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SONS OF THE AMERICAN LEGION
NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION
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Detachments
are urged to send the Legislative Commission e-mail contacts of your
Legislative Chairman and/or Officers to the e-mail link below. All
Detachments should submit their 2008-2009 Detachment Legislative Chairman
List so the Commission can set up their Legislative Database. If your
Detachment has not done so (or you are not sure), please submit the name of
your chairman (their e-mail, address, and phone number would also be
helpful). This information is needed to keep your members updated to the
latest legislative activity coming out of Washington, DC. Thank you for your
cooperation.
The National
Legislative E-Group
Keeping E-Group members updated and
informed on current legislation is be of the utmost importance. Changes in
Congress are constant and continual changes in information to our members are
a must. The purpose of the E-Group is for a quick reaction force
to address critical legislative issues. The members of this E-Group will be
called upon for their assistance on very important legislative issues. This
can be an effective system of lobbying and is critical that information
regarding constant changes in E-Group Members and Congress be updated
promptly.
The important
point to be stressed is for the E-Group Member to partner themselves with the
members of Congress with whom they have built a personal relationship with.
All E-Group Members should make it their number one priority to establish a
relationship on a first name basis with their respective Congressmen, to be
able to communicate most effectively and quickly when the need arises.
Detachment are urged to appoint members to the E-Group who have both a
working knowledge of the legislative process and have a close working
relationship with the Member of Congress. Detachments in making their
selection should consider carefully, and choose wisely, the members who will
serve on the E-Group. The success of the E-Group and the National Legislative
Program will depend on it. The E-Group Member must receive a copy of the
American Legion Dispatch in order to be informed and aware of current and
pending legislative issues.
Legislative Action
Members of the Sons of The American Legion
can have a great impact on the lives of Veterans, our community, state and
nation by taking an active role in Legislative issues. The most effective
tool to have our voice and interest known is the letter writing campaign to
elected officials. Always Remember, form letters are the least effective
persuasion on elected officials. The most important way to get the Elected
Officials’ attention is a personal letter written by YOU. The elected
official knows that if a member took the time to write a letter, the issue
they are writing on is an important one to them. Remember, elected officials
are always aware of upcoming elections and want to count on your vote. Always
request a response in your written letter and when you receive it, send a
Thank You note for their time and consideration. If it is a negative
response, always be courteous, but strongly express your disappointment
diplomatically, and still thank them for their time. It is of the utmost
importance to keep the lines of communications open for future issues as they
arise.
Offer your
assistance to your Post help them set up a Town Hall Meeting. Invite elected
officials to speak at your Squadron and/or District Meetings. These are two
ways to better get closer and personal with your elected officials, and to
give you an excellent opportunity for them to get to know you and see you as
a veterans’ advocate.
Grassroots
Veteran’s Advocacy
Lobbying or Advocating on the Veteran’s benefit
on the Squadron level is an excellent method for the Sons of The American
Legion is most effective. What are Lobbyists or advocates? They are a group
of private individuals engaged in trying to influence legislators in favor of
some special interest. The key word is “Persuasion.” Get close to the Aid to
the Legislator. It is sometimes difficult to make an appointment or contact
the Legislator with their hectic schedules, but the Aid always has access to
him. Lobbying involves organizing other people (both members in your
organization and members of other organization with similar issues) to try to
change the Lawmaker’s vote in favor of issues The American Legion are
supporting.
If your
Representative in Congress is a member of The Sons of The American Legion,
this can be most beneficial. Your key objective should be to “zero” in on him
and continue your campaign so that he will soon recognize your name and
organization when he sees it. Write personal letters, send personal e-mails,
send telegrams, and make telephone calls concerning issues that The American
Legion is supporting. All Detachment Legislative Chairmen should forward all
replies from Members of Congress, Senators, and/or the White House, to the
American Legion National Legislative Commission and the Sons of The American
Legion National Legislative Commission in a timely manner. This is most
useful to the Commission in developing a more effective legislative strategy
on certain issues. Send replies to:
Steve Robertson, Director
National Legislative
Division
The American Legion
1608 K Street, NW
Washington, DC 20006-2847
George B. Evans, Chairman
National Legislative
Commission
Sons of The American Legion
6600 West 87th
Place
Oak Lawn, IL 60453 Email Address: GBESAL@aol.com
Congressional
Record
Be proud of all your
accomplishments of the Sons of The American Legion and let others know it.
