[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 141 (Thursday, August 23, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S5935]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 617--RECOGNIZING THE AMERICAN LEGION FOR 100 YEARS OF 
   SERVICE TO VETERANS AND MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES IN THE UNITED 
                       STATES AND THEIR FAMILIES

  Ms. KLOBUCHAR (for herself and Ms. Smith) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 617

       Whereas The American Legion was chartered and incorporated 
     by Congress in 1919;
       Whereas The American Legion is the largest wartime veterans 
     service organization in the United States;
       Whereas The American Legion has advocated for legislation 
     on behalf of veterans throughout its history;
       Whereas the members of The American Legion were crucial in 
     passing the Act of August 9, 1921 (42 Stat. 147, chapter 57) 
     (commonly known as the ``Sweet Bill''), which combined the 
     responsibilities for veterans' affairs under a single agency, 
     the Veterans' Bureau;
       Whereas the legislative achievements of The American Legion 
     are important to veterans and include the Servicemen's 
     Readjustment Act of 1944 (58 Stat. 284, chapter 268) 
     (commonly known as the ``G.I. Bill''), which provided 
     benefits to veterans of World War II, including funds for 
     higher education, low-cost mortgages, low-interest loans for 
     businesses, and unemployment compensation;
       Whereas The American Legion has advocated for veterans who 
     were exposed to hazardous materials during their service in 
     the Armed Forces, such as Agent Orange and toxins from burn 
     pits;
       Whereas The American Legion continues to provide valuable 
     services to veterans, including advocacy for high-quality 
     health care, vocational training, and employment programs;
       Whereas The American Legion provides scholarships for post-
     secondary education and grants for nursing training programs;
       Whereas American Legion Baseball is a very successful 
     amateur athletic league that values sportsmanship, 
     citizenship, and fitness;
       Whereas the inaugural convention of The American Legion was 
     held in 1919 in Minnesota; and
       Whereas the 100th National Convention of The American 
     Legion will be held August 24 through August 30, 2018, in 
     Minnesota: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes and commends The American Legion for a 
     century of service to veterans and members of the Armed 
     Forces in the United States and their families; and
       (2) designates the week of August 24 through August 30, 
     2018, as ``American Legion Week''.

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