LZ:DC: National Commander Hotop Delivers Legislative Agenda to Congress

This morning AMVETS National Commander Jerry Hotop appeared before a special joint session of the House and Senate Veterans Affairs committees to deliver AMVETS' legislative agenda for 2011.

To view a full list of witnesses, read their prepared remarks and to watch the hearing in its entirety, Click Here.

Cmdr. Hotop's testimony and AMVETS Legislative Priorities for 2011 were guided by three sources, AMVETS adopted resolutions from the 2010 AMVETS National Convention, findings from the 2010 AMVETS Symposium for 21st Century Veterans, and the concerns of AMVETS members.

In his prepared remarks, Hotop discussed each of AMVETS' top legislative priorities in depth, ranging from improving services for rural veterans, improving services for female service members and veterans, improving screening and treatment for polytraumatic blast injuries, modernizing VA's prosthetic services, ending the claims backlog, and providing education, employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for veterans.

Given the time constraints, Hotop's remarks focused on meeting the needs of underserved veterans--particularly women veterans, whose ranks continue to grow; and rural/remote veterans, who comprise nearly half of today's veterans who utilize VA services.

Hotop also took the time to praise VA's efforts to end homelessness within five years, but also acknowledged that VA needs to implement more innovative programs to stop homelessness before it starts.

"We must go to the veterans, not simply sit back and hope the veterans come to us," Hotop said. "This is not a handout. This is providing the entitlements and care they have earned through their service to our country."

The AMVETS national commander's testimony before Congress is an annual tradition around which the AMVETS family of organizations converges on Washington, D.C., to advocate for veterans' causes. This year's testimony is part of the inaugural "LZ:DC," where AMVETS has landed on Capitol Hill for a week of advocacy on behalf of American veterans and their loved ones.

American Veteran is following the week's events closely. Check back regularly for updates from the LZ.

(Images: Top: AMVETS National Commander Jerry Hotop waits to testify before the Congressional Veterans Affairs committees. Middle: Cmdr. Hotop delivers AMVETS' legislative priorities to Congress while AMVETS Acting Legislative Director Christina Roof looks on. Photos by Jay Agg. Middle, left: AMVETS members from across the country joined Cmdr. Hotop for his testimony. Bottom, right: Roof discusses Sons of AMVETS legislative visits as part of LZ:DC with a member of the Sons of AMVETS prior to the hearing. Photos by Ryan Gallucci.)

Recap of Last Week on Capitol Hill

Last week, AMVETS was out in force on Capitol, testifying before the Senate, meeting with House minority leadership and submitting remarks on veterans' employment assistance.

On Wednesday morning, AMVETS National Deputy Legislative Director Christina Roof appeared alongside the Independent Budget partners--Disabled American Veterans, Paralyzed Veterans of America, and Veterans of Foreign Wars--and VA Secretary Eric Shinseki before the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs to discuss the fiscal year 2012 VA budget proposal.

It was the first full committee hearing to be chaired by newly-selected Committee Chairman Patty Murray, D-Wash. Murray is the first woman to hold the powerful position on the committee.

On the first panel of the hearing, Murray and Ranking Member Richard Burr, R-S.C., expressed bipartisan disappointment with VA over the proposed implementation of the new VA caregiver benefits, saying that the Wade family, which advocated for the critical services in the bill, would not be eligible under the current threshold.

"It's important to remember why we wrote [caregiver]," said Murray. "The narrow draft excludes many of the people we believed it would cover."

Burr pointed out that the intention of the bill was to ensure that institutional care was not the only option for severely-wounded Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, but under VA's issued guidelines, institutional care was now the threshold to qualify for the benefit.

The committee called on Secretary Shinseki to recall the proposal from the Office of Management and Budget and rewrite the guidelines.

"If it goes the way it is written, [VA] will be in for one hell of a fight," said Burr.

During the hearing, VA's proposal to expand its central office in the 2012 budget also became a heated topic of discussion, drawing criticism from committee Republicans who want to see fiscally responsible decision-making across the federal government.

While veterans' advocates testifying did not wish to speculate on why VA requested the expansion, Roof said that if the choice came between VA hiring health care practitioners or speech writers, that VA should focus on its mission to deliver services to veterans.

To view a full list of witnesses, to read prepared remarks and to view video from the hearing, Click Here.

Wednesday afternoon, Roof also participated in a roundtable discussion with House minority leadership, chaired by Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and the nation's leading military and veterans' advocates.

