National Legislative Division Weekly
December 17, 2021
CONGRESSIONAL UPDATE
Once again, this week Congress proved it can move quickly when it truly wants to. On Tuesday, the Senate
voted 50-49 to raise the federal debt ceiling until after the mid-term elections. Just after midnight, in the
wee hours of Wednesday morning, the House followed suit with a 221 to 209 vote. The resolution raises
the debt ceiling by $2.5 trillion. President Biden signed it into law on Thursday.
The FY22 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) passed the Senate on Wednesday with bipartisan
support, meaning Congress has now passed an NDAA for 61 consecutive years. President Biden is expected
to sign it soon.
The House is now out of session until next year. The Senate may stick around for another week, mainly to
confirm judges and other political appointees. Thursday morning, Senate Majority Leader Schumer (D-NY)
took to the floor to chastise his Republican colleagues for holding up so many of the Administration’s
nominees, and vowed to see the process through.
On Tuesday, the Senate Armed Services Committee formally sent the nomination of Admiral Christopher
Grady to become the next Vice Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to the full Chamber. If the Senate is in
session next week, this could be on the agenda.
The Build Back Better Bill and election reform will be the first legislative priorities in the new year. Most
pundits expect that nothing else major will be addressed in the Senate until this is concluded.
AMERICAN LEGION SEES SIGNIFICANT WINS IN
2022 NDAA
The Senate passed a vital defense spending bill on Dec. 15, advancing the $768 billion Fiscal Year 2022
National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to the president’s desk for final approval. The sweeping
defense budget includes significant wins for The American Legion’s legislative agenda and the nation’s
veterans.
“There are a number of important initiatives in the NDAA that The American Legion supports,” American
Legion National Commander Paul E. Dillard said. “First, no military servicemember will receive a
dishonorable discharge solely on the basis of COVID-19 vaccine refusal. While we are supportive of the
vaccines, we do not believe a veteran’s military service should be characterized as ‘dishonorable’ simply
because he or she disagrees.
“The NDAA will also provide for a robust national defense and establish the long overdue Global War on
Terrorism Memorial. There is renewed funding for the Troops for Teachers program, which is not only a
win for our transitioning veterans but for students in classrooms across the country. The legislation also
makes strides in fighting military sexual assault and establish a commission that will examine every aspect
National Legislative Division Weekly
December 17, 2021
of the Afghanistan war. We are also pleased that this law makes it easier to preserve and update Arlington
National Cemetery memorials to military chaplains. The NDAA is a bipartisan example of lawmakers
coming together and putting our country first. The American Legion is looking forward to the president
signing it into law.”
Here are some highlights of critical importance to our nation’s veterans and military.
Troops to Teachers
The Troops to Teachers program was revived in the compromise version of the NDAA legislation approved
by the Senate. The American Legion lobbied lawmakers to include the program in the defense spending bill
after it was abruptly defunded as part of the Defense-Wide Review when the Department of Defense (DoD)
opted to realign program resources to higher priority programs more closely aligned to the National Defense
Strategy. The program was allowed to sunset on Sept. 30, 2021.
In a joint letter addressed to the House and Senates Armed Services Committee, The American Legion
joined a coalition of veterans service organizations (VSOs) urging lawmakers to include the program in the
NDAA.
“Allowing the Troops for Teachers program to sunset would go against America’s critical need to support
our children’s education,” they wrote.
The program was designed to assist transitioning servicemembers and veterans to begin careers as educators
in K-12 public, charter and Bureau of Indian Affairs schools. DoD reported the program placed over 21,000
veteran teachers in classrooms over the course of 27 years. The American Legion passed Resolution No.
21: Support State and National Funding for Troops to Teachers Program in support of renewing funding
for the Troops to Teachers program at both state and national levels.
GWOT Memorial
Another one of The American Legion’s top legislative priorities included in the defense spending bill is the
establishment of a Global War on Terrorism Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. In early
November, The American Legion joined veterans’ advocates, lawmakers, wounded warriors and Gold Star
families in front of the U.S. Capitol to call on Congress to pass legislation authorizing the memorial to be
built on the National Mall.
A national memorial for Global War on Terrorism veterans will become a place to gather, remember and
reflect. Veterans of past wars often did not live to see the completion of the memorials designed to honor
their service and sacrifice.
Marine Corps veteran Chanin Nuntavong, executive director of Government Affairs for The American
Legion, highlighted the sacrifices of the nearly 3 million veterans who have served in the Global War on
National Legislative Division Weekly
December 17, 2021
Terrorism. The gift of freedom, he said, is preserved by the men and women who fought for something
much greater than themselves.
“The warriors, whose sacrifice we admire every day, either laid down their lives or faced overwhelming
dangers – not to uphold one moment, but one nation,” he said. “The motivation that binds us – those of us
who have worn the cloth of this nation – is our respect for, and commitment to, those who have chosen to
put their lives before others.”
Sexual assault reform
The NDAA included changes to protect servicemembers from sexual assault. While The American Legion
supports the approved changes, it believes more work is needed to overhaul the military justice system amid
the epidemic of sexual assault and harassment in the armed forces.
The American Legion became the first major VSO to support the Military Justice Improvement &
Increasing Prevention Act. Supported by Resolution No. 67: Military Sexual Trauma, The American Legion
is an advocate of improving the system by which the DoD investigates and prosecutes reported cases of
military sexual trauma so that it is on par with the civilian system.
While the Military Justice Improvement Act did not pass in its original form, the legislation drafted by the
House and Senate Armed Services Committee makes strides in the right direction. The American Legion
supports the approved legislation, but asserts there is much work still to be done when it comes to reforming
the military justice system.
Afghanistan War Commission Act of 2021
The Afghanistan War Commission Act of 2021 creates a nonpartisan, independent commission that would
conduct a comprehensive examination of the war in Afghanistan.
