LegislativeChairman: Rita Barylski
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2024-2025
I’m back! Washington DC was fabulous. Seeing the sites and the capital and meetings with our senators and representatives was an excellent opportunity for me. Hopefully, you have seen the pictures on Facebook of my trip. Many of you have sent me thank you and responses from your legislators. please continue to do this. You can also go to legion.org and go to the legislative grassroots action center and get a complete history
of all your alerts and responses. I am hoping that many of you will do this and send them to me before the end of the year speaking of that, I hope that you have noticed that the narratives or any of the chairman chips should be sent to the department chairman. Awards for these narratives will be given up at the national convention and many of you have done such good work. It would be great if you could summarize it and send it to me with a cover letter.
A CHALLENGE FOR YOU
On the next few months, the Legion national team will be adding the number of American Legion family members that have signed up for the grassroots legislative center online to receive alerts. Each state will be recorded electronically so if you have not signed up, please do. Check with your region and essay members also to make sure that they have signed up too. Wouldn’t it be great to see Connecticut’s name up there as the winner?
I know that many of you are frustrated and upset about the new administration and what is going on, especially with our veterans. Please remember that we are a non-partisan organization and any comments relating to political topics need to be pro veteran only. If you are not sure what to say, don’t say anything. I hope everyone has a blessed Easter and Happy Mother’s Day. Take care and God bless.
We now have a new government administration and a new Congress. It is more important than ever to keep on top of our senators and representatives to make sure that they support our veterans’ programs and bills in Congress. The main way to do this is to join the grassroots E-list @legion.org. you will get updates on upcoming legislation and alerts. If something is important that must be taken care of right away. You will get a bulletin every month with legislative news as to what is happening for our veterans. I know that many of you have already joined, but if you have not, please do so as soon as possible. We need every voice out there. At the midwinter conference, I will have a list of the Legion priorities that we will be addressing during our stay in Washington and to our senators and representatives throughout the year.
Remember to: put some P.E.P. In your step when dealing with our legislators.
Thank you so much to the unit members who have sent me thank yous and replies to their letters they have sent, keep sending them. Happy Valentine’s Day and don’t forget that Valentine’s week is a salute to our veterans, something nice for a veteran that week.
Debra Knickerbocker 860/9675367 [email protected]
Well, the year is almost over. And we are headed into 2025! I do hope that all the members have joined the Grassroots e-list and have been getting emails from National asking them to contact their senators and representatives. There has been a lot of action lately on certain bills that need to be addressed in Congress that the American Legion approves. If you are not a Grassroots e-list for legislation member, just go to legion.org and you can look for the advocacy button on the screen and click on it and join right away. It’s very easy and it’s very important to get done.
I am currently working with the American Legion liaison for the march on the capital in February. I will be attending in Washington DC on February 23rd to the 26th. At the midwinter conference, I will have copies of the legislative priorities for the American Legion that we go by. Meanwhile, keep contacting your representatives and legislators about important issues to you and don’t forget to send me copies of your thank you notes from them and any other correspondence you receive. I have been getting quite a few lately and it’s fantastic. You are all doing great work.
Happy new year to all!
Debra Knickerbocker, Ch.
- 860/9675367
- [email protected]
Now that the election is over, what do we do now??
Put some P.E.P. In your step! Phone calls, emails, personal visits
-Join the grassroots Action e-list (ask at your meetings how many have signed up and saved number for reports)
-Continue to answer your alerts (save the emails and thank yous and send them to me)
-Visit legislators to check to know what our priorities are (they are very busy. Make sure you make an appointment.)
-Sign up for your legislators emails to see what they are doing.
Remeber to invite your local representatives to Post/Unit functions and events. This way they get to know you and will be more likely to help you out on a bill you are promoting.
Thank you for some of the replies and letters you are sending and receiving from your representatives. Keep up the good work.
Have a wonderful holiday season and a very Merry Christmas.
