Washington
(May 10, 2010)

Four days after The American Legion testified to Congress on problems with VA's work-credit system for processing veterans' disability claims, the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) announced it will take new steps to improve the quality and timeliness of work performed by its benefit claims staff.
       
Ian de Planque, The American Legion's deputy director for operations and legislative action, told a House subcommittee on May 6 that VBA's work-credit and management systems are still geared toward a "quantity over quality," a mindset that contributes to initial errors in processing disability claims and adds to an already enormous claims backlog.
       
"We've heard many outrageous stories from veterans about how their disability claims appeals have languished months or even years within VBA's processing system," said American Legion National Commander Clarence Hill. "If those claims had been properly adjudicated in the first place - if enough time had been taken to make the right decision the first time around - they wouldn't have been delayed and veterans would not have been denied their benefits."

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Washington
(May 6, 2010)

With an American Legion official standing behind him Wednesday afternoon, President Barack Obama signed into law the long-awaited Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act. As its name implies, the act calls for the government to provide health benefits, training, respite care and, in some cases, monetary stipends for individuals who provide at-home care for severely ill and disabled veterans.

"This is a big step in the right direction," said The American Legion's National Commander Clarence E. Hill. "Finally, the sacrifices made by the families and caregivers of our wounded warriors are being recognized and, more importantly, their needs are beginning to be met."

Many of The American Legion's top legislative priorities have been included in the congressionally popular Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act, including improvements for women's services at VA health-care facilities, better support for caregivers of disabled veterans, expanded mental-health services and more funding to help reduce homelessness among veterans.
           
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Indianapolis
(May 13, 2010)

Calling a proposal to award U.S. troops medals for holding fire in a war zone "misguided," the head of the nation's largest veterans organization voiced concern that overly restrictive rules of engagement would ultimately cost lives.
       
"Nobody likes to see innocent civilians killed in a war zone but the blame for these tragedies lies with the terrorists who caused the war in the first place," American Legion National Commander Clarence E. Hill said. "The proposal to award medals for holding fire is troubling because it is symptomatic of a growing culture in the military that will punish troops for making split-second decisions while they are expected to defend themselves and their comrades. This proposal is an insult to our men and women in combat who already do an extraordinary job of exercising restraint. Too much restraint will get our own people killed."

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Indianapolis
(May 7-8, 1986)

WHEREAS, The American Legion is a nationally recognized authority on flag etiquette and the Flag Code; and

WHEREAS, There exists some confusion among American Legion members regarding the proper positioning of the U. S. Flag shoulder patch on American Legion uniforms; and

WHEREAS, The Institute of Heraldry, U. S. Army, Fact Sheet No. 6, Revised 29 April, 1977 provides guidance in this matter in lieu of specific Flag Code provisions; now, therefore, be it

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Washington
(May 12, 2010)

Testifying before a House subcommittee today, The American Legion said that veterans' preference in the federal job market "is being unlawfully ignored by numerous agencies.
      
 "The reality is that employment opportunities are not being properly publicized," said Joe Sharpe, the Legion's economic division director. "Federal agencies, as well as federal government contractors and subcontractors, are required by law to notify the Office of Personnel Management of job opportunities.
       
"But more often than not, these opportunities are never made available to the public," he said.
Sharpe testified before the House Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies, chaired by Rep. David Obey, D-Wis.

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