INDIANAPOLIS (Oct. 18, 2007) – The American Legion National Commander and its board of directors sent letters to the leaders of the Senate and House of Representatives today urging that they pass the stalled Military Construction and Veterans Funding bill, which has the support of both The American Legion and the White House.

“We are now in the new fiscal year with no idea when the Mil Con-VA appropriations will be passed,” the letters to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Speaker of The House Nancy Pelosi said. “If history repeats itself, this standoff may last well into the second quarter of the fiscal year. This uncertainty is disturbing to not only The American Legion and other veterans’ and military service organizations, but to every veteran who is dependent on VA for timely access to quality health care, earned benefits, and other services provided by a grateful nation.”

The letters, which were signed by American Legion National Commander Marty J. Conatser, five American Legion national vice commanders, and all 55 American Legion National Executive Committee members, point out that the president has already said that he will not veto the bill, even though it exceeds his recommendations. The bipartisan bill already passed overwhelmingly in both chambers, but is being held up in conference.

“The time is long overdue for the Congress to sign this appropriations bill and send it to the White House,” Conatser said. “Everyday wounded heroes return from Iraq and Afghanistan and politicians promise to take care of them. Delaying needed veterans legislation is not upholding those promises. Nor is it upholding the promises made to the generations of veterans who came before them.”

Some observers believe that the delay is because of unrelated funding disputes that congressional leaders have with the Bush administration.

The American Legion was founded in 1919 on the four pillars of a strong national security, veterans affairs, Americanism, and patriotic youth programs. The Legion’s 2.7 million wartime veterans work for the betterment of their communities through more than 14,000 posts across the nation.