THE AMERICAN LEGION for AMERICAN LEGION

Education EDU

H.R. 3484 - To amend title 38, USC, to extend the authority for certain qualifying work-study activities for purposes of the educational assistance programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs. - Extend to June 30, 2014, for the period following work-study activities qualifying for an additional veterans' educational assistance allowance: (1) outreach services furnished by employees of a state approving agency; (2) provision of hospital and domiciliary care in a state home; and (3) activity relating to the administration of a national cemetery or state veterans' cemetery. H.R. 3561 - To amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of educational assistance provided to certain veterans for flight training - Revise title 38 to increase the amount of educational assistance provided to certain veterans for flight training H.R. 3577 - Education Assistance to Realign New Eligibilities for Dependents (EARNED) Act of 2009 - Revise title 38 to provide authority for certain members of the Armed Forces with 20 years on active duty service to transfer entitlement to Post-9/11 Educational Assistance to their dependents H.R. 3579 - To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an increase in the amount of the reporting fees payable to educational institutions that enroll veterans receiving educational assistance from the Department of Veterans Affairs - Amend the Montgomery GI Bill to increase the reporting fee payable to educational institutions that enroll veterans receiving assistance H.R. 3948 - Test Prep for Heroes Act - Authorizes the use of entitlement assistance under the Post-9/11 veterans' educational assistance program for payment for a test preparatory course in connection with licensing or certification in a vocation or profession. H.R. 4079 - To amend title 38, United States Code, to temporarily remove the requirement for employers to increase wages for veterans enrolled in on-the-job training programs - Temporarily repeal for FY2011-FY2015 requirement for employers to increase wages for veterans enrolled in on-the-job training programs. H.R. 4203 - To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide veterans certain educational assistance payments through direct deposit - Direct the VA Secretary to ensure that a veteran may receive Post-9/11 educational assistance payments through direct deposit H.R. 5826 - To amend title 38, United States Code, to expand the definition of active duty for purposes of the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs to include certain service in the National Guard - Amend title 38 to expand the definition of active duty for purposes of the VA Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program to include certain service in the National Guard H.R. 5933 - Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Improvements Act of 2010 Revise provisions concerning the post-9/11 veterans' educational assistance program to, among other things: (1) revise definitions concerning eligibility, and include certain National Guard service as service qualifying for such assistance; (2) revise assistance amounts (including monthly stipends), and types of approved programs of education; (3) allow the pursuit of educational programs at institutions other than institutions of higher learning, including on-job training and apprenticeships, flight training, and correspondence courses; (4) provide an assistance amount for programs of education pursued while on active duty; (5) repeal the limit on the use of such assistance for the payment of only one licensing or certification test; (6) allow an individual entitled to supplemental educational assistance to transfer such entitlement to the post-9/11 program; (7) bar the duplication of benefits under other educational assistance programs; (8) increase the amount of the reporting fee paid by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to an educational institution for providing information concerning an individual's enrollment in a program of education; (9) extend to certain National Guard and reserve personnel members eligibility to receive public-private contributions for additional educational assistance; (10) reauthorize through 2016 the Veterans' Advisory Committee on Education; and (11) revise cost-of-living adjustments under the Montgomery GI Bill educational assistance program. Also, provides an alternate subsistence allowance amount for veterans so entitled due to service-connected disabilities. H.R. 3813; S. 3171 - Veterans Training Act - Deems a program of education as an approved program for purposes of the post-9/11 veterans' educational assistance program if the program is offered by an institution offering: (1) post-secondary instruction that leads to an associate or higher degree and the institution is an approved institution of higher learning; or (2) instruction that does not lead to an associate or higher degree and the institution is an approved educational institution. S. 3447; H.R. 5943 - Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Improvements Act of 2010 - Amend title 38 to improve educational assistance for veterans who served in the Armed Forces after September 11, 2001. LETTER Ensure the modernization of veterans education benefits by allowing those veterans who have served under title 32, USC, in defense of our country to receive equal benefits as their counterparts Views on the Status of the Post 9/11 GI Bill Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 - To ensure that communication between Regional Processing Offices be uniform and all Veterans be able to use their educational benefits and also be able to transfer to dependents of those who have retired from active duty, and inclusion of title 32 Active Duty Guard Reserves to receive federal benefits under Chapter 33

