Legislative Report

Updated May 29, 2022

National Legislative Division Weekly

May 27, 2022

GRASSROOTS ALERT: TAKE ACTION TO SUPPORT

VETERANS EXPOSED TO TOXIC HAZARDS

This week, The American Legion National Headquarters sent out an alert to National Leigslative Council

(NLC) members and Legislative Action Center subscribers to call on their Senators to pass H.R. 3967, the

Honoring our PACT Act. In six weeks, 18,250 messages were sent to Senators. Florida, California, and

Texas had the largest share of total messages sent to their respective Senators. This can be seen in the

graphic below:

This campaign will be the top legislative priority of The American Legion until the Senate votes on it around

June 6 or 7. National Commander Paul Dillard has visited Minnesota, Georgia, Alaska, South Dakota, and

Indiana on a multi-state tour to spread awareness of the PACT Act. Earlier this month, he held a press

conference where he urged Legionnaires to take action and press their senators to vote yes on this critical

piece of legislation.

This week National Legislative Division (NLD) Staff met with Senate Minority Leader McConnell, Senator

Paul, and Senator Ernst to urge them to vote “YES” on the PACT Act.

Status updates will be shared weekly, and Legionnaires are encouraged to disseminate this campaign far

and wide.

TAKE ACTION NOW

National Legislative Division Weekly

May 27, 2022

THE AMERICAN LEGION PRESENTS SENATOR ERNST

THE DISTINGUISHED PUBLIC SERVICE AWARD

Every year, The American Legion presents

the Distinguished Public Service Award to

recognize lawmakers for their public service

career and their commitment to the welfare of

America’s veterans and their families. This

year, The American Legion presented the

award to Senator Ernst (R-IA). Senator Ernst

is an Army National Guard veteran who

served as a Company Commander in Kuwait

and Iraq, leading 150 Iowa Army National

Guardsmen during Operation Iraqi Freedom

(OIF). She retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in

the Iowa Army National Guard after 23 years

of military service.

After being elected as the first female

combat veteran to serve in the United States Senate in 2014, Ernst became a champion for veterans by

introducing the Buddy Check Week Act and garnering support for the Global War on Terrorism Memorial

Location Act, which was signed into law through last year’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

After the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, Senator Ernst developed a strategy to evacuate Special

Immigrant Visa holders who remain in Afghanistan. She also lead the bipartisan effort to make substantial

reforms to prevent military sexual assault.

CONGRESS

The Senate passed by unanimous consent, HR 4591, the VA Electronic Health Record Transparency Act.

This bill, already passed by the House, requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to report more

fully on the costs of the electronic health record modernization (EHRM) program. The bill was authored by

the chair of the House subcommittee with direct oversight of the project, Rep. Mrvan (D-IN).

Senate Veterans Affairs Committee chair Sen. Tester (D-MT) on Wednesday tried to get Shereef Elnahal

approved as the VA’s Under Secretary for Health via unanimous consent on the Senate floor. Sen. Scott

(R-FL) stopped the effort, saying he does not trust that any of President Biden’s nominees are qualified.

Tester challenged the junior Senator from Florida, pointing out that he did not attend the confirmation

hearing or take an opportunity to ask questions. Tester, visibly angry at this point, warned Scott not go to

Memorial Day events and claim to be a friend of veterans. The exchange concluded with Tester advising

Scott to “look in the mirror” to see why the Senate is dysfunctional.

On Wednesday, May 25, The American Legion presented

the Public Service Award to Senator Ernst (R-IA).

National Legislative Division Weekly

May 27, 2022

TOXIC EXPOSURES

SVAC chair Sen. Tester (D-MT) and ranking member Sen. Moran (R-KS) on Monday released their version

of the Honoring Our PACT Act. The Senate version contains the bulk of the House-passed versions

concerning expanding veterans’ access to VA care for health conditions resulting from burn pit and toxic

exposures; increasing research into these issues; and setting forth a list of 23 new service presumptions

related to Agent Orange and to burn pits and airborne exposures. VA Secretary McDonough praised the

legislation for codifying the Department’s new process for establishing service presumptions.

The Senate version also authorizes 31 major medical leases for the VA which have been held up on technical

problems in Congress for up to a decades. A related provision changes how the Congressional Budget Office

(CBO) would consider those kinds of leases in order to prevent this from happening in the future.

The Senate bill further includes additional hiring and pay authorities to help the VA recruit and retain

personnel. Many of those provisions cover things McDonough has said would be helpful when he testified

before Congress. This includes the ability to pay larger relocation, hiring, and retention bonuses, and

authority to waive aggregate caps on awards and bonuses for VA employees. Other provisions enable the

VA to improve the hiring and management of human resources personnel, with a requirement that the

Department submit a report to Congress on this part of the workforce.

Just before adjourning for the next week, Schumer filed cloture on the Honoring Our PACT Act, dealing

with VA’s coverage of toxic exposed veterans. If the Senate passes this bipartisan agreement, the House

could either request a conference to resolve the differences, or simply pass the Senate version.

UPCOMING HEARINGS

Congress is out of session next week. There will be no hearings.

