[House Document 106-187]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



106th Congress, 2d Session - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 106-187


 
         FINANCIAL STATEMENT AND AUDIT OF THE AMERICAN LEGION

                               __________

                             COMMUNICATION

                                  from

                   THE DIRECTOR, NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE
                    COMMISSION, THE AMERICAN LEGION

                              transmitting

THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE 81ST NATIONAL CONVENTION OF THE AMERICAN LEGION, 
  HELD IN ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA, FROM SEPTEMBER 7, 8, AND 9, 1999, AS 
  WELL AS A REPORT ON THE ORGANIZATION'S ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR 
  PRECEDING THE CONVENTION, PURSUANT TO 36 U.S.C. 49




 February 1, 2000.--Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and 
                         ordered to be printed

                               __________

                    U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
62-291                     WASHINGTON : 2000

                         LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

                              ----------                              

                                       The American Legion,
                                  Washington, DC, February 1, 2000.
Hon. Dennis Hastert,
Speaker, House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Speaker: In compliance with current public law we 
herewith transmit for printing as a House document a financial 
statement and independent audit of the American Legion, 
proceedings of our 81st annual National Convention held in 
Anaheim, California, from September 7, 8, and 9, 1999, and a 
report on our organization's activities for the year preceding 
the convention.
            Sincerely,
                                        Steve A. Robertson,
                         Director, National Legislative Commission.
                            C O N T E N T S

                              ----------                              
                                                                   Page
Foreword.........................................................    ix

Tuesday, September 7, 1999

Invocation.......................................................     1
Post Everlasting Ceremony and Lighting of the Peace Candle.......     2
POW/MIA Empty Chair Ceremony.....................................     2
Presentation: Representation of The American Legion Youth 
  Programs.......................................................     3
Address: The Honorable Edward Royce..............................     5
Address: The Honorable Shirley McCracken.........................     7
David L. Eby, 1998-99 Department Commander.......................     7
Bruce Thiesen....................................................     8
Call for Convention..............................................     9
Report: Section on Credentials & Other Internal Matters..........    11
Address: The Honorable Togo D. West Jr...........................    13
Presentation: The American Legion Distinguished Service Award....    17
Special Report: Citizens Flag Alliance, Inc......................    18
Address: The Honorable John McCain, Senator......................    23
Address: The Honorable Robert C. Smith, Senator..................    28
Mrs. Virginia Hobbs, Kentucky, National President, The American 
  Legion Auxiliary...............................................    34
Presentation: Certificate of Appreciation to the National 
  Chaplain.......................................................    34
Presentation: Plaque of Appreciation to New Orleans, Louisiana...    35
Report: National Commander's Report to the convention............    36
Tribute to American Legion Founders..............................    41
Address: Bert Pritchard, Dominion President, ANIVICUS............    44
Address: Mary Ann Burdett, Dominion Vice President, Royal 
  Canadian legion................................................    45
Address: Lt. General Wu, Chi-liang, Secretary General, Veterans 
  Affairs Commission, Republic of China..........................    47
Report: Convention Committee on Legislation and Rules............    48
Report: Convention Committee on Finance..........................    49
Rick Cook, Oklahoma, National Commander..........................    51

