Area Legionnaires attend National Legislative Conference

  Two Worthington area American Legion members, Mike Schaffer of Fulda and Currie Post 322 and Bill Brockberg of Worthington and Round Lake Post 461 were in Washington, DC recently for the American Legion National Legislative Conference.

Schaffer is the Commander this year for the American Legion-Department of Minnesota and he was the Minnesota State delegation leader as Department Commander. Brockberg is on the American Legion National Rehabilitation Committee, is the Judge Advocate for Minnesota’s Second District American Legion and he’s the Nobles County Veterans Service Officer.

While in Washington, Schaffer and Brockberg advocated for veterans benefits to Minnesota’s federal Senators and Representatives. They both participated in American Legion National Committee meetings covering Veterans Benefits and Veterans Health Administrations discussing rehabilitation and medical benefits. Other committee meetings included Veterans Cemetery Association and National Security.

On Wednesday, February 28, Schaffer and Brockberg sat in with the delegation of more than 200 American Legion National and State Officers and Committee personnel during a Joint House-Senate Veterans Affairs Committee meeting.

The Joint House-Senate Veterans Affairs committee members addressed the American Legion delegation and then conducted a question and answer session with Denise Rohan, American Legion National Commander from the Department of Wisconsin. Rohan was introduced to the Committee by her U.S. Congressman and Speaker of the House-Paul Ryan.

This annual American Legion Legislative Conference and “Day on the Hill” event is the American Legion’s opportunity to express to all U.S. Congressmen and women what the American Legion stands for and what rights and benefits the Legion advocates for veterans, their families and in cities and towns nation-wide.