MEETINGS

• On Tuesday, May 24, NLD Staff gave an update on the Honoring our PACT Act at the Training

Tuesday webinar.

• On Tuesday, May 24, NLD Staff met with House Veterans’ Affairs Committee (HVAC) majority

staff to discuss upcoming education oversight legislation.

• On Tuesday, May 24, NLD Staff participated in a VSO meeting to discuss the Honoring Our PACT

Act.

• On Tuesday, May 24, NLD Staff participated in the VSO call to discuss legislative strategies to pass

the Honoring Our PACT Act.

• On Wednesday, May 25, NLD Staff met with members of the Japanese Embassy to discuss military

quality of life issues for service members and veterans who reside in Japan as well as a variety of

security concerns in the pacific theater.

• On Wednesday, May 25th, NLD Staff along, with the Chairwoman of the National Legislative

Council (NLC), met with the office of Representative Murphy (R-NC) to discuss a variety of

National Legislative Division Weekly

May 27, 2022

veterans and defense related issues. Represenated Murphy has the largest Marine Corps base on the

east coast, Camp Lejeune, in his district.

• On Wednesday, May 25, NLD staff met with Chairman Smith’s (D-WA) Veterans Policy Advisor

to discuss the Major Richard Star Act, which corrects the concurrent receipt problem affecting

disabled veterans. Combat-injured veterans forced into early retirement by their injury are not

receiving their vested longevity pay. Reducing retirement pay because of a disability is an injustice.

The Major Richard Star Act will correct this injustice.

• On Wednesday, May 25, NLD Staff met with Senator Ernst (R-IA) to discuss various veteran

legislative priorities as well as give her TAL’s Distinguished Public Service Award.

• On Thursday, May 26, NLD Staff met with Kentucky state representatives to discuss legislative

strategies to pass the Honoring Our PACT Act.

• On Thursday, May 26, NLD Staff met with the office of Senator Paul (R-KY) to discuss the

Honoring Our PACT Act.

• On Thursday, May 26, NLD Staff with Minority Leader McConnell (R-KY) to discuss the Honoring

Our PACT Act.

• On Thursday, May 26, NLD Staff met with staff from the office of Senator Duckworth (D-IL) to

discuss possible military naturalization language to be included in the FY23 NDAA.

• On Thursday, May 26, NLD Staff met with staff from the office of Representative Lee (D-CA) to

discuss possible Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) repeal language to be included in

the FY23 NDAA.

• On Friday, May 27, NLD Staff met with staff from the office of Senator Graham (R-SC) to discuss

the Afghan Adjustment Act.

• On Friday, May 27, NLD staff participated in the VSO call to discuss legislative strategies for the

Major Richard Star Act.

• On Friday, May 27, NLD staff met with Sen. Crapo’s (R-ID) Veterans Policy Advisor to discuss

the Honoring Our PACT Act.

Lawrence Montreuil, Legislative Director

The American LegionNational Legislative Division Weekly

May 20, 2022

GRASSROOTS ALERT: TAKE ACTION TO SUPPORT

VETERANS EXPOSED TO TOXIC HAZARDS

This week, The American Legion National Headquarters sent out an alert to NLC members and Legislative

Action Center subscribers to call on their Senators to pass H.R. 3967, the Honoring our PACT Act. In five

weeks, 17,288 messages were sent to Senators. Florida, California, and Texas had the largest share of total

messages sent to their respective Senators. This can be seen in the graphic below:

This campaign will be the top legislative priority of The American Legion until the Senate votes on it around

June 7 or 8. National Commander Paul Dillard has visited Minnesota, Georgia, Alaska, South Dakota, and

Indiana on a multi-state tour to spread awareness of the PACT Act. Earlier this month, he held a press

conference where he urged Legionnaires to take action and press their senators to vote yes on this critical

piece of legislation.

Status updates will be shared weekly, and Legionnaires are encouraged to disseminate this campaign far

and wide.

TAKE ACTION NOW

CONGRESS

As the US death toll from COVID-19 reached one million this week (according to the Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention (CDC)), the House has yet to pass another related supplemental spending bill.

Senate leaders have told reporters they are waiting for the House to act. House leaders are now saying they

are waiting for the Senate.

The Senate did pass another Ukraine supplemental spending bill in its last vote for this week. The House

had passed it previously, but Sen. Paul (R-KY) held it up for a week in his Chamber. The bill now goes to

the President.

National Legislative Division Weekly

May 20, 2022

The Senate will be in session next week, while the House is in a District Work Period. However, the rise of

remote hearings will allow for a number of House committees to hold hearings from home.

SERGEANT FIRST CLASS HEATH ROBINSON

HONORING OUR PROMISE TO ADDRESS

COMPREHENSIVE TOXICS (PACT) ACT

Senate Veterans Affairs Committee chair Sen. Tester (D-MT) and ranking member Sen. Moran (R-KS) on

Wednesday announced an agreement to support the House-passed PACT Act.

