INDIANAPOLIS (May 10, 2007) – Members of The American Legion’s National Executive Committee passed 26 national resolutions covering a range of issues fromVA funding to illegal immigration during its meetings May 9-10.

Congress’s refusal to pass an Iraq war funding bill without timelines for withdrawing troops was also high on the agenda of the nation’s largest veterans organization.

“Wake-up!” warned National Commander Paul A. Morin. “Our troops have their hands full fighting for their lives and don’t have time for the kind of ‘political gamesmanship’ that the commander in chief and the military leadership are having to endure.

“To the leadership of Congress, my message is very simple: pass the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations to fund the war through the end of the fiscal year,” Morin said. “Take it to the floor of Congress for a public debate, then vote on America’s role in the Global War on Terror. Those ready to surrender should speak up, vote and stand by their decision. Those who are willing to win this conflict can do the same so that “We the people’ can have the final say.”

The National Executive Committee, the formal name for the organization’s board of directors, also pledged strong action to decrease the Department of Veterans Affairs backlog of benefits claims and appeals. The NEC unanimously passed Resolution 1, which authorizes a lawsuit against VA to compel action, if necessary, on pending claims for VA benefits. The backlog currently consists of more than 797,000 pending claims and appeals.

“A veteran is a veteran, and the VA must be open to serve all veterans, because every veteran deserves the best health care that America has to offer,” Morin said.

The NEC also approved a comprehensive strategy to address illegal immigration in the United States. That strategy includes enforcement of employer sanctions, better screening and tracking of visitors and securing border and coastline points of entry.

“We are not against legal immigration and never have been,” Morin said. “It is what made this country what it is today and no one can dispute that. But the system is broken and it needs fixing, and the solutions being tossed around by some members of Congress are not in the best interest of this country.”

The national commander reiterated The American Legion’s longtime support for the flag amendment. “We are an organization that has never walked away from the greatest symbol of America, our flag. We’re not going away until (the amendment) is passed.”