Bev and Orv Otterness recently were among a delegation of 32 Minnesotans who traveled to Washington, D. C. to lobby for issues that affect American war veterans.

Orv Otterness, a member of the National Distinguished Guests Committee for the American Legion, met with Minnesota's representative and senator and urged an agenda of veterans programs the Congress will be dealing with in the future.

Among those issues is:

• Fighting for VA funding. The American Legion supports President Bush's $87 billion 2008 budget proposal for the VA, but takes exception to provisions that would double prescription drug co-pays and charge some veterans for VA enrollment.

• Making veterans health care funding mandatory. Like Social Security and Medicare, veterans health funding through the Veterans Administration should be mandatory and not subject to yearly cuts and debates.

• Taking on the ACLU. The American Legion has taken a stand on the ACLU's attacks on religious history and heritage and the fact that when the ACLU wins a case, the costs are paid for by the taxpayers. Senate Bill 415 would stop the award of public dollars to the ACLU.

Bev Otterness, past department president of the Minnesota American Legion Auxiliary, representing the Auxiliary, also was involved in urging these agenda issues.

The Minnesota delegation spent four days in Washington, and attended many informational sessions.

There are 105,000 members in the Minnesota American Legion and 54,000 members in the Minnesota American Legion Auxiliary.

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