Burr to Legion: 'We need VA to be best in world'

WASHINGTON, April 1, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The ranking member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee told The American Legion today that he is committed to "making sure the VA system is the best in the world."

Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., addressed more than 1,000 members of The American Legion family at the Washington Renaissance Hotel. The veterans and their families were attending the organization's 48th annual Washington conference.

Burr's remarks were delivered during the "Commander's Call," a rally led by National Commander Marty Conatser, which included Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, House Minority Leader John Boehner, VA Secretary James Peake, Sen. Richard Burr, Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin and Rep. Chet Edwards.

"We have troops today affected by PTSD and TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) in ways that we haven't seen in the past," Burr said. He also expressed regret over the Senate's failure to pass a Constitutional Amendment to protect the U.S. Flag from desecration, a measure that The American Legion has worked tirelessly to pass.

"A year-and-a-half ago we came within one vote of passing a flag amendment. It's hard to believe in the United States of America, we can't muster enough votes to protect a symbol like that," he said.

Pelosi said that The American Legion has been a valuable resource for educating Congress about veteran issues, "We listened to you," she said. "You've come to Washington to make your voices heard and when you speak we listen. Paying our debt veterans is a priority for us."

"On the battlefield, we leave no soldier behind," Pelosi said. "And when they do come home, we leave no veteran behind."

Founded in 1919, the 2.7 million-member American Legion is the nation's preeminent service organization for veterans of the U.S. armed forces, including active duty, National Guard and Reserves, and their families. A powerful voice for veterans in Washington, The American Legion drafted the original GI Bill and was instrumental in establishing the agency that today is the federal Department of Veterans Affairs.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: The American Legion

CONTACT: Ramona E. Joyce, +1-202-263-2982, +1-202-445-1161 (cell), Joe
March, +1-317-630-1253, +1-317-748-1926 (cell), or John Raughter,
+1-317-630-1350, +1-317-441-8847 (cell), all of The American Legion

Web Site: http://www.legion.org/

2008-04-01 17:46:59 0325568 PRNEWSWIRE