Author: Mike Maxa

National Legislative Division Weekly Update From The American Legion National Organization The American Legion held a press conference with Sens. Todd Young, R-Ind., and Tim Kaine, D-Va., who have led the bipartisan effort to repeal the 1991 and 2002 AUMFs. The two senators have raised […]

Associated Press: By TARA COPP and LOLITA C. BALDOR • today  WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered a number of improvements in access to mental health care on Thursday to reduce suicides in the military, but held off on endorsing more controversial recommendations […]

March 17, 1919: Lt. Col. Thomas W. Miller of Delaware, a former member of Congress who enlisted as an infantryman in the Army after an unsuccessful re-election campaign, brings the final day of the Paris Caucus to order. Without a gavel to start the meeting, […]

1 Mar 2023 • Military.com • By Amanda Miller  Veterans who received care at non-VA emergency rooms since 2010 could now get some of their out-of-pocket costs reimbursed years later, even if their claims were previously denied. The VA is finalizing a new rule, published […]

21 Feb 2023 • Military.com • By Patricia Kime  The U.S. Supreme Court rejected a case filed by a Navy SEAL and veterans advocates over new regulations put in place in 2020 by the Department of Veterans Affairs that led to families being told they […]

By SVETLANA SHKOLNIKOVA • STARS AND STRIPES • February 21, 2023  WASHINGTON — A group of lawmakers are continuing a yearslong push to establish student veteran centers at universities and colleges, calling for more support for former service members adjusting to academic life. The bicameral […]

HF732 is the bill moving through the house and SF992 is the bill moving through the senate. Our American Legion Department of Minnesota Legislative chairman Kristy Janigo testified in support of HF732. Below is the article that appeared in the Star Tribune. FEBRUARY 4, 2023 […]

By WYATT OLSON • STARS AND STRIPES • January 31, 2023  The Department of Veterans Affairs shelled out about $201 million in retroactive benefits over the past two years to nearly 7,000 “blue water” Navy Vietnam War veterans and their survivors in connection to exposure […]

The American Legion; JAN 25, 2023 A barricade that prevented some World War II veterans from receiving VA care has been removed, thanks to a relentless drive by The American Legion. The legislation exempts World War II veterans from the means test needed to receive […]

Governor Walz and Lieutenant Governor Flanagan’s One Minnesota Budget invests in the things that matter most to Minnesotans: our children and families, economic future, health and safety, and a state government that works for all Minnesotans. The budget includes the largest tax cut in state […]

Military Times By Leo Shane III • Jan 24, 05:42 PM  Veterans Affairs officials want to remind vets that some department benefits extend not only for the rest of their lives, but also after they pass away. Only about 20% of veterans who died last […]

Defense News By Joe Gould • Jan 23, 04:06 PM  WASHINGTON ― The U.S. defense-industrial base is not ready for a battle over Taiwan, as it would run out of key long-range, precision-guided munitions in less than one week, according to a new report by […]

Military Times By Leo Shane III • Jan 23, 11:20 AM  The Supreme Court on Monday unanimously rejected arguments by a disabled veteran that he and other individuals who missed filing deadlines for disability benefits should still be eligible for retroactive payouts if they could […]

5 Jan 2023 • Military.com • By Patricia Kime  Less than half of veterans are receiving Department of Veterans Affairs referrals for specialty care from outside doctors on time, a new report published Wednesday by the Government Accountability Office found. Those specialist visits can be […]

12 Dec 2022 • Military.com • By Patricia Kime  The Department of Veterans Affairs has started processing disability compensation claims for veterans who are eligible under the PACT Act and have a terminal illness, weeks before processing is set to begin for all veterans covered […]

7 Dec 2022 • Fort Worth Star-Telegram • By Matt Leclercq  The National Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington, Texas, which broke ground in March, has raised more than $185 million so far toward its goal of about $230 million to open in late 2024. […]

  Dec. 8, 1941: The Japanese Imperial Army moves into Shanghai, China, to secure the area and prevent an underground resistance. Many of those captured are members of China American Legion Post 1, including Commander Frank Delacy Mortimer. One year earlier, in 1940, with uncommon foresight […]

2 Dec 2022 • Military.com • By Konstantin Toropin  The Navy is dealing with another cluster of suicides in Norfolk, Virginia, with four sailors having died by suicide at the Navy’s Naval Maintenance Center in just over a month according to NBC News. Three deaths […]

2 Dec 2022 • Military.com • By Rebecca Kheel  Leading veterans organizations are pushing senators to take up legislation to expand GI Bill eligibility for National Guardsmen and reservists before the end of this congressional session, after which their efforts would have to go back […]

Military Times By Leo Shane III • Nov 29, 01:22 PM  Disabled veterans will be guaranteed access to life insurance policies under a new Veterans Affairs program set to launch early next year, department officials announced Tuesday. The move opens up basic coverage for a […]

VA Unveils New Scholarships for Future Mental Health Workers as Agency Works to Combat Shortages  21 Nov 2022 • Military.com • By Drew F. Lawrence  The Department of Veterans Affairs, facing “severe” specialist shortages including in psychiatry, is offering prospective health care workers new scholarships […]

19 November 2022 is a day set aside for survivors of suicide loss. International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day is an event in which survivors of suicide loss come together to find connection, understanding, and hope through their shared experience. This year, International Survivors of […]

By COREY DICKSTEIN • STARS AND STRIPES • November 15, 2022  When Capt. Kelsey Hastings takes command of the Marine Corps’ revered Silent Drill Platoon later this month, she will become the unit’s first female leader — and its first-ever female member. Hastings, a 2017 […]

By DOUG G. WARE • STARS AND STRIPES • November 15, 2022  WASHINGTON — Close to 100 candidates with military service won or are winning their midterm elections and the results of these races could yield the largest influx of veterans voted into office on […]

ALCON Background The Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022 – better known as the PACT Act, signed into law Aug. 10, 2022 – opens the door for certain individuals to file lawsuits and collect damages from […]

WASHINGTON, Nov. 7, 2022 — Today, on National Cancer Awareness Day, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced it will prioritize the processing of Veterans’ benefits claims for cancers associated with the PACT Act. VA will expedite these claims to ensure Veterans with cancer are getting […]

Screenings mark key step in implementing the PACT Act, which President Biden signed into law on August 10 WASHINGTON, Nov. 7, 2022 — Beginning tomorrow, Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers and clinics across the country will offer enrolled Veterans a new toxic exposure screening. […]

For the November newsletter from Veterans Benefits please click on the link below. If the link doesn’t work for you copy and paste into your browser. Thanks https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USVAVBA/bulletins/331a772  

Mission Day Break: September 19, 2022 Today, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced the 30 finalists and 10 Promise Award recipients in Phase 1 of Mission Daybreak, a $20 million grand challenge to reduce Veteran suicides. Mission Daybreak is part of VA’s 10-year strategy to […]