WASHINGTON (June 3, 2010) – The American Legion welcomed the introduction of a Senate bill last week that would substantially improve and expand education benefits for veterans.
Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii, is sponsoring the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Improvements Act of 2010, which he introduced in the Senate on May 27.
“This new legislation would realize some of the changes we’ve been suggesting to Congress for the past couple of years,” said Clarence Hill, national commander of The American Legion. “We’re especially happy to see that Senator Akaka’s bill would extend benefits to those veterans attending vocational schools, on-the-job training and apprenticeships.”
Hill said the original 1944 GI Bill – authored and championed by The American Legion – paid for the education of about 16 million veterans. “And half of them went to some type of vocational institution after World War II, so it’s most appropriate to expand today’s benefits beyond traditional colleges and universities.”
Robert Madden, assistant director of The American Legion’s economic division, said that if Akaka’s bill (S. 3447) becomes law, “every veteran would be free to choose any type of education and employment path that he or she happens to desire.
“Veterans have served America with pride and dedication. With bipartisan support, Congress can show its gratitude to them and their families by creating a GI Bill that is much more equitable,” Madden said.
If passed, Akaka’s legislation would upgrade veterans education benefits with several new provisions, including:
- Veterans attending vocational schools would receive the national yearly average for tuition/fee payments, plus housing stipend based upon regular rate of the military’s BHA (basic housing allowance).
- On-the-job training and apprenticeships will be paid for on a prorated schedule:
- 75 percent of costs for the first six months, 55 percent for the next six months, and 35 percent for each subsequent month up to 24 additional months; benefits also include housing stipend and $1,000 annual book stipend.
- 60 percent of charges for flight training and 55 percent for correspondence courses will be covered, based on the national average of established cost at all institutions of higher learning.
- Servicemembers who retired after Sept. 11, 2001 but before the Post-9/11 GI Bill went into effect would be able to transfer current veterans education benefits to their family members (this provision would be paid for by DoD and other federal agencies).
- Housing allowance: distance-learning students and those attending schools overseas will receive 50 percent of the established rate (which would become prorated, based on a veteran’s actual course load).
- Instead of paying up to $2,000 for a one-time test for licensure or certification, an unlimited number of tests will be allowed, with charges being deducted from a veteran’s monthly benefits.
During a hearing before the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee on April 21, Madden urged Congress to cover non-degree education programs with GI Bill benefits, saying that such a disparity “has caused much concern.”
At that same hearing, Akaka promised to introduce legislation before Memorial Day to help improve veterans education benefits. He delivered on that promise last week.
As the department convention is approaching, I’m preparing several mini-movies to be shown before, during, or even right after the convention sessions. The mini-movies will be pictures of our Pennsylvania American Legion “Posts-in-Action” set to patriotic music. And I want to include pictures from your Post, your District, your programs!
This year’s Pennsylvania American Legion Department Convention will be held at the Hilton Hotel in Harrisburg from July 15th to the 18th. After the convention, I will post the mini-movies to Department’s website for everyone to view.
The mini-movies will be made from pictures of the events involving our Pennsylvania Legion Posts. You can send pictures of your Post meetings, Christmas party, Oratorical contest, summer picnic, Legion baseball, testimonial dinner, the front of your Post building, Memorial Day parade, Veterans Day event, visiting a local school, welcoming home our current military, flag burning ceremony, or any other event held by your American Legion Post supporting your community, children & youth, Americanism and of course our veterans.
The mini-movies will be similar to the movie shown at the January Housing for Homeless Veterans benefit dinner. If you did not see the movie you can go to Department’s website to view the movie.
You can:
Send me your pictures taken during the 2009 -2010 membership year via email no later than June 15, 2010
Send as many as 25 pictures to be included as part of the mini-movies – you can send as many emails as necessary to send the 25 pictures
Write your Post # on the subject line of the email
Or mail a CD with the 25 pictures on it to Shannon Kyle, 2072 Rockfield Road, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania 15243 – please include your Post number with the CD
Do Not send the actual pictures – I need the pictures by email or CD only
If you don’t have pictures then ask around; you may have a Post Historian, Post Adjutant, Post Commander, or even any other members from your Post can have pictures from this current membership year 2009-2010.
National Convention
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
August 27, - September 2, 2010
Don’t miss out on the opportunity to attend the 92nd American Legion National Convention. We have a great opportunity to save money while traveling in style to the convention with the Pennsylvania Department Bus Trip. This will give you the chance to save a little money and travel to the convention without any worries.
Click Here for more information about the bus trip to the National Convention.
The Pennsylvania delegation will be staying at the Doubletree Hotel Milwaukee City Center. The hotel reservations must be made through Department Headquarters. The room rate is $119.18 including tax for a king size bed room and a double room (2 beds). After 2 people there will be an additional occupant in room rate at $15.00 each. A rollaway bed can be rented at $10.00 a day.
The room amenities include: iron, ironing board, tv with HBO, hair dryer and coffee pot. The hotel amenities include a check in time of 3:00pm. The convention center is cater-corner from our hotel, which is a short walk of about 200 feet. There is a nice restaurant in the hotel and about a dozen or more within a couple of blocks of the hotel. The hotel also has a fitness center and outdoor pool. Parking is $15.00 a day valet only in and out anytime fro no extra charge.
