WASHINGTON (May 20, 2003) – House Budget Committee Chairman Jim Nussle: “Mr. Chairman, just to respond to the points on the veterans’ issues. First of all, we increase discretionary spending 6.1 percent on veterans, we increase the mandatory spending 7 percent, and they call that a cut. They ask us to honor veterans. In fact, in this country we honor veterans so much that we paid 5,500 of them benefits after they were dead. That is how much we honor veterans. That is why we need to look at every program for waste and abuse.” (Source: Congressional Record, March 20, 2003)

As committee chairmen in the U.S. House of Representatives purge “waste and abuse” from their respective areas of the federal budget, Ronald F. Conley, national commander of the 2.8-million member American Legion, points out that pork, not veterans, are at the root of wasteful spending.
“We honor veterans, all right. We honor veterans so much,” Conley says, “more than 200,000 veterans, some of them ex-POWs, many with service-connected disabilities, must wait more than six months or a year to see a doctor at the Department of Veterans Affairs medical system.

“We honor veterans so much that 164,000 veterans are prohibited from enrolling for VA health care because the system is straining to care for the severely disabled; not enough money to augment the tireless and dedicated VA medical staffs.

“We honor veterans so much that much of the increase in VA health care spending may be derived from increases in veterans’ co-payments and the institution of a $250 annual enrollment fee.

“If VA makes a benefits payment before learning of a veterans death, the money is returned to VA; we’re hard-pressed to confirm the 5,500 deceased veterans who continued to receive benefits. If a part-time VA doctor submits a bogus invoice for services not rendered, then the government has every right to take appropriate collection and disciplinary action. Meanwhile, to be fair and comprehensive about government waste, the process should include the $22.5 billion in pork-barrel spending that Citizens Against Government Waste identified in the current federal budget, which is astonishingly close to the level of funding this year for VA health care.

“There are more than 3 million recipients of mandatory VA spending – indigent wartime veterans receiving pensions, service-disabled veterans getting disability compensation, and recipients of death compensation. They don’t ‘ask’ a grateful nation to honor them. The American Legion will do everything in its power to make sure none of them is hurt.
“That’s how we honor veterans.”

Source information: The American Legion Web Site May 20, 2003. Media Contact: Steve Thomas, 202/263-2982; Pager 800/759-8888, #115-8679; Joe March, (317) 630-1253; Pager 317/382-7745

WASHINGTON (May 8, 2003) – If the U.S. Flag is good enough to drape the coffins of America’s honored dead from Iraq and other wars, then it’s good enough to be protected from physical desecration, as it was before a 1989 5-to-4 ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court. That’s the position of the 2.8-million member American Legion as Congress considers once again a flag-protection constitutional amendment: “The people shall have power to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States.”

The House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution heard testimony Wednesday on the amendment. It is expected to pass for a fifth time by the required two-thirds majority in the House. The outcome in the Senate is less certain.

“The Flag of the United States of America is the unifying symbol of our nation,” American Legion National Commander Ronald F. Conley said. “That’s the reason 48 states and the federal government passed laws against flag desecration prior to the Supreme Court’s 1989 ruling. That’s also the reason all 50 state legislatures have petitioned Congress to send them the amendment for ratification.

“We have laws against certain forms of pornography. The Supreme Court recently upheld a law against cross burning. Why? Because the nature of free speech is determined by the values of the people. Judging by the actions of state legislatures and by the 75 percent to 80 percent support for the amendment reflected in numerous polls, it’s clear that the people don’t consider flag desecration free speech. Frankly, neither did the founders of our republic.

“The people want their flag protected. The American Legion stands with the people. Because the Supreme Court, after its landmark 1989 ruling, would not allow Old Glory to be protected by a federal law, a constitutional amendment is the people’s only recourse.”

Source Information The American Legion Web Site. Media Contact: Joe March, (317) 630-1253/Pager (317) 382-7745 or Steve Thomas, (202) 263-2982/ Pager (800) 759-8888 PIN 115-8679

Tommy Smith a life long resident of Phoebus was nominated and duly elected as Legionnaire of the Year for Post 48. His election was held during the May 2003 Post meeting that will carry him through to next year.

During Tommy’s membership as a Legionnaire he has served on numerous Post committee’s and currently serving as the Posts Judge Advocate. Tommy is currently serving as Chairman of both Americanism and the JROTC Drill Team committees. Tommy also serves as a member of the budget, house and entertainment committee's.

Tommy served in the United States Navy which led him into joining The American Legion. After leaving the U. S. Navy Tommy enjoyed a successful life long career within the Fire Service. He served both as a member of Hampton Fire & Rescue Division and as a Chief Officers with the Federal Government.