Andrew Petrie, Senior Policy Associate for Employment and Education at The American Legion, testified during a hearing held by the House Veterans Affairs Committee’s Economic Opportunity Subcommittee. (Photo: Sarah Silbiger)
American Legion representatives testified on June 11 and 12 to support a wide range of bills that would improve the lives of Veterans, Service Members, and their families. Cole Lyle, Director of Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation, and Andrew Petrie, Senior Policy Associate, appeared before House subcommittees to advocate for legislation addressing fraud prevention, healthcare, housing, education, and caregiver support.
On June 11, Lyle testified before the House Veterans’ Affairs Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee. He voiced the Legion’s support for several bills, including H.R. 984, which would require the Department of Veterans Affairs to offer relief to Veterans affected by administrative mistakes. Lyle warned that with the influx of claims following the PACT Act, the likelihood of human error has increased, and Veterans should not have to suffer the consequences of bureaucratic failures.
Other bills under review included H.R. 1663, the Veterans Scam and Fraud Evasion, VSAFE Act, which addresses the high rate of scams targeting Veterans, and H.R. 3185, the Personnel Integrity in Veterans Affairs Act, which strengthens accountability for VA employees. The Legion also backed measures to improve scheduling for community care, H.R. 3482, and better inventory management at VA hospitals, H.R. 3494.
Cole Lyle, Director of Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation for The American Legion, testified during a hearing of the House Veterans Affairs Committee’s Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee. (Photo: Sarah Silbiger)
“Our Veterans do not ask for special treatment,” Lyle told the committee. “They only ask for the care and benefits they earned delivered with competence, integrity, and compassion.”
That same day, Petrie testified before the Economic Opportunity Subcommittee in support of legislation affecting education, housing, and financial security. He endorsed H.R. 1965, which would increase the annual book and supplies stipend for students using the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and a draft bill that would raise housing stipends for online learners.
He also supported H.R. 2791, which would expand the VA’s home loan guaranty cap to help more Veterans afford homes, and another proposal to expand homelessness benefits to more former Service Members who were discharged under certain conditions.
On June 12, Lyle returned to Capitol Hill to speak before the Health Subcommittee. He supported H.R. 2605, the Service Dogs Assisting Veterans, SAVE Act, which would fund grants for accredited nonprofits to train service dogs. He spoke about the therapeutic value of service dogs and shared how his late service dog, Kaya, played a life-changing role in his recovery and career.
“Because of Kaya, I earned a bachelor’s and a master’s degree. I have a beautiful two-year-old son. And I sit here today as a Veteran advocate in the largest division of the largest Veteran service organization in the country because of my service dog. I cannot overstate the power that the passage and implementation of this bill would have on Veteran suicide prevention and improved mental outcomes,” he said.
The Legion also expressed support for H.R. 785, which would add representation from state Veterans homes to the VA’s geriatrics advisory committee, H.R. 3400 to expand care in underserved areas, H.R. 3643 to improve VA data transparency, and H.R. 2148 to increase support for Veteran caregivers. Another draft bill would explore RNA sequencing as a possible diagnostic tool for PTSD.
Author: Rikki Almanza
Rikki is a Web Content Coordinator for the American Legion, Department of California. With a deep-rooted family connection to the military, Rikki is committed to using her skills and knowledge to provide valuable assistance and resources to servicemembers and veterans.