“Congress owes the thousands of American servicemembers who sacrificed in Afghanistan a serious, honest
and long-term effort devoted to bringing accountability and transparency, which is why I’m introducing
legislation to create an independent, nonpartisan commission aimed at ensuring we learn from mistakes
made and implement reforms to ensure those mistakes are not repeated,” said Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-
Ill. The commission will examine every aspect of the war, according to the bill’s text, including the political
and strategic decisions that transformed a military mission into a nation-building campaign resulting in 20
years of involvement in Afghanistan.
Chaplain memorials
An American Legion-backed effort to preserve memorials dedicated to chaplains at Arlington National
Cemetery was also included in the NDAA. The Chaplains Memorial Preservation Act will enable the
National Conference on Ministry to the Armed Forces to update the chaplains memorials.
National Legislative Division Weekly
December 17, 2021
The memorials that rest atop a hill in Section 2 of Arlington National Cemetery honor chaplains killed in
World War I; Protestant chaplains killed in World Wars I and II; Catholic chaplains killed in World War
II, Korea and Vietnam; and Jewish chaplains killed while on active duty. The most recent addition to
Chaplain’s Hill honors 14 Jewish chaplains. Dedicated in 2011, its inscription reads, "They were swifter
than eagles, they were stronger than lions.”
American Legion Past National Commander Brett Reistad initiated the resolution by which The American
Legion supports these efforts in his home post located in McLean, Va. Resolution No. 17: Updates to
Chaplains Hill Monuments at Arlington National Cemetery was unanimously approved during the National
Executive Committee’s spring meeting.
Vaccines and discharges
Additional legislation in the NDAA supported by The American Legion includes a provision that will
prevent DoD from dishonorably discharging members of the armed forces based solely on their refusal to
be vaccinated against COVID-19.
Other matters impacting veterans in the NDAA include the observance of National Atomic Veterans Day,
a study on incidence of breast cancer among members of the armed forces serving on active duty, and
expanding the scope of Department of Veterans Affairs open burn pit registry to include burn pits in Egypt
and Syria.
STUDENT VETS TAKING REMOTE CLASSES NEXT
SEMESTER WILL STILL GET FULL GI BILL BENEFITS
Congress on Wednesday passed Legion-supported legislation to extend GI Bill protections for student
veterans still forced into remote classes by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, ensuring they’ll receive full
benefits until next summer. The move is expected to affect about 57,000 students currently enrolled in
degree programs, according to Veterans Affairs data.
At issue is how post-9/11 GI Bill benefits are paid out to students who attend college classes remotely,
rather than in-person. Students using the veterans education benefit receive money for tuition plus a monthly
housing stipend. Individuals enrolled in traditional in-person classes receive the full financial benefit, while
students in online-only classes get half of that housing stipend. But when the coronavirus pandemic
shuttered college campuses across America in spring 2020, that left tens of thousands of students worried
they may not have their rent payments covered because their classes were forced online.
The difference between half of a housing stipend and the full payout can range from a few hundred dollars
to nearly $2,000, since the payouts depend on the location of the student and school. Making up that
difference could force some individuals move out mid-semester or drop course entirely.
National Legislative Division Weekly
December 17, 2021
To avoid those types of financial problems, Congress granted VA leaders broad authority to continue paying
out the full housing stipends even if students had been forced out of the classroom. That authority was set
to expire on Dec. 21.
But the Senate on Wednesday passed legislation to push that date back to summer 2022, in recognition of
the ongoing transition from online to in-person classes. The measure, sponsored by Rep. David Trone, D-
Md., passed the House without objection on Dec. 8. President Joe Biden is expected to sign the measure
into law in coming days.
SENATE VETERANS' AFFAIRS ADVANCES
NOMINATION, HEALTH BILLS
The Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee sent 25 bills to the floor Wednesday by voice vote and advanced
the nomination of Kurt DelBene to be assistant secretary for information and technology. Up for debate
were bills related to improving veterans' experience and access to health services through the Department
of Veterans Affairs, including legislation to improve access to care for rural veterans, process claims for
veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and improve veterans health facilities, among other things.
All the bills had bipartisan support, and there was little discussion during the swift markup. The bills
approved by voice vote included:
• Legislation (S 2533) by Committee Chair Jon Tester, D-Mont., to expand mammography services
furnished at the VA.
• A bill (S 2852) from Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., to authorize the VA to pay for care in non-
Veterans' Affairs medical foster homes for certain veterans who cannot live independently.
• A measure (S 3163) from Tester and committee ranking member Jerry Moran, R-Kan., that would
increase transparency of the medical disability examination program and authorize the VA to offer
contract examiners incentives to provide better services to rural and housebound veterans.
Nomination
DelBene, who recently retired from Microsoft, worked in the Department of Health and Human Services
during the Obama administration as a senior adviser to the secretary. While there, he led improvement
efforts on HeallthCare.gov and helped fix issues with the site's rollout.
Tester offered strong support for DelBene's nomination.
"I think this guy is top flight, and if we get him into VA, good things are going to happen," Tester said.
DelBene's ties to Congress are personal. He is married to Rep. Suzan DelBene, D-Wash.
National Legislative Division Weekly
December 17, 2021
NDAA VICTORY ASIDE, THE REAL PENTAGON MONEY
FIGHT AWAITS
Clearing the annual defense authorization bill Wednesday for President Joe Biden's signature came with a
reality check from the Senate’s top appropriator: The bill doesn’t actually include “one penny” for the
Pentagon. Senate Appropriations Chairman Patrick J. Leahy’s comments might have been news to some
more junior lawmakers on Capitol Hill, or possibly some senior ones as well, given the number of press
releases, floor speeches and tweets that hailed the authorization bill (S 1605) as a “spending” or “budget”
measure.
