LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM
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EUGENE BADER, CHAIRMAN
4763 Griffith Avenue
Fremont, CA 94538-3380
(510) 656-0125

     California has more Veterans and military retirees than any other state. We also have 52 members in the House of Representatives, more than any other state. Many members of Congress have complained over the years about not hearing from their veteran constituents.

      We in California have got to try and change that around. We want our California Congressional Delegation to become known as leaders in the Congress in cosponsoring veterans and military retiree legislation.

     A review of legislation relating to veterans and military retirees in the 105 th (1997-1998) - 106 th (1999-2000) Congress reveals that many members of our 52 member California Congressiona l delegation were not listed as co-sponsors of many bills relating to veterans and military retirees.

      We need to go out and try to turn that around. Thanks to all the comrades and sisters who write to their members in Congress.

     Many bills are introduced in the House and Senate each new session of the Congress.

     The 2001-2002 (107 th Congress) will be an opportunity to all Posts and Auxiliaries in all Districts to write their members of Congress on veterans and military legislation in the 107 th Congress.

      District Commanders and District Presidents are key persons in your District. A recent survey reveals that some districts do not have a District Legislative Chairman. We need to encourage more of our members to serve as a District Legislative Chairman. All Districts and Posts should have a Legislative Officer. We need collective support of all the Posts and Districts in writing letters to our members in the Congress.

     We want our California Congressional Delegation to become leaders in the Congress in co-sponsoring veterans and military retiree legislation that is introduced in the Congress every two-year session.

     A District Commander gets to conduct the District Meeting, and visit the Posts within his District. These are opportunities for a District Commander to encourage Posts to write letters to their members in the Congress and State Legislature on legislation relating to veterans and military retirees.

     If all of the Posts/Auxiliaries in all the Districts were writing letters to their members in the Congress and State Legislature on veterans and military retiree legislation this could help influence our California Congressional Delegation and our State Legislature to support or co-sponsor veterans and military retiree legislation. Let them hear from you. Any letter is better than no letter.

SOURCES OF INFORMATION FOR POST AND DISTRICT LEGISLATIVE OFFICERS

Checkpoint Publication- published six (6) times a year

WRITE TO: Publications Department
                    Veterans of Foreign Wars
                    406 W 34 th Street # 523
                    Kansas City, MO 64111-9921

     Legislative Officers should write and ask to have your name placed on their mailing list. Let them know you are a Post or District Legislative Officer.

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS - Monthly Legislative Update

WRITE TO: Legislative and Public Affairs
                    California Dept. of Veterans Affairs
                    PO Box 942895
                    Sacramento, CA 94295-0001

     Legislative Officers should write and ask to have your name placed on their mailing list. Let them know you are a Post or District Legislative Officer.

THE STARS AND STRIPES NEWSPAPER

POST LEGISLATIVE OFFICERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE STARS AND STRIPES.

Subscriptions are $19.00 for 26 issues, published every two weeks.

WRITE TO: Stars and Stripes
                    100 First Ave., Suite 1100
                    Pittsburgh, PA 15222

     Posts are encouraged to pay for the annual subscription for your Post Legislative Officer.

WRITING AWAY FOR NATIONAL BILLS:

For Senate bills write to:                                   For House bills write to:
Senate Document Room B-04                          House Document Room
Hart Senate Office Building                               Ford House Office Bldg. B-18
Washington, DC 20510                                    Washington, DC 20510

CALIFORNIA STATE BILLS:

WRITE TO: Legislative Bill Room
                    State Capitol
                    Sacramento, CA 95814

A LETTER TO A MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

The Honorable ________________
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Representative:

     I am writing to urge you to co-sponsor H.R. 959, the “Veterans American Dream Homeownership Assistance Act of 2001” introduced by Congressman Gerald Kleczka.

      The bill would amend the IRS Code of 1986 with respect to the eligibility of veterans for mortgage revenue bond financing. It would benefit our CAL-VET home loan program.

Sincerely yours,

# # # # # #

A LETTER TO OUR TWO U.S. Senators

The Honorable Barbara Boxer                               (WRITE SEPARATE LETTERS)
The Honorable Dianne Feinstein

United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator:

      I write to urge you to co-sponsor S. 97, introduced by Senator Herbert Kohl.

     The bill would amend the IRS Code of 1986 with respect to the eligibility of veterans for mortgage revenue bond financing.

It would benefit our CAL-VET home loan program.

Sincerely yours,

ADDRESS CORRESPONDENCE AS SHOWN

REPORTING LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITY

     Legislative Activities should be reported on the Program Reporting Report Form (CAVFW FORM-12) under Americanism.

AWARDS

     Each year the Department of California honors an outstanding Assembly member and also anoutstanding Senate member. The plaques are presented to the legislators at the State Convention.