Previously, Moran and his Republican colleagues hesitated to support the legislation due to the cost and

fears of overwhelming the VA’s benefits and health care systems. The statement announcing the agreement

did not indicate what changed GOP lawmakers’ minds. Veterans service organizations (VSOs) and other

advocates have been lobbying heavily for the bill, which the House passed in March on a bipartisan basis

(although only 34 Republicans voted in favor).

The PACT Act expands VA health care eligibility to 3.5 million post-9/11 veterans who were exposed to

burn pits and other toxins. It adds 23 service presumptions for the health effects from toxic exposures,

including hypertension due to Agent Orange. It also expands areas in which veterans exposed to Agent

Orange would qualify for service presumptions.

The legislation also provides funding for 31 major leases Congress has previously authorized. The funding

has been stalled in Congress because of the way CBO scores them for budgetary planning purposes.

Finally, the legislation provides additional resources for the VA to bolster both claims processing and the

provision of health care in order to manage the increased number of eligible veterans.

The Senate intends to vote on the legislation around June 7 or 8. If the House needs to vote (due to the

Senate changing language in its bill), Speaker Pelosi (D-CA) has promised prompt floor action.

A Pentagon spokesman said on Thursday that Defense Secretary Austin speaks with VA Secretary

McDonough about this topic on a regular basis. He did not indicate whether the two Departments have yet

created a plan for identifying all service members who were exposed to burn pits and would be eligible for

VA services under this legislation

VETERANS-RELATED LEGISLATION

Congress has a tradition of passing a bevy of veterans-related bills just before Memorial Day.

On Tuesday, the House passed ten bills:

National Legislative Division Weekly

May 20, 2022

o *S 3527, allowing the VA to transfer the name of facilities to other, similar facilities

o *S 1760, naming the CBOC being built in Oahu, Hawaii, the Daniel Kahikina Akaka VA CBOC

o *S 2514, naming the Provo Veterans Center in Orem, Utah, the Col. Gail S. Halvorsen “Candy

Bomber” Veterans Center

o HR 7500, FY22 VA Major Medical Facility Authorization Act

o HR 5754, Patient Advocate Tracker Act

o HR 6604, Veterans Eligibility to Transfer School (VETS) Credit Act

o *S 2687, Strengthening Oversight for Veterans Act of 2021

o HR 7375, VA to allow for electronic fund transfer for educational assistance to foreign institutions

of higher education

o HR 6376, Student Veteran Work Study Modernization Act

o HR 7153, VA Principles of Benefits Automation Act

On Wednesday, the House passed an additional nine bills:

o HR 5738, Lactation Spaces for Veteran Moms Act

o HR 7335, MST Claims Coordination Act

o HR 6961, Dignity for MST Survivors Act

o HR 6064, requiring the VA to have NASEM review examinations of those who submit claims to

the VA for compensation for mental and physical conditions linked to MST

o HR 2724, VA Peer Support Enhancement for MST Survivors Act

o *S 4089, Veterans Rapid Retraining Assistance Program Restoration and Recovery Act

o HR 6052, VA OIG Training Act

o *S 2533, MAMMO for Veterans Act

o *S 2102, Dr. Kate Hendricks Thomas SERVICE Act

The listed bills with an asterisk (*) have already passed the Senate, and are now headed to the President to

be signed into law.

$30B UKRAINE PACKAGE HEADS TO BIDEN’S DESK

The Senate voted 86-11 Thursday to approve a $40 billion Ukraine aid package that would replenish U.S.

stockpiles of weapons transferred to Ukraine, as well as allocate billions of dollars to help the Ukrainian

government continue operating and provide humanitarian assistance. President Biden is expected to

immediately sign the legislation, which exceeds his $33 billion request to Congress.

The House passed the legislation overwhelmingly earlier this month by a vote of 368-57. The bill would

authorize the transfer of American weapons and equipment to Ukraine and provide $9 billion to replenish

depleted U.S. weapons stockpiles. It would also provide nearly $9 billion for continued operations of the

Ukrainian government and $4 billion in international disaster assistance.

Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged Congress last week to pass the

bill by Thursday if the U.S. wanted to continue sending aid to Ukraine at the current pace. The

National Legislative Division Weekly

May 20, 2022

administration had predicted that the $100 million leftover in presidential drawdown authority—which

allows the Pentagon to send weapons from its own stockpile — would last through the middle of May.

Eleven Republican senators led by Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) voted against the measure.

UPCOMING HEARINGS

• On Tuesday, May 24, the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee (SVAC) will hold a hearing titled

“Hearings to examine pending calendar business.”

LEGIONNAIRE OF THE WEEK

In an effort to recognize the weekly accomplishments of our Legionnaires, we will spotlight an individual

every week. These individuals demonstrate exceptional grassroots activism by meeting with/contacting

their Congressional Representative/Senator to advocate for veterans. Efforts like these truly make a

difference and give veterans a voice in Congress.

NLC Vice Chairman Jensen, Washington

This week, we are excited to recognize NLC Vice Chairman Jensen for meeting with staff from the office

of Representative Larsen (D-WA) to discuss the Honoring Our PACT Act and obtaining support from

Senator Cantwell (D-WA) and Senator Murray (D-WA).

