Inside: Message from the National Commander page 2 “MAKE FLAB PROTECTION AN ISSUE" National Adjutant’s column pages “A MEMORIAL FOR EVERYONE”

Where candidates stand on flag protection page a

Dateline: Capitol Hill page 7 “BUDGET PROCESS BADL Y LAGGING; VA APPROPRIA TIONS WILL SUFFER” A National Headquarters Publication Legion, VSOs support mandatory VA funding pages October 11,2002 Vol. 12, No. 4 Up & Coming: OCTOBER National Disability/Employment Awareness Month A matter of life or death 16 - Notification of Child Welfare Foundation Grant Commander outlines The American Legion's vision for VA. recipients for 2003 25-27 - National Americanism Conference in Indianapolis By James V. Carroll Contributing Editor 25-27 - Auxiliary Department Chaplains and Girls State Directors Conference in Indianapolis Thousands of veterans may die waiting for VA NOVEMBER health care if new and innovative sources of income 3-8 - Legion College in Indianapolis are not found, American Legion National 5 - Election Day Commander Ronald F. Conley told a joint session of House and Senate Veterans' Affairs committees on 11 - Veterans Day Capitol Hill in September. 6-9 - Auxiliary Presidents and Secretaries Conference in "There are 7 million veterans either enrolled or Indianapolis waiting to enroll to make VA their primary health¬ 17-23 - American Education Week care provider," Conley said. "But in order for the 24-30- National Family Week growing number of veterans to access VA health 28 - Holiday Donor Blood Drive begins care, additional revenue streams must be generated 28 - Thanksgiving to supplement - not offset - annual discretionary DECEMBER appropriations." To provide every veteran his or her promised 1-31 - Holiday Donor Blood Drive care, VA must become a needs-driven health-care 7 - Pearl Harbor Day operation and abandon its current budget-driven 15-Bill of Rights Day system, Conley said. He asked Congress to appro¬ 25 - Christmas priate $24.5 billion for VA in fiscal year 2004 and to permit eligible veterans to use their Medicare bene¬ fits to pay for VA treatment of non-service connect¬ GI Bill benefits increased ed illnesses. He also asked Congress to appropriate National Commander Ronald F. Conley told a joint session of the House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee that thou¬ Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J. has announced that a sec¬ $1.4 billion for VBA to shorten the time to process sands of veterans may die waiting for VA health care if the ond major increase in the GI Bill college-education ben¬ claims and adjudicate appeals. department fails to obtain new sources of income. efit authorized by his legislation took effect Oct. 1. The "At a time when veteran numbers are on the legislation raises the monthly benefit from $800 to $900. increase, VA continues to downsize its medical staff ing VA a Medicare provider and creating a premi¬ The final increase raising the monthly benefit to $985 and close beds and wards," Conley said. "It has um-based VA benefit package will solve VA's back¬ will take effect Oct. 1, 2003. ceased marketing activities and directed VA log problem and enable VA to fulfill its mission to Smith's GI Bill legislation, the Veterans Education employees not to encourage potential Priority-7 vet¬ care for those who have borne the battle." and Benefits Expansion Act of 2001 (P.L. 107-103), erans to enroll. This is not a proper solution to VA's Today, more than 300,000 Priority-7 men and authorized three increases to the Montgomery GI Bill problems. This is no way to treat those who defend¬ women who responded when their country called, program that will eventually raise the lifetime benefit ed our country. The way to provide the right care in remain on waiting lists seeking help from VA. These by 46 percent from $24,192 prior to Oct. 1, 2001, to the right place at the right time is by providing addi¬ men and women abandoned their peaceful lives and $35,460 on October 1, 2003. tional staffing, additional services and additional took up arms as required. They asked no questions "The GI Bill is one of the most successful govern¬ funding. but did as ordered, Conley said. America owes them ment programs ever developed, having benefited more "VA hospitals should be encouraged to bill and more than waiting lines. than 21 million military veterans and helping to create collect all co-payments, deductibles and third-party "History has shown that far too often, after wars the modern middle class," said Smith, who chairs the reimbursements by allowing each of them to retain have been won, we tend to forget those who fought House Committee on Veterans' Affairs. "However, in what has been collected and to apply that money to win the war. We tend to forget that every victory recent years, inflation and escalating college tuition toward operating expenses and expanded services. has a price. That price is often paid - quietly and rates had seriously eroded the value of the GI Bill, caus¬ The money collected should be added to the VA individually - without complaint by those who bore ing fewer veterans to participate in the program," he budget, not offset." the brunt of battle." said. "Last year, we made modernization of the GI Bill VA also should be permitted to bill, collect and program a top priority of the Veterans' Affairs Com¬ retain third-party reimbursements from Medicare The Appeals Problem. The American Legion appre¬ mittee, and with enactment of my legislation we have on behalf of Medicare-eligible veterans, Conley said. ciates VA's pledge to speed up the claims and adju¬ taken a major step forward to enhance the educational "All veterans pay for Medicare their entire working dication process, but the organization is deeply dis¬ opportunities for America's veterans." lives. However, when they are most likely to need turbed by a growing problem of backlogged appeals medical services from the hospital system designed cases, Conley said. The American Legion for them, they must turn elsewhere because VA can¬ "We applauded Secretary Anthony J. Principi's National Headquarters NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION not bill Medicare," Conley said. "This is wrong, and pledge to speed up the process, but we did not P.O. Box 1055 U.S. POSTAGE PAID Indianapolis, IN 46206 PERMIT NO. 354 it is something that Congress can and should cor¬ anticipate that the new focus on speed would great¬ FRANKLIN. IN 45131 rect. When it is corrected, not only will veterans ly diminish the quality of the claims process," receive care they can afford, but VA will also receive Conley said. "One evil has been replaced by anoth¬ funding which it desperately needs to continue pro¬ er. The backlog may have decreased, but the appel¬ viding quality care to all our nation's veterans." late workload has increased by 21,000 cases." Property of The net result for the veteran is the same: no reso¬ Funding VA for All Veterans. "The American lution, no benefits, no hope - another soldier The American Legion Library Legion believes VA should offer a defined health- ignored by the nation he or she served, Conley said. 700 N. Street benefit package, on a premium basis, for veterans Despite all good intentions, he said, the system is Indianapolis, 46204 who come to VA with no health insurance. This failing. would benefit veterans and it would certainly bene¬ Please Return fit VA," Conley said. "We firmly believe that mak- SEE COMMANDER, PAGE 2 J I

