Michigan Legion Media Room

Below you will find a list of bills referring to veterans, military, or of general interest to the members of The American Legion in Michigan as of today February 10, 2017 To read the bills go to:  http://www.legislature.mi.gov If you have any questions or comments about any of them please email me: info@michiganlegion.org All bills and resolutions in your current tracking list: (Bills and resolutions with recent movement will be highlighted in blue.) Budgets  SB 0146  - APPROPRIATIONS, Military Affairs and Veterans Affairs , Provide for appropriations for the department of military and veterans affairs for the fiscal year 2017- 2018. (Nofs, Mike (R), 02/09/17) ( Status: 02/09/2017 - INTRODUCED BY SENATOR MICHAEL NOFS ) General  HB 4081  - GAMING, Bingo and Charitable Gaming , Provide for millionaire parties general amendments. (Barrett, Tom (R), 01/24/17) ( Status: 01/25/2017 - bill electronically reproduced 01/24/2017 ) MCL Tracking:...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE American Legion supports legislation affecting nearly 1 million small business owners (Washington) The American Legion applauds legislation drafted by Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., that would include veterans in the Department of Transportation's Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program. "This legislation is necessary to provide parity for the nearly 1 million veterans who are small business owners seeking government contracts," said James Oxford, chairman of the Legion's Veterans Employment and Education Commission. "Veterans should not be placed at a disadvantage in competing with other government procurement programs." It is incorrect to believe that the DBE program is relegated to road and infrastructure firms. According to the Small Business Administration, veterans own 380,395 construction firms, 64,542 manufacturing companies and 414,519 businesses in the professional, scientific and technical s...

NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE AMERICAN LEGION INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA OCTOBER 15 - 16, 2014 Resolution No. 12: Support Joint Services Transcript Evaluation of Military Training and  Experience of Veterans, Active-Duty, Reserve and National Guard Personnel Origin: Register Resolution No. 2704 (MI) Department Executive Committee Submitted by: Veterans Employment & Education Commission WHEREAS, Veterans are in need of academic post-military degree and certificate credentials universally recognizable by employers for employment opportunities; and WHEREAS, The Department of Defense (DOD) has already spared no expense to provide our military personnel with some of the best vocational training in the nation paid for by past federal budgets of the United States; and WHEREAS, DOD establishes, measures and evaluates performance standards for every occupation within the Armed Forces; and WHEREAS, The American Council on Education (ACE) has evaluat...

Legion supports Veterans Choice Act The senate bill would allow VA enrollees to use private health care under certain conditions WASHINGTON -- Legislation introduced in the Senate on June 3 would give veterans more choice and flexibility in their health-care treatment under certain conditions, such as the inability of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers to schedule appointments in a timely manner. Veterans would be free to seek health care in the private sector if VA cannot schedule a timely appointment for them, or if they live more than 40 miles from the nearest VA medical center or community-based outpatient clinic. Under provisions of the American Legion-backed bill (authorized for only two years) VA enrollees would receive a “Choice Card” to use for medical care from a non-VA provider. In his letter of support, American Legion National Commander Daniel M. Dellinger wrote that the bill “provides resources now to assist veterans being denied hea...

HOT ISSUES Tues day,  April 1, 2014 ACTIONS – Veterans Benefits Administration –                  On Tuesday, April 1, 2014, The American Legion’s Regional Office Action Review team will be conducting a Town Hall meeting at American Legion Post 41 located at 715 S. 2 nd  Avenue in Phoenix, AZ 85003 for veterans to discuss how the Phoenix Regional Benefit Office is reducing the backlog and improving the claims process.   From  April 2-4, 2014 , The American Legion’s Regional Office Action Review team will be visiting the Phoenix Regional Benefit Office and meet with VA Regional Office administrators and employees to see what they are doing to reduce the backlog, how they are staffed, and how new technology is being used to improve the process.   Veterans Health Administration – On Monday March 24, 2014, the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs launched the VA H...

The American Legion’s legislative priorities will be highlighted during its 54th annual Washington Conference that kicks off March 23 and ends March 26 when American Legion National Commander Daniel M. Dellinger testifies before the House and Senate Committees on Veterans’ Affairs.. Legionnaires from across the country will converge on Capitol Hill to meet with members of Congress to discuss a variety of pressing issues, including: Protecting the Armed Forces against further budget cuts from sequestration. Opposing increases in TRICARE fees, including prescription drug fees. Ensuring the stability of funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Reducing the VA claims backlog and modernizing the claims processing system. Increasing employment opportunities for veterans in the private sector. Ending homelessness among veterans and their families by the end of 2015. Securing in-state college tuition rates for student veterans from out-of-s...