House Committee on Veterans' Affairs

Washington, D.C. – On Thursday, September 10, 2009, Bob Filner (D-CA), Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, and Daniel Akaka (D-HI), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, held a joint hearing to receive the legislative agenda of The American Legion. 

National Commander Clarence Hill briefed the Committee on the needs of The American Legion’s 2.6 million members.  Legislative priorities included: budget reform for veterans’ health care, addressing the needs of women veterans, allowing VA to collect Medicare reimbursements for non-service-connected medical conditions, improving treatment and screening for traumatic brain injury, and ensuring veterans receive earned disability compensation benefits. 

“Issues, such as national health care reform, stimulus packages, and increased national debt, are in the news daily,” testified Commander Hill.  “There has been significant talk of change in the last year.  But what cannot change is The American Legion’s or the Nation’s obligation to ensure that the brave men and women, who have worn the uniform of this nation, are not forgotten.” 

Chairman Filner stated: “Together, we have taken great strides in the past two and a half years to provide our veterans the quality health care and services that they require -- and that they have earned.  But much work remains.  We made a contract with our veterans that we must keep.  I anticipate working with Commander Hill and other Legionnaires to secure advance appropriations for veterans’ health care funding, end veteran homelessness, and address the claims backlog.  I would like to congratulate Clarence Hill as the newly elected National Commander and Rita Navarette as National President of The American Legion Auxiliary, as well as all of the other incoming National Officers.  I look forward to working together as we support our nation’s veterans.”