SF 3007

1st Engrossment - 86th Legislature (2009 - 2010) Posted on 03/15/2010 11:50am

A resolution
memorializing Congress to amend the charter for the American Legion to authorize
all veterans to join the Legion.

WHEREAS, the American Legion was chartered by Congress on September 16, 1919,
and millions of American Legion veterans have provided countless hours of service to their
communities, states, and nation through the Legion; and

WHEREAS, Legion membership is limited because it is restricted to veterans who have
served at least one day of active duty during a period of wartime defined by Congress; and

WHEREAS, particular Legion posts, particularly in rural areas, have been severely affected
by a reduction in membership attributable in part to the wartime service restriction; and

WHEREAS, there is extensive support among Legion members for the expansion of
membership in the Legion by making it available to all veterans, and many otherwise ineligible
veterans wish to join the Legion; and

WHEREAS, Legion leadership has refused to expand eligibility for membership in the
Legion because of concerns regarding the authorization provided in the Congressional charter;
NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Legislature of the State of Minnesota that it urges the President
and the Congress of the United States to amend the charter provided for the American Legion to
authorize the membership of all veterans in the Legion.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of State of the State of Minnesota is
directed to prepare copies of this memorial and transmit them to the President of the United
States, the President and the Secretary of the United States Senate, the Speaker and the Clerk
of the United States House of Representatives, the chair of the Senate Committee on Veterans,
the chair of the House Committee on Veterans, Minnesota's Senators and Representatives
in Congress, the national Commander of the American Legion, and the Commander of the
Minnesota Department of the American Legion.