Thank you, Chairman Skinner!

If you have made a grassroots effort and would like to be considered for next week’s “Legionnaire of the

Week,” please fill out the Congressional Contact Report Form here. You can also email me at

kisaacson@legion.org.

MEETINGS

• On Monday, May 16, NLD Staff conducted an introductory meeting with the House Small Business

Committee Majority Staff.

• On Monday, May 16, NLD Staff met with the Senate Small Business Committee staff to discuss

concerns with the passage of S. 3564, the Veterans Entrepreneurship Act, out of Committee. Staff

received word that several “poison pill” amendments would be proposed in a Wednesday markup,

dividing the Committee from what otherwise would be a bipartisan vote.

• On Tuesday, May 17, NLD Staff sent messages to all of the Senators on the Small Business

Committee to share the American Legion’s support for S. 3564. NLD Staff then received word that

the poison pill amendments would be withdrawn before Wednesday’s hearing.

• On Tuesday, May 17, NLD Staff attended a House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution,

Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties hearing titled “Examining Potential Reforms of Emergency

Powers.” Written testimony and video can be found here.

National Legislative Division Weekly

May 20, 2022

• On Wednesday, Mau 18, NLD Staff monitored the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on

Economic Opportunity legislative hearing. The American Legion’s state for the record (SFR) can

be found here.

• On Wednesday, May 18, NLD Staff spoke with the Republican National Committee (RNC) about

a Veterans Forum they are planning for next week at the Villages in Florida. They extended an

invitation for a Legion representative to talk about the benefits of Legion membership and our

advocacy goals. The invitation was shared with the Florida National Legislative Council Vice

Chairman.

• On Wednesday, May 18, NLD Staff participated in the Afghanistan allies’ coalition working group

meeting to receive updates on efforts to get remaining Afghans who worked with the US military

during the Afghanistan war out of the country and the latest developments with assisting those

already in the US to integrate into their new communities.

• On Wednesday, May 18, NLD Staff met with staff from SVAC to discuss the VA’s Asset and

Infrastructure Review (AIR) Commission and a legislative proposal to reform VA’s infrastructure

planning process.

• On Wednesday, May 18, NLD Staff participated in an Afghanistan allies’ coalition working group

meeting to work on advancing legislation called the Afghan Adjustment Act, which would facilitate

the settlement of our Afghan allies in the US.

• On Wednesday, May 18, NLD Staff attended a House Homeland Security titled “Examining DHS’s

Efforts to Combat the Opioid Epidemic.” Written testimony is here and the video is here. The

hearing provided an opportunity to learn more about the Department of Homeland Security’s efforts

and challenges in combatting the opioid epidemic, and Transnational Organized Crime.

• On Thursday, May 19, NLD Staff attended a House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia, the

Pacific, Central Asia, and Nonproliferation hearing titled “The Ukraine Crisis: Implications for U.S.

Policy in the Indo-Pacific.” The hearing focused on the ramifications of the Russian invasion of

Ukraine for a potential conflict over China and Taiwan. Written testimony is here and the video is

here.

• On Thursday, May 19, NLD Staff met with the office of Rep. Jenniffer González-Colón (R-PR) to

discuss legislation to expand TRICARE in the US territories.

• On Thursday, May 19th, NLD Staff spoke with GI Jobs magazine about the Legion’s education

priorities, specifically the GI Bill Parity Act.

• On Thursday, May 19, NLD Staff met with Representative Greg Murphy (R-NC). Congressman

Murphy sits on the House Ways and Means Committee but expressed his interest in taking on a

more active role in sponsoring veterans legislation after the recent House passage of his Veterans

Eligibility to Transfer School (VETS) Credit Act.

• On Friday, May 20th, NLD Staff met with SVAC Majority Staff to discuss VA’s AIR Commission.

Lawrence Montreuil, Legislative Director

The American LegionNational Legislative Division Weekly

May 13, 2022

GRASSROOTS ALERT: TAKE ACTION TO SUPPORT

VETERANS EXPOSED TO TOXIC HAZARDS

This week, The American Legion National Headquarters sent out an alert to NLC members and Legislative

Action Center subscribers to call on their Senators to pass H.R. 3967, the Honoring our PACT Act. In four

weeks, 13,784 messages were sent to Senators. Florida, California, and Pennsylvania had the largest share

of total messages sent to their respective Senators. This can be seen in the graphic below:

This campaign will be the top legislative priority of The American Legion until the Senate acts on this

critical piece of legislation. National Commander Paul Dillard has visited Minnesota, Georgia, Alaska,

South Dakota, and Indiana on a multi-state tour to spread awareness of the PACT Act. Last week, he held

a press conference where he urged Legionnaires to take action and press their senators to vote yes on this

critical piece of legislation.

Status updates will be shared weekly, and Legionnaires are encouraged to disseminate this campaign far

and wide.

