WEEKLY GRASSROOTS NEWSLETTER
This week, we are asking Legionnaires to contact Congress to request support for the GI Bill Parity Act! This bill will provide a one-time bailout for veteran homeowners who are struggling to make their mortgage payments and are in delinquent status, facing foreclosure or a short sale of their property. If implemented, this bill will help veterans maintain homeownership and financial stability, enhance the effectiveness of the VA's housing assistance, and contribute to the overall market stability by reducing foreclosure rates. The American Legion supports this legislation, and we appreciate all the emails you have sent so far. Go to the Action Center to quickly email a letter of support to your members of Congress.
Have you had a recent meeting or phone call with your member of Congress? Report your contact today! Click here to register your Congressional contact and demonstrate the power of The American Legion advocacy in action.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
The American Legion's 106th National Convention is from August 22-28 in Tampa Bay, Florida. To stay up to date on information, schedules, and more, go to the information page here.
REP. LUTTRELL SAYS SAVES ACT WOULD HELP VETERAN SUICIDE
This article's original publication can be found here.
Texas Rep. Morgan Luttrell (R) has written an op-ed in support of the SAVES Act. Rep. Luttrell, who's a combat veteran and member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, argues that the Service Dogs Assisting Veterans Act (SAVES) would positively address the alarming rate of veteran suicides.
In the op-ed written for Stars and Stripes, Rep. Luttrell notes that an estimated 17 veterans die by suicide each day.
"This is a deeply personal issue to me," he shares in the op-ed. "In Congress, it is my priority to represent the silent voices of those who are suffering alone. No veteran should have to face this battle by themselves; it is our duty to serve those who sacrificed everything for this country."
If signed into law, the SAVES Act would establish a five-year, $50 million grant program through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to fund nonprofit organizations that provide service dogs to veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injuries (TBI), and other mental health conditions. It is estimated that training a single service dog can cost over $50,000, so making financial support for veterans in need is crucial according to the Texas lawmaker.
"Mental health is not a one-size-fits-all approach, but this legislation will take an important step forward in addressing the different needs of our veterans," Rep. Luttrell argues. "For them, the SAVES Act grant program could mean the difference between life and death."
Rep. Luttrell cited findings from the 2024 VA National Veteran Suicide Prevention report, which revealed that in 2022 alone, 6,407 veterans died by suicide. Suicide was the second leading cause of death among veterans under 45, with younger veterans aged 18 to 34 experiencing the highest suicide rates.
The report identified key contributing factors such as chronic pain, sleep issues, declining physical health, and feelings of hopelessness.
He emphasized the need to "break the stigma around suicide, expand nontraditional prevention methods, foster public-private collaboration, and accelerate investment in promising research." He urged lawmakers to act swiftly, arguing that "we must confront this crisis head-on—our service members deserve the best from the nation they sacrificed so much to protect."
SPOTLIGHT: Modernizing the VA Home Loan Program
This article's original publication can be found here.
Department of Veterans Affairs Deputy Secretary Paul Lawrence celebrated the successful track record of the VA Home Loan program. In a speech Monday, he highlighted recent efforts to modernize and improve the program.
"Our commitment to veterans today is the same as President Roosevelt's commitment 81 years ago," when the VA loan program was created, Lawrence said in prepared remarks at the Realtors Legislative Meetings in Washington, D.C. "Owning a home gives a veteran a renewed sense of community and a purpose in their new community, they can finally put down roots, practice their faith, raise a family, send their kids to good schools, and pursue their American dream."
Created in 1944 in the wake of World War II, the VA loan program allows veterans to purchase a home with no down payment, with the government guaranteeing the loan and eliminating the need for private mortgage insurance.
Lawrence said that since the program's inception, 30 million veterans have been guaranteed home loans, with 4 million active guarantees currently supporting $1.2 trillion in housing stock.
The program has dramatically increased veteran homeownership rates to nearly 80%, compared to around 65% for the general population, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.
Over time, the key program has been expanded and updated, and Lawrence highlighted several efforts on that front in recent years.
Created in 1944 in the wake of World War II, the VA loan program allows veterans to purchase a home with no down payment, with the government guaranteeing the loan and eliminating the need for private mortgage insurance.
Lawrence said that since the program's inception, 30 million veterans have been guaranteed home loans, with 4 million active guarantees currently supporting $1.2 trillion in housing stock.
