Legion testifying three times this week on Capitol Hill

The American Legion will be testifying this week on a variety of bills pending before Congress. They include:

• American Legion Legislative Director Lawrence Montreuil will testify before the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs to discuss legislation regarding disability benefits, survivor benefits and outreach. This will also include H.R. 1139, the “Governing Unaccredited Representatives Defrauding (GUARD) VA Benefits Act,” which would reinstate penalties for people charging veterans unauthorized fees relating to claims for benefits. The hearing begins at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday.

• American Legion Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation Director Tiffany Ellett will testify before the HVAC Subcommittee on Health on a series of bills related to veterans health care. Those include H.R. 808, the Veterans Patient Advocacy Act. The availability of patient advocates is a priority of The American Legion and will continue to be a focal point when speaking with veterans about their representation as a VA patient. The hearing begins at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.

• Matthew Brennan, a policy analyst in the Legion’s Veterans Employment and Education Division, will testify on a series of bills during a House Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity Subcommittee hearing. Among the bills is one that would ensure that veterans who receive VA educational financial assistance would not be held liable if their college shuts down due to fraud. The hearing begins at 9:30 a.m. Thursday.