The Doubletree Hotel Milwaukee City Center is approximately 15 minutes from the airport depending on time of day and day of the week. Our nationalorganization has arranged airport ground transportation services for the National Convention through Go Airport Connection. In order for attendees to receive the $21 round trip fare to/from the Milwaukee Airport they must book at least 24 hours in advance through the customized portal. Here is the link to the portal for The American Legion Family to book from. http://goairportconnection.hudsonltd.net/res?USERIDENTRY=ameleg&LOGON=GO
The cit rate from the airport to any downtown hotel is $25.00 for a taxi cab regardless of how many persons you can safely get in the vehicle. Travel time is approximately 15 minutes. All major car rental companies are available at the airport.
Pennsylvania Delegate Registration is in our Doubletree Hotel Milwaukee City Center Hotel lobby across form the registration desk.
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Friday, August 27 - 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
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Saturday, August 28 - 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
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Sunday, August 29 - 9:00 am to 12 noon or as required
There is a convenience store right across from our hotel (food, beer, liquor, soda, etc.,) A Dunkin Donuts, Quizno’s, Subway are all 200 feet from the hotel. West Town Market Liquors and other items, IMAX Planetarium are 1 block away. The bus station and Amtrak train station are three blocks from the hotel. Butch’s Steak House is on the corner across from the rear of the hotel. The Grand Avenue Mall is 2 1/2 blocks from the hotel. The Harley Davidson Museum is 1 mile away. The Potawatomi Casino is 1 mile away and the Irish Pub is 3 blocks from the hotel.
Handicap information for wheelchair and scooter rentals. The handicapped attendees of our delegation that will require a scooter or wheelchair may contact the following:
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Accessibility Home Medical & Rehab 414-543-1114
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Discount Mobility Products, LLC., 414-321-3500
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On The Go Mobility 414-375-4682, 7289
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MetroCare 800-227-3820
The Pennsylvania caucus breakfast meeting will be held Monday, August 30, 2010 at 7:30 am in the main Ballroom 1st floor of the Doubletree Hotel. Starbucks coffee & assorted chilled juices, bakery basket, scrambled eggs, bacon & sausage links, country style potatoes, melon slices & berries will be available for each Pennsylvania American Legion delegate in attendance at this meeting.
The parade will be Sunday, August 29, 2010 at 4:00 pm. We will meet in the hotel lobby at 2:30 pm. We do not have the parade route yet. Our hotel is supposedly right on the parade route so we may not need transportation. We will update this information as things are finalized.
The Pennsylvania Party will be in the Doubletree Hotel in the main Ballroom 1st floor after the Parade party. Sunday, August 29, 2010 at approximately 6:00 pm final time will be announced. The party is for all delegates and guests. The menu will include baked chicken, roast beef, vegetable medley, au gratin potatoes, salad, rolls, dessert, coffee, tea and milk.
The National Commander’s Dinner is Tuesday, August 31, 2010 at 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm at the Milwaukee Convention Center.
All persons receiving a Department call-in or who are going to sign as a delegate at our Department roll calls, MUST register through our Department Headquarters and stay in the contracted housing. Any exceptions must be cleared with the Department Commander / Adjutant prior to our departure to the convention city.
Looking to seeing you in Milwaukee Wisconsin for the 92nd National Convention!
Click Here for a printer friendly version of the General Information for the National Convention
The American Legion is urging the Department of Veterans Affairs to redouble its efforts to reduce the staggering backlog of disability claims filed by veterans. According to the Legion, more than 400,000 new claims are now pending, with an additional 200,000 denials being appealed.
“The VA disability claims backlog is a problem that won’t go away anytime soon, but VA can reduce it by emphasizing quality over quantity in the way it processes those claims,” said Peter Gaytan, executive director of The American Legion’s headquarters in Washington. “One of the most effective ways we can help veterans and their families is to make sure these claims are processed carefully and thoroughly - and that the correct decision is made the first time.”
The American Legion is also urging Congress to work closely with VA in its efforts to reduce the claims backlog. The Legion’s Legislative Division director, Steve Robertson, meet with federal legislators Thursday to recommend that Congress uses its oversight authority to measure progress being made by VA, and to consider Legion recommendations on how to improve the situation.
Many veterans submit appeals on VA denials of disability claims, and The American Legion’s Appeals and Special Claims Unit in Washington handles more than 600 of them every month.
Barry Searle, director of the Legion’s Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Division, said the appeal process can get complicated, and most veterans whose claims are denied by VA never make the attempt to file an appeal.
“About 85 to 90 percent of veterans who are denied either accept the decision - which is often a mistake - or don’t really know how to go about changing it,” Searle said. “That’s where organizations like The American Legion are critical. Our service officers help veterans get in touch with Legion appeals representatives and assign power of attorney to them. Then we prepare and file a brief at the Board of Veterans Appeals, explaining why VA made a mistake in denying disability benefits to a particular veteran.”
VA can take from six months to more than a year in deciding a claim, according to Steve Smithson, principal disability claims expert for The American Legion. “And if a denied claim is disputed, it can take several years to be resolved.”
Smithson said many claims are rejected because veterans haven’t documented their cases well enough, and VA doesn’t take the time to investigate properly. “So they deny the case. And VA employees get a work credit for each claim they make a decision on, whether it’s the right one or not,” he said. That kind of work incentive program can compromise quality, because getting the proper information and making a proper decision often takes a lot more time. If you start taking shortcuts, then mistakes are made and claims are erroneously denied.”
In recent years, Gaytan said, The American Legion has had a 60-percent success rate for the thousands of Board of Veterans Appeals cases it has handled: VA has either awarded the benefits or sent cases back to its regional offices for further review.
“If any veterans need help in filing their VA claims - or appealing the denial of their benefits - they should contact The American Legion and we’ll help them through the process, free of charge,” Gaytan said.
The American Legion has recently added a benefits calculator for veterans to its Web site.
Article from the National American Legion