National Commander's Testimony
National Commander Mike Helm testifies before a joint session of the House and Senate Committees on Veterans' Affairs on Feb. 25 during the annual Washington Conference. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
![Legionnaires are interviewed before National Commander Helm’s testimony before a joint session of the House and Senate Committees on Veterans' Affairs on Feb. 25 during the annual Washington Conference. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.](https://www.legion.org/sites/legion.org/files/styles/scale800w/public/001_02252015_commanders_testimony_9796A_gallery.jpg?itok=jR6e-Qed)
Legionnaires are interviewed before National Commander Helm’s testimony before a joint session of the House and Senate Committees on Veterans' Affairs on Feb. 25 during the annual Washington Conference. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
![A crowd of Legionnaires wait to enter Cannon House Building room 345 to watch National Commander Helm testify before a joint session of the House and Senate Committees on Veterans' Affairs on Feb. 25 during the annual Washington Conference. Photo by Lucas](https://www.legion.org/sites/legion.org/files/styles/scale800w/public/002_02252015_commanders_testimony_9798A_gallery.jpg?itok=Ti4_5kOu)
A crowd of Legionnaires wait to enter Cannon House Building room 345 to watch National Commander Helm testify before a joint session of the House and Senate Committees on Veterans' Affairs on Feb. 25 during the annual Washington Conference. Photo by Lucas
![American Legion VA&R Division Director Louis Celli addresses the crowd before Helm’s testimony. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion](https://www.legion.org/sites/legion.org/files/styles/scale800w/public/003_02252015_commanders_testimony_9840A_gallery.jpg?itok=_wuScSsY)
American Legion VA&R Division Director Louis Celli addresses the crowd before Helm’s testimony. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion
![Room 345 fills before Helm testifies. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.](https://www.legion.org/sites/legion.org/files/styles/scale800w/public/004_02252015_commanders_testimony_9856A_gallery.jpg?itok=16MMaDa5)
Room 345 fills before Helm testifies. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
![National Commander Mike Helm talks with past national commanders before testifying. Photo by Lucas Carter/The American Legion](https://www.legion.org/sites/legion.org/files/styles/scale800w/public/005_02252015_commanders_testimony_9870A_gallery.jpg?itok=AmDcdyQe)
National Commander Mike Helm talks with past national commanders before testifying. Photo by Lucas Carter/The American Legion
![American Legion Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation Commission Chairman Ralph Bozella prepares his notes before the Legion's testimony. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.](https://www.legion.org/sites/legion.org/files/styles/scale800w/public/006_02252015_commanders_testimony_9897A_gallery.jpg?itok=8d0UJZAR)
American Legion Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation Commission Chairman Ralph Bozella prepares his notes before the Legion's testimony. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
![National Commander Mike Helm begins his testimony before a joint session of the House and Senate Committees on Veterans’ Affairs on Feb. 25. Photo by Lucas Carter/The American Legion](https://www.legion.org/sites/legion.org/files/styles/scale800w/public/007_02252015_commanders_testimony_9921A_gallery.jpg?itok=aSlFn-Sx)
National Commander Mike Helm begins his testimony before a joint session of the House and Senate Committees on Veterans’ Affairs on Feb. 25. Photo by Lucas Carter/The American Legion
![National Commander Mike Helm greets attendees of the House and Senate Committees on Veterans' Affairs. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.](https://www.legion.org/sites/legion.org/files/styles/scale800w/public/008_02252015_commanders_testimony_9908A_gallery.jpg?itok=2FGjWeOv)
National Commander Mike Helm greets attendees of the House and Senate Committees on Veterans' Affairs. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
![Helm and the panel applause Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Fla., for his support of the Legion's position regarding protecting the flag. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.](https://www.legion.org/sites/legion.org/files/styles/scale800w/public/009_02252015_commanders_testimony_0114_gallery.jpg?itok=j4kTqg4g)
Helm and the panel applause Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Fla., for his support of the Legion's position regarding protecting the flag. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
![Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Commission Chairman Ralph Bozella speaks before a joint session of the House and Senate Committees on Veterans' Affairs. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.](https://www.legion.org/sites/legion.org/files/styles/scale800w/public/010_02252015_commanders_testimony_0153_gallery.jpg?itok=v-vpf3C6)
Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Commission Chairman Ralph Bozella speaks before a joint session of the House and Senate Committees on Veterans' Affairs. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
![National Commander Mike Helm testifies before a joint session of the House and Senate Committees on Veterans' Affairs. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.](https://www.legion.org/sites/legion.org/files/styles/scale800w/public/011_02252015_commanders_testimony_9882_gallery.jpg?itok=wyi42rjI)
National Commander Mike Helm testifies before a joint session of the House and Senate Committees on Veterans' Affairs. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
![National Commander Mike Helm testifies before a joint session of the House and Senate Committees on Veterans' Affairs. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.](https://www.legion.org/sites/legion.org/files/styles/scale800w/public/012_02252015_commanders_testimony_0262_gallery.jpg?itok=M8UlTcD3)
National Commander Mike Helm testifies before a joint session of the House and Senate Committees on Veterans' Affairs. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
![Employment & Veterans Preference Committee Chairman James Fratolillo testifies before a joint session of the House and Senate Committees on Veterans' Affairs on Feb. 25 during the annual Washington Conference. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion](https://www.legion.org/sites/legion.org/files/styles/scale800w/public/014_02252015_commanders_testimony_0289_gallery.jpg?itok=zaulJCjV)
Employment & Veterans Preference Committee Chairman James Fratolillo testifies before a joint session of the House and Senate Committees on Veterans' Affairs on Feb. 25 during the annual Washington Conference. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion
![National Commander Mike Helm answers questions from members of the House and Senate Committees on Veterans' Affairs. Photo by Lucas Carter/The American Legion](https://www.legion.org/sites/legion.org/files/styles/scale800w/public/013_02252015_commanders_testimony_0276_gallery.jpg?itok=vhIp-FWw)
National Commander Mike Helm answers questions from members of the House and Senate Committees on Veterans' Affairs. Photo by Lucas Carter/The American Legion
![National Commander Mike Helm and American Legion Legislative Division Director Ian De Planque react to a joke during the Legion's testimony. Photo by Lucas Carter/The American Legion](https://www.legion.org/sites/legion.org/files/styles/scale800w/public/015_02252015_commanders_testimony_9926_gallery.jpg?itok=x4KPjXcN)
National Commander Mike Helm and American Legion Legislative Division Director Ian De Planque react to a joke during the Legion's testimony. Photo by Lucas Carter/The American Legion
![Rep. Tim Huelskamp, R-Kan., asked Commander Helm a question during the Legion's testimony. Photo by Lucas Carter/The American Legion](https://www.legion.org/sites/legion.org/files/styles/scale800w/public/016_02252015_commanders_testimony_0423_gallery.jpg?itok=e1gtbb-C)
Rep. Tim Huelskamp, R-Kan., asked Commander Helm a question during the Legion's testimony. Photo by Lucas Carter/The American Legion
![A Legionnaire leaves the Cannon House Building after National Commander Mike Helm testified before a joint session of the House and Senate Committees on Veterans' Affairs on Feb. 25 during the annual Washington Conference. Photo by Lucas Carter/The Americ](https://www.legion.org/sites/legion.org/files/styles/scale800w/public/017_02252015_commanders_testimony_9994A_gallery.jpg?itok=gFLqnTDE)
A Legionnaire leaves the Cannon House Building after National Commander Mike Helm testified before a joint session of the House and Senate Committees on Veterans' Affairs on Feb. 25 during the annual Washington Conference. Photo by Lucas Carter/The Americ