Contacted: Employment Standards Administration; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Defense, Dept of (DOD); State, Dept of (DOS); Selective Service System; Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Veterans Employment & Training Service; Small Business Administration (SBA); Office of Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention; Labor, Dept of (DOL); Justice, Dept of (DOJ); Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD); SENATE

Bills named: H.R. 3948 (111th), H.R. 3577 (111th), H.R. 5943 (111th), H.R. 4203 (111th), H.R. 3561 (111th), H.R. 3579 (111th), S. 3171 (111th), H.R. 5826 (111th), H.R. 5933 (111th), H.R. 3813 (111th), S. 3447 (111th), H.R. 4079 (111th), H.R. 3484 (111th)

Defense DEF

P.L. 111-212 - Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2010 - Promotes providing supplemental appropriations for certain defense programs for FY 2010 H.R. 303; S. 546 - Retired Pay Restoration Act - Supports amend title 10, USC, to permit additional retired members of the Armed Forces with a service-connected disability to receive both disability compensation from VA and either retired pay (by reason of their years of military service) or Combat-Related Special Compensation and eliminate the current phase-in period with respect to such concurrent receipt H.R. 333 - Disabled Veterans Tax Termination Act - Encourages amending title 10, USC, to permit retired members of the Armed Forces with a service-connected disability with a less than 50 percent rating to receive concurrent payment of both retired pay and veterans' disability compensation; to eliminate the phase-in period for concurrent receipt; to extend eligibility for concurrent receipt to chapter 61 disability retirees with less than 20 years of service H.R. 5136; S. 3454 - National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011 - Supports funding for FY 2011 DoD programs H.R. 5822; S. 3615 - Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2011 - Supports funding FY 2011 DoD military construction programs S. 546 - Retired Pay Restoration Act of 2009 - Support amending title 10, USC, to permit certain retired uniformed services members with a service-connected disability to receive both VA disability compensation for their disability and either retired based on their years of military service or Combat-Related Special Compensation S. 3607 - Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2011 - Support DHS appropriations for FY 2011, including Federal Air Marshals; U.S. Coast Guard; immigration enforcement; and Federal Emergency Management Agency S. 3677 - Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2011 - Encourages Selective Service System appropriations for FY 2011 S. 3800 - Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2011 - Supports FY 2011 appropriations for DoD

Contacted: Justice, Dept of (DOJ); Veterans Employment & Training Service; SENATE; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Office of Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention; Defense, Dept of (DOD); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Small Business Administration (SBA); Employment Standards Administration; Labor, Dept of (DOL); Selective Service System; State, Dept of (DOS); Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD)

Bills named: S. 3454 (111th), S. 3800 (111th), H.R. 5136 (111th), H.R. 333 (111th), S. 546 (111th), H.R. 5822 (111th), S. 3607 (111th), S. 3677 (111th), H.R. 303 (111th), S. 3615 (111th)

Constitution CON

H.J. Res. 47; S.J. Res. 15 - Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States giving Congress power to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States. - Support protecting the American flag from physical desecration by constitutional amendment

Contacted: SENATE; Defense, Dept of (DOD); Employment Standards Administration; Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Justice, Dept of (DOJ); Veterans Employment & Training Service; Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Selective Service System; State, Dept of (DOS); Small Business Administration (SBA); Labor, Dept of (DOL); Office of Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention; Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA)

Bills named: H.J.Res. 47 (111th), S.J.Res. 15 (111th)

