After hearing a presentation by Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki and some members of Congress, a Pioneer veteran took steps to ensure that the well-being and health care of our fighting men and women, past and present, are on solid ground.

Floyd Martin joined a delegation of California members of The American Legion in Washington, D.C. to fight for funding to care for the nation's veterans of past wars and to protect benefits for those now serving. Martin and the rest of the California delegation visited their members of Congress March 2 as part of The American Legion's 50th Washington Conference.

The session began with a "Commander's Call," a legislative rally at the Renaissance, a Washington, D.C. hotel, where National Commander Clarence E. Hill presented an ambitious agenda for Legion family members to discuss with their representatives and senators.

"Last year, VA processed more claims than ever, but it took in more new claims than it processed, therefore they actually added to the backlog," Hill said, referring to the long waits veterans experience before having their claims adjudicated. "Congress has approved the hiring of more personnel and funded improvements in technology, but now the focus needs to shift to VA internal operations. The American Legion will continue to work with Congress and VA to improve this process."

The legion agenda also included issues such as repealing the Disabled Veterans Tax for all veterans who have to pay it, allowing veterans to use their Medicare benefits at VA and enhancing the new Post-911 GI Bill benefits to include vocational institutions.

After the Commander's Call, members of The American Legion, the American Legion Auxiliary, and the Sons of The American Legion journeyed to the U.S. Capitol to champion the rights of veterans and other issues that impact America's families and children. Martin urged lawmakers from California to support critical legislation pending in the 111th Congress.

"Our veterans earned the right to participate in the health care system that was created for them," Martin said. "VA already provides high-quality care, but it needs to be accessible to the veterans who need it. The backlog to receive benefits is unacceptably long and our veterans are disproportionately unemployed and homeless. The men and women who served in our military have done an outstanding job of defending America. Now America must remember that and take care of our veterans."