TAKE ACTION NOW

CONGRESS

On both sides of Capitol Hill, appropriators were hard at work. Dozens of hearings were held on every

aspect of the federal budget in an attempt to write and pass appropriations bills on time this year. House

Appropriations Committee chair Rep. DeLauro (D-CT) on Tuesday indicated that leaders of the House and

Senate committees are deep into negotiations on topline spending amounts. While it is too early to predict

what the final numbers might be, the Defense budget will most certainly be higher than what the

Administration requested.

The House Armed Services Committee released its markup schedule this week. Subcommittee markups

(which tend to last between 6 and 20 minutes) will take place on June 8 and 9, and the full committee

markup on June 22.

National Legislative Division Weekly

May 13, 2022

The Senate, as expected, failed to move the Women’s Health Protection Act forward, which would have

codified abortion access as basic health care. The Chamber also failed to move the newest supplemental to

provide military assistance to Ukraine, due to opposition by Sen. Paul (R-KY). The Senator wants to include

a provision to have the Afghanistan Special Inspector audit the funds spent helping Ukraine. However, the

underlying bill already requires both DoD and the State Department to conduct such audits, and other

legislation provides for a Ukraine-specific inspector.

The House already passed the $40 billion Ukraine aid package.

CONGRESS EXCLUDES PROTECTIONS FOR AFGHAN

EVACUEES IN UKRAINE BILL

Congress left out of a Ukraine-focused supplemental spending bill a White House proposal to grant Afghan

evacuees permanent protections in the U.S., leaving roughly 36,000 of them in legal limbo.

The move deals a blow to advocates who have spent months urging protections for those who were

evacuated from Afghanistan last August but do not qualify for special immigrant visas.

The organization #AfghanEvac, which has worked to secure relief for Afghans, has met with the White

House and with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle for months to push for the provisions. The Biden

administration asked Congress to include the language in the Ukraine bill.

Shawn VanDiver, a Navy veteran and the founder of the group, has said there has been bipartisan support

for the measures, which are known as the Afghan Adjustment Act but have not officially been introduced

as a standalone bill.

“The work here isn’t close to done,” VanDiver tweeted Tuesday. “We know who blocked this and will

press ever harder to get it done.”

The proposal would apply to the tens of thousands of Afghans who do not qualify for the narrow parameters

of the Special Immigrant Visa program, reserved for Afghans who directly assisted the U.S. during the 20-

year conflict.

These evacuees received temporary humanitarian parole when they entered the U.S., a status granted to

immigrants without visas for pressing humanitarian reasons. But they can only attain lawful permanent

residency if they apply for asylum through the backlogged system, with average wait times that stretch for

more than four years.

Under consideration

National Legislative Division Weekly

May 13, 2022

The provisions were under consideration for inclusion in the Ukraine spending bill as late as Tuesday.

Advocates pushed for inclusion of the provisions in acknowledgment that they would be difficult to move

as a standalone bill.

There are a dwindling number of must-pass bills on the agenda before the midterm elections in November,

leaving few opportunities to pass the Afghan policy as part of a broader bill.

Ultimately, the Afghan proposal was stymied by Republican concerns about vetting as well as senators’

desire to move billions of dollars in Ukraine aid as quickly as possible.

“I do think it's really important to keep the Ukrainian aid program an aid package about Ukraine, not adding

anything to it — even something like the Afghan program that I might support,” Ohio Republican Sen. Rob

Portman said last week.

Portman, the ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, said

he had concerns about vetting and screening of Afghan evacuees. He cited an inspector general report from

earlier this year suggesting that a few dozen Afghan evacuees were not fully vetted using available Defense

Department data, and that some of those individuals could not be located.

Iowa Republican Sen. Joni Ernst signaled concern with screening procedures she said were not tough

enough to keep out people affiliated with terrorist organizations. “I've said I can't support the Afghan bills

unless those are worked out,” Ernst said.

Even Democrats who had played a key role in developing the proposal, such as Delaware Democratic Sen.

Chris Coons, were wary of anything that could slow down the Ukraine funding bill, which the House passed

Tuesday night.

"I am clear that we can’t slow down the Ukraine assistance package, and so I agree with the president’s

timeline and objective in terms of getting this done no later than next week,” Coons said.

The omission of the provisions prolongs a period of uncertainty for thousands of Afghans who cannot safely

return to Afghanistan.

They include Afghans who are extended family members of special immigrant visa recipients and do not

qualify as direct dependents, as well as Afghans who supported education, journalism or women’s rights

and would face persecution under Taliban rule.

Those Afghans are eligible for protection and some refugee benefits under humanitarian parole for a period

of up to two years. They are also eligible for Temporary Protected Status, which includes work authorization

and protection from deportation, for a period of 18 months plus any extensions the Biden administration

decides to grant.

National Legislative Division Weekly

May 13, 2022

However, those protections do not provide a pathway to citizenship, and could change under a future

presidential administration.

“It's like living in a hotel,” VanDiver said of the current temporary protections. “An American value is the

ability to place down roots.”

Also left out of the Ukraine package was a separate White House proposal that would aim to “undercut

Russia's innovative potential” by making it easier for Russian STEM professionals to work in the U.S.

The proposal would have eliminated a requirement that Russian advanced degree holders seeking

employment in STEM industries have an employer sponsor in the U.S. before applying for an employment-

based visa.