Veterans VET

P.L. 111-212 - Supplemental Appropriations Act 2010 -- Provides VA supplemental appropriations for certain FY 2010 programs P.L. 111-242 - Continuing Appropriations Act, 2010 -- Fund federal government programs for the 1st two months of FY 2011 at FY 2010 amounts including VA programs P.L. 111-246 - To enable State homes to furnish nursing home care to parents any of whose children died while serving in the Armed Forces -- Permit State Homes to provide care to parents of those servicemembers who died while serving their country in the Armed Forces P.L. 111-247 - Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2010 -- Directs the VA Secretary as of December 1, 2010 to increase the rates of veterans' disability compensation, additional compensation for dependents, clothing allowance for certain disabled veterans, as well as dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children H.R. 3219 - Veterans Benefits Act of 2010 -- Support omnibus veterans legislation relating to insurance, benefits and health care H.R. 3407 - Severely Injured Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2009 -- Increases rates of the following veterans' benefits: (1) wartime disability compensation for veterans in need of regular aid and attendance or higher levels of care; and (2) the non-service-connected disability pension for veterans of a period of war whose disability is rated permanent and total and who are permanently housebound. Makes disabled veterans with severe burn injuries eligible for automobile and adaptive equipment assistance. Make veterans who suffer traumatic brain injury eligible for wartime disability compensation. Authorize the VA Secretary to increase the rate of the special pension for persons entered on Medal of Honor rolls. Extends to September 30, 2021, provisions concerning the treatment of pension amounts of Medicaid-covered veterans who are receiving nursing facility services. H.R. 3787 - To amend title 38, United States Code, to deem certain service in the reserve components as active service for purposes of laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs -- Modify title 38 to deem certain service in the reserve components as active service for purposes of laws administered by the VA Secretary H.R. 3926 - Armed Forces Breast Cancer Research Act -- Directs the Secretaries of DoD and VA to jointly conduct a study on the incidence of breast cancer among members of the Armed Forces and veterans and report study results to Congress H.R. 4041 - To authorize certain improvements in the Federal Recovery Coordinator Program -- Secure improvements in the Veterans Affairs / Department of Defense Federal Recovery Coordinator Program.

Contacted: Employment Standards Administration; State, Dept of (DOS); Veterans Employment & Training Service; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; SENATE; Defense, Dept of (DOD); Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Labor, Dept of (DOL); Small Business Administration (SBA); Selective Service System; Office of Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention; Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Justice, Dept of (DOJ)

Bills named: H.R. 3926 (111th), H.R. 3219 (111th), H.R. 4041 (111th), H.R. 3787 (111th), H.R. 3407 (111th)

Foreign Relations FOR

H.R. 1969; S. 1159 - Vietnam Human Rights Act of 1969 - Promote freedom and democracy in Vietnam S. 3676 - Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2011 - Appropriations for U.S. foreign aid programs for FY 2011

Contacted: Labor, Dept of (DOL); State, Dept of (DOS); Justice, Dept of (DOJ); Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD); SENATE; Selective Service System; Employment Standards Administration; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Veterans Employment & Training Service; Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Office of Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention; Defense, Dept of (DOD); Small Business Administration (SBA); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA)

Bills named: S. 1159 (111th), H.R. 1969 (111th), S. 3676 (111th)

Small Business SMB

Contract and Technology - Improving Contracting Opportunities and Preventing Fraud for Service-Disabled, Veteran-Owned Small Businesses to make certain that Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Businesses receive a fair and proportionate amount of Federal contracts, so these veterans can build and maintain a successful business

Contacted: Defense, Dept of (DOD); Employment Standards Administration; Justice, Dept of (DOJ); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Office of Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention; Small Business Administration (SBA); Selective Service System; State, Dept of (DOS); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Veterans Employment & Training Service; Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD); Labor, Dept of (DOL); SENATE

