Michigan Legion Media Room

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE American Legion says compromise bill is 'critical component' for VA improvement The measure would seek to correct longstanding systemic problems within the department WASHINGTON (July 28, 2014) – The country's largest wartime veterans organization welcomed the introduction of a bill in Congress that would fix longstanding, widespread problems within the Department of Veterans Affairs, which have impaired its ability to deliver timely health care and benefits to America's veterans. At a news conference today, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Fla., discussed their joint sponsorship of the Veterans Access to Care Act of 2014, a compromise measure that emerged from previous bills introduced in the House and Senate. "This measure is a critical component in developing a long-term solution to problems that have dogged the VA for years," said American Legion National Commander Daniel M. Dellinger. "We know tha...

  Dear Legion Family Members and Friends, Today, I want to share with you a joint statement regarding the inappropriate posturing by members of Congress following a request made by Sloan Gibson, acting Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Gibson requested emergency funding of $17.6 billion  to help repair access problems for veterans seeking VA health care. What follows is a joint statement from myself representing The American Legio...

http://www.military.com/daily-news/2014/07/25/vet-groups-hit-sanders-over-bill-negotiations.html?comp=7000023317843&rank=1 Vet Groups Hit Sanders Over Bill Negotiations Jul 25, 2014 | by Bryant Jordan Three veterans' organizations issued a statement on Friday chiding lawmakers for inserting a $17.6 billion supplemental budget request into conference committee negotiations on veterans' legislation. "Regardless of the merits, a last-minute [Department of Veterans Affairs] request for $17.6 billion dollars in additional spending only hampers an already difficult VA conference committee negotiating process," the statement from The American Legion, AMVETS and Concerned Veterans for America read. The statement comes as Congress readies to adjourn for the summer and lawmakers are trying to come up with a bill acceptable to all sides that can be passed and signed into law quickly. The statement also served to distance the three groups from a letter signed by 16 ...

Please help us spread the word about an upcoming Facebook Town Hall Meeting we are having on Wednesday, July 30, 2014 at 12:00 noon. We will have subject matter experts and clinical providers on hand to answer any questions about VA healthcare that OEF/OIF/OND Veterans may have. Please pass along to any OEF/OIF/OND Veterans you know.       Semper Fi,   Derek D. Atkinson, VHA-CM Public Affairs Officer (006) VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System 2215 Fuller Road Ann Arbor, MI 48105 (Office): (734)845-5043 (Cell): (734)548-3451 (Fax): (734)845-3245 derek.atkinson@va.gov  

Listed below are the events I have for the next 7 days here in the Metro Detroit area.  I have also attached my latest event listing which has 3 new items on it.  You can also go to the Legion 328 website to download any flyer for these future events.  http://www.legionpost328.org/events.html    You can get a monthly view of events by going to: http://www.michiganveteranresources.com/Events.aspx ANNOUNCEMENTS! "Golf, Golf, & more Golf" It's that time of year when everyone is hosting a golf outing. To help you duffers pick the ones you like I am listing them here. Date, group hosting & where the golf takes place: "Saturday, August 2, 2014" Great Lakes National Cemetery in Lepeer. Flyer "Saturday, August 2, 2014" Pontiac VVA Chapter 133 at Highland Hills. Flyer . "Saturday, August 2, 2014 " Wayne State SVA in Novi. ...

Request widest dissemination within your means - thank you 22 July 2014 To Whom It May Concern: The Ft McCoy Lower Michigan Retiree Affairs Council, located at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Michigan, are hosting their annual Appreciation Day for Retirees from the Uniformed Military Services residing in Michigan and surrounding states on 20 September 2014.   Request you publish or announce the following public release at your earliest convenience to facilitate registrations which will be closed on 10 September. If possible, please publish a second time closer to the event. Thank you, Michael F. Schmansky, Chief Master Sergeant, USAF Retired Chairman, Retiree Activities Council   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MILITARY RETIREE APPRECIATION DAY, Selfridge ANG Base The Ft McCoy Lower Michigan Retiree Affairs Council is hosting the 2014 Retiree Appreciation Day on September 20 th at the Joi...

Please note the witness list has been updated below. Media Advisory          For Immediate Release July 23, 2014 Media Contact: Curt Cashour (202) 225-3527 HVAC To Hear From Acting VA Secretary on Fixes to Dept. Health Care, Integrity, Accountability Failures WASHINGTON, D.C .— The House Committee on Veterans' Affairs will hold a hearing on Thursday, July 24, 2014, at 9:30 AM in room 334 of the Cannon House Office Building to examine the steps VA has taken in response to the many problems facing the department, including extensive patient wait times, manipulation of data within the Veterans Health and Veterans Benefits Administrations as well as VA's widespread and systemic lack of accountability. Acting Secretary Sloan Gibson will testify before the committee just over a week after telling the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs that VA would need $17.6 billion in additional funding over the next three years ....

There's a lot going on, what with the M-1 light rail project to begin soon on Woodward Avenue, as well as a Veterans Expo being held at Cobo Hall that weekend, and the parade being an official event of the 50th anniversary of the beginning of the Vietnam War  Commemoration.   We are still working on times, route, ceremony; we will announce them as soon as determined.   The main thing is to keep the date of Saturday, November 8, 2014 penciled in. The parade will still be mid-morning staging and step off; exact times to be determined..   Get your registrations in, as soon as you can.   We welcome any donations, new members, volunteers. Spread the word. Remember, this is the only Veterans Day parade in Michigan,  recognized by the Dept of Veterans Affairs. It is a parade of Veterans, by Veterans, for Veterans.    Our web-site, at     www.detroitveteransdayparade.org          will be updated as soon as possible.   Feel free to contact me, by ...