UPCOMING HEARINGS

• On Tuesday, May 17, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans

Affairs, and Related Agencies will hold a hearing titled “FY23 VA Electronic Health Record

Modernization Budget Hearing.”

• On Wednesday, May 18, the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity will

hold a legislative hearing. TAL will submit a State for the Record (SFR). You can watch the hearing

here.

• On Wednesday, May 18, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction,

Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies will hold a hearing titled “Navy and Marin Corps

Installations and Quality of Life Update.”

• On Wednesday, May 18, the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship will

hold a hearing titled “Oversight of Immigrant Military Members and Veterans.”

• On Wednesday, May 18, the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and

Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies will hold a hearing titled “Hearings to examine proposed

budget estimates and justification for fiscal year 2023 for military construction and family housing.”

LEGIONNAIRE OF THE WEEK

In an effort to recognize the weekly accomplishments of our Legionnaires, we will spotlight an individual

every week. These individuals demonstrate exceptional grassroots activism by meeting with/contacting

their Congressional Representative/Senator to advocate for veterans. Efforts like these truly make a

difference and give veterans a voice in Congress.

Chairman Skinner, Idaho

This week, we are excited to recognize Chairman Skinner for meeting with staff from the office of Senator

Crapo (R-ID) to discuss The American Legion’s legislative agenda. At the end of the meeting, Chairman

Skinner and Rich Kearsley presented the staff with a signed baseball from the Badnits along with a winners

medal and several pins.

National Legislative Division Weekly

May 13, 2022

“They were very happy to get the momentos from our World Series Champions. I maintain a close

relationship with the congressional staffers and they come to my monthly meeting of all the VSOs in the

area. They are always willing to help us and any Veterans they can.”

Thank you, Chairman Skinner!

If you have made a grassroots effort and would like to be considered for next week’s “Legionnaire of the

Week,” please fill out the Congressional Contact Report Form here. You can also email me at

kisaacson@legion.org.

MEETINGS

• On Monday, May 9, NLD Staff participated in a VSO weekly meeting to discuss the Honoring Our

PACT Act.

• On Monday, May 9, NLD Staff participated in a VSO weekly meeting to discuss the Major Richard

Star Act to discuss the disparate impact on veterans. The participants specifically discussed the issue

of a concurrent receipt.

• On Tuesday, May 10, NLD Staff prepared for a VSO webinar presentation for Senate staffers to

discuss the Honoring Our PACT Act.

• On Tuesday, May 10, NLD Staff met with Rep. Pfluger’s (R-TX) Veterans Policy Advisor to discuss

H.R. 7524, the ACES Act, which would direct the Secretary of the VA to work with the National

Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to study the incidence of and mortality of cancer

among individuals who served in the Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps as aviators and aircrew.

• On Tuesday, May 10, NLD Staff participated in a VSO call to discuss legislative strategies for the

Honoring Our PACT Act.

• On Tuesday, May 10, NLD Staff met with Rep. Bilirakis (R-TX) Veterans Policy Advisor to discuss

the Major Richard Star Act and legislative strategies.

• On Wednesday, May 11, NLD Staff participated in a VSO Information Brief on the Honoring Our

PACT Act for Senate staffers.

• On Wednesday, May 11, NLD Staff monitored a Senate Veterans Affairs Committee (SVAC)

hearing titled “Hearings to examine the quality of care in the VA and private sector.”

• On Wednesday, May 11, NLD Staff monitored a House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military

Construction and the Department of Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies hearing titled “Impacts

of VA’s Research Efforts on Veterans.”

• On Thursday, May 12, NLD Staff met with SVAC Majority staff to discuss the Honoring Our PACT

Act.

• On Thursday, May 12, NLD Staff met with the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to discuss

the Department of Defense’s (DoD) Troops to Teachers Program management.

• On Thursday, May 12, NLD Staff participated in a Four Corners Congressional call on veterans

homelessness legislation.

National Legislative Division Weekly

May 13, 2022

• On Thursday, May 12, NLD Staff monitored a House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Health

hearing titled “Innovative Care Delivery at VA: Partnering to Improve Infrastructure and

Operational Efficiency.”

• On Friday, May 13, NLD Staff participated in a Republican roundtable to discuss solutions to protect

veterans from VA policies that infringe on veterans’ 2nd Amendment rights without due process of

the law.

• On Friday, May 13, NLD Staff participated in a VSO meeting to discuss legislative strategies for

the Major Richard Star Act.

• On Friday, May 13, NLD Staff met with Rep. Massie’s (R-KY) Veterans Policy Advisor to discuss

the Honoring Our PACT Act.

• On Friday, May 13, NLD Staff met with the California Coalition of Community Colleges to discuss

GI Bill certification issues related to the Roe-Isaakson Act.