“The NDAA is a promissory note. The appropriations bill is the cash,” Leahy sought to remind anyone
listening. The Vermont Democrat’s comments briefly sum up one of the more convoluted aspects of the
annual budget and appropriations process — it's a multistep endeavor that Congress rarely undertakes in
order, or on time. And not all members always understand what’s happening.
The actual process of providing money to the Defense Department, and every other federal agency, is far
from over, Leahy cautioned. None of the dozen fiscal 2022 appropriations bills have become law due to
disputes over the split between defense and nondefense programs, as well as what policy riders ultimately
get attached to the bills.
Agencies are operating under a temporary stopgap funding law (PL 117-70) that runs out on Feb. 18, giving
lawmakers and the White House about two more months to figure out a plan, write the bills and push them
through both chambers.
The partisan differences were on display Wednesday when Senate Appropriations ranking member Richard
C. Shelby said the bipartisan authorized funding level in the defense bill — nearly $778 billion, a 5 percent
increase over last year — wasn’t enough. Democrats are unlikely to be on board with increasing the 5
percent boost for defense and national security programs, especially after Republicans in both chambers
endorsed the NDAA topline in large numbers. In the House, 194 out of 213 Republicans voted for the
defense authorization bill; in the Senate, only three out of 50 Republicans voted against it.
On Wednesday, Senate GOP Whip John Thune, R-S.D., said he was “very pleased” that “thanks in large
part to Republican efforts, Democrats and Republicans have agreed on a final number that will continue
our reinvestment in our military.”
Senate Armed Services ranking member James M. Inhofe said he wasn’t entirely sure what appropriators
would do, but said it was his “educated guess” they would go with the authorizing level.
UPCOMING HEARINGS
• There are no upcoming hearings for the remainder of the year.
National Legislative Division Weekly
December 17, 2021
MEETINGS
• On Monday, December 13, NLD Staff attended a VSO meeting discussing predatory claims
assistance and potential legislative solutions.
• On Tuesday, December 14, NLD Staff met with Veterans Education Success (VES) to discuss
legislative priorities.
• On Tuesday, December 14, NLD Staff attended a Costs of War Roundtable on the Geographic Scope
of the 2001 AUMF. More information is here.
• On Wednesday, December 15, NLD Staff met with the Reserve Officers Association (ROA) to
discuss legislative priorities.
• On Wednesday, December 15, NLD Staff attended a Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee markup
hearing.
• On Wednesday, December 15, NLD Staff attended an event hosted by the Quincy Institute for
Responsible Statecraft titled, “The Future of Counterterrorism: Start By Defining the Threat.” More
information and video is here.
• On Thursday, December 16, NLD Staff attended a VSO meeting to discuss MST claims issues and
the Servicemembers and Veterans Empowerment and Support Act.
• On Thursday, December 16, NLD Staff participated in a monthly House Veterans Affairs
Committee Mental Health Legislation Update call.
• On Thursday, December 16, NLD Staff participated in a working group Strategy session on 2002
AUMF repeal.
• On Thursday, December 16, NLD Staff attended an event hosted by the Quincy Institute for
Responsible Statecraft titled, “Debate: Should the U.S. Seek to Contain China?” More information
and video is here.
• On Thursday, December 16, NLD Staff met with TAL’s National Security Director to discuss a bill
regarding PTSD research with Israel.
Lawrence Montreuil, Legislative Director
The American Legion
I am Congressman Chris Smith’s Legislative Director and am writing to obtain your feedback on the military COVID vaccine mandate. Has your organization or membership formed views on it? Are you concerned about armed forces personnel being discharged or dismissed and losing access to their benefits? As you know, a general discharge even under honorable conditions renders service men and women ineligible for educational assistance, such as the G.I. bills.
We would appreciate hearing your thoughts and whether the American Legion would endorse the bill, attached. It has the following items:
Also, Mr Smith wanted me share with you a few other items on the Afghanistan withdrawal, which includes a video hearing, resolutions and bills:
We are also planning on introducing our new Military Legislative Assistant in January. Stay tuned and hope you enjoy the holidays!
Please remember to let us know thoughts or opinions about the above and whether your organization would like to endorse the bill (HR 6288).
Thank you!
Best regards,
Mary
Mary Vigil
Legislative Director/Senior Policy Advisor
Representative Christopher H. Smith (NJ-04)
National Legislative Division Weekly
December 10, 2021
GRASSROOTS ALERT: OPEN THE VA TO ALL WII
VETERANS!
This Thursday, The American Legion Legion National Headquarters sent out a grassroots alert to NLC
members and Legislative Action Center subscribers encouraging members to call on their legislators to pass
the WWII Veterans Hospital and Medical Eligibility Act. The bill was introduced in both chambers, and it
is important that it passes before the end of the year. All Legionnaires are encouraged to contact their
legislators and share any testimonials with Legion staff for further highlighting.
TAKE ACTION NOW
THE AMERICAN LEGION TESTIFIES AT HOUSE
HEARING “REMOVING BARRIERS TO VETERAN HOME
OWNERSHIP”
American Legion Director of
Veterans Employment and
Education, Joseph Sharpe,
testified on Dec. 8 before the
House Committee on
Veterans’ Affairs
Subcommittee on Economic
Opportunity on the barriers
veterans face on the path to
homeownership.
Specifically, Mr. Sharpe
testified that the bias against
homebuyer using a VA home
loan is seen in current market
data and realtor surveys."
If you would like to read more about Mr. Sharpe’s testimony, click here.
Director of Veterans Employment and Education, Joseph Sharpe,
testifies at HVAC hearing regarding veteran home ownership.
National Legislative Division Weekly
December 10, 2021
ANNUAL HOLIDAY RECEPTION
The American Legion hosted its annual holiday reception
on Dec. 8. The event was supported by With Honor, a cross-
partisan organization that is dedicated to promoting and
advancing principled veteran leadership in order to recude
polarization.
SVAC Chairman Tester (D-MT) made an appearance and
gave a brief speech to celebrate this year’s legislative
accomplishments and reiterate his support for The
American Legion.
