Beverly Otterness, a member of the American Legion Auxiliary from North Branch, was in Washington, D.C. recently lobbying for issues that affect American war veterans.

Bev Otterness, center, recently participated in the American Legion Auxiliary’s Washington, D.C. conference where the veteran organization lobbies for veterans’ concerns. On the left is Minnesota’s National Executive Committeeman Virgil Persing and far right is State Vice Commander Floyd Kumerow.

Otterness, past state president for the Minnesota American Legion Auxiliary, was one of a delegation of 35 Minnesotans.

The delegation met every  Minnesota Representative and Senator and urged an agenda of veterans programs that Congress will be dealing with in the future.

Included in the lobbying efforts were:

• Fighting for VA funding. The American Legion supports full funding of the Veterans Affairs  budget, and also requests that many veterans now excluded from VA care because of funding be allowed in the system. The Legion also supports making VA funding mandatory rather than discretionary.

• Establishing a new GI Bill. The American Legion is asking Congress to pass a new GI Bill that more accurately reflects the costs of going to college these days.

• Total repeal of the Disabled Veterans Tax. Retired military are the only group of federal employees who must deduct their disability compensation from their pension. The law has been adjusted for some veterans, but it must now be adjusted for all retired military people.

The delegation spend four days in Washington and attended informational sessions on critical issues.

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