Lawrence Montreuil, Legislative Director

The American Legion National Legislative Division Weekly

May 6, 2022

GRASSROOTS ALERT: TAKE ACTION TO SUPPORT

VETERANS EXPOSED TO TOXIC HAZARDS

This week, The American Legion National Headquarters sent out an alert to NLC members and

Legislative Action Center subscribers to call on their Senators to pass H.R. 3967, the Honoring our PACT

Act. In three weeks, 13,040 messages were sent to Senators. Florida, Pennsylvania, and California had the

largest share of total messages sent to their respective Senators. This can be seen in the graphic below:

In addition, we’d like to recognize the Department of Nevada for having the highest rate of engagement,

which accounts for the Legionnaire population of each state. Round of applause for Nevada Legionnaires!

This campaign will be the top legislative priority of The American Legion until the Senate acts on this

critical piece of legislation. National Commander Paul Dillard has visited Minnesota, Georgia, Alaska,

South Dakota, and Indiana on a multi-state tour to spread awareness of the PACT Act. This week, he also

held a press conference where he urged Legionnaires to take action and press their senators to vote yes on

this critical piece of legislation.

Status updates will be shared weekly, and Legionnaires are encouraged to disseminate this campaign far

and wide.

TAKE ACTION NOW

AMERICAN LEGION CALLS FOR IMMIGRATION

REFORM

The American Legion’s National Security Commission has been reviewing immigration policy issues

with those in the field to discuss needs with the border, visa application, legal immigration application,

asylum system and more. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency estimates that

there are 11.4 million undocumented immigrants currently residing within the United States –

approximately 45% of them arrived in the United States legally but have overstayed their visa.

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May 6, 2022

The American Legion believes in legal immigration into the United States and a path toward becoming a

U.S. citizen. To help in those efforts, the National Security Commission presented an immigration reform

policy resolution during The American Legion’s Spring Meetings May 5 in Indianapolis. Resolution No.

23, Immigration Reform, was adopted by the National Executive Committee.

As stated, the resolution urges the U.S. government to:

• Adopt immigration reform policy that emphasizes border security, focusing on funding for barriers where

needed, fielding of advanced technologies, and fully manning the border;

• Enact laws that improve visa security through thorough vetting of applicants, reducing visa

overstays and ending visa programs that are vulnerable to exploitation by bad actors;

• Streamline the legal immigration application process so as to help reduce and discourage illegal

immigration;

• Reform the asylum system and adhere to laws requiring detention and expedited due process

and/or removal of illegal border crossers; and

• Strengthen immigration reform agreements with transit countries to discourage the flow of

immigrants that attempt to enter the United States illegally.

Resolution 23 is available here.

CONGRESS

The House will be back in session next week. The House Armed Services Committee (HASC) has already

announced a full slate of hearings on various elements of the military, as the committee drives to start

marking up the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) early next month.

THE VA AND THE SOUTHERN BORDER

The Biden Administration is reportedly about to lift Title 42 at the Southern border. The previous

Administration had used the rule to send undocumented immigrants back to Mexico. Lifting the rule

would allow these individuals to stay in the United States while awaiting asylum decisions.

There has been a small firestorm in Congress and elsewhere at the prospect of the Department of

Homeland Security (DHS) calling upon the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to send medical

personnel to the border to treat those immigrants for COVID and other conditions.

As a result, for the last few weeks, Republican lawmakers have asked a number of VA witnesses whether

VA personnel will be diverted from treating veterans to care for migrants. On Wednesday, VA Secretary

McDonough hopefully put the matter to rest when he assured the Senate Appropriations Committee’s

Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee (SAC-Milcon) this will not happen. The

American Legion recently passed Resolution 23, which calls for immigration reform.

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May 6, 2022

THE VA’S ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORD

MODERNIZATION (EHRM) INITIATIVE

McDonough told the SAC-Milcon that, since March 3, the facilities using the new EHR system have

experienced six outages due to system imbalance and similar issues. Cerner, the EHR provider, is in

charge of ensuring these problems do not occur. Describing himself as “frustrated” by this, McDonough

indicated a reluctance to continue rolling out the system at additional sites until that is fixed.

The system has experienced outages of up to just over two hours at both Mann-Grandstaff and Walla

Walla, two facilities located in Washington state. No reported outages have yet occurred at the Columbus,

Ohio, facility, which was the third and most recent medical center to implement the Cerner EHR system,

At Wednesday’s hearing, McDonough denied reports that Mann-Grandstaff is planning to cut back on

veterans’ care due to productivity losses caused by the EHR implementation. The Secretary promised Sen.

Murray (D-WA) that there is no such plan, and he would not support such a move.

McDonough and other VA leaders have told Senate committees this week that lessons learned on training

staff on the new system have resulted in far smoother rollouts at both Walla Walla and Columbus. The

plan is to continue implementing the system in smaller, less complicated settings, while building up to

tackle larger facilities later in the schedule.

The Cerner system is next scheduled to be implemented on June 11 at the Roseburg VA Health Care

System and the VA Southern Oregon Rehabilitation Center and Clinic, both located in Oregon.

UPCOMING HEARINGS

• On Tuesday, May 10, the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) will hold a hearing titled,

“To receive testimony on worldwide threats.”

• On Wednesday, May 11, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense will hold a hearing

titled, “Fiscal Year 2023 Department of Defense.”