2 Dispatch October 11, 2002

A message from the National Commander: Make flag protection an issue Too many don't know it's legal to desecrate Old Glory. Many of you are watching political races in They hide behind the ignorance of the voters." Senate right now. your area heat up. You hear the ads on the In one chamber of Congress, the will of the voters As members of The American Legion, it's up to us radio, see them on TV and read them in has spoken. Last summer, an amendment giving to make voters aware of this issue at the grass-roots Key your newspapers. You're bom¬ Congress the power to protect Old Glory passed in level. We need to make flag-protection a major cam¬ Si barded with messages about the House by an overwhelming margin. The amend¬ paign issue across America. Convince your senators roles issues in your community and ment - which reads "The Congress shall have power and representatives to talk about it. Bring the issue up SI your world. You're hearing to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the at public debates. Write letters to the editors of your about , the war on terror¬ " - now rests in the Senate, awaiting local newspapers and ask where the candidates stand ism and the economy. action. on flag protection. Get the public talking about the One issue you're likely not If it passes, the amendment will then be turned issue, because that leads to the candidates talking Ro hearing too much about, how¬ over to the states for ratification. about it. ever, is the flag-protection The bill, S.J. Res. 7, has the support of at least 64 This issue of The Dispatch lists the positions of all Sp amendment. That's some¬ senators, yet Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D- the major congressional candidates on flag protection. thing The American Legion S.D., has refused to bring it to a vote. To make matters Start discussions on this important issue with the peo¬ eigh family needs to change. worse, Judiciary Committee Chairman Sen. Patrick ple in your community. Ask the candidates why S.J. and During our national con¬ Leahy, D-Vt., refuses to hold hearings on it, even Res. 7 is stalled in the Senate. she'< vention in Charlotte, retired though his home state of Vermont recently became Brady is right. Right now, we have U.S. senators thun Maj. Gen. Patrick H. Brady, the 50th state to pass a resolution calling for constitu¬ hiding behind the ignorance of American voters. The B< board chairman of the Citizens tional protection of the flag. senators know the will of the people, but until the that Flag Alliance, told us the Daschle and Leahy aren't representing the will of people make their voice louder, they will be ignored. pie t biggest obstacle in the fight to protect Old Glory is a the people. Polls conducted by The American Legion Let's not take the House of Representatives for ther lack of publicity. The key to winning the battle, he and the CFA show that 76 percent of Americans be¬ granted either. Just because Old Glory currently criec said, is voter awareness and creating the same public lieve Congress should vote on the amendment. enjoys support in that chamber doesn't mean passage Sc outcry that occurred when the 9th Circuit Court of Seventy-nine percent said they believe burning the is guaranteed after the election. Moreover, Rep. John para Appeals ruled that the Pledge of Allegiance was flag is an inappropriate expression of free speech, and Conyers, D-Mich., the ranking member of the Judi¬ dow unconstitutional because of the phrase "under God." 75 percent said they favor the passage of a constitu¬ ciary Committee, is opposed to it and would be rathe Brady, a Medal of Honor recipient, said there's no tional amendment allowing Congress to enact laws to unlikely to schedule a hearing if he were chairman. difference between the pledge ruling and the flag rul¬ protect the flag. With a few weeks left before most elections, we "I shou ing, except that the public was aware of the pledge It's apparent most Americans don't think desecrat¬ still have time to inject flag protection Into the public ruling. ing our nation's symbol is an act worthy of protec¬ consciousness. "The three keys in our fight to protect the flag are tion. Yet no action is being taken on the issue in the The issue can't die from lack of awareness, and the voter awareness, voter awareness and voter aware¬ Senate. Why? Because too many Americans don't Legion can see to it that does not happen. ness," Brady said. "No senator would vote against the know it's legal to burn the flag. Too many don't know The U.S. Flag, and those who have died to keep it flag if they thought it would cost them the election. there's a flag-protection amendment sitting in the flying, deserve that much.

FROM PAGE 1 putting veterans first." physicians and psychologists. He proposed that VA COMMANDER and the Department of Defense seek additional cost¬ Just imagine being sick, he said, being in pain Homelessness and Other Priorities. Conley outlined sharing ventures. He said VA's Capital Asset every day, being despondent about the present and to lawmakers The American Legion's concerns about Realignment for Enhanced Services program must doubtful about the future and then having to wait - homeless veterans and their families. VA estimates reflect the input of veterans' service organizations often for months, sometimes for years - to find out if more than 340,000 veterans live on the streets of and not to undermine vital services under the guise of the country you served will fulfill its obligation to America today, a 34-percent increase from 1998. austerity. Congress must adequately fund communi¬ you. "These men and women once proudly wore the ty-based initiatives that assist homeless veterans as "Whenever VA denies a disabled veteran timely uniforms of this nation's armed forces and they well as pass legislation mandating compensation and access to health care, VA is failing in its primary mis¬ deserve our help," Conley said. "Homelessness is a health care to Gulf War veterans who contract ALS in sion to put veterans first," Conley said. "Whenever a travesty, but homelessness among veterans is dis¬ the future. Congress also must fund VA's request for veteran's claim is not handled in a timely and accu¬ graceful. The American Legion stands ready to work additional claims personnel so that the time for over¬ rate manner, VA is not putting veterans first. with Congress and VA to help find solutions to end all processing and appeals will be cut. "And whenever a veteran is turned away because this travesty." the only beds available are in abandoned wings that Among other proposals, Conley said Congress James V. Carroll is an assistant editor at The have been shut because of lack of money, VA is not must address VA's shortage of nurses, specialty American Legion Magazine.

