Santiago J. Betancourt
State Legislative Committee
Chairman
October 12, 2011
Sons,
Sons,
Today in this email we are informing all of you of two major things that have gone on with the legion and with an enactment by Congress that we together need for the legion family. Both of these things were emailed to us by the legion and their Legislative Director.
First, Let us brief all of you on Legion Commander Wong's visit to Washington. He had meetings with members of congress and senators including Senator John McCain. The meetings went great and the members of congress and senate expressed appreciation for his meeting them and informing them of all of our great work across the country for our programs and ideals. The members requested that we as a legion family, we continue to ask what they can do and what our bottom line is for things in their states and budget wise. The main reason for that remark was that as the 'Super Committee' in Washington begins to debate the matters of the national budget that we will soon be able to give them a bottom line figure as to what we want to see in that report so that way things do not get cut that we don't want cut. The feeling that this committee gets and received in the email by the legion is that Senator McCain will be our strongest advocate to that committee as things move forward.
Secondly, the American Legion has a bill before congress relating to the Modernization of the American Legion entitled "S.1639, the American Legion Charter Modernization Act." This legislation would clarify the autonomous, independent nature of American Legion posts and departments by clarifying what courts have already ruled - that no independent entity of The American Legion is legally responsible for the actions of another and that its posts and departments are independent of the national organization. We have been informed earlier today, that this bill has been expedited out of the Judiciary Committee and Leader Harry Reid (NV) will be hotlining it later this afternoon. "Hotlining," as it is called, is meant to be a fast method of passing legislation under a unanimous consent agreement. Assuming there is no objection made by either side, it should clear the Senate later this evening or early tomorrow.
Please call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask for your Senator's office. Ask for the staff person following this bill. Identify yourself and tell the aide you request the Senator 'not object' to the unanimous consent agreement on S.1639.
Serving our veterans everyday,
Santiago J. Betancourt
State Legislative Committee
Chairman
