Considering we have Posts and the Department formally and publicly standing against this omnibus-wreck, can we at least get an opposing view published?
As stated at the DEC, I do not think the National Staff or Legislative Team have mal intent or want to do harm unto veterans, but I do think that even if their every intention is good, that they can still be wrong on the issue. I believe that they are wrong.
I oppose TCAVA. My Post has officially opposed TCAVA and are bringing a resolution to the upcoming DEC.
I would ask that this article be removed until we determine the will of the members. I am confident that s vast majority are opposed to this poison pill legislation.
I do not understand your question. In my opinion, the voice is in the power of the resolutions passed by members during the national conventions. You can find the resolutions at archive.legion.org/node/7.
Resolution 187 (2016) – Department of Veterans Affairs Disability Compensation, Resolution 38 (2016) – Exempt VA Benefits & Services from Pay-Go Provision, Resolution 33 (2022) – Disability Rating Criteria, and Resolution 19 (2023)
CALL TO ACTION: This is a horrible bill and violates resolutions our membership approved to prevent this type of shenanigans. Let’s demand that the American Legion immediately drop its support for the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act (TCAVA) H.R. 9237.
The American Legion is a grassroots, member-driven organization whose policies are established through resolutions adopted by the National Executive Committee or the National Convention. Once adopted, a resolution becomes the organization’s official position and governing mandate unless it is amended or rescinded through the same established process.
Resolution 187 (2016) – Department of Veterans Affairs Disability Compensation, Resolution 38 (2016) – Exempt VA Benefits & Services from Pay-Go Provision, Resolution 33 (2022) – Disability Rating Criteria, and Resolution 19 (2023) – Protection of Veterans’ Disability & Compensation demonstrate a consistent and unequivocal policy opposing any action that would reduce or weaken veterans’ disability compensation and benefits.
Taken together, these resolutions establish a clear and consistent mandate from the membership to protect, not diminish, veterans’ disability compensation and earned benefits. Consequently, support for TCAVA is difficult to reconcile with the official policy adopted by The American Legion’s membership.
When elected officers advocate for or support legislation that appears inconsistent with these adopted resolutions, they risk acting contrary to the expressed will of the membership they were “elected” to represent. Such actions raise serious questions regarding their adherence to their fiduciary duties of loyalty, care, and obedience, as well as their obligation to faithfully execute the organization’s established policies.
We must lobby The American Legion to drop its support of the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act (TCAVA)!
1. Don’t quit the Legion; if anything, hold off on paying your dues for 2027. You have until the end of December, but don’t quit – we need you!
2. Visit and support your local American Legion Post. This is a national problem, not a local one.
3. Demand that the American Legion withdraw its support for TCAVA. Send emails to Internal Affairs & Membership, Legislative, and our VA&R division at http://www.legion.org/contact
4. Avoid The American Legion’s Grassroots Action Center
5. Tell Congress you oppose Veterans’ Benefit Cuts at http://www.votervoice.net/VFW/home
6. Share, like, and repost social media posts that encourage the American Legion to “Drop support of TCAVA”
7. Use the hashtags shown below on your social media posts that encourage the American Legion to “Drop support of TCAVA”
For 13 years, I served my country in the National Guard and Army Reserve. Full time employment forced me to quit before a retirement. I’ve tried for years to get the National Cemetery regulations changed to allow honorably discharged reservists the right to be buried in a National Cemetery. I’ve written numerous letters, all falling on deaf ears. I wrote an article for the magazine, “Have You Been Left Out” that generated some responses from other members, also seeking the right to be buried in a National Cemetery. The fact that I did not serve 20 years, nor was I ever deployed, prevents this. For every reservist that would like this benefit, there are hundreds of “qualified” veterans that are NOT buried in National Cemeteries, so it is not like changing the rules would open the flood gates and over burden the cemetery spaces. I help author a resolution here in California for the National Convention to get this change but it did not get accepted at the National level. Once and for all, how can we get this regulation change to allow reservists this opportunity like other veterans, many of whom have served more years than someone who has only served a few? I read these “National Affairs” updates, and I don’t see any reason why this change couldn’t be one of them as well. Today, the country relies heavily on reservists, so why not make this change? I’m sure many of them do not get activated and perhaps don’t serve 20 years for a retirement to make them eligible. I believe the regulations were perhaps written so long ago, they now need to be updated to fit modern times. Suggestions? Thoughts?
Considering we have Posts and the Department formally and publicly standing against this omnibus-wreck, can we at least get an opposing view published?
As stated at the DEC, I do not think the National Staff or Legislative Team have mal intent or want to do harm unto veterans, but I do think that even if their every intention is good, that they can still be wrong on the issue. I believe that they are wrong.
