VA secretary makes pledge to American Legion: ‘No cuts to benefits’

By Tim Engstrom
American Legion National Commander James A. LaCoursiere Jr., an Air Force veteran, is flanked by U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney of Connecticut, left, and American Legion Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Director Cole Lyle of Virginia. Courtney introduced the national commander and praised the Legion defying the stereotype of lobbyist-oriented D.C. and performing grass-roots advocacy.

WASHINGTON — With issues swirling in each day’s news cycle, new Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins addressed members of The American Legion from all across the United States in the Washington Hilton’s famous International Ballroom on Feb. 24.

“I still believe deeply in this country,” he said. “The best days for veterans are still ahead of us.”

Collins described taking funds away from non-mission-critical areas, such as $14 million in diversity initiatives, and putting it toward veterans’ care.

Calling it “a new day at the VA,” he said the mission is about veterans. He praised The American Legion for its suicide-prevention efforts.

At the Washington Hilton, VA Secretary Doug Collins said there will be no cuts to benefits and health care for veterans.

With word of about 2,400 VA workers losing their jobs, and about 1,000 of them returning through an appeals process, Collins was asked about cuts to VA benefits.

“There are no cuts to benefits and health care to the veterans. Period. It’s not happening,” he said.

Asked about veteran homelessness, Collins said he wants the United States to end veteran homelessness. He spoke about the ineffectiveness of $10 billion spent on education of veteran homelessness and said it is time to consider different solutions.

He said billions have been spent on veteran suicide prevention efforts, with $2.3 billion on counseling, and the number remains 17 a day. He said the VA needs to partner with organizations, such as the Legion, to reduce the number. He also wants the VA to open up to other methods of treating PTSD and to reduce misprescribing and overprescribing.

On Feb. 26, Commander Jim LaCoursiere Jr. testified to a joint House-Senate Veterans Affairs Committee on the many programs The American Legion performs across the country. He described the “Be the One” mission and efforts to change the direction on military recruitment.

“We stand by efforts to make a better, cost-effective VA,” LaCoursiere said.

He cited the need to update many health records into the electronic age

The Minnesota American Legion Family members who traveled to Washington met on Feb. 23 to go over plans for visiting with lawmakers from Minnesota. From left, in front, are Past Department Commander Paul Hassing, Chaplain Kelley Ackerman, Auxiliary Legislative Chairwoman Linda Kelly, 3rd District Membership Director Amy Larsen, Legislative Chairwoman Kristy Janigo and Assistant Department Service Officer Janet Lorenzo. In the back are Adjutant Mike Maxa, Alternate NECman Peggy Moon, Department Service Officer Ray Kane, NECman Bill Barbknecht, 3rd District Adjutant Linda Dvorak, National Vice Commander Jim Kellogg, NSFR Committee member Gary H. Olson, Commander Carl Moon and Past Department Commander Chuck Kruger. Many of them also serve on national committees and attended committee meetings.

“Billions of our taxpayer dollars have been spent on this,” he said. “The result has been delays, unsuccessful pilot programs, flawed infrastructure and continued inability of the Department of Defense and VA to make transition as seamless as possible for those leaving service and entering their lives as veterans.”

He called for improving the transition between Department of Defense health care and VA health care.

“Young people who have been told that military service will leave them broken or unsupported in the end will think twice about their propensity to serve at all. And that is a matter of national security,” LaCoursiere said. “We need to change the narrative. We can change the narrative.”

LaCoursiere called for parity in G.I. Bill benefits for National Guard service. He said American Legion service officers helped 1.2 million veterans in the past year.

A questioning period after his testimony devolved into political theater by members of both parties but especially the chairman, Rep. Michael Bost of Illinois, and the ranking member, Rep. Mark Takano of California. The debate mainly was over recent VA layoffs. A video of the full exchange is posted on the Department of Minnesota’s Facebook page.

There were 18 members of the American Legion Family who flew to D.C. They returned home to find many people asking The American Legion to make a statement. Commander Carl Moon sent one out that said political motivations only aim to divide veterans. He said the Legion will watch to ensure care for veterans remains strong, that there is smooth implementation of the PACT Act and that there will be no effort to privatize the VA.

Moon cited a VA news release that pointed out: “The VA continues to hire for 300,000 mission-critical positions exempt from the federal hiring freeze.”

Department Communications Director Tim Engstrom said it is wise to pick battles. “Our focus is the care of veterans. If we speak up against any and all staff cuts, then our voice is diminished should health care be impacted down the road.”

Kristy Janigo, Janet Lorenzo and Paul Hassing were excited to watch the national commander report to Congress.

The Minnesota Legionnaires visited the offices of all eight congressional representatives and two senators, spelling out the 2025 legislative desires of The American Legion:

  1. Accelerate military quality of life improvements.
  2. Improve border security.
  3. Advance the lethality of the Armed Forces.
  4. Fund a robust State Department and foreign operations budget.
  5. Protect Coast Guard pay and entitlements.
  6. Provide a full accountability of our POW/MIA servicemembers.

The legislative efforts included calls for improving the quality of VA Compensation & Pension exams, improving access to community care, ending veteran homelessness, modernizing transition assistance and “Be the One” veteran suicide prevention.

Most of the lawmakers had their aides meet with Legion members. Rep. Brad Finstad of southern Minnesota and Rep. Kelly Morrison of the west metro were the only ones who sat down and met them in person. (To be clear, Rep. Betty McCollum did stand for a photo but had to leave for a vote.)

“We are spending more on debt service than our defense,”  Finstad said. “At some point, something is going to suffer.”

Finstad stated concerns about America’s lack of shipbuilding capacity and about China’s coast guard acting like a navy that is prepared to fight.

He wanted to improve recruitment to the military by ensuring America provides its veterans a good life.

Meeting with Rep. Angie Craig’s aid Meghan Mullon, center, were, from left, Amy Larsen, Linda Dvorak, Paul Hassing and Ray Kane.
Meeting with Rep. Brad Finstad, third from left, were, from left, Jim Kellogg, Chuck Kruger, Tom Schottenbauer, Kelly Ackerman, Ray Kane and Gary H. Olson.
Meeting with Sen. Tina Smith’s aide Maggie Blomgren, second from left, were, from left, Jim Kellogg, Kristy Janigo, Janet Lorenzo, Kelly Ackerman and Ray Kane.
Standing for a photo with Rep. Betty McCollum, second from right, are Janet Lorenzo, Kristy Janigo and Legionnaire Editor Tim Engstrom. McCollum had to depart for a vote, and the aide scheduled to meet the Legion group that day was out sick. Janigo left behind materials.
From left are American Legion Department Service Officer Janet Lorenzo, Department Legislative Chairwoman Kristy Janigo, U.S. Rep Kelly Morrison, Past Department Commander Paul Hassing and Auxiliary Department Legislative Chairwoman Linda Kelly.
Meeting with Rep. Tom Emmer’s aide Luke Sandlin, center, were, from left, Peggy Moon, Carl Moon, Kristy Janigo, Janet Lorenzo and Linda Kelly. There were meetings with aides with Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Rep. Michelle Fischbach and Rep. Ilhan Omar, too.