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Monday, June 01, 2026

House Passes Veteran-Friendly Bills

by The American Legion

Legislation would increase benefits for some disabled veterans, streamline the ability to make healthcare appointments, expand Fisher House eligibility and more.

The House passed six veteran-friendly bills, including five that The American Legion supported via testimony, during the week of May 18. A summary of the bills endorsed by the Legion and previous statements:

• H.R. 6047 the Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act, which would increase the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) monthly compensation benefit for service-connected, catastrophically disabled veterans and the surviving families of 100% disabled or deceased veterans. “This legislation works to uplift our most vulnerable veterans and provide an overdue increase in Dependency and Indemnity Compensation for survivors, aptly in time for Memorial Day,” the Legion wrote.

• H.R. 496 Veterans 2nd Amendment Restoration Act. This bill prevents VA from automatically reporting veterans to the FBI’s NICS background check system solely because they require a fiduciary to manage their benefits. Instead, it directs VA to notify the DOJ that past transmittals were improper. “It is a moral injustice for veterans to lose their 2nd Amendment rights because a judge deemed a financial fiduciary was warranted. There is no connection between the ability to manage one’s finances and violent ideations. The American Legion believes that this reporting mechanism violates due process and opposes any legislation that infringes on constitutional rights. We support the rights of veterans who are under a fiduciary, especially when the rights are enshrined in the U.S. Constitution,” Legislative Director Cole Lyle testified during before the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs in 2025.

• H.R. 3482 Veterans Community Care Scheduling Improvement Act. The bill mandates VA implement an electronic scheduling process to streamline healthcare appointments for veterans. “The American Legion strongly supports H.R. 3482, the Veterans Community Care Scheduling Improvement Act, as a vital step toward ensuring timely access to quality healthcare for our nation’s veterans,” Lyle testified before the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations in 2025.

• H.R. 3726 Fisher House Availability Act of 2025, which expands eligibility for no-cost temporary lodging at Fisher Houses to include active-duty servicemembers and their families. “This bill codifies this directive into law and will help to ensure the Fisher House programs are allowed to help veterans, servicemembers and their families as originally intended. The American Legion supports this legislation through Resolution No. 18: Comprehensive Supports for Caregivers Support Program,” Lyle testified before the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health in 2025.

• H.R. 2954 Veterans’ Transition to Trucking Act of 2025. This legislation authorizes the VA Secretary to serve as the single approving authority for multi-state trucking apprenticeship programs, eliminating the need for separate approvals from multiple states. “As an active partner in Task Force Movement, a presidential initiative launched in 2022, The American Legion has supported efforts to clear pathways for veterans to enter the trucking workforce and help stabilize the nation’s logistical infrastructure and supply chain. Streamlining this process will reduce administrative burdens, expand opportunities for veterans, and strengthen the U.S. labor force and transportation industry,” policy analyst Andrew Petrie testified before the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity in 2025.
Tuesday, May 12, 2026

Updated Legislative Agenda Available

An updated Department of New York legislative agenda is now available on the Legislative Action page.
Monday, May 11, 2026

Spring 2026 Issue of Legion NY Mag!

This issue features:

ª A Past Department Commander’s SuperBowl Experience.

• Lima Post’s Regiment 282’s Impactful Outreach.

• A Photo Gallery of the Mid-Winter Conference.

• The NYS Oratorical Champion.

• Mohawk Post Establishes an Artifact Room.

• Post 1302 Cited as ‘Vets Who Rock’

• LI Legionnaire Named Person of the Year.

• Small Post Has Big EMS Impact on Community.

• WWII Vet Performs at NFL Game.
Monday, March 23, 2026

Heyan Chung Is 2026 State Oratorical Champ

(From left) National Vice Commander Ron LaRose, Angie Lennox (Franklin County, District 4), Katherine Mazaroski (Nassau County, District 10, Sheldon Joseph (Westchester County, District 1), Lucas Christopher (Monroe County, District 7), 2026 Department of New York Champion Heyan chung (Broome County, District 6) and Department Commander John R. Miga.

ALBANY — Heyan Chung, a junior at Vestal Senior High School in Broome, New York, is The American Legion New York State Oratorical Champion for 2026, Oratorical Chairman Anthony Paternostro announced.

This year’s contest was conducted on March 7, 2026, at the Crown Plaza-Desmond Hotel, Albany, New York.

Oratorical champion Heyan chung with National Vice Commander Ron LaRose (left) and Department Commander John R. Miga.

As Department champion, Heyan Chung and wins a $6,000 Scholarship. He competed against four other finalists from a cross section of the state in the 89^th Annual American Legion Department of New York Oratorical Contest. He was sponsored by the Binghamton American Legion Post 1645, Broome County, 6^th District, and Zone 4.

Other contestants were:

• Lucas Christopher, Monroe County, 7^th District, Zone 5, and sponsored by the Cottreall-Warner American Legion Post 942 who won a $4,000 Scholarship.

• Sheldon Joseph, Westchester County, 9^th District, Zone 1, and sponsored by the Yorktown American Legion Post 1009 who won a $2,500 Scholarship.

• Katherine Mazaroski, Nassau County, 10^th District, Zone 2, sponsored by the Carle Place American Legion Post 1718, and Angie Lennox, Franklin County, 4^th District, Zone 3, sponsored by the Brushton-Moira American Legion Post 939, who both won a $2,000 Scholarship each.
Thursday, March 12, 2026

Vets Invited to Baseball Hall of Fame Military Classic Game

The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown is inviting members of the American Legion to a Memorial Day Weekend event celebrating America’s 250th birthday.

Of its 354 Hall of Famers, 70 sacrificed parts of their baseball careers to serve in the U.S. military during wartime. These legacies are honored during the Hall of Fame Military Classic: A Tribute to Service and Sacrifice – a seven-inning legends game on May 23 at historic Doubleday Field.

Any veteran who purchases tickets to the game will receive free Museum tickets, valid on Saturday, May 23, when the Museum is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Here’s more information about the Hall of Fame Military Classic:

• Hall of Famers Wade Boggs, Rollie Fingers, Todd Helton, Fergie Jenkins, Tony La Russa, Scott Rolen and Joe Torre will participate as managers and coaches.
• Two dozen former big leaguers with their own military ties will play in the game and participate in a pregame home run hitting contest. They will be joined by members of the Louisville Slugger Warriors veterans amputee baseball team.
• Also participating will be 1981 World Series champion Rick Monday, whose rescue of the American flag at Dodger Stadium in 1976 became a rallying point for the country during that bicentennial year. The flag Monday rescued will be on special exhibit at the Hall of Fame beginning Memorial Day Weekend.

Tickets for the Hall of Fame Military Classic are on sale now online at Hall of Fame Military Classic or at 1-888-325-0470 Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET. Veterans can redeem their free Museum ticket offer by entering promo code BHOF250 when ordering online or mentioning the offer when calling.
Check Out February’s Membership Impact Report

February26-Impact-Report (PDF)

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