Democratic leadership has hosted regular roundtable discussions with the veterans community for the last few years in an effort to better understand the unique issues facing American service men and women during a time of war.

Major topics of discussion included the ongoing VA claims backlog, veterans' educational opportunities, unemployment and homelessness.

On Thursday, AMVETS was also represented during the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity hearing on the budget for Veterans Employment and Training Service, or VETS, and state grant programs.

To view a full list of participants and to read their prepared remarks, Click Here.

Roof submitted testimony for the record, which focused on two state grant programs, the Disabled Veterans Outreach Program, or DVOP, and Local Veterans Employment Representative, or LVER.

In her remarks, Roof said that both DVOP and LVER programs lacked proper metrics to measure success in placing veterans in quality jobs. Under the current system, any veteran who seeks information from a DVOP or LVER office is recorded as a "veteran having received counseling," and veterans who find employment without the assistance of DVOP or LVER is considered a successful placement and a positive termination.

Given the inconsistencies among each state-administered DVOP and LVER program, AMVETS recommended to the committee that DVOP and LVER be at least temporarily federalized to ensure proper oversight, management and placement of veterans seeking assistance.

AMVETS also recommended stricter enforcement of standards within each program and allocation of program funds based on performance of each DVOP or LVER.

To read Roof's prepared remarks and AMVETS' full recommendations on DVOP and LVER, Click Here.

This week, AMVETS will once again be on Capitol Hill for a series of meetings in preparation for next week's LZ:DC events.

American Veteran will continue to follow the work of the AMVETS National Legislative Department closely. We will also bring you highlights of next week's work on Capitol Hill as it happens. Check back regularly for updates.

(Images: Top: AMVETS National Deputy Legislative Director Christina Roof testifies on the proposed VA budget before the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs. Middle: VA Secretary Eric Shinseki discusses the proposed VA budget before the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs. Bottom: House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., hosts a roundtable discussion with the nation's leading military and veterans' advocates, including AMVETS. Photos by Ryan Gallucci.)

Live from Capitol Hill: AMVETS to Testify Before Senate; Meet with House Minority Leadership

Tomorrow AMVETS will deliver testimony alongside the Independent Budget partners before the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee and participate in a veterans' support and military support roundtable discussion with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.

VA Secretary Eric Shinseki will sit on the first panel of the hearing, explaining the Obama Administration's budget proposal for VA in fiscal year 2012 and VA health care for 2013.

AMVETS National Legislative Director Christina Roof will then appear alongside IB partners Disabled American Veterans, Paralyzed American Veterans and Veterans of Foreign Wars to discuss the 25th Independent Budget for the Department of Veterans Affairs--a roadmap for how Congress should fund VA, which has been developed by the nation's top veterans' organizations for a quarter century.

The hearing will commence at 10:30 a.m. in Russell Senate Room 418. To view a full list of participants and to read their prepared remarks, Click Here.

Live video should also be available on the committee's Web site at 10:30 tomorrow morning.

Roof appeared before the House Committee on Veterans Affairs two weeks ago alongside the IB partners and Secretary Shinseki, discussing how to best fund VA services in the coming fiscal year.

In the afternoon, AMVETS will also join the nation's leading veterans and military support organizations for a special roundtable discussion on issues facing today's military and veterans' communities with House minority leadership, chaired by Minority Leader Pelosi.

American Veteran will be on hand for both tomorrow's hearing and the roundtable. Check back for highlights from the day's events.

Live from Capitol Hill: Senate Discusses G.I. Bill; House Roundtable on PTSD, TBI

This morning, the Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs will host a hearing on potential improvements to the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill, which AMVETS has been calling for since last summer when the new benefits took effect.

Some of the improvements AMVETS has called for include expansion of benefits for mobilized National Guard troops on Title 32 orders, increased equity in benefits for students attending private universities, living stipend benefits for full time online students, and increased access to vocational training outside of traditional colleges and universities.

This morning, the House Committee on Veterans Affairs is also hosting a roundtable discussion on treating the invisible wounds of war--post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, and traumatic brain injury, or TBI. The committee has brought together leaders within the health care industry alongside Department of Defense and VA officials to discuss the issues.

To view a list of this morning's participants in the roundtable, Click Here. To view live video starting at 10 a.m., Click Here.

