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
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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
In today's society where opinion matters, people have been extremely vocal about the lack of support the government has provided to our veterans. Many feel as if the government should do more, while others feel as if they are doing enough. Everyone will have a difference of opinion no matter if they have severed in the military or not. No matter how one may feel, is extremely important to take care of our veterans. As they have sacrificed their lives, time, and family to protect our country. Contrary to one's belief, the government provides a substantial amount of programs, which support the veterans. Honestly more could be done. On any given day you could see women and men standing on the corner holding signs implying they are homeless veterans and will work for food. A few programs the government offers our veterans are funding for mental health services, The Wounded Warrior Project and Vocational Rehabilitation and Education, which will be discussed throughout this essay. When you research the programs, they make it sound as if all proceeds are going towards the best treatment and care money could buy.
Unfortunately, Senator Markey’s memories weren’t as fond. “Growing up everyone in my town recognized the Elks lodge for their generous scholarship. It was an honor given to the top student, which my two older cousins received.” The pressure was on him as a young boy. “When the time
An ex-military veteran, Sgt. Bradie Frink, lost his job for 26 months due to the fact that the VA thought he was trying to blow the whistle on them. Bradie, who served our country, was only trying to change his beneficiary policy so that both of his children would benefit from it. The VA has been under scrutiny for not providing benefits guaranteed to many of our ex-military personnel. These whistleblowers were then quickly unemployed due to the attention they brought on the VA.
to the Veterans who have served our country. As the organization moves forward they envision
US Veterans are proud to have served, but what if they stop caring and sharing the need for Freedom and our Republic to the future? Value our Vets, as they have kept Liberty and Justice alive, and will hopefully continue to inspire those who might make the same sacrifices again tomorrow. Veterans in today’s United States are less than 1% of the over 300 million in this country. I think Veterans are important for this reason today, and every day! Please see how important they are like I do.
As discussed in our meeting, the Elks would very much like to be part of the coalition you are developing to better understand and address the needs of veterans. Each and every day, the Elks are interacting with veterans at VA hospitals and nursing homes, at their lodges through programs for veterans, by giving veterans the financial support and home furnishing to exit homelessness and much more. The work we do with veterans would bring significant value in crafting policy to honor and serve veterans.
VA Accountability Act of 2015, H.R. 1994 is a bill that has 98 cosponsors, only two of which are democrats. “The bill passed the house on 7/29/2015 and was received in the Senate, read twice and was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs on 07/30/2015 (Congress.gov (1) n.a.).” The intent of the bill is to ensure that employees of the VA are held accountable and held to a high standard at work, those that are unable to fulfill the requirements will be subject to demotion or will be terminated as a result. The bill also calls for an 18-month probationary period for new employees. “Employees have the right to appeal any demotion or termination before the Merit and Systems Protection
I learned volumes about government from State Senator Paul Bailey. He helped teach me how to write, propose, defend, and pass a bill. There is no other experience where a high school student can talk to an actual legislator about his ideas, or to learn so much about the process of passing a bill.
I have maybe four people (that I know of) that are veterans that I’m related to. All of my great grand fathers served. I have a friend that is a graduate from VMI(Virginia Military Institute).
These past and present veterans are vital to the survival of the U.S. They make it possible for us to have a life worry free, to the thought of danger. Without past generations of veterans we would be living in a country full of awful things. Veterans help to protect the children and people, by keeping
America would be really nothing without the veterans of America. Veterans can help prepare young soldiers for the pain they will have to go through during their missions. They help change people's views on the
VA St. Louis Health Care System makes changes to provide exceptional health care to vets
It is important to remember how much of daily life is affected by the work of veterans. Walking on streets, going to school, eating at restaurants, and hanging out with friends all depend on the service of veterans. They may not receive the proper amount of recognition from the younger generations, but their work is appreciated. In actuality, they gained vital information that can be shared with the future generations. They have gained respect and honor for their duty for our
About 1.5 million other veterans, meanwhile, are considered at-risk of homelessness due to poverty, lack of support networks, and dismal living conditions in overcrowded or substandard housing.
The objectives for the desired outcomes is to ensure that every veteran, regardless of which war, receives the proper care and treatment of their ailments. This is to include housing our homeless veterans in complexes in which they will feel safe, yet give them the freedom they need to work on their journey of healing. In the process, the veterans families that are affected must not be forgotten as