This is the time of year when our National Service Organizations go to Washington, D.C. to brief our congressional delegation on the priorities of each service organization. The American Legion has as its number one priority Veteran Suicide. In spite of all the attention in the past number of years, the number of veteran suicides remains relatively constant, between 19 and 25 per year. Most of the veterans who do commit suicide are not in the VA system and likely, therefore, not getting treatment. The Legion is requesting more money to the VA for outreach. 

Related to that is another Legion priority, providing alternates to treatment for veterans having illicit drug or alcohol disorder. 2.8 million veterans have this disorder and only 7.6% are being treated. The Legion wants legislation that will provide more access to treatment, expanding research and access to alternative treatments.

The American Legion also urges Congress to pass legislation to expand access to affordable childcare, increase appropriations for military construction projects, and ensuring timely access to mental healthcare. Also, a recurring priority is to pass legislation that will pay the USCG during government shut down. The VFW and the Legion support legislation that provides parity to the Guard and Reserves. Currently, the Guard and Reserves only accrue points toward their retirement benefits when they are activated for federal service. The Legion is asking that the Guard also get those points when they are activated for state service. In other words, they get points whenever they are in uniform.  Also supported by both the Legion and the VFW is the issue of compensation offsets.  This recurring priority is legislation that will pay retired military their retirement compensation and their VA disability compensation regardless of the retiree’s percent disability.  Currently, the government takes the veterans disability compensation from their retirement pay for those less that 50% disabled.

Other VFW priorities include increasing funding for homeless programs; housing relief for surviving spouses; crack down on “claim sharks;” increase care and research for mental health; eliminate co-pays for preventative healthcare and medication; expand nursing home eligibility; support our allies in Ukraine, Israel, Korea and Taiwan; and recognize and support for Afghan and Iraqi translators and allies.

The Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) is also requesting legislation to support pay for the military at or above the Employment Cost index; pay for all eight uniform services during government shut down, and also supports paying all retires their retirement benefits and the disability compensation. Our Maine MOAA delegation will also be requesting VA change their policy that will allow VA to pay for ambulance services for veterans under 30% disabled and provide caregiver support for veterans caring for their family member. Both of those issues have already been presented to Senator King during his recent visit to Maine. 

Now the question is ... will Congress get their act together to actually get any of this accomplished? 

The next Post meeting is Monday, April 8; dinner at 5:30; meeting at 6.