About The American Legion
“Still Serving America”
Since its founding in Paris in 1919, The American Legion has been an advocate
for America's veterans, a friend of the U.S. military, a sponsor of
community-based programs for young people and a spokesman for patriotic values.
Nearly 2.8 million members make it the nation's largest veterans group, with
about 15,000 local "posts" in most communities and six foreign
countries. Membership is restricted to men and women who served in the U.S.
military during an official period of conflict.
Recent
American Legion Victories for Veterans
 | Since eligibility reform, VA's budget has
increased by $20.7 billion ($38.6 billion in FY 96 to $59.3 billion in FY
03) and VA's patient population has increased by 5.5 million (2.5 million in
FY 96 to 8 million in FY 03).
|
| Largest defense budgets since the mid-1980s.
|
| Annual increases in military housing allowances
to reduce out-of-pocket expenses.
|
| Annual funding increases for the Defense Health
Program and TRICARE.
|
| Supported the creation and funding of the
Department of Homeland Security.
|
| Supported the development and deployment of the
National Missile Defense program beginning in 2004.
|
| Prevented doubling of VA prescription co-payments
for Priority Group 7 and 8 veterans.
|
| Prevented establishing an annual $250 VA
enrollment fees for Priority Group 7 and 8 veterans.
|
| Prevented increasing VA primary care co-payments
for Priority Group 7 and 8 veterans.
|
| Prevented redefinition of VA disability to
medical conditions incurred or aggravated while in the performance of
duties.
|
| Combat-Related Special Compensation program
provides tax-free reimbursements to some service-connected military
retirees.
|
| Proposed Constitutional Amendment to protect Old
Glory passed in the House for an unprecedented sixth time.
|
| VA disability compensation for Vietnam veterans
with diabetes exposed to Agent Orange.
|
| VA benefits for children with spina bifida whose
parents are Vietnam veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange.
|
| Lifetime access to Department of Defense medical
treatment and discount pharmaceuticals for military retirees.
|
| More than $150 million in annual federal
investment in scientific studies on Gulf War illness.
|
| A federal law making it easier for Gulf War
veterans with undiagnosed illnesses to receive VA benefits.
|
| VA compensation and health care for Gulf War
veterans who have contracted Lou Gehrig’s disease.
|
| Tougher veterans-preference laws to protect
veterans’ federal-advancement opportunities.
|
| A Legion-sponsored American Legacy Scholarship
Fund for the children of troops killed since Sept. 11, 2001.
|
| Along with the American Legion Auxiliary and the
Sons of The American Legion, donated more than $4 million to help build the
National World War II Memorial.
|
| Wrote the original GI Bill in 1944 and has
successfully lobbied for increases in Montgomery GI Bill funding.
|
| Provides free, professional assistance -- for any
veteran -- in filing and pursuing claims before any administrative or
judicial body of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
|
| Advocates a GI Bill of Health to give military
retirees, Medicare veterans and their families access VA health care.
|
| Strongly advocates adequate funding for training,
equipment and quality-of-life improvements for the troops.
|
| The first veterans group to identify “Gulf War
Syndrome.”
|
| Through joint research with Columbia U., helped
service members suffering from Agent Orange and radiation exposure.
|
| Assists families of deployed active-duty troops
through the Family Support Network, (800) 504-4098.
|
| Spends more than $25 million annually on programs
benefiting young people: American Legion Boys State/Boys Nation, National
High School Oratorical Contest, Junior Shooting Sports and American Legion
Baseball.
|
| Largest collective donor of blood to the Red
Cross: about 100,000 pints yearly.
|
| National Emergency Fund awarded grants totaling
more than $3 million since 1989 to help victims of natural disasters.
|
| Authored original "flag code" under
federal law and has advocated recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance in U.S.
schools.
|
| Founded Citizens Flag Alliance to advocate
passage of a flag-protection constitutional amendment.
|
| Provides honor guards at civic events and for the
funerals of countless veterans.
|