AMVETS National Commander Duane J. Miskulin made addressing the invisible wounds of war his top personal priority for his year in office and AMVETS National Deputy Legislative Director Christina Roof will be on hand for the roundtable. To read about Miskulin's chief initiative to address these invisible wounds and the broader reintegration issues faced by today's veterans through AMVETS Warrior Transition Workshops, Click Here. '

American Veteran will follow both of these hearings closely. For updates, check back later.

This Week at American Veteran

This week at American Veteran we will continue to follow hearings on Capitol Hill, including Wednesday's roundtable discussion on post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, and a hearing on healing the physical injuries of war, both in the House Committee on Veterans Affairs.

On Wednesday, the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs will also host a hearing on Post-9/11 G.I. Bill improvements. Details on each hearing will be available later in the week.

We will also discuss this weekend's ruling in U.S. District Court, deeming the Stolen Valor Act of 2005 unconstitutional. AMVETS issued a statement this afternoon, calling for an appeal to uphold the critical law, which roots out fakers exploiting the veterans' community. AMVETS was the first major veterans' organization to tackle the Stolen Valor issue when it launched ReportStolenValor.org in December 2009.

This week we will also bring you updates on the 2010 AMVETS Symposium for 21st Century Veterans, taking place during this year's AMVETS National Convention in Louisville. AMVETS leaders are finalizing details for the event and we will bring you highlights here.

As always, we're eager to hear from you and hear what's happening at AMVETS posts and departments around the country for our Keeping Posted Online section. We will also keep you up to date on the latest news in the veterans' community. Finally, we also encourage you to comment on our stories whenever possible. Details on how to publish your comments can be found on the right hand tool bar.

AMVETS Asks For Clarification on Service Dogs

Yesterday, AMVETS National Deputy Legislative Director Christina Roof sent a formal letter to VA Secretary Eric Shinseki asking for a formal update on VA's study of service dogs for wounded veterans and clarification on VA's outreach efforts on current benefits available to veterans using eligible service animals.

The letter was similar to letters Roof has worked on with leaders in the House, which was sent to Shinseki in May, and the Senate, which is currently in circulation among Senate staff.


AMVETS and Congressional leaders are looking for clarification on the VA's study of service dogs and the health impacts for both physically and psychologically wounded veterans as commissioned by the 2010 defense authorization.

Under the law, VA had 270 days to clarify how it would conduct the study--a deadline approaching on July 8.

Prior to the deadline, AMVETS hopes to ensure that VA's Office of the General Counsel has kept with the intent of the study, especially in light of this week's hearing in the House where Congressional leaders chastised VA's General Counsel for a lack of proper oversight and neglecting to adhere to guidelines outlined in laws pertaining to veterans' benefits.

AMVETS latest letter also asked for clarification on VA's outreach efforts on current service dog benefits provided under Title 38, the body of law governing veterans' benefits. Under the current law, veterans who make use of service dogs for physical injuries are entitled to compensation for veterinary care and other types of routine care for their service animals through VA's office of prosthetics and sensory aides.

However, for years VA had failed to properly enroll veterans in the program. Recently, AMVETS has been working with VA prosthetics to help reach out to veterans, but efforts hit a road block last month. AMVETS hopes to continue leveraging all available resources to inform veterans of these benefits.

AMVETS has been a critical voice on veterans' service dogs since partnering with non-profit Paws With A Cause in 1987 to place service dogs with deserving wounded veterans.

In the last few months, AMVETS and Paws have worked tirelessly to raise awareness of the issue with VA leadership and on Capitol Hill to ensure responsible implementation of veterans' service dog programs.

American Veteran will continue to follow VA's service dog study and benefits outreach closely. For updates, check back regularly.

(Images: Top: AMVETS' letter to VA Secretary Shinseki asking about veterans' service dog issues. Bottom: AMVETS member and U.S. Paralympian Kevin Stone and his assistance dog Mambo speak with Sen. Kay Hagan (D-N.C.) during recent visits to Capitol Hill, while CNN collects b-roll for a story on veterans and their assistance dogs. Photo by Ryan Gallucci.)

This Week at American Veteran

This week at American Veteran we will highlight this week's hearing in the House VA Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, discussing the VA's Office of the General Counsel and the hearing before the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs, where AMVETS' Independent Budget partners will testify on the VA claims process and current efforts by VA to streamline the system.

This week, AMVETS Deputy Legislative Director Christina Roof will be out in force on Capitol Hill, bringing together signatories from the Senate on a letter to VA Secretary Eric Shinseki asking for clarification on the veterans' assistance dog study authorized under the 2010 defense appropriations.