• the AMERICAN LEGION EDITOR Steve 8. Brooks Still Serving America CONTRIBUTORS James V. Carroll Does your post have an are doing to demonstrate they Matt Grills ongoing program or activity are Still Serving America. Elissa Kaupisch Jeff Staffer that serves your community In submitting your informa¬ and can be implemented at tion, please be sure to include Vol.12, No. 4 October 11, 2002 SUBSCRIPTIONS Robin Bowman posts across the country? Does your full name, address and Published semi-monthly, except September and P.O. Box 1055, Indianapolis, IN 46206. For subscriptions or your post have methods of telephone number. December. Printed by the Daily Journal, Franklin, Ind. All customer service, call: (317) 630-1349. Annual subscription boosting membership and Send your news items to: American Legion publications are entitled and encouraged rate: $15. spreading the Legion message Still Serving America, The to reproduce all staff-written stories within, but please Editorial office: (317) 630-1352 credit Dispatch as the source. Send correspondence and FAX: (317) 630-1280 that will work at any post? American Legion Dispatch, P.O. letters to the editor in care of: The American Legion Dispatch, Online at: http://www.legion.org Drop us a line and tell us Box 1055, Indianapolis, IN

A proud member of The National American Legion Press Association what your post and its members 46206. J

Dispatch 3

From the desk of the national Adjutant: A memorial for everybody Auxiliary member shares Sept. 11 tribute with her community. Maureen Schneider won't become a U.S. citizen for more than a year, but that hasn't stopped her from already becoming a patriot. Eight years ago, Schneider - a native of Scotland - joined the Auxiliary unit of Post 333 in Key Largo, Fla. Since then, she's become quite active in the unit, serving in various leadership roles since joining the organization. Shortly after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, Schneider - or "Mo," as she is affectionately known - began working on another project. An avid woodburner, she began creating plaques depicting Robert W. the famous scene showing firefighters hoisting the American flag amid the rubble of Ground Zero. She Spanogle gave some to the Legion and some to other organizations and groups, including the Key Largo Fire Department. Schneider also began working a bigger project. In the eight months following the attacks, Schneider researched the names of those killed and began woodburning a memorial to all those killed. She placed all 3,054 names she'd compiled onto the memorial, working day and night. She suffered a swollen thumb and spent much of her own money on the supplies for the project. Harlen Brown Both her time and money were a small price to pay for the end result. "None of that really mattered," she told the Key Largo Free Press. "This memorial is for peo¬ ple to see. It's not about me; it's about them. Sometimes as I worked, writing out Maureen Schneider, a member of Auxiliary Unit 333 in Key Largo, Fla., spent nearly nine months the names, it was almost like I could feel the person come through to me, and I researching for and then carving out a memorial dedicated to the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, ter¬ rorist attacks. The memorial lists 3,054 names and was placed on the float that won “Best Theme” cried." during Key Largo’s Fourth of July Parade. Schneider's memorial was placed on a float in Key Largo's Fourth of July parade, where it won "Best Theme." Thousands saw the memorial as it passed officer for more than eight years, and I love it, but it would not be right to have it down the parade route. Schneider said the memorial wasn't a Legion project, but in a private club. It belongs to the people." rather, a human project. Thanks to Schneider - not yet an American citizen but already an American "I did it for everybody," she said. "It is the kind of thing that people everywhere patriot - the Sept. 11 victims always will stay in the hearts and minds of Key Largo should have the opportunity to see. 1 have been a member of the Auxiliary and an residents.

