[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 116 (Friday, September 13, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8619-S8620]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. JOHNSON:
  S. 2934. A bill to amend title 36, United States Code, to clarify the 
requirements for eligibility in the American Legion; to the Committee 
on the Judiciary.
  Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the American 
Legion Amendment Act to make technical changes to the membership 
qualifications in the Federal charter of the American Legion.
  Under the American Legion's current charter, a veteran who leaves the 
Armed Services may become a member of the American Legion if he or she 
served since ``August 2, 1990 through the date of cessation of 
hostilities, as decided by the United States Government'' and ``was 
honorably discharged or separated from that service or continues to 
serve honorably after that period.'' At this point, the United States 
Government has not issued a cessation of hostilities decision for U.S. 
military operations during this period. For those military men and 
women who are no longer serving, they have discharge papers stating 
they served honorably during that period which makes them qualified for 
American Legion membership. Yet, servicemembers who served since August 
2, 1990, and are still on active duty, have no discharge papers for the 
period, and are not officially serving after the cessation of 
hostilities. Therefore, they are not eligible for membership in the 
American Legion despite their dedicated service in our nation's Armed 
Forces.
  The bill that I am introducing today would change the standard for a 
veteran to qualify for membership in the American Legion to ``continues 
to serve during or after that period.'' This change would make it clear 
that membership is open to the thousands of active duty personnel who 
served during operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, in addition to 
the operations that followed in Iraq, Bosnia, Kosovo, and Afghanistan.
  As my colleagues in the Senate know, the American Legion continues to 
be one of our Nation's most effective advocates on behalf of America's 
veterans, as well as a pre-eminent service organization. The American 
Legion has grown to nearly 3 million members whose efforts are truly 
making a difference in communities throughout our country. As the 
father of a son who served in Bosnia, Kosovo, and Afghanistan, I am 
pleased to offer the American Legion Amendment Act that will offer him 
and his military colleagues the opportunity and the honor to join the 
American Legion.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.

[[Page S8620]]

  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 2934

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. CLARIFICATION OF REQUIREMENTS FOR ELIGIBILITY IN 
                   THE AMERICAN LEGION.

       Section 21703(2) of title 36, United States Code, is 
     amended by inserting ``during or'' after ``continues to serve 
     honorably''.
                                 ______