I oppose TCAVA. My Post has officially opposed TCAVA and are bringing a resolution to the upcoming DEC.
I would ask that this article be removed until we determine the will of the members. I am confident that s vast majority are opposed to this poison pill legislation.
TCAVA takes money away from benefits earmarked for veterans in the future.
We should not be supporting TCAVA in its current state until that provision goes away that it will be paid for in part by taking away benefits.
Please pass the bill!
NO tell the National many post are against it unless section 108 is cut from it
Hello David!
I do not understand your question. In my opinion, the voice is in the power of the resolutions passed by members during the national conventions. You can find the resolutions at archive.legion.org/node/7.
Resolution 187 (2016) – Department of Veterans Affairs Disability Compensation, Resolution 38 (2016) – Exempt VA Benefits & Services from Pay-Go Provision, Resolution 33 (2022) – Disability Rating Criteria, and Resolution 19 (2023)
CALL TO ACTION: This is a horrible bill and violates resolutions our membership approved to prevent this type of shenanigans. Let’s demand that the American Legion immediately drop its support for the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act (TCAVA) H.R. 9237.
The American Legion is a grassroots, member-driven organization whose policies are established through resolutions adopted by the National Executive Committee or the National Convention. Once adopted, a resolution becomes the organization’s official position and governing mandate unless it is amended or rescinded through the same established process.
Resolution 187 (2016) – Department of Veterans Affairs Disability Compensation, Resolution 38 (2016) – Exempt VA Benefits & Services from Pay-Go Provision, Resolution 33 (2022) – Disability Rating Criteria, and Resolution 19 (2023) – Protection of Veterans’ Disability & Compensation demonstrate a consistent and unequivocal policy opposing any action that would reduce or weaken veterans’ disability compensation and benefits.
Taken together, these resolutions establish a clear and consistent mandate from the membership to protect, not diminish, veterans’ disability compensation and earned benefits. Consequently, support for TCAVA is difficult to reconcile with the official policy adopted by The American Legion’s membership.
When elected officers advocate for or support legislation that appears inconsistent with these adopted resolutions, they risk acting contrary to the expressed will of the membership they were “elected” to represent. Such actions raise serious questions regarding their adherence to their fiduciary duties of loyalty, care, and obedience, as well as their obligation to faithfully execute the organization’s established policies.
We must lobby The American Legion to drop its support of the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act (TCAVA)!
1. Don’t quit the Legion; if anything, hold off on paying your dues for 2027. You have until the end of December, but don’t quit – we need you!
2. Visit and support your local American Legion Post. This is a national problem, not a local one.
3. Demand that the American Legion withdraw its support for TCAVA. Send emails to Internal Affairs & Membership, Legislative, and our VA&R division at http://www.legion.org/contact
4. Avoid The American Legion’s Grassroots Action Center
5. Tell Congress you oppose Veterans’ Benefit Cuts at http://www.votervoice.net/VFW/home
6. Share, like, and repost social media posts that encourage the American Legion to “Drop support of TCAVA”
7. Use the hashtags shown below on your social media posts that encourage the American Legion to “Drop support of TCAVA”
#VeteranAdvocacy #veteranssupportingveterans #endthewoundedveterantax #HonorThePromise
Please provide the supporting delegates that give your voice power?
Thank you for the information.
For 13 years, I served my country in the National Guard and Army Reserve. Full time employment forced me to quit before a retirement. I’ve tried for years to get the National Cemetery regulations changed to allow honorably discharged reservists the right to be buried in a National Cemetery. I’ve written numerous letters, all falling on deaf ears. I wrote an article for the magazine, “Have You Been Left Out” that generated some responses from other members, also seeking the right to be buried in a National Cemetery. The fact that I did not serve 20 years, nor was I ever deployed, prevents this. For every reservist that would like this benefit, there are hundreds of “qualified” veterans that are NOT buried in National Cemeteries, so it is not like changing the rules would open the flood gates and over burden the cemetery spaces. I help author a resolution here in California for the National Convention to get this change but it did not get accepted at the National level. Once and for all, how can we get this regulation change to allow reservists this opportunity like other veterans, many of whom have served more years than someone who has only served a few? I read these “National Affairs” updates, and I don’t see any reason why this change couldn’t be one of them as well. Today, the country relies heavily on reservists, so why not make this change? I’m sure many of them do not get activated and perhaps don’t serve 20 years for a retirement to make them eligible. I believe the regulations were perhaps written so long ago, they now need to be updated to fit modern times. Suggestions? Thoughts?