for the government impasse.
During the opening of The American Legion National Executive Committee’s Fall Meetings in Indianapolis, Wiley called on the U.S. Congress to live up to its sworn oath just as members of the military do every day.
“I can’t help but if Congress would do its job half as well as our military – no … one-tenth as well as our military – our country would be far better off,” Wiley said. “Passing a budget is a constitutionally mandated responsibility of Congress. Our troops take an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution, and they do their job. Congress also takes an oath to the Constitution. It’s time they do their job.
“Too many times over the past decade – regardless of which party’s in power – the government has operated under continuing resolutions. Our military absolutely hates continuing resolutions. They are bad for planning, they are bad for strategizing, and they are bad for readiness.”
But a government shutdown is worse, Wiley said – especially one in which every branch of the U.S. military is going without pay and thousands of veterans in the federal workforce may lose their jobs.
“The effects of all this will be quite visible in your departments, particularly those with large military communities and federal workforces,” Wiley said. “If there ever is a time to ramp up our efforts to Be the One and do Buddy Checks to check on our brothers and sisters, now is the time.”
Wiley also noted the shutdown’s effect on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. “While the VA is still seeing patients and its hospitals are open, its regional benefits offices are closed,” he said. “Outreach to veterans has ceased. So have ground maintenance at VA cemeteries, transition program assistance and the GI Bill Benefits hotline.”
Wiley said the top priority is to reopen the government. But Congress also must pass the Pay Our Military Act, which would pay every branch of the military for the duration of the shutdown or until Jan. 1, whichever is earliest.
Wiley asked Legionnaires to use the organization’s Grassroots Action Center to urge congressional support for both bills: H.R. 1932 and Senate Bill 876.
“The next military pay day is Oct. 15,” Wiley said. “We all know that military life is stressful enough. The troops should not have to worry about whether they can buy groceries, or make their next rent and car payment, or how they’re going to make ends meet because the government’s not doing its job. Our troops are doing the job. They deserve better.”
Wiley also called for passage of the Major Richard Star Act after the shutdown ends. “Some people call it concurrent receipt, but it’s more accurately described as the ‘Disabled Veterans Tax’, because that’s exactly what it is,” he said. “Tens of thousands of medically retired veterans have their VA disability compensation deducted from their military pensions. This offset is highly unfair. Why punish those who spent careers serving the military and were forced to retire early because they were hurt serving their country?
“It’s time to tell Congress, ‘Do your job and pass the Richard Star Act and end this disabled veterans tax.’”
Wiley then shifted to ongoing programs and initiatives within The American Legion:
· The national commander urged Legionnaires and Sons of The American Legion to register for next year’s National Regional Information Conferences in Indianapolis on Jan. 31 and in Atlanta on Feb. 7. “Legionnaires and Sons members can network with each other at these conferences,” Wiley said. “They can receive training on Be the One, on our programs, on post operations, legal issues, running effective meetings, retention and all of the American Legion programs. Please plan on attending one.”
· Wiley said he believes the organization can finish with more members in 2026 than it did this year. “The goals we have include recruiting at least 75,000 new members and achieving 90-percent retention,” he said. “Communication, community and camaraderie. I believe that’s the message we need to get our message out not only to our members, but to the public.”
· Along those lines, he also asked for a 100-percent Consolidated Post Report submission rate, “so we can tell The American Legion story not just to our members, but potential members, and also to Congress and the media. It’s hard to grow an organization if the public doesn’t know about our programs. The more we tell people what we do, the more they will want to join what we do.”
· Wiley announced that the top three American Legion recruiters from Oct. 1 through Nov. 11 will each receive two tickets to this year’s Army-Navy Game presented by USAA, as will the top departments in each of the Legion’s five regions. Get the details here.
· The national commander also asked Legion Family members to sign up for the USA 250 Challenge. “It is our way to honor the 250th anniversary, the semiquincentennial, of our great country, while at the same time experiencing your own personal growth,” Wiley said. “You can run 250 miles, you can visit 250 veterans at the VA hospital, you can do 250 Buddy Checks or come up with your own challenge. The possibilities of what you want to do are endless and only limited by your own imagination. And the proceeds go to a great cause, our Veterans & Children’s Foundation.”
- Commander