Housing HOU

H.R. 1169 - To amend title 38, USC, to increase the amount of assistance provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing and automobiles and adapted equipment -- Amend title 38 to increase the assistance amount provided by the VA Secretary to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing and automobiles and adapted equipment H.R. 3976 - Helping Heroes Keep Their Homes Act of 2009 -- Extend the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 through December 31, 2015 for specified protections of servicemembers relating to mortgages and mortgage foreclosures H.R. 4319 - Specially Adapted Housing Assistance Enhancement Act of 2009 -- Requires that during FY 2011 any grant provided by the VA to assist veterans temporarily residing in housing owned by another family member shall not count against the aggregate limit on all specially adapted housing assistance provided to veterans through the VA H.R. 4359 - Warriors Adapting Residences with Mortgages for Energy Renovations Act (WARMER Act) -- To amend title 38 to authorize the VA Secretary to guarantee housing loans for the construction energy efficient dwellings, and for other purposes H.R. 4635 - Foreclosure Mandatory Mediation Act of 2010 -- Amends the Helping Families Save Their Homes Act of 2009 to require the mortgagee of certain one- to four-family residences, as a prerequisite to a foreclosure proceeding or a sheriff sale, and at the mortgagee's expense, to conduct a one-time mediation with the affected mortgagor and a housing counseling agency H.R. 5360 - Blinded Veterans Adaptive Housing Improvement Act of 2010 -- Changes from "5/200 visual acuity or less" to "20/200 best corrected visual acuity or less or a peripheral field of 20 degrees or less" as the standard of visual acuity required for eligibility for veterans' specially adapted housing assistance provided through the VA

Contacted: Small Business Administration (SBA); SENATE; Veterans Employment & Training Service; Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD); Selective Service System; Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Employment Standards Administration; Justice, Dept of (DOJ); Office of Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention; Labor, Dept of (DOL); State, Dept of (DOS); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Defense, Dept of (DOD); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Bills named: H.R. 4359 (111th), H.R. 4319 (111th), H.R. 5360 (111th), H.R. 3976 (111th), H.R. 1169 (111th), H.R. 4635 (111th)

Labor Issues/Antitrust/Workplace LBR

H.R. 3257 - Military Family Leave Act of 2009 -- Amend title 38 to grant family of members of the uniformed services temporary annual leave during the deployment of such members H.R. 3685 - To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to include on the main page of the Internet website of the Department of Veterans Affairs a hyperlink to the VetSuccess Internet website and to publicize such Internet website -- To require the VA Secretary to include on the main page of the Departments Internet website a hyperlink to the VetSuccess Internet website and to publicize same H.R. 5120; S. 3234 - Veteran Employment Assistance Act of 2010 -- Improve employment, training, and placement services furnished to veterans, especially those serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom S. 3686 - An original bill making appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2011, and for other purposes -- Makes FY 2011 appropriations for the Labor Department including funding for the Veterans Employment and Training Service (VETS) Licensure and Certification of Transitioning Veterans -- To support efforts that required DoD to take appropriate steps to ensure that service members be trained, tested, and evaluated and issued any licensure or certification that may be required in the civilian workforce prior to separation. To ensure the elimination of employment barriers impeding the transfer of military job skills to the civilian job market Federal Contractor Compliance - To improve Contracting Compliance with the Federal government to ensure that employers comply with nondiscrimination and affirmative act laws and regulations when doing business with the Federal government

Contacted: Employment Standards Administration; Labor, Dept of (DOL); Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; State, Dept of (DOS); Small Business Administration (SBA); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); SENATE; Justice, Dept of (DOJ); Defense, Dept of (DOD); Office of Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention; Veterans Employment & Training Service; Selective Service System; Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA)

Bills named: H.R. 3257 (111th), H.R. 5120 (111th), H.R. 3685 (111th), S. 3234 (111th), S. 3686 (111th)

Law Enforcement/Crime/Criminal Justice LAW

H.R. 4469 - To amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to provide for protection of child custody arrangements for parents who are members of the Armed Forces deployed in support of a contingency operation -- Modify the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to provide protection of child custody arrangements for parents who are members of the Armed Forces deployed in support of a contingency operation S. 669; H.R. 2547 - Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act -- To amend title 38 to clarify conditions under which certain persons may be treated as adjudicated mentally incompetent for certain purposes S. 3636 - Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2011 -- Provides funding for the Departments of Commerce and Justice, and various science programs, for FY 2011, specifically, funding for the FBI, US Marshals, Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention

Contacted: State, Dept of (DOS); Defense, Dept of (DOD); Labor, Dept of (DOL); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Selective Service System; Small Business Administration (SBA); Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD); Veterans Employment & Training Service; Office of Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention; Justice, Dept of (DOJ); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Employment Standards Administration; SENATE; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Bills named: S. 669 (111th), S. 3636 (111th), H.R. 2547 (111th), H.R. 4469 (111th)