Wednesday, September 8, 1999

Invocation.......................................................    55
Address: The Honorable Albert Gore, Jr...........................    55
Address: The Honorable Orrin G. Hatch............................    60
Address: The Honorable Alan Cranston.............................    67
Address: The Honorable Robert Mallett............................    70
Address: The Honorable Tomas Alvarado, Secretary.................    72
Address: Brig. General Wilma L. Vaught, USAF (Ret.)..............    75
Presentation: 1999 National Law Enforcement Officer of the Year..    77
Report Employment and Veterans Preference and Other Economic 
  Matters........................................................    78
    Resolution No. 16: Veterans Employment Opportunities Act, 
      1998.......................................................    79
    Resolution No. 18: DVETS Residency Requirement Reaffirmed....    80
    Resolution No. 30: Employment of Veterans in Government Work 
      Force......................................................    80
    Resolution No. 51: Disabled Veterans as Priority Under 
      Americans with Disabilities Act............................    81
    Resolution No. 54: Hire A Veteran Week.......................    82
    Resolution No. 79: Recognition Of Military Service And Pay 
      When Calculating Starting Federal Civilian Salaries........    82
    Resolution No. 84: Tax Credits For Certain Employers.........    83
    Resolution No. 86: Support Revision Of VETS Performance 
      Standards..................................................    84
    Resolution No. 123: Job Protection For Service Connected 
      Veterans Requiring Visits At VA Facilities.................    84
    Resolution No. 133: Change The Date Of Employ The Older 
      Worker Week................................................    85
    Resolution No. 134: Support Of America's Older Workers.......    85
    Resolution No. 7: VA Home Warranty Rules.....................    87
    Resolution No. 83: Support Improved Services For America's 
      Veteran-Entrepreneurs......................................    88
    Resolution No. 135: Homeless Veterans........................    89
    Resolution No. 184: Reaffirm Support For Department Of 
      Veterans' Affairs Loan Guaranty Program....................    89
Presentation: Employer of the Year Awards for Hiring Veterans....    90
Presentation: Chapel of Four Chaplains Legion of Honor Bronze 
  Medallion......................................................    92
Presentation: The American Legion Employment Center Award........    94
Report: Convention Committee on Americanism......................    98
    Resolution No. 1: Reaffirms Determination of The American 
      Legion to Secure Constitutional Protection for the Flag of 
      the United States..........................................    98
Presentation: William Randolph Hearst Americanism Trophy.........   100
Report: Section on Membership....................................   102
Presentation: Department Membership Awards.......................   103
Report: Convention Committee on Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation   105
    Resolution No. 6: Special Pension for World War I Veterans...   106
    Resolution No. 29: VA Provide Appropriate Care For Gulf War 
      Related Illnesses..........................................   107
    Resolution No. 58: Protect Disability Rating after Ten Years.   107
    Resolution No. 62: Urge Congress to Provide Adequate Current 
      and Future Financial Assistance for Veterans Health Care 
      and Oppose Further Reductions in VA Health Care Personnel..   107
    Resolution No. 87: Support Increase in Claims Personnel for 
      VA.........................................................   108
    Resolution No. 88: Eliminate All Time Limitations for Filing 
      Applications for Correction of Military Records............   109
    Resolution No. 89: The American Legion Policy on VA 
      Compensation...............................................   110
    Resolution No. 90: Maintain Adequate VA Hospital Bed Capacity 
      And Staffing Levels........................................   111
    Resolution No. 95: The American Legion Policy on Agent Orange   111
    Resolution No. 97: Extend Persian Gulf War Benefits to Those 
      Who Served in Israel and Turkey............................   112
    Resolution No. 98: Gulf War Veterans Illnesses...............   113
    Resolution No. 106: Urge VA To Make Organization-Specific 
      Information Available To Veterans Service Organizations....   114
    Resolution No. 118: The American Legion Policy on Entitlement 
      to VA Headstones...........................................   115
    Resolution No. 141: The GI Bill Of Health....................   115
    Resolution No. 153: Request DVA Establish Policy Of 
      Enrollment In DVA Health Care System At The Time Of 
      Separation From Active Military Service....................   116
    Resolution No. 171: Support Improved Vocational 
      Rehabilitation & Counseling Services.......................   117
    Resolution No. 179: Support the Consolidation of VA Home Loan 
      Guaranty Program for the Southwest Region in California....   118
    Resolution No. 181: Indirect Cost Reimbursement to VA by Non-
      VA and Collaborative Studies Research......................   118
Presentation: William F. Lenker National Service Trophy..........   120
Address: Major General John P. Herrling, USA (Ret.), Secretary...   120
Report: Section on Credentials and Other Internal Matters........   125
    Resolution No. 151: Include Funeral Honors Activity in 
      Consolidated Post Report...................................   126
    Resolution No. 183: Appreciation to Host City................   126
    Resolution No. 109: Postage Stamp Commemorating the Purple 
      Heart Medal................................................   127
    Resolution No. 149: Support the National Veterans Hall Of 
      Honors.....................................................   127
    Resolution No. 158: United States Flag Postage Stamp.........   127
    Resolution No. 157: Audie Murphy Postal Stamp................   128
Report: Convention Committee on Children & Youth.................   131
Presentation: Garland E. Murphy, Jr. Award.......................   132
Report: Convention Committee on Constitutional Amendment.........   133