He specifically applauded The American Legion’s efforts
expand access to VA healthcare benefits for veterans who
have been exposed to toxic hazards while on active duty.
Chairman Tester concluded by saying that his door is
“always open” for help to push veteran affairs legislation.
Other attendees included fellow VSO members, HVAC and
SVAC professional staff, and many other members of the
veteran community. Guests enjoyed veteran-owned
brewery tasting, political themed cocktails, and food.
CONGRESSIONAL UPDATE
Facing a December 15 deadline to raise the national debt ceiling, Senate Minority Leader McConnell (R-
KY) agreed to allow a process that enables the Senate to act with a simple majority of votes this one time.
He had previously insisted that Democrats add the debt ceiling to their reconciliation package, which
remains mired in gridlock.
Thus, Tuesday night, the House passed a measure to change the Senate rules for raising the debt ceiling,
and to delay cuts to Medicare provider payments due to go into effect in the coming weeks. On Thursday,
McConnell marshalled sufficient GOP support to invoke cloture on the motion, with a 64 to 36 vote. Proving
that they can move quickly when they desire, by the evening, the Senate voted 59 to 34 to actually allow
the simplified measure (yes, the Senate has a lot of procedural votes).
The final vote to pass the measure, however, will not take place until next week in both the House and the
Senate.
Chairman Tester (D-MT) spoke at the event
and expressed his support for The American
Legion and veteran community.
National Legislative Division Weekly
December 10, 2021
Also on Tuesday, the House passed the negotiated version of the FY22 National Defense Authorization Act
(NDAA). Many provisions in the original versions of the bill were dropped to gain Republican support.
These include no requirement for women to register with the Selective Service (even though it was in both
the House and the Senate version); assurances of honorable discharges for COVID vaccine refusers; and
fewer changes to the military justice system surrounding sexual assault and equity, among many other
provisions. As a result, while the bill passed the House on a 363-70 vote, more Republicans voted for it
than Democrats.
The Senate is expected to vote on the negotiated version of the bill next week, with cloture invoked on
Thursday of this week. While Senators are technically allowed to offer amendments, everyone is fervently
hoping they refrain.
The FY22 NDAA would authorize $768.1 billion in defense spending, $25 billion more than requested by
President Joe Biden. The compromise bill (S 1605), worked out by leaders of the House and Senate Armed
Services committees, incorporates elements of the version (HR 4350) that passed the House in September
and the legislation (S 2792) approved by the Senate Armed Services Committee in July. The bill would
authorize a $740 billion base budget for the Defense Department, $27.8 billion for nuclear weapons
programs under the Department of Energy and $368 million for defense-related activities in other
departments.
Provisions in the bill for which The American Legion advocated and supports include:
• Saving the Troops to Teachers program. TAL story here.
• Afghanistan commission: The bill also includes a proposal to create an independent Afghanistan
War Commission to look at the complete history of U.S. government failures over two decades of
conflict. Anyone who was in a decision-making or policymaking role related to Afghanistan would
be ineligible to serve on the 16-member panel, so it would not include any former generals, anyone
who served in Congress at any time during the war or any former senior administration officials
whose portfolios included Afghanistan.
• Military justice revised: The NDAA that the House passed in September would have empowered
special prosecutors in the services to make decisions now reserved for military commanders on
whether to prosecute sexual and related offenses. The final measure does that while covering more
crimes, such as murder and kidnapping, in addition to sexual crimes, and it would make sexual
harassment a crime in the military. Moreover, the special prosecutors would be more independent
of the chain of command than in the original House bill. Under the final measure, commanders
would have the power to convene courts-martial, but the new prosecutors’ offices would be the ones
to decide whether or not to bring charges and whether to actually go to trial.
• GWOT Memorial is now authorized to be located on the National Mall. Previously, it was only
auithorized somewhere in the DC area outside of the Mall.
• Prohibits the DoD from dishonorably discharging servicemembers that aren’t vaccinated against
COVID-19.
• Chaplains Memorial Preservation Act to update the Protestant, Catholic, and Jewish chaplain
memorials at Arlington National Cemetery.
National Legislative Division Weekly
December 10, 2021
APPROPRIATIONS PRESSURE
House Appropriations Committee chair Rep. DeLauro (D-CT) has been quite vocal in her frustration that
Republican appropriators are not coming to the negotiating table to craft FY22 spending bills. The current
continuing resolution (CR) expires in February, but she does not want to wait until the last minute (again)
to take action.
Democrats overwhelmingly favor passing an omnibus to fund the entire fiscal year. However, some
Republican lawmakers have floated the idea of keeping the federal government on a full-year CR, under
the argument that this saves money. That action would prevent President Biden’s efforts to increase
spending on domestic programs. However, it would result in a reduction in the military’s spending power,
and would prevent the Pentagon from starting many of its modernization efforts. A full-year CR would
hamper government operations across the board, of course. For the Department of Veterans Affairs, it would
pose difficulties in expanding claims processing operations and create the risk of community care programs
running out of money.
The House Appropriations Committee is trying to put more public pressure upon Republicans to act. The
committee has created a public-facing clock counting the number of days without a Republican offer (as of
Thursday, the clock indicated 38 days).
This week, the committee also started distributing to the press letters written by various special interest
groups emphasizing the need for spending bills rather than a full-year CR.
UPCOMING HEARINGS
• There are no upcoming hearings for the remainder of the year.
MEETINGS
• On Monday, December 6, NLD Staff visited the Reserve Officers Association along with First
Degree to do a walk-through of the reception venue for TAL’s Holiday Reception.
• On Monday, December 6, NLD Staff attended a VSO meeting with HVAC staff and SVAC staff
discussing VA's caregiver program.
• On Monday, December 6, NLD Staff participated in a round table discussion with representatives
from the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs on the implementation of the presumptive
process and toxic exposure.