Debra Knickerbocker, Ch.
860/9675367
[email protected]
Now‘s the time to vote!
I hope every member uses their citizens’ rights and votes are November 11th . It is your right and responsibility to do so. Get to know the candidates ahead of time so when you walk into that voting booth, you know who you are voting for. Look at the issues that are most important to you and to the American Legion, as you know, we support all American legion priorities. If you are holding a candidate night at your post or if you’re just meeting with your senators and representatives to talk about how they feel about certain issues, the following are some dos and don’ts that you must follow:
DO invite all the candidates not just some of them.
DON’T where any Legion family branding on your person or in the room, especially if pictures are being taken.
DO be welcoming and smile and congratulate all the candidates
DON’T endorse or support any candidate under your auxiliary or post as we are non-partisan
If you follow these few simple rules, you should have a very successful candidates night or meeting with your representative. Also remember that you are an individual and you have the right to your opinion if it is not on behalf of the organization.
Good luck and hope to see everyone at the polls!! Don’t forget to sign up brother grassroots actions list at legion.org.
Debra Knickerbocker, Chairperson 860/9675367 [email protected]
Members,
“The 19 th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution granted the right to vote to women. I hope all
members eligible to vote cast their ballot during this election season. It is very important to
support and continue to speak to elected officials about our mission, bills that support our active
military and veterans’ needs, and always ask for response.
September 3, 2023 lawmakers, Veterans Service Organizations (VSO), and Veterans from
Afghan Female Tactical Platoon (FTP) convened at the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)
headquarters in Washington, D.C. to discuss the future of the Afghan Adjustment Act. The
Afghan Adjustment Act is supported by the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and
other veterans and military service Organizations, would simultaneously streamline the
immigration process for 150,000 Afghans applying for special immigrants visas and increase
the level of vetting the application undergo. This bill was introduced this year as H. R. 4627 &
S. 2327 has garnered bipartisan support with 43 co-sponsors in the house and 13 in the senate.
Remember to check out and join our national legislative facebook page and sign up for bulletins
from the American Legion Legislative Committee. Check out some of these
websites: www.legion.org/legislative www.Congress.gov www.alaforveterans.org ”
of all your alerts and responses. I am hoping that many of you will do this and send them to me before the end of the year speaking of that, I hope that you have noticed that the narratives or any of the chairman chips should be sent to the department chairman. Awards for these narratives will be given up at the national convention and many of you have done such good work. It would be great if you could summarize it and send it to me with a cover letter.
A CHALLENGE FOR YOU
On the next few months, the Legion national team will be adding the number of American Legion family members that have signed up for the grassroots legislative center online to receive alerts. Each state will be recorded electronically so if you have not signed up, please do. Check with your region and essay members also to make sure that they have signed up too. Wouldn’t it be great to see Connecticut’s name up there as the winner?
I know that many of you are frustrated and upset about the new administration and what is going on, especially with our veterans. Please remember that we are a non-partisan organization and any comments relating to political topics need to be pro veteran only. If you are not sure what to say, don’t say anything. I hope everyone has a blessed Easter and Happy Mother’s Day. Take care and God bless.
We now have a new government administration and a new Congress. It is more important than ever to keep on top of our senators and representatives to make sure that they support our veterans’ programs and bills in Congress. The main way to do this is to join the grassroots E-list @legion.org. you will get updates on upcoming legislation and alerts. If something is important that must be taken care of right away. You will get a bulletin every month with legislative news as to what is happening for our veterans. I know that many of you have already joined, but if you have not, please do so as soon as possible. We need every voice out there. At the midwinter conference, I will have a list of the Legion priorities that we will be addressing during our stay in Washington and to our senators and representatives throughout the year.
Remember to: put some P.E.P. In your step when dealing with our legislators.
Thank you so much to the unit members who have sent me thank yous and replies to their letters they have sent, keep sending them. Happy Valentine’s Day and don’t forget that Valentine’s week is a salute to our veterans, something nice for a veteran that week.