Similar to Roof's letter which had 14 signatories in the House, the Senate version also asks for clarification on VA's outreach efforts on current assistance dog benefits, which were unexpectedly stalled last month.

We will also discuss recent changes VA has made to the claims paperwork for veterans seeking service-connected compensation. VA recently released a 10 page version of the VA form 21-526, allowing first time claims applicants to use the more streamlined version.

We will also continue to follow the command transition in Afghanistan, as the Senate considers Gen. David Petraeus to replaces Gen. Stanley McChrystal, who resigned last week.

We will also post an update on the 2010 AMVETS Symposium for 21st Century Veterans, taking place this summer in Louisville prior to the 66th annual AMVETS National Convention. A quick reminder that the deadline for registering participants is close-of-business on Friday, July 2.

Finally, we are laying out the summer issue of American Veteran magazine in an effort to ensure that the issue is in your hands prior to the national convention in August. If you have letters to the editor, photos and stories that you would like to share for consideration in our letters section or Keeping Posted, please send them to rgallucci@amvets.org as soon as possible. The final deadline in Friday, July 2.

And, as always, please leave your comments on this blog and let us know what you think.

AMVETS Calls on Congress to Divert Wasteful Defense Spending to Help Ground Troops

This week, AMVETS submitted letters to Congress, calling on legislators to once-and-for-all put an end to the wasteful alternate engine program for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

Over the years, both the Bush Administration and the Obama Administration have called on Congress to pull funding form the program with the support of the nation's top military minds saying that the alternate engine was unnecessary.

This year, legislators have introduced an amendment to strip the program of its funding, diverting much of the funds to the National Guard & Reserve Equipment Account, which has faced persistent shortfalls throughout the Global War on Terrorism.

AMVETS National Legislative Director Ray Kelley has sent letters of support for the amendment to legislators playing a key role in the process, such as amendment cosponsor Rep. John B. Larson (D-Conn.).

AMVETS leaders from the Department of Pennsylvania have also become involved with the issue, calling on Congressmen Chris Carney and Patrick Murphy, two veterans of the current conflicts, to support dissolving the program. AMVETS leaders have also submitted "letters to the editor" calling for an end to the program.

AMVETS posts and departments interested in becoming involved with the issue should contact AMVETS National Legislative Department for more information.

For updates on this issue and the upcoming vote in the House, check back regularly with American Veteran.

(Image: Letter to Congressman Larson voicing AMVETS' support to diverting funds from the F-35 alternate engine to finance equipment for reserve troops.)

Highlights from Speaker Pelosi's Roundable on Vets' Issues

Yesterday, AMVETS National Deputy Legislative Director Christina Roof joined House leadership and the nation's top veterans' advocates for a roundtable discussion on veterans' issues.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) hosted the roundtable, which brought many majority members of the House to the table to hear from the nation's leading veterans' advocates.

The afternoon's discussion centered around the VA claims backlog (AMVETS' top legislative priority for 2010), Post-9/11 G.I. Bill updates, and veterans' unemployment.

Veterans' groups were given the opportunity to candidly discuss each of the issues, receiving critical feedback on potential next steps from Congressional leaders.

Joe Violante from the Independent Budget partner DAV laid out three potential ideas to help alleviate the claims backlog.

Among the afternoon's attendees were Congressional Silver Helmet Award recipients, Reps. Chet Edwards (D-Texas) and Tim Walz (D-Minn), House Armed Service Committee Chairman Ike Skelton (D-Mo.), and House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Bob Filner (D-Calif.).

Each of AMVETS' other partners on the Independent Budget--Paralyzed Veterans of America and VFW--also participated in the discussion, which included other noteworthy groups such as the American Legion, IAVA, Wounded Warrior Project, and Gold Star Wives.

(Image: AMVETS' Christina Roof participates in yesterday's roundtable on veterans' issues, hosted by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Photo by Ryan Gallucci.)

BREAKING: Senate Passes Landmark Caregiver Bill

Tonight the Senate passed the Caregivers and Veterans Health Services Omnibus Act, offering groundbreaking aide and benefits for family caregivers of wounded veterans. The bill also includes significant improvements in care for female veterans and rural/remote veterans--two of AMVETS' top legislative priorities for 2010.

AMVETS National Commander Duane J. Miskulin applauded yesterday's passage of the bill in the House, calling it a "significant innovation in how VA cares for our wounded veterans and our underserved veteran populations."