• On Monday, December 6, NLD Staff met with Rep. Kilmer’s (D-WA) office to discuss a bill that
would build tiny homes for veterans.
National Legislative Division Weekly
December 10, 2021
• On Monday, December 6, NLD Staff attended an event hosted by the CATO Institute titled,
“Congress and War: Reclaiming Article I Powers” featuring U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D‐CT).
More information and video is here.
• On Tuesday, December 7, NLD Staff attended a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing titled,
“U.S.-Russia Policy.” Written testimony and video is available here.
• On Tuesday, December 7, NLD Staff conducted a virtual orientation for the new Legislative
Chairman on the staff’s ongoing legislative work.
• On Tuesday, December 7, NLD Staff met with VA and other VSOs to discuss the new toxic
exposure presumptive process.
• On Tuesday, December 7, NLD Staff attended a four corners Veterans Committee call on veterans
education. The call focused on the bipartisan agreement to pass the REMOTE Act, which would
extend COVID emergency protections to GI Bill students.
• On Wednesday, December 8, NLD Staff attended a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing
titled, “Future of U.S. Policy on Taiwan.” Written testimony and video is available here.
• On Wednesday, December 8, NLD Staff met with Higher Learning Advocates (HLA) to discuss
S. 864, the Jumpstart Our Businesses by Supporting Students Act of 2021.
• On Wednesday, December 8, NLD Staff hosted TAL’s Annual Holiday Reception.
• On Wednesday, December 8, NLD Staff attended Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee hearing on
the nomination of Mr. Kurt DelBene to be an assistant VA Secretary for information and technology.
• On Wednesday, December 8, NLD Staff attended the Annual Meeting of the Board of Directors of
The Citizens Flag Alliance.
• On Thursday, December 9, NLD Staff were honored to attend the viewing of Sen. Bob Dole lying
in state in the Capitol Rotunda on behalf The American Legion. Great appreciation to the Speaker
for including us. Really beautiful tribute.
• On Thursday, December 9, NLD Staff conducted it’s “Legislative Chairman’s Quarterly Call” with
all members of the Legislative Commission and National Legislative Council Vice Chairmen.
• On Thursday, December 9, NLD Staff hosted a meeting with Sen. Ernst’s (R-IA) office and a
Professional Staff Member on the House Veterans Affairs Committee, Subcommittee on Health to
discuss S.544, the Buddy Check bill.
• On Thursday, December 9, NLD Staff met with Sen. Booker’s (D-NJ) office to discuss his
sponsorship of the Vet Centers for Mental Health Act.
• On Thursday, December 9, NLD Staff attended a four corners Veterans Committee call on veterans
homelessness. Staff shared recent updates with the homeless population encamped at the West LA
VA campus.
• On Friday, December 10, NLD Staff met with Senate Veterans Affairs Committee professional staff
to discuss pending legislation affecting burial benefits for Guard and Reservists. .
• On Friday, December 10, NLD Staff attended an event hosted by Defense Priorities titled, “Refusing
to choose: Did the Global Posture Review fail?” More information about the 2021 Global PostureLegislative Conference Calls are bi-monthly, first Thursday of December. February, April, June, August at 7:00 pm Eastern time
There is a new call-in number listed below!
Call in Number 267-807-9601
Access 988 284 103#
“LEADERSHIP THROUGH ACTION…NOT POSITION”
Tom Deal
SAL National Legislative Chairman
Sons of The American Legion
National Legislative Division Weekly
November 12, 2021
GRASSROOTS ALERT: TELL YOUR REPRESENTATIVES
TO SUPPORT BUDDY CHECK WEEK
Last week, The American Legion National Headquarters sent out an alert to NLC members and Legislative
Action Center subscribers to call on their Representatives to introduce and pass the Legion’s Buddy Check
legislation, S. 544, in the House of Representatives. After one week of advocacy, the following numbers
were achieved:
Email Alerts Sent to Legionnaires: 23,487
Emails Opened: 6,313 (28%)
Messages Sent to Congress: 2,611
New Senders: 1,417
Congressmembers Engaged: 479
Highlight: Bravo Zulu to the Department of Kentucky for most increased campaign messaging. For the
Troops to Teachers campaign, Kentucky Legionnaires sent 46 messages to Congress. For the Buddy Check
Campaign, Kentucky Legionnaires sent 138 messages to their members of Congress, a 200% increase. Well
done!
Department grassroots engagements reports will be sent to Adjutants and Vice-Chairman beginning next
week. The campaign will remain open until passage of the legislation, and additional messages can be sent
on our votervoice page.
CONGRESSIONAL UPDATE
Rumors are swirling that the Senate will take up the FY21 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)
early next week. The Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) marked up their version of the NDAA
last July, but did not officially release it until September, after the House Armed Services Committee
(HASC) finished work on its bill. The full House passed the NDAA in late September. Reportedly,
committee staff has already begun behind-the-scenes discussions to prepare the bills for conferencing.
However, many members of the SASC really want to see their bill on the Senate floor, in order to give
their colleagues a chance to weigh in on it and work to add their own priorities. In both 2013 and 2014,
the Senate went straight from committee to voting on a version negotiated with the House. Congress has
passed an NDAA for 60 years, and lawmakers are very focused on not breaking that streak.
In the meantime, HASC chair Rep. Smith (D-WA) tells reporters he cannot even get Senate Majority
Leader Schumer (D-NY) on the phone to talk about scheduling. “I called and asked. They told me to piss
off,” Smith told Politico reporter Connor O’Brien. Smith finds himself in the curious position of agreeing
with Senate Minority Leader McConnell (R-KY), who has been quite vocal in criticizing the delay in
bringing the NDAA to the floor.