Debra Knickerbocker 860/9675367 [email protected]
Well, the year is almost over. And we are headed into 2025! I do hope that all the members have joined the Grassroots e-list and have been getting emails from National asking them to contact their senators and representatives. There has been a lot of action lately on certain bills that need to be addressed in Congress that the American Legion approves. If you are not a Grassroots e-list for legislation member, just go to legion.org and you can look for the advocacy button on the screen and click on it and join right away. It’s very easy and it’s very important to get done.
I am currently working with the American Legion liaison for the march on the capital in February. I will be attending in Washington DC on February 23rd to the 26th. At the midwinter conference, I will have copies of the legislative priorities for the American Legion that we go by. Meanwhile, keep contacting your representatives and legislators about important issues to you and don’t forget to send me copies of your thank you notes from them and any other correspondence you receive. I have been getting quite a few lately and it’s fantastic. You are all doing great work.
Happy new year to all!
Debra Knickerbocker, Ch.
- 860/9675367
- [email protected]
Now that the election is over, what do we do now??
Put some P.E.P. In your step! Phone calls, emails, personal visits
-Join the grassroots Action e-list (ask at your meetings how many have signed up and saved number for reports)
-Continue to answer your alerts (save the emails and thank yous and send them to me)
-Visit legislators to check to know what our priorities are (they are very busy. Make sure you make an appointment.)
-Sign up for your legislators emails to see what they are doing.
Remeber to invite your local representatives to Post/Unit functions and events. This way they get to know you and will be more likely to help you out on a bill you are promoting.
Thank you for some of the replies and letters you are sending and receiving from your representatives. Keep up the good work.
Have a wonderful holiday season and a very Merry Christmas.
Debra Knickerbocker, Ch.
860/9675367
[email protected]
Now‘s the time to vote!
I hope every member uses their citizens’ rights and votes are November 11th . It is your right and responsibility to do so. Get to know the candidates ahead of time so when you walk into that voting booth, you know who you are voting for. Look at the issues that are most important to you and to the American Legion, as you know, we support all American legion priorities. If you are holding a candidate night at your post or if you’re just meeting with your senators and representatives to talk about how they feel about certain issues, the following are some dos and don’ts that you must follow:
DO invite all the candidates not just some of them.
DON’T where any Legion family branding on your person or in the room, especially if pictures are being taken.
DO be welcoming and smile and congratulate all the candidates
DON’T endorse or support any candidate under your auxiliary or post as we are non-partisan
If you follow these few simple rules, you should have a very successful candidates night or meeting with your representative. Also remember that you are an individual and you have the right to your opinion if it is not on behalf of the organization.
Good luck and hope to see everyone at the polls!! Don’t forget to sign up brother grassroots actions list at legion.org.
Debra Knickerbocker, Chairperson 860/9675367 [email protected]
Members,
“The 19 th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution granted the right to vote to women. I hope all
members eligible to vote cast their ballot during this election season. It is very important to
support and continue to speak to elected officials about our mission, bills that support our active
military and veterans’ needs, and always ask for response.
September 3, 2023 lawmakers, Veterans Service Organizations (VSO), and Veterans from
Afghan Female Tactical Platoon (FTP) convened at the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)
headquarters in Washington, D.C. to discuss the future of the Afghan Adjustment Act. The
Afghan Adjustment Act is supported by the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and
other veterans and military service Organizations, would simultaneously streamline the
immigration process for 150,000 Afghans applying for special immigrants visas and increase
the level of vetting the application undergo. This bill was introduced this year as H. R. 4627 &
S. 2327 has garnered bipartisan support with 43 co-sponsors in the house and 13 in the senate.
Remember to check out and join our national legislative facebook page and sign up for bulletins
from the American Legion Legislative Committee. Check out some of these
websites: www.legion.org/legislative www.Congress.gov www.alaforveterans.org ”