AMVETS leaders were on hand at the U.S. Capitol yesterday for a press conference by House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Bob Filner (D-Calif.) alongside wounded warrior Ted Wade and his wife, Sarah, and other House veterans' advocates.

Since Ted was severely injured in Iraq, suffering a severe traumatic brain injury and losing his right arm, Sarah left school, quit her job and took on the role of caring for her husband.

"I was going to do whatever it took for Ted to live in the community, out of institutional care," said Sarah during the press conference, "but I would lay awake at night wondering how we'll get through this."

Sarah, who now telecommutes for the Wounded Warrior Project, said the new caregiver benefits will allow more than 2,000 other military families in similar situations to make ends meet while properly caring for their loved ones thanks to living stipends, formal caregiver training, available health care, and respite care.

The caregiver bill will now go to President Barack Obama for signing and American Veteran will be following closely. Check back regularly for updates.

(Photo: Wounded warrior Ted Wade and his wife, Sarah, discuss what the passage of the veterans' caregiver bill means to them. Photo by Ryan Gallucci.)

Senate votes down alternate engine for Joint Strike Fighter

Yesterday, the Senate voted down a provision in the FY2010 defense budget that would continue to fund an alternate engine for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Earlier this month, AMVETS drafted a letter to House appropriators, asking them to support the Pentagon's decision to scrap the wasteful program. While the controversial provision passed in the House, the Senate's decision to squash the program could now set the stage for a contentious conference on the budget.

According to the letter from AMVETS National Headquarters, AMVETS wants to see the Pentagon focus on mission-critical acquisitions for the Department of Defense. The Pentagon has been trying to kill the alternative engine program since 2006, when the Bush Administration first labeled the program as wasteful.

However, Congress continued to tack on the provision, wasting millions of dollars in taxpayer money for a program that America's top military minds say they do not want.

Over the last few weeks, top brass from all branches set to receive versions of the Joint Strike Fighter have discussed exactly why the program would cripple military readiness. Air Force Gen. Mark Shackelford said that the alternate engine program would delay the timely delivery of more than 50 fighters to the Air Force's already-strained fleet of fighter jets.

The Navy said it cannot possibly maintain multiple engine systems for its fleet of Joint Strike Fighters during sea-based operations.

Finally, the Marine Corps called for an end to the alternative engine program, since the funding would be diverted from the badly-needed H1 helicopter program. In a recent letter to Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), who sponsored the amendment to kill the alternate engine program, Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James Conway said that the helicopter programs needed to continue unabated, or the Corps risked relying on a fleet long-overdue for retirement to transport Marines on and off the battlefield.

Conway's comments struck a particular chord with AMVETS leaders who had served in the Marine Corps, such as AMVETS Legislative Director Ray Kelley.

"Conway's comments only reiterate what we heard from Secretary Gates on this issue--one dollar of pork is a dollar that we can't spend on our Marines," Kelley said. "I was happy to see the Senate vote responsibly on this issue, and we must continue to ensure that the next defense budget represents the best interests of our military."

Proponents of the alternate engine have stirred tension over potential job losses in a tough economy. However, executives from GE-Rolls Royce, the contractor for the alternate engine, confirmed before the Senate that the company's industrial base would not be threatened, should the program be terminated. In addition, the program remains in the development phase, with a large portion of the work set to be shipped overseas, should the project advance.

AMVETS will continue to push members of the House to support the Pentagon's position on this issue. Continued development of the alternative engine will siphon billions of badly-needed defense dollars to a program that threatens the well-being of our troops on the ground.

American Veteran will continue to track this story, as it develops. In the meantime, we're eager to hear what you have to say about the issue.

Live from Capitol Hill: AMVETS to testify on state approving agencies

This afternoon, AMVETS National Legislative Director Ray Kelley will testify before the House VA Subcommittee onEconomic Opportunity on the evolution of state approving agencies for utilizing VA education benefits.

State approving agencies are the approving bodies in each state around the country tasked with approving academic and technical training programs for which veterans may use their VA entitlements. Kelley will join leaders from other top VSOs in explaining where the veterans' community feels these agencies should focus.

The committee, chaired by Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D-S.D.), will also hear from leaders in the National Association of State Approving Agencies and the Veterans' Benefits Administration with the VA.

To view a list of today's witnesses, Click Here, and be sure to check back with American Veteran Online for updates and multimedia links, as they become available.