National Legislative Division Weekly
November 12, 2021
Life will be tough for folks on Capitol Hill (again) this holiday season. As the year comes to a close, they
still have a number of big pieces of legislation to finish, not the least of which is the FY22 budget. Do not
forget: the continuing resolution (CR) expires on December 3, and the Senate has yet to even agree upon
topline funding amounts for each appropriations bill much less pass anything to send to conference with
the House.
DRUG PRICING DEAL
Congressional leaders have come up with a drug pricing deal for inclusion in the $1.75 trillion reconciliation
legislation. Under the compromise, the government could negotiate the price of up to 20 drugs per year by
2028. Only drugs that are no longer in their initial exclusivity periods would be included. Small biotech
companies could be excluded.
For all drugs, annual price hikes would be tied to the 2021 inflation rate. Companies would be fined for
raising prices higher than that not only in Medicare but also in private plans.
UPCOMING HEARINGS
• On Wednesday, November 17, at 10:00AM, the House Veterans’ Affairs Joint Subcommittee on
Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs and Subcommittee on Health and Oversight will hold
a hearing entitled, “Supporting Survivors: Assessing VA’s Military Sexual Trauma Programs.”
TAL will testify.
• On Wednesday, November 17, at 3:00 PM. The Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee will hold a
hearing to examine pending legislation.
• On Thursday, November 18, at 10:00 AM, the House Veterans’ Affairs Joint Subcommittee on
Oversight and and Investigations and Subcommittee on Technology Modernization hearing
entitled, “Modernizing VA’s Medical Supply Chain: Progress Mode?”
• On Tuesday, November 16, at 10:00AM, the House Foreign Affairs Committee will hold a
hearing entitled, “National Security Implications of Climate Change in the Arctic.”
• On Tuesday, November 16, at 2:00PM, the House Foreign Affairs Committee will hold a hearing
entitled, “The Biden Administration’s Policy Priorities for Latin America and the Caribbean.”
• On Wednesday, November 17, at 10:00AM, the House Foreign Affairs Committee will hold a
hearing entitled, “The FY22 Budget: State Department Counterterrorism Bureau.”
KEY LEGISLATION UPDATES
H.R. 1836: GI Bill and Reserve Parity Act
Bill Status: 11/4/2021 Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
Co-Sponsors: 9
National Legislative Division Weekly
November 12, 2021
Staff Notes: H.R. 1836 was brought to the House Veterans Affairs Committee for markup, where it
underwent an amendment in nature of a substitute (ANS), which codified specific statutes of the bill.
Specifically, the ANS moved the implementation date from 2022 to 2026 and codified all federal duty
statuses except IDT (drill weekends) as eligible for GI Bill. The next step is a House floor vote, expected
before the end of the year.
H.R. 5562: A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to expand eligibility for hospital care, medical
services, and nursing home care from the Department of Veterans Affairs to include veterans of
World War II.
Bill Status: 11/4/2021 Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
Co-Sponsors: 1
Staff Notes: Now that the bill has been reported favorably out of Committee, the next step is a House floor
vote, expected before the end of the year.
S. 544: Buddy Check Week Act of 2021
Bill Status: 10/07/2021 Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent
Co-Sponsors: 21
Staff Notes: Now that S.544 has passed the Senate, it is awaiting action in the House Veterans Affairs
Committee. NLD staff is communicating with House side committee staff to have S.544 swiftly moved
through markup and/or an omnibus end of year bill. American Legion Media Relations will do media
outreach on this bill.
S.796: Protecting Moms Who Served Act of 2021
Bill Status: 10/07/2021 Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent
Cosponsors: 7
Staff Notes: Alongside S.544, this bill was passed via unanimous consent. American Legion Media
Relations will do media outreach on this bill.
H.R. 3967: Honoring our PACT Act of 2021
Bill Status: Reported out 14-11 of House Veterans Affairs Committee 6/24/21
Co-Sponsors: 49
Staff Notes: The House Veterans Affairs Committee marked up the Honoring Our Promise to Address
Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2021 and the bill was reported out to the full House.
S.J.Res.10 - A joint resolution to repeal the authorizations for use of military force against Iraq
Bill Status: Reported out of Senate Committee on Foreign Relations 08/04/2021
Co-Sponsors: 40
Staff Notes: Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has expressed support for repealing the Iraq
AUMFs and has promised to bring this bill to the floor for a vote before the end of the year.
National Legislative Division Weekly
November 12, 2021
MEETINGS
• On Monday, November 8, NLD Staff met with House Veterans’ Affairs Committee minority staff
on the DAMA and Health Subcommittees to discuss to upcoming House Veterans’ Affairs
Committee DAMA/Health Subcommittee joint hearing on veteran MST issues.
• On Monday, November 8, NLD Staff met with National Security Division Staff to discuss
legislative priorities of the second session of the 117th Congress.
• On Monday, November 8, NLD Staff attended a VSO meeting to discuss VBA claims, appeals, and
the Congressional Budget Office’s score of S.3003 the True COST of War Act.
• On Monday, November 8, NLD Staff met with Sen. Manchin’s (D-WV) veterans policy advisor to
discuss toxic exposure legislation and the Buddy Check Week Act.
• On Monday, November 8, NLD Staff attended a meeting with Senate Veterans Affairs Committee
professional staff members to discuss costs associated with the toxic exposure legislation
specifically the provisions of the COST of War Act that provide guidance on the presumptive
process.
• On Monday, November 8, NLD Staff was briefed by More in Common to discuss their findings
from their new Veterans and Citizens Initiative (VCI) study. The survey included a sample of 2,000
Americans and a sample of 537 veterans about how they are processing the end of the war.
• On Tuesday, November 9, NLD Staff participated in a National Security Powers Act Advocacy
Working Group to discuss legislative strategy for S.2391 - National Security Powers Act of 2021.
This Legion-endorsed bill is bipartisan legislation to reclaim Congress’s critical role in national
security matters.
• On Tuesday, November 9, NLD Staff attended a meeting with staff from the For Country Caucus
to discuss how veterans can access services from their elected officials when trying to solve
problems with VA benefits.