Any outstanding activities and/or special projects should be sent to your
Congressional Delegation requesting them to include the information in the
Congressional Record. The Congressional Record is the official diary of the
U.S. Congress. It would be a great public relations tool to let our
Congressional Leaders know how much we do on behalf of our Veterans,
communities, state, and nation. It is also important to let them know how
much we also do with our younger members in our Squadron and our communities.
LEGISLATIVE TOOLS
The American Legion
DISPATCH
A periodical
publication from the American Legion National Headquarters contains vital
information on legislative developments as well as legislative programs,
concerns and other issues of great importance to The American Legion. Sons of
The American Legion Legislative Chairmen on all levels are encouraged to
subscribe to the DISPATCH. This publication is a great tool to stay informed
of pending legislative issues and a great resource for chairmen when writing
letters, preparing bulletins and/or reporting to their membership. A great
idea is considering purchasing gift subscriptions to be donated to local
libraries, congressional representatives, VA Medical Centers and Homes, and
state representatives. Squadrons, Districts, and Detachments are urged to
subscribe to The DISPATCH to report at meetings and in newsletters. An Order
Form is included and should be mailed along with check to:
Editor, The DISPATCH
The American Legion
P.O. Box 1055
Indianapolis, IN 42606
The Legislative
Handbook
Another publication of
the National Legislative Commission of The American Legion describing the
importance of legislation to all programs of The American Legion Family, why
individual participation is necessary, and providing guidelines as to how and
when to respond. An Order Form is included and should be mailed along with
check to:
National Legislative
Commission
The American Legion
1608 K Street, NW
Washington, DC 20006-2847
How to Make a
Difference Through Effective Grassroots Lobbying
This publication walks
the member through Grassroots Lobbying from the basics to proven techniques
that work. The member is taught how to be successful at grassroots lobbying. This
publication is available and can be purchased through Emblem Sales.
The Legislative
Action Center
Another most useful
tool is the American Legion Legislative Action Center. Simply go to The
American Legion Home page, http://www.legion.org,
and then click on Legislative Action Center. Insert your own e-mail address
and it will send all copies of alerts directly to you. You can also find
up-to-date information and votes on current bills pending in Washington. A list
of bills currently approved by the American Legion as the Legislative Program
is available, with links as to current status of bills. This site contains a
wealth of information to offer you the member the tools to lobbying
effectively.
The Sons of The American
Legion National Legislative Commission Web Page
Another useful tool is
the Sons of The American Legion National Legislative Commission Web Page.
This Web Site can be attained by logging on to the National Sons of The
American Legion Home Page, www.sal.legion.org, and then click on Committees
and Commissions, and then click on Legislative Commission. Here you will see
all members of the National Legislative Commission, with e-mail links for
each commission member. Click on Legislative Commission Web Page and you will
have access to information to the National Sons of The American Legion
Legislative Program. This page includes information on Commission Members,
the Annual Washington Conference, and Links to useful legislative tools,
including the Sons of The American Legion National Legislative Priorities.
This site is yet another great source of information in assisting the member
in becoming a better Grassroots Lobbyist.
