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American Legion Case Study

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American Legion Annual Day at the Capitol Highlights Veteran’s Needs and Recognizes Legislators
By Elise Spleiss SACRAMENTO REGION, CA (MPG) - On April 25, 2018 more than 70 members of American Legion posts throughout the state of California, along with members of the American Legion Auxiliary and Sons of the American Legion spent an informative and interactive day meeting their legislators and sharing their concerns for the future of the more than 1.7 million veterans living in the Golden State. The American Legion is one of the largest veteran’s advocate and lobbying groups in the United States. Sons of the American Legion (SAL) also exists to honor the services and sacrifices of those who served their country. Veteran’s Legislative …show more content…

Vito Imbasciana M.D. Secretary, California Department of Veterans Affairs and head of the CalVet Leadership Team spoke of the tragic killing of three staffers by a former patient at the Yountville Veterans Home on March 10, 2018. The patient was in a special program for those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). SB1314 has been introduced to prevent this from happening again. Senator Bill Dodd (D-Napa) a member of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs, and Assemblyman Adam Gray (D-Merced) each received the Department’s 2017 Leo P. Burke Legislator of the Year award for their leadership, support and dedication to the veterans and service member of …show more content…

Seeks to create penalties for these action, and; SB 1452 which would establish the War on Terror Memorial Committee to look into the feasibility of the construction of a memorial in or around the State Capitol Park. Other proposed legislation addresses veteran housing, homelessness, issues with disabled veterans, and more funding for county veterans service officers from the current $5.6 million to $7 million. Elizabeth Halperin-Perez, a U.S. Navy veteran, was recently named Cal Vet Deputy Secretary for Minority Veterans. She gave a presentation of her work with minority and unrepresented veterans including African American, Latino, Native American, LGBT and the homeless. In an online issue of “CalVet Connect” she describes her work “to help immigrant veterans become naturalized citizens”. Herself a member of the Native American community, she says, “I am committed to ensuring that we actively identify and address any challenges in serving ALL veterans…” Following the presentations and a gourmet boxed lunch, teams of legionnaires, ALA and SAAL members fanned out throughout the capitol, visiting the offices of the legislators, delivering informational packets and relating to them legislation they would like to see

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