UPDATE: House Passes Advance Appropriations

On Friday afternoon, Congress officially passed the FY2010 military construction and VA budget, which included the first advance budget for the VA. The House version, which has a companion bill in the Senate, includes $48.2 billion in funds for VA health care immediately available in FY2011.

AMVETS and the other nation's top veterans' service organizations have been calling for Congress to overhaul the VA funding mechanism for more than a decade. To read AMVETS' response, Click Here.

The Senate is expected to act shortly on advance appropriations. Check back regularly with American Veteran Online for updates as this story develops.

Advanced Appropriations Moves Forward

Yesterday, the House took two major steps in ensuring that advanced appropriations for VA health care become a reality. The House approved a major rule change allowing for the VA funding exemption, while the House Appropriations Committee approved what would be the first advanced VA budget.

Congress has delivered the VA budget late for 19 of the last 22 years, and AMVETS and many of the nation's other leading veterans service organizations have been working to revise the VA funding model for decades. Veterans and veterans' advocates around the country applauded last night's critical step to ensure "sufficient, timely and predictable" funding for the VA.

Check back shortly with the official AMVETS Web site for more information on this important step toward making advanced VA appropriations a reality.

Live from Capitol Hill: AMVETS testifies on VA contracting and veterans' small businesses

This afternoon, AMVETS' Christina Roof testified before the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity. Roof's testimony focused on contracts and contract policy as it relates to veteran-owned small businesses (VOSBs) and service disabled veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOSBs).

To read Roof's remarks, Click Here.

To view video from the hearing, Click Here.

(Photo: AMVETS Legislative Aide Christina Roof testifies before the VA subcommittee. Photo by Ryan Gallucci.)

View the Video from Yesterday's VA Budget Hearing

To view the testimony of VA Secretary Eric Shinseki, AMVETS Legislative Director Ray Kelley and the Independent Budget partners before the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, click here.

During the hearing, committee chairman Robert Filner (D-Calif.) applauded the work of the IB partners, as the committee discusses the FY2010 VA budget. Members of the House committee, including ranking member Steve Buyer (R-Ind.), asked each of the IB partners pointed questions about their budget proposals and ways in which Congress could improve services for veterans.

On Thursday, AMVETS National Commander John Chad Hapner will testify before a special joint session of both the House and Senate committees on veterans' affairs to outline AMVETS' legislative agenda for 2009. Check in with American Veteran Online for up-to-the-minute coverage of the day's hearing.

(Photo: Thumbnail image of yesterday's hearing before the House Committee on Veterans Affairs to discuss the FY2010 VA budget.)

Blogging from the Silver Helmet & NEC

It's once again time for the spring meeting of the AMVETS National Executive Committee, and next week is going to be a busy one for AMVETS. It all starts on Tuesday with Legislative Director Ray Kelley's testimony before the House and Senate on the VA budget process for FY2010. On Thursday, National Commander John Chad Hapner will testify before a special joint session of the House and Senate Veterans Affairs committees, outlining AMVETS' legislative agenda for the year. Later on Thursday, AMVETS will honor Texas Congressman Chet Edwards with a special Silver Helmet reception on Capitol Hill. Spring NEC preliminary business starts on Friday, with the full committee session on Saturday, followed by the 55th annual Silver Helmet Amwards banquet Saturday night. American Veteran magazine will be on hand to cover all of the events, with updates from Capitol Hill, the banquet, and the floor of then NEC.

In addition to the special award for Rep. Edwards, AMVETS will honor four more remarkable individuals during the black tie banquet for their contributions to the veterans' community: Danny Devine, Tammy Duckworth, Cathy Hargrave, and "E J" Knapick. To learn more about each recipient, visit the official Silver Helmet Awards page. This year's Silver Helmet Awards banquet and spring NEC will take place at the BWI Hilton in Linthicum, Md.

American Veteran magazine is going to hit the ground running on Tuesday, with comprehensive coverage of all the week's activities. Be sure to check in regularly at americanveteranmagazine.blogspot.com, and be on the look out of the spring issue of American Veteran magazine, with more photos and highlights from this exciting week.

-Ryan

(Photos, Top: Guests gather last spring for the 54 Annual Silver Helmet Awards at the Hilton Mark Center in Alexandria, Va. Photo courtesy of AMVETS. Center: Past National Commander JP Brown III testifies before the special joint veterans affairs committee in spring 2008. Photo by Isaac Pacheco.)