TELEPHONE RESOURCES
For information on the
status of a bill pending
In the Senate or House of
Representative: 1-202-225-1772
A recording providing an
update of events on the
floor of the Senate from a
Democratic prospective: 1-202-224-8541
A recording providing an
update of events on the
floor of the Senate from a
Republican prospective: 1-202-224-8601
A recording providing an
update of events on the floor of
the House of Representative
from a Democratic prospective: 1-202-224-7400
A recording providing an update of events on the floor of
the House of Representative
from a Republican prospective: 1-202-225-7430
KEY WEB SITES
EXECUTIVE
The White House http://www.whitehouse.gov
JUDICIARY
Supreme Court of the United
States http://www.supremecourtus.gov
LEGISLATIVE
U.S. House of Representative
http://www.house.gov
Clerk of the House http://www.clerkweb.house.gov
Currently on the House Floor
http://www.gpoaccess.gov
U.S. Senate http://www.senate.gov
U.S. Senate Calendar of
Business http://www.gpoaccess.gov/legislative.html
Thomas Legislative
Information on the Internet for Legislative bill information:
http://thomas.loc.gov
Congressional
Record http://www.gpoaccess.gov/crecord/index.html
Library of Congress http://www.loc.gov
U.S. Census Bureau http://www.census.gov
OTHER USEFUL WEBSITES
Committee on Veterans
Affairs for the U.S. House of Representative
http://www.veterans.house.gov
Committee on Veterans
Affairs for the U.S. Senate
(From website, Select
Committee, then Veterans Affairs) http://www.senate.gov
Department of Veterans
Affairs Home Page
Federal Benefits for
Veterans and Dependents
Department of Veterans
Affairs Gulf War Veterans
Illnesses Home
Page http://www.va.gov
Military Funeral
Honors http://www.militaryfuneralhonors.osd.mil
Arlington National
Cemetery http://www.arlingtoncemetery.org
Replacing Military Record/National
Archives
(From the
“Where is…?” How do I…? Menu,
select Veterans Service Records) http://www.nara.gov
Federal Jobs for Veterans
http://www.usajobs.opm.gov
VA Home Loans http://www.homeloans.va.gov
National Coalition for
Homeless Veterans http://www.nchv.org
Capitol Advantage http://capitoladvantage.com/h2
The American Legion
National Legislative
Commission
1608 K Street, NW
Washington, DC 20006-2947
PUBLICATION ORDER FORM
Name
___________________________________________________________
Address _________________________________________________________
City ___________________
State _____________________ Zip ____________
Telephone
Day_______________________ Evening _____________________
Fax ___________________
E-Mail
_______________________________
Do you subscribe to The
American Legion Dispatch?
(Circle One)
Member of: The American
Legion
American Legion
Auxiliary
Sons of The American Legion
Publication
Price/Ea.
Quantity Total Price
Legislative Handbook
100 @ $6.00
How a Thought Becomes a
Bill
How a Bill Becomes a
Law 100 @ $9.00
Total $
Please make check or
money order payable to The American Legion and send to the above address.
Please return one copy of this order form with your remittance and retain one
copy for your records.
The DISPATCH
The DISPATCH is an American Legion National Legislative Commission
periodical published semi-monthly, except for September and December. Its
articles contain information on legislative developments as well as many
programs and concerns of The American Legion. Sons of The American Legion
Legislative Chairmen on all levels should subscribe to The DISPATCH, and all
members of our organization are encouraged to subscribe. The DISPATCH
subscriptions are $15.00 per year.
ORDER FORM
For a one (1) year
subscription to The DISPATCH, send a $15.00 check or money order,
Payable to The American Legion to:
Editor, The DISPATCH
The American Legion
P.O. Box 1055
Indianapolis, IN 46206
SUBSCRIBER:
NAME
______________________________________________________
ADDRESS
___________________________________________________
CITY _______________________
STATE ______________ ZIP _______
SQUADRON NAME
___________________________________________
SQUADRON NUMBER________
DEPARTMENT _________________
(The DISPATCH will be sent
to the subscriber unless otherwise indicated below)
IF SENDING THIS ONE
YEAR’S SUBSCRIPTION TO ANOTHER RECIPIENT AS A GIFT,
PLEASE COMPLETE THE
FOLLOWING:
RECIPIENT’S NAME
________________________________________________
ADDRESS
________________________________________________________
CITY
________________________ STATE __________________ ZIP ________
If member of The Sons of
The American Legion
Feel free to send us your comments regarding this site.
Send e-mail by checking here.
The Sons of The American Legion
[ Legislative web site
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This page last updated
9/8/2009
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