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4 Dispatch October 11, Election 2002: Where candidates stand on flag protection In 1989, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned more tection amendment, H.J. Res. 36, by a 298-125 vote The Citizens Flag Alliance, a coalition of 142 than 100 years of jurisprudence when it ruled that July 17, 2001. The Senate bill, S.J. Res. 7, remains bot¬ national organizations created in 1994 by The physically desecrating the U.S. Flag was considered tled up in the Senate. Senate Majority Leader Tom American Legion, believes only three additional votes free speech protected under the First Amendment. Daschle refuses to bring the issue up for a vote, even in the U.S. Senate are needed to pass the flag-protec¬ Since then, The American Legion has called for a con¬ though it has the support of at least 64 senators. tion amendment. The CFA recently sent question¬ stitutional amendment restoring to Congress the Judiciary Committee Chairman Sen. Patrick Leahy, D- naires to this year's candidates for both the Senate power to enact legislation protecting the flag from Vt., refuses to hold hearings on it. Passage of the mea¬ and the House. Below are their positions based on acts of desecration. In January 2002, Vermont became sure by the Senate will allow the states to consider it their voting records and responses to the question: "If the 50th state to pass a resolution urging Congress to for ratification. The amendment states: "The Congress elected to the 108th Congress, will you vote for the pass a flag-protection amendment. shall have power to prohibit the physical desecration flag-protection amendment?" Incumbents are listed The House of Representatives passed the flag-pro¬ of the flag of the United States." with the title "Sen." or "Rep."