Thursday, September 9, 1999

Invocation.......................................................   137
Address: Lt. General Bruce Knutson, Jr...........................   137
Presentation: The American Legion Fourth Estate Award............   141
Report: Convention Committee on Foreign Relations................   141
    Resolution No. 76: America's Future..........................   142
    Resolution No. 77: Principles of U.S. Foreign Policy.........   143
    Resolution No. 154: Support for U.S. Steel Industry..........   144
    Resolution No. 159: House Select Committee on POW/MIA Affairs   144
    Resolution No. 2: Policy on Support to The Republic of Korea.   145
    Resolution No. 3: China and Taiwan...........................   146
    Resolution No. 21: Trade with The People's Republic of China.   146
    Resolution No. 78: Chinese Espionage in the United States....   147
Report: Convention Committee on National Security Committee......   148
    Resolution No. 17: Nuclear Security..........................   149
    Resolution No. 42: Status of Forces Agreements and Military 
      Retiree Use of Overseas Military Facilities................   149
    Resolution No. 68: Military Funeral Honors for Veterans......   150
    Resolution No. 69: Proposals to Ensure A Strong National 
      Defense....................................................   151
    Resolution No. 94: Support for Aeronautical Research.........   153
    Resolution No. 107: Support for the Jones Maritime Act and 
      Related Cabotage Laws......................................   155
    Resolution No. 60: Using Military Personnel for 
      Experimentation Purposes...................................   157
    Resolution No. 70: The Armed Forces Retirement Homes.........   157
    Resolution No. 75: American Battle Monuments Commission 
      Funding....................................................   158
    Resolution No. 92: Reserve and National Guard Force Levels...   159
    Resolution No. 137: Military Preparedness....................   159
    Resolution No. 185: Contingency Planning For Military 
      Conscription...............................................   160
    Resolution No. 186: Support Expansion of Arlington National 
      Cemetery...................................................   161
    Resolution No. 187: Anthrax Vaccination Implementation 
      Program....................................................   162
Presentation: Plaque and Colors to Outgoing National Commander...   168
Special Order of Business: Election of National Officers.........   169
Administering the Oath of Office to the National Commander.......   177
Acceptance Speech by Newly Elected National Commander Alan Lance.   177
Election of National Officers....................................   183
Presentation of Colors to Newly Elected National Commander.......   188
Presentation of Newly Elected National President of the American 
  Legion Auxiliary...............................................   188
Benediction......................................................   189
Retirement of Colors.............................................   189
Announcement of Annual Awards....................................   191
Abbreviations....................................................   197

                 The American Legion 81st Annual Report

Foreword, National Adjutant Robert W. Spanogle...................   200
Excerpts from the Constitution of the American Legion............   201
National Executive Committee.....................................   203
Reports of National Vice Commanders
      Leo P. Burke, California...................................   205
      Fernando `Fred' M. Goulart.................................   207
      James W. `Jim' Gravenstein, Kansas.........................   209
      John D. Morris, Texas......................................   210
      Roger L. Tingler, Georgia..................................   211
Reports:
      National Chaplain..........................................   212
      National Historian.........................................   213
      National Judge Advocate....................................   215
      Administrative Services....................................   226
            Library, Museum and Internet Operations..............   229
            Management Information Services......................   230
      Americanism Commission.....................................   237
            Counter-Subversive Activities Committee..............   235
            Education Committee..................................   235
      Children & Youth Commission................................   237
            American Legion Child Welfare Foundation, Inc........   246
      Convention Commission......................................   252
      Economic Commission........................................   253
            Employment Committee.................................   256
            Veterans Preference Committee........................   257
      Finance Commission.........................................   259
            Emblem Committee.....................................   260
            American Legion Life Insurance Committee.............   261
      Foreign Relations Commission...............................   263
      Internal Affairs Commission................................   268
            Constitution and By-Laws Committee...................   270
            Resolutions Assignment Committee.....................   271
            Trophies, Awards and Ceremonials Committee...........   271
            Membership and Post Activities Committee.............
            The Sons of the American Legion......................   276
      Legislative Commission.....................................   277
      National Security Commission...............................   298
            Aerospace Committee..................................   305
            Defense Civil Preparedness...........................   306
            Law and Order Committee..............................   307
            Merchant Marine Committee............................   307
            Military Affairs Committee...........................   308
            National Security Council............................   308
            Naval Affairs Committee..............................   309
      Public Relations Commission................................   309
      American Legion Magazine Commission........................   310
      Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Commission.............   311
      Report of the National President of the American Legion 
        Auxiliary................................................   334
Consolidated Financial Statements with Supplementary Information.   339


