Santiago J.
Betancourt
State Legislative Committee
Chairman
October 18, 2011
Sons,
This past week the
Legion NEC gathered in Indianapolis for Fall Meetings, the National
Executive Committee passed a total of 50 resolutions, spanning Legion
programs and positions both internally and externally.
The NEC was in
process of rescinding non-legislative policy resolutions (some going
all the way back to the 1920s) no longer coinciding with the Legion's
mission continued, as divisions and commissions seek to pare down the
numbers of resolutions on their books. And numerous resolutions
regarding annual Legion awards were presented by the Finance Commission
for passage.
One of the biggest
topics of discussion during the week was the federal budget, especially
as it relates to national defense and military personnel. This was
taken up by the National Security Commission.
Resolution
No. 1 encourages Washington to keep the defense budget at its
current level. This resolution is accompanied by 10 pages' worth of
addendums solidifying the message. Resolution
No. 31 opposes changes to the current military-retirement system
that lessen incentives to either enlist or remain in the military. Resolution
No. 33 seeks a law to keep benefit packages agreed upon at
enlistment the same throughout a servicemember's career, and at the
same value.
Resolution
No. 32, also from the National Security Commission, arose from
National Commander Fang Wong's recent discussions in Washington about
the Legion's troop-and-family support programs. It calls for the
creation of a Family Support Outreach Program that will work with the
Department of Defense for greater participation, coordination and
public awareness.
Other key
resolutions, by commission:
Economic
Resolution No. 37:
supporting regulation of for-profit schools and state approving
agencies.
Resolution No. 39:
supporting an investigation of hiring practices in the federal
government.
Finance
Resolution No. 25:
realignment of DMS program.
National Security
Resolution No. 30:
identify national interests before committing military forces and
assets.
Resolution No. 41:
policy to expand burial benefits to all National Guard and reservists
with honorable discharge or those whose death occurred during service.
YOUR legislative
committee decided to email you these resolutions because we are going
to do everything we can and everything the legion asks us to do to get
these items passed or worked on based on their behalf and yours as well
in congress. The full text of the resolutions can be found here.
Serving our
veterans everyday,
Santiago J.
Betancourt
State Legislative Committee
Chairman