• On Wednesday, November 10, NLD Staff met with staff from the office of Sen. Tammy
Duckworth (D-IL) to discuss legislation the senator will re-introduce next week. The office is
seeking Legion endorsement for the Strengthening Citizenship Services for Veterans Act, a bill to
ensure that deported veterans who have successfully completed the preliminary naturalization
process can attend their citizenship interview at a port of entry, embassy or consulate without
navigating the complex process of advance parole.
• On Wednesday, November 10, NLD Staff met with First Degree and With Honor to discuss ongoing
plans for the holiday reception.
• On Wednesday, November 10, NLD Staff joined other TAL Staff to attend a cake-cutting ceremony
celebrating the Marine Corps’ 246th Birthday.
• On Wednesday, November 10 NLD Staff attended a House Agriculture Committee, Subcommittee
on Nutrition, Oversight, and Department Operations hearing on "Hunger Among Veterans and
Servicemembers: Understanding the Problem and Evaluating Solutions.”
• On Wednesday, November 10, NLD Staff met with Sen. Daines’ (R-MT) Veterans Policy Advisor
to discuss the Global War on Terrorism Memorial.
• On Thursday, November 11, the DC office was closed in observance of Veterans Day.
National Legislative Division Weekly
November 12, 2021
Lawrence Montreuil, Legislative Director
The American Legion
National Commander Fox, National Vice Commanders, National Executive Committeemen, Commission Chairman,
Legislative Update November 2021
The goals for Legislative Commission are as follows and status of those goals are below.
Legislative Goals for 2021-2022
We are asking all Detachments to send us your Detachment Legislative Chairman now.
We are asking all Detachments to look for someone deserving of this award and submit their name to Legislative Commission by July 26, 2022
The wreath laying is still being planned at this time.
The Legislative Commission is on track with our goals, but we need everyone’s help to achieve them. We need your Detachment Commission Chairmen’s name and e-meil address, we need GBE Award nominees in July and we need more participation in Wreath Laying Ceremony.
We get weekly Legislative updates from The American Legion Legislative Division and they are passed on each week. Please get these updates to all your members.
Legislative Conference Calls are bi-monthly, first Thursday of December. February, April, June, August at 7:00 pm Eastern time
There is a new call-in number listed below!
Call in Number 267-807-9601
Access 988 284 103#
“LEADERSHIP THROUGH ACTION…NOT POSITION”
Tom Deal
SAL National Legislative Chairman
Sons of The American Legion
The American Legion's "Buddy Check" program has been a great tool for our membership, and we were proud to draft legislation that expands this program to VA. The Senate has approved legislation that would make this a national program. Now, let’s make sure the House follows suit. If our Representatives don’t act before Congress recesses next month, it could be at least three months before they consider this legislation again. Or it could be dropped altogether.
Join Our Action Campaign: Write Your Representative Now.
S. 544 would direct VA to establish a "Buddy Check Week," provide educational opportunities, materials, and references for veterans to learn how to conduct personal wellness checks, as well as require increased resources for the Veterans Crisis Line to handle any potential increased usage during the designated week. The bill is modeled after the American Legion’s “Buddy Check National Week of Calling” to connect veterans to better ensure that they receive the care they need.
The American Legion launched "Buddy Check Week" in 2019. It has since been expanded and encourages Legionnaires to conduct veteran outreach as part of their daily routine. The idea is to reconnect with veterans who may need assistance but don't know where to go or who to ask.
We’ve seen successful stories arise out of buddy checks, before and during the pandemic. Thanks to these efforts, older veterans have received assistance in getting food and medicine, as well as having a comforting voice to talk with even for a few minutes
Just think if that goodwill could receive the support of Congress and VA. The help veterans receive from buddy checks would skyrocket. You can help make this a reality by contacting your House representative to tell them to pass S. 544 today. It takes just a few moments by visiting this link.
The American Legion proudly supports this legislation, and asks that you call on your Representative to pass S.544 today!
National Legislative Division Weekly
October 29, 2021
CONGRESSIONAL UPDATE
Thursday morning, President Biden said a deal on the Build Back Better (BBB) legislation has been
negotiated. He urged all lawmakers to vote for the $1 trillion infrastructure bill on a bipartisan basis. Work
continues on the social programs spending bill, which is unlikely to gain any Republican support even as
Progressive Democrats push for more than what some of their colleagues are willing to fight to get passed.
Right now, the focus is on crafting a social program package that can pass the House. However, on
Wednesday, Senate Finance Committee chair Sen. Wyden (D-OR) issued a warning: “The deal is not done
until the Senate acts.” With so much riding on health care provisions, Wyden is an important figure here.
The topline for the social programs bill has dropped drastically during the negotiation process. One way to
do that without giving up a program is to put it in place for only a year or two, rather than the planned five
or ten. This puts Democrats at risk of convincing Republicans, who may be in the majority at that point, to
reauthorize programs that are not yet fully implemented or widespread enough to garner public support.
The $1.75 trillion social services BBB expands Medicare to cover hearing (Progressive Democrats had been
pushing for dental care as well). It also reduces premiums in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace,
and provides premium assistance to millions more people.
In the meantime, appropriators are looking to move ahead with an FY22 budget before the December 3
expiration of the continuing resolution (CR). House Appropriations Committee chair Rep. DeLauro (D-CT)
is reportedly convening a meeting next week with her ranking member, Rep. Granger (R-TX), and their
Senate counterparts, Sen. Leahy (D-VT) and Sen. Shelby (R-AL). CQ reports that the Senators hope the
meeting will help them finally agree on topline funding amounts between defense and domestic spending
bills. Shelby’s spokesman issued a statement this week that the meeting will only be productive if
Democrats walk away from poison pill provisions and reinstate legacy policy riders that were dropped from
the appropriations bills in this cycle. “Everything else is ancillary at this point in the conversation,” the
statement noted.
