Resolutions passed at the 107th National Convention

By Tim Engstrom
Sixth District Commander Anthony Koop holds the Minnesota sign as Legionnaires parade around the convention floor in support of candidate Jay Bowen.

Minnesota sent a resolution to the America Legion National Convention originating from Zimmerman Post 560. The Department of Minnesota Convention approved it in July.

It calls for The American Legion to support the Veterans Justice Act Model, which provides access to veteran courts statewide regardless of whether individual counties have them. Minnesota passed the model in 2021 and has tweaked it slightly since. There is very low recidivism.

It also sets standards so veterans courts don’t vary county to county. Nebraska has adopted it, too, and it is under consideration in Colorado, Kansas, Alaska, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Virginia.

In Louisville, it came before the VA&R Commission, and there was a question of whether it belonged more appropriately with the Veterans Employment & Education Commission and was referred to the standing VE&E for consideration.

Department Service Officer Jason Storm said it is expected to be heard by the NEC at the Fall Meetings in early October.

Sixteen resolutions were approved at the 107th National Convention. One was the Auxiliary amendment. The other 15 resolutions call for:

  • Burial eligibility for National Guard and Reserve components.
  • Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for Cold War service along German and Czech frontier.
  • Valid voter ID for federal elections, citing the citizenship requirement of the 14th amendment and other constitutional passages, and calling for no citizen to be prevented from voting due to financial hardship.
  • The VA to have sufficient manpower to handle errors in Veterans Benefits Management System.
  • The VA to adopt a policy requiring medical evidence to be evaluated for its credibility and medical accuracy.
  • Congress to eliminate bureaucracy that prevents veteran access to novel therapeutics for mental health conditions and traumatic brain injury.
  • Strong opposition to unaccredited or for-profit vendors charging veterans for filing VA disability claims (i.e.: claim sharks).
  • The American Legion to promote cancer awareness and regular screenings.
  • Congress to award the Congressional Gold Medal to honor World War II nurses.
  • The VA to insist all C&P notice-to-report letters be modified to include, at a minimum, the date, time, place and conditions being examined.
  • National legislation to construct a permanent building in the D.C. area for the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.
  • National legislation allowing the VA to accept an earlier effective date on a claim or appeal if a review of the records confirm there is an earlier written correspondence.
  • The VA to create and institute ongoing training for physicians, medical personnel and C&P contract examiners on the unique experiences and culture of the U.S. military.
  • Departments, districts and posts to work with accredited service dog training organizations to assist with raising and training service dogs for veterans with PTSD and TBI.
  • Congress and the VA to ensure Post 9/11 G.I. Bill housing continuity during academic breaks of 30 days or less for student veterans who remain enrolled across terms.