Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation Commission

Purpose

• To formulate and recommend to the National Executive Committee of The American Legion policies, plans and programs on direct assistance, outreach and support for veterans and their families with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) claims and benefits, health care, memorial affairs and women veterans programs to ensure that they receive the highest quality of care from VA for their injuries and illnesses incurred from their military service;
• To coordinate the activities of the National Organization in veterans affairs;
• To oversee the effectiveness of The American Legion’s programs of service to these war veterans and their dependents in claims for benefits administered by federal and state programs;
• Such other purposes as may be assigned to it by the National Executive Committee.

 

Documents

1. NATIONAL CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS

2. OUTLINE OF AUTHORIZATION

• VETERANS AFFAIRS & REHABILITATION COMMISSION
• HEALTH ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE
• NATIONAL CEMETERY COMMITTEE
• VETERANS BENEFITS COMMITTEE
• VETERANS AFFAIRS & REHABILIATION COUNCIL

 

Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation committees:

TBI/PTSD/Suicide Prevention Committee
Ronald F. Conley, Pennsylvania, Chairman

Purpose

• To continue to investigate the existing science and procedures as well as alternative methods for treating Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) not currently being employed by the Department of Defense (DoD) or Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for the purpose of determining if such alternative treatments are practical and efficacious;
• To evaluate the therapies for treating TBI and PTSD currently employed by DoD and VA;
• To make an annual report to the full Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation Commission and the National Executive Committee concerning the TBI/PTSD Committee’s findings and recommendations;
• Such other purposes as may be assigned to it by the National Executive Committee.

 

Health Administration Committee
James Stanko, Colorado, Chairman

Purpose

• To formulate and recommend to the National Executive Committee, through the Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation Commission, policies, plans and programs to ensure that veterans and military personnel are receiving timely and quality care at VA Regional Medical Centers, community-based outpatient clinics, long-term care facilities and any other medical functions under VA Health Care;
• To review and make recommendations on the VA Voluntary Service (VAVS) program and all volunteer programs at these facilities;
• To review and recommend policy as to veterans state homes (VHA);
• To ensure that VHA research is fully funded and that the VHA affiliation with medical universities remains robust;
• To ensure that the VHA budget can meet these objectives;
• Such other purposes as may be assigned to it by the National Executive Committee.

 

National Cemetery Committee
James Brehio, Massachusetts, Chairman

Purpose

• To formulate and recommend to the National Executive Committee, through the Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation Commission, policies, plans and programs as they relate to the Department of Veterans Affairs’ national cemeteries, and the internment of veterans, military and their dependents. This includes Arlington National Cemetery administered by the Department of the Army;
• Such other purposes as may be assigned to it by the National Executive Committee.

 

Veterans Benefits Committee
William J. Smith, Pennsylvania, Chairman

Purpose

• To formulate and recommend to the National Executive Committee, through the Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation Commission, policies, plans and programs to insure that veterans, widows and dependents are receiving timely decisions on claims and timely receipt of earned benefits;
• To review these veterans benefits to make sure they remain consistent with changes in the economy;
• To review the Department of Veterans Affairs’ veterans benefits budget to make sure the above objective can be reached;
• Such other purposes as may be assigned to it by the National Executive Committee.

 

View the 2023 Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation Commission Report.