ACCOUNTABILITY FOR VA FUNDING
Thursday evening, the Senate passed, by unanimous consent, legislation calling upon the Department of
Veterans Affairs (VA) to submit a plan for obligating and spending money provided as part of the national
COVID-19 response. The VA Transparency & Trust Act of 2021 (HR 2911) passed the House on May 17,
and now heads to the President for enactment. Lawmakers have been vocal in questioning where and how
the Department will spend the large amounts of funds provided under the various pandemic-related
emergency bills passed by Congress over the past 18 months. This legislation requires that the VA submit
biweekly reports on obligations, expenditures, and planned uses until a week after all the money has been
spent. The VA Inspector General must also submit reports on the Department’s obligations and
expenditures. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) must submit interim and final reports on these
issues as well.
National Legislative Division Weekly
October 29, 2021
ISLAMIC STATE IN AFGHANISTAN COULD BE ABLE TO
ATTACK U.S. IN 6 MONTHS
(Courtesy of Reuters) - The U.S. intelligence community has assessed that Islamic State in Afghanistan
could have the capability to attack the United States in as little as six months, and has the intention to do
so, a senior Pentagon official told Congress on Tuesday. The remarks by Colin Kahl, under secretary of
defense for policy, are the latest reminder that Afghanistan could still pose serious national security
concerns for the United States even after it ended its two-decade-old war in defeat in August.
The Taliban, which won the war, are enemies of Islamic State and have seen its attempts to impose law and
order after the U.S. pullout thwarted by suicide bombings and other attacks claimed by Islamic State. They
include bombings targeting the minority Shi'ite sect and even an Islamic State beheading of a member of a
Taliban militia force in the eastern city of Jalalabad.
In testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Kahl said it was still unclear whether the
Taliban has the ability to fight Islamic State effectively following the U.S. withdrawal in August. The
United States fought the Taliban as well as striking groups like Islamic State and al Qaeda.
"It is our assessment that the Taliban and ISIS-K are mortal enemies. So the Taliban is highly motivated to
go after ISIS-K. Their ability to do so, I think, is to be determined," Kahl said, using an acronym for Islamic
State in Afghanistan. Kahl estimated Islamic State had a "cadre of a few thousand" fighters.
Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi of the new Taliban government has said the threat from Islamic
State militants will be addressed. He also said Afghanistan would not become a base for attacks on other
countries. Kahl suggested al Qaeda in Afghanistan posed a more complex problem, given its ties to the
Taliban. It was those ties that triggered the U.S. military intervention in Afghanistan in 2001 following al
Qaeda's Sept. 11 attacks on New York and Washington. The Taliban had harbored al Qaeda leaders.
Kahl said it could take al Qaeda "a year or two" to regenerate the capability to carry out attacks outside of
Afghanistan against the United States. Democratic President Joe Biden, whose supervision of the chaotic
end to the war last summer has damaged his approval ratings, has said the United States will continue to be
vigilant against threats emanating from Afghanistan by carrying out intelligence-gathering operations in the
country that would identify threats from groups like al Qaeda and Islamic State.
Kahl said the goal was to disrupt those groups so that Islamic State and al Qaeda don't become capable of
striking the United States. "We need to be vigilant in disrupting that," he said.
Still, U.S. officials privately warn that identifying and disrupting groups like al Qaeda and Islamic State is
extremely difficult without any troops in the country. Drones capable of striking Islamic State and al Qaeda
targets are being flown in from the Gulf. Kahl said the United States did not yet have any agreement with
countries neighboring Afghanistan to host troops for counterterrorism efforts.
National Legislative Division Weekly
October 29, 2021
UPCOMING HEARINGS
• On Tuesday, November 2, at 10:00AM, the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Technology
Modernization will hold a hearing entitled, "Next Steps: Examining Plans for the Continuation of
the Department of Veterans Affairs Electronic Health Record Modernization Program."
• On Wednesday, November 3, at 10:00AM, the House Foreign Affairs Committee will hold a hearing
entitled, “Assessing Progress and Challenges in State Department Management, Operations, and
Reforms.”
• On Wednesday, November 3, at 3:00PM, the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee will hold a hearing
entitled, “VA and DoD Collaboration: Improving Outcomes for Servicemembers and Veterans.”
KEY LEGISLATION UPDATES
S. 544: Buddy Check Week Act of 2021
Bill Status: 10/07/2021 Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent
Co-Sponsors: 21
Staff Notes: Now that S.544 has passed the Senate, it is awaiting action in the House Veterans Affairs
Committee. NLD staff is communicating with House side committee staff to have S.544 swiftly moved
through markup and/or an omnibus end of year bill. American Legion Media Relations will do media
outreach on this bill.
S.796: Protecting Moms Who Served Act of 2021
Bill Status: 10/07/2021 Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent
Cosponsors: 7
Staff Notes: Alongside S.544, this bill was passed via unanimous consent. American Legion Media
Relations will do media outreach on this bill.
S. 1040: VA Access for WWII Veterans
Bill Status: Committee on Veterans' Affairs ordered to be reported without amendment favorably 7/28/2021
Co-Sponsors: 10
Staff Notes: On June 23 it was the subject of a SVAC Full Committee Hearing where it received VA
support. On July 28 it was ordered to be reported favorably without amendment during an SVAC Full
Committee Markup. It is now awaiting scheduling for a vote on the Senate Floor. This month, NLD staff
sent a letter to Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell requesting S.1040
be expeditiously scheduled on the Senate Floor for a vote.
H.R. 3967: Honoring our PACT Act of 2021
Bill Status: Reported out 14-11 of House Veterans Affairs Committee 6/24/21
Co-Sponsors: 49
Staff Notes: The House Veterans Affairs Committee marked up the Honoring Our Promise to Address
Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2021 and the bill was reported out to the full House.
National Legislative Division Weekly