WASHINGTON, DC (October 25, 2007) The leader of the nation’s largest veterans organization met with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid today and urge Congressional leadership to quickly pass the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year 2008 (HR-2642).

“Sen. Reid personally assured me that the MilCon-VA appropriations bill would be passed by Veterans Day,” Marty Conatser, national commander of the 2.7 million-member American Legion, said.

“America’s military and veterans deserve all we can give them to honor their sacrifices,” Conatser explained. “This appropriations bill has been held up far too long. I’m very pleased with the commitment made by Sen. Reid today.”

Since the beginning of the 2008 Fiscal Year this month, the Department of Veterans Affairs been funded at 2007 levels through a continuing resolution that expires Nov. 16th.

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.