The program has dramatically increased veteran homeownership rates to nearly 80%, compared to around 65% for the general population, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.
Over time, the key program has been expanded and updated, and Lawrence highlighted several efforts on that front in recent years.
In 2019, a new law removed VA loan limits for homebuyers with a full loan entitlement and made active duty Purple Heart recipients exempt from paying the VA funding fee.
"We're investing in technology and customer service upgrades to support home loan delivery," said Lawrence.
Lawrence noted that last year, the VA sent out 1.25 million certificates of eligibility for VA loans, and that 77% of those were issued automatically in a matter of seconds.
"Additionally, when you call on the phone to talk to our home loan experts—we get about 3,000 calls a day—we're answering those phone calls in 30 seconds," he said.
More recently, following changes to the rules regarding real estate agent compensation last year, the VA has temporarily suspended prior prohibitions against veterans directly compensating their buyer's agent.
Now, veterans can still ask the seller to pay the buyer broker commission, but they can also negotiate and pay for real estate professionals' fees directly if they choose.
"We are not seeing any indication that the update has discouraged veterans from using their home loans," said Lawrence. "We're going to continue to monitor how the update is working for veterans, and we'll keep that change."
Lawrence said the Department of Veterans Affairs has pursued a number of other efficiency and streamlining initiatives during the first few months of President Donald Trump's second term.
"We've accomplished a lot in this short period of time by aligning with the administration's vision for improving processes, removing barriers, cutting through red tape and tackling challenges head on," he said.
However, he vehemently denied recent reports that the Trump administration's cutbacks were impacting care and services for veterans. A ProPublica article, for instance, alleged widespread disruptions across the VA's healthcare system.
"We are not cutting benefits," said Lawrence. "In fact, just the opposite, contract cuts and organizational streamlining will free up money we will use to hire more doctors, and more nurses, and more claims processors."
Lawrence, an Army veteran, also shared that he himself had used a VA loan to purchase a home with his wife, when all their friends were still renting and saving for a down payment.
"The home loan guarantee not only changed the lives of returning veterans; it also changed the face of America and created prosperity across the country," he said.
LEGIONNAIRE OF THE WEEK
To recognize the weekly accomplishments of our Legionnaires, we will spotlight an individual every week. These individuals demonstrate exceptional grassroots activism by meeting with/contacting their Congressional Representative/Senator to advocate for veterans. Efforts like these truly make a difference and give veterans a voice in Congress.
Joey Gatton, California
Joey, for your steadfast advocacy of Legion priorities, we are honored to name you Legionnaire of the Week!
This week, Joey met with Congressman Brian Mast (Florida-21) and Colonel Eric Swenson of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at the American Legion Pacific Palisades Ronald Reagan Post 283 in Los Angeles, CA. They discussed Federal disaster response and recovery after the Los Angeles fires. Congressman Mast also met with Legion family members, discussing the over-medication of our military and Veterans and the issue of Veteran suicide.Thank you, Joey, for your report and the time you have dedicated to the Legion's legislative priorities.
If you have made a Grassroots effort and would like to be considered for next week's "Legionnaire of the Week," please fill out the Congressional Contact Report Form here. You can also email us at grassroots@legion.org with the details.
GRASSROOTS INFORMATION
Interested in what the Legion is advocating for in Congress on The Veteran's Role in Supporting the Military? Check out our information paper in the Legislative Toolkit. This is a great starting point for a conversation with your elected officials!
As part of our ongoing Grassroots efforts, LegDiv staff is available to provide Grassroots Training tailored to the hosting Department's needs. If you are interested in hosting a Grassroots training event, please contact grassroots@legion.org or ejohnson@legion.org.
You can find relevant legislation and the Legion's stance in the key legislation section of VoterVoice!
UPCOMING CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS
As of 6/26, there are no hearings scheduled for next week. Congress is out of session.
HVAC hearings can be viewed at: Calendar Home | House Committee on Veterans Affairs
SVAC hearings can be viewed at: Hearings - U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs
HASC hearings can be viewed at: Hearings – House Armed Services Committee
SASC hearings can be viewed at: Hearings – U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services
View The American Legion Legislative Handbook Here
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Saturday, June 28, 2025
Weekly Newsletter (6/27/2025)
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