• On Wednesday, May 11, the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity

will hold a hearing titled, “Reviewing President Biden’s Strategy to Reduce Veteran Suicide by

Addressing Economic Risk Factors.”

• On Wednesday, May 11, the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee (SVAC) will hold a hearing

titled, “Hearings to examine the quality of care in the VA and private sector.”

LEGIONNAIRE OF THE WEEK

In an effort to recognize the weekly accomplishments of our Legionnaires, we will spotlight an individual

every week. These individuals demonstrate exceptional grassroots activism by meeting with/contacting

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May 6, 2022

their Congressional Representative/Senator to advocate for veterans. Efforts like these truly make a

difference and give veterans a voice in Congress.

Commander Rafael Munoz-Cintron, Washington

This week, we are excited to recognize Commander Rafael Munoz-Cintron for meeting with staff from

the office of Representative Smith (D-WA), who is the Chairman of the House Armed Services

Committee (HASC). Commander Munoz-Cintron went to discuss “Buddy Check Week” legislation,

which would direct the Secretary of VA to designate one week each year as “Buddy Check Week” for the

purpose of outreach and education concerning peer wellness checks for veterans. After the meeting, the

staffer emailed Commander Munoz-Cintron to update him on the bill’s progress.

Thank you, Commander Munoz-Cintron!

If you have made a grassroots effort and would like to be considered for next week’s “Legionnaire of the

Week,” please fill out the Congressional Contact Report Form here. You can also email me at

kisaacson@legion.org.

MEETINGS

• This week NLD Staff participated in the Spring NEC meetings at the TAL Headquarters in

Indianapolis.

• On Monday, May 2, NLD Staff attended an event hosted by the Hudson Institute titled: “Should

the US Overhaul its Defense Strategy? A conversation with Congressman Mike Rogers (R-AL).”

More information and video are here.

• On Monday, May 2, NLD Staff participated in a VSO weekly meeting to discuss the Honoring

Our PACT Act.

• On Tuesday, May 3, NLD Staff attended a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing titled:

“State Department Authorization: Strengthening U.S. Diplomacy for the 21st Century.” Testimony

and video are here.

• On Tuesday, May 3, NLD Staff attended an event hosted by the Center for Strategic and

International Studies (CSIS) titled: “The Spear and the Shield? Japan's Defense Strategy

Trajectory.” More information and video are here.

• On Tuesday, May 3, NLD Staff participated in a National Security Reform working group

meeting to discuss the balance of power between the president and Congress regarding the use of

military force.

• On Tuesday, May 3, NLD Staff attended a “Four Corners” Veterans Committee call on economic

opportunity issues including homelessness and education oversight.

• On Tuesday, May 3, NLD Staff participated in a meeting with Senate Majority Leader Chuck

Schumer (D-NY) to discuss legislative strategies for passing the Honoring Our PACT Act in the

Senate.

• On Tuesday, May 3, NLD Staff monitored an SVAC hearing on VA workforce recruitment and

retention.

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May 6, 2022

• On Wednesday, May 4, NLD Staff monitored an SVAC hearing on the pending nomination for

VA Under Secretary of Health.

• On Thursday, May 5, NLD Staff attended a Senate Committee on Homeland Security and

Governmental Affairs hearing titled: “Securing and Ensuring Order on the Southwest Border.”

Testimony and video are here.

• On Thursday, May 5, NLD Staff participated meeting to discuss the Honoring Our PACT Act

event in Washington D.C.

• On Friday, May 6, NLD Staff spoke with House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Economic

Opportunity Minority Staff about draft legislation to lower appraisal fees on the VA Home Loan

Program.

Lawrence Montreuil, Legislative Director

The American Legion

Legionnaires,

Victory is within sight for granting VA healthcare to toxic-exposed veterans - but we need your help and every Legionnaire in the fight. Act now by c ontacting your Senators a nd urge them to vote YES for the Honoring Our PACT Act.

In April, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced that he would bring the Honoring Our Pact Act to a vote on the Senate floor around Memorial Day. However, there is opposition from those who believe this comprehensive toxic exposure legislation is too expensive. There is a significant chance the bill will fail without bipartisan support. It is for this very reason that it took decades for VA to provide relief for veterans of Vietnam exposed to Agent Orange. The U.S. government still has yet to finish its work for Vietnam veterans, and we have begun the cycle anew with the current generation of service members who served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

We must break this cycle of care that is considered "too little, too late" for our veterans. They cannot wait decades to receive the care they need and rightfully deserve. As our National Commander Paul E. Dillard said at this week’s Spring National Executive Committee meeting, "President Lincoln's promise –‘To Care for Him Who Shall Have Borne the Battle’ defines who we are as an American Legion. Does it define us as a country?"

We need you to follow our National Commander's lead and contact your Senators. Please tell them to vote “YES” in support of this landmark legislation and share with your fellow Legionnaires and veterans advocates.

Take Action Now!

John Kamin | Legislative Associate & Grassroots Coordinator

a: 1608 K Street NW., Washington, DC 20006

e: jkamin@legion.org | w: www.legion.org