Brooklyn American Legion Post 315 Is hosting a breakfast to benefit wounded soldiers! Where:  211 Chicago St.  Brooklyn, MI 49230 When:  Sat 7/19 & Sun 7/20-from 7:00 AM to NOON Cost:   $8.00 (includes: Juice, scrambled eggs, sausage, biscuits & gravy) At an additional cost there will be a full bar available to those 21 and over. FREE TRANSPORTATION! Pick up at MIS, to Legion for breakfast, and then back to MIS, with a stop at Country Market so you can pick up any needed supplies! The American Legion Department of Michigan represents over 70,000 members in the State of Michigan. The American Legion was founded in 1919, based on “The Four Pillars”; veteran rehabilitation, Americanism, child welfare, and national security and continued above all its mission as a consumers’ advocate for veterans. For more information contact the Michigan Legion at 517-371-4720 ext 16, mark@michiganlegion.org, or visit our website at www.michiganleg...

This is the big hearing tonight on CSPAN 2 at 7:30.    Veterans Benefits Administration Evaluation Process House Veterans' Affairs Committee Full Committee Hearing House Veterans' Affairs Committee (Chairman Miller, R-Fla.) will hold a hearing to discuss the Veterans Benefits Administration evaluation process. Contact: Jon Towers - Staff Director at 202-225-3527 Updated Date Monday, July 14, 7:30 p.m. Place 334 Cannon Bldg. Note Witnesses added. Panel Whistleblowers, Veterans Benefits Administration Panel Allison A. Hickey, undersecretary of Veterans Affairs for benefits, Veterans Benefits Administration Diana Rubens, director, Philadelphia Regional Office, Veterans Benefits Administration Thomas Murphy, director, Compensation Service, Veterans Benefits Administration Linda Halliday, assistant inspector general for audits and evaluations, Office of Inspector General, Department of Veterans Affairs Bre...

American Legion  National Commander: 'If children can cross our borders, what about terrorists?'   WASHINGTON (July 11, 2014) – Calling the spike of illegal aliens entering the United States a "full-blown crisis," the leader of the nation's largest veterans organization called on President Obama to secure the borders and remove all economic benefits that incentivize and exacerbate the problem.   "If unaccompanied children can so easily enter the United States, what kind of message does this send to a committed foreign terrorist?" asked American Legion National Commander Daniel M. Dellinger. "It is inhumane to continue a policy that encourages children to risk violence and rape by human traffickers, or death in the desert. Moreover, we simply cannot afford the economic toll that it places on our country which is already burdened by an enormous national debt."   The American Legion has passed numerous national resolutions over the...

Listed below are the events I have for the next 10 days here in the Metro Detroit area.  I have also attached my latest event listing which has 2 new items on it.  You can also go to the Legion 328 website to download any flyer for these future events.  http://www.legionpost328.org/events.html    You can get a monthly view of events by going to: http://www.michiganveteranresources.com/Events.aspx ANNOUNCEMENTS! "Golf, Golf, & more Golf" It's that time of year when everyone is hosting a golf outing. To help you duffers pick the ones you like I am listing them here. Date, group hosting & where the golf takes place: "Monday, July 14, 2014" Selfridge Air Show Group in Chesterfield Twp. Flyer . "Saturday, July 19, 2014 " VVA 154 in Macomb Twp. Flyer . "Sunday, July 20, 2014" Vet Treatment Courts in Oxford. ...

Action Alert: Message from Legion Commander Legion to Senate: Ratify the Disability Treaty Take Action! Contact Your Senators Now!   (July 10, 2014)  American Legion National Commander Daniel M. Dellinger is calling on the Senate to ratify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) before the month is out.  Commander Dellinger is also strongly urging all Legionnaires and veteran advocates to contact their U.S. senators immediately to ask them to support ratification. An international disability treaty inspired by U.S. leadership in recognizing the rights of people with disabilities, the CRPD creates a framework for legislation and policies around the world to improve the lives of all people with disabilities, including millions of disabled American veterans who travel abroad.  The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was the model for the CRPD, and the treaty echoes its values of independence and respect for ...

Listed below are the events I have for the next 7 days here in the Metro Detroit area.  I have also attached my latest event listing which has 9 new items on it.  You can also go to the Legion 328 website to download any flyer for these future events.  http://www.legionpost328.org/events.html    You can get a monthly view of events by going to: http://www.michiganveteranresources.com/Events.aspx ANNOUNCEMENTS! HAPPY 4TH! "Golf, Golf, & more Golf" It's that time of year when everyone is hosting a golf outing. This week I added 1 new one! To help you duffers pick the ones you like I am listing them here. Date, group hosting & where the golf takes place: "Monday, July 14, 2014" Selfridge Air Show Group in Chesterfield Twp. Flyer . Saturday, July 19, 2014 (NEW) " VVA 154 in Macomb Twp. Flyer . "Sunday, Jul...