Alabama District 4 Devin Nunes (R), supporter District 43 District 3 Sen. Jeff Sessions (R), supporter Rep. Mike Ross (D), supporter District 22 Rep. Joe Baca (D), supporter Rep. Rossa DeLauro (D), opponent Susan Parker (D), supporter Jay Dickey (R), supporter Rep. William Thomas (R), supporter Wendy Neighbor (R), supporter Richter Elser (R), supporter District 1 Jaime Corvera (D), supporter District 44 District 4 Jo Bonner (R), supporter District 23 Rep. Ken Calvert (R), supporter Rep. Christopher Shays (R), opponent Judy McCain-Belk (D), unknown District X Rep. Lois Capps (D), supporter Louis Vanderberg (D), unknown Stephanie Sanchez (D), unknown District 2 Rep. Mike Thompson (D), opponent Beth Rogers (R), supporter District 45 District 5 Rep. Terry Everett (R), supporter Lawrence Wiesner (R), supporter District 24 Rep. Mary Bono (R), supporter Rep. James Maloney (D), supporter Charles Woods (D), supporter District 2 Rep. Elton Gallegly (R), supporter Elle Kurpiewski (D), unknown Rep. Nancy Johnson (R), supporter District 3 Rep. Wally Herger (R), supporter Fern Rudin (D), unknown District 46 Mike Rogers (R), supporter Mike Johnson (D), unknown District 25 Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R), supporter Delaware Joe Tumham (D), supporter District 3 Rep. Howard McKeon (R), supporter Gerrie Schipske (D), supporter Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr. (D), opponent District 4 Rep. Doug Ose (R), supporter Robert Conaway (D), supporter District 47 Ray Clatworthy (R), supporter Rep. Robert Aderholt (R), supporter Howard Beeman (D), unknown District 26 Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D), supporter At-large District 5 District 4 Rep. David Dreier (R), opponent Jeff Chavez (R), unknown Rep. Michael Castle (R), supporter Rep. Robert Cramer (D), supporter Rep. John Doolittle (R), supporter Marjorie Mikels (D), unknown District 48 Mike Miller (D), supporter Stephen Engel (R), unknown Mark Norberg (D), unknown District 27 Rep. Christopher Cox (R), supporter District 6 District 5 Rep. Brad Sherman (D), supporter John Graham (D), unknown Florida Rep. Spencer Bachus (R), supporter Rep. Robert Matsui (D), opponent Robert Levy (R), supporter District 49 District 1 District 7 Richard Frankhuizen (R), opponent District 28 Rep. Darrell Issa (R), supporter Rep. Jeff Miller (R), supporter Artur Davis (D), unknown District 6 Rep. Howard Berman (D), opponent District 50 Bert Oram (D), unknown Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D), opponent David Hernandez Jr. (R), supporter Rep. Randy Cunningham (R), supporter District 2 Alaska Paul Erickson (R), supporter District 29 Del Stewart (D), unknown Rep. F. Allen Boyd (D), supporter Sen. Ted Stevens (R), supporter District 7 Rep. Adam Schiff (D), unknown District 51 Tom McGurk (R), supporter Frank Vondersaar (D), opponent Rep. George Miller (D), opponent Jim Scileppi (R), supporter Rep. Bob Filner (D), opponent District 3 At-large Charles Hargrave (R), supporter District 30 Maria Guadalupe Garcia (R), supporter Rep. Corrine Brown (D), supporter Rep. Don Young (R), supporter District 8 Rep. Henry Waxman (D), opponent District 52 Jennifer Carroll (R), supporter C. Mark Greene (D), opponent Rep. (D), opponent Tony Goss (R), unknown Rep. Duncan Hunter (R), supporter District 4 G. Michael German (R), unknown District 31 Peter Moore-Kochlacs (D), unknown Rep. Ander Crenshaw (R), supporter Arizona District 9 Rep. Xavier Becerra (D), opponent District 53 District 5 District 1 Rep. Barbara Lee (D), opponent Luis Vega (R), supporter Rep. Susan Davis (D), opponent Rep. Karen Thurman (D), supporter Rick Renzi (R), supporter Jerald Udinsky (R), unknown District 32 Bill VanDeWeghe (R), supporter Ginny Brown-Waite (R), supporter George Cordova (D), unknown District 10 Rep. Hilda Solis (D), opponent District 6 District 2 Rep. Ellen Tauscher (D), opponent Emma Fischbeck (R), supporter Rep. Cliff Steams (R), supporter Trent Franks (R), supporter District 11 District 33 Sen. Wayne Allard (R), supporter David E. Bruderly (D), unknown Randy Camacho (D), unknown Rep. Richard Pombo (R), supporter Rep. Diane Watson (D), opponent Tom Strickland (D), opponent District 7 District 3 Elaine Dugger Shaw (D), unknown Andrew Kim (R), supporter Rick Stanley (L), supporter Rep. John Mica (R), supporter Rep. John Shadegg (R), opponent District 12 District 34 District 1 Wayne Hogan (D), unknown Charles Hill (D), supporter Rep. Tom Lantos (D), supporter Rep. Ludlle Roybal-Allard (D), opponent Rep. Diana DeGette (D), opponent District 8 District 4 Michael Maloney (R), unknown Wayne Miller (R), supporter Ken Chlouber (R), supporter Rep. Ric Keller (R), supporter Rep. Ed Pastor (D), opponent District 13 District 35 District 2 Eddie Diaz (D), supporter Jonathan Bamert (R), unknown Rep. Fortney Stark (D), opponent Rep. Maxine Waters (D), opponent Rep. Mark Udall (D), opponent District 9 District 5 Syed Mahmood (R), unknown Ross Moen (R), supporter Sandy Hume (R), supporter Rep. Michael Bilirakis (R), supporter Rep. J.D. Hayworth (R), supporter District 14 District 36 District 3 Chuck Kalogianis (D), supporter Craig Columbus (D), supporter Rep. Anna Eshoo (D), opponent Rep. Jane Harman (D), supporter Rep. Scott Mclnnis (R), supporter District 10 District 6 Joseph Nixon (R), unknown Stuart Johnson (R), unknown Denis Berckefeldt (D), unknown Rep. C.W. Young (R), supporter Rep. Jeff Flake (R), opponent District 15 District 37 District 4 District 11 Deborah Thomas (D), supporter Rep. Michael Honda (D), opponent Rep. Juanita Millender-McDonald (D), Marilyn Musgrave (R), supporter Rep. Jim Davis (D), supporter District 7 Linda Rae Hermann (R), supporter supporter Stan Matsunaka (D), unknown District 12 Ross Hieb (R), opponent District 16 Oscar Velasco (R), unknown District 5 Rep. Adam Putnam (R), supporter Raul Grijalva (D), unknown Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D), opponent District 38 Rep. Joel Hefley (R), supporter District 13 District 8 Douglass McNea (R), unknown Rep. Grace Napolitano (D), supporter Curtis Imrie (D), unknown Katherine Harris (R), supporter Rep. Jim Kolbe (R), opponent District 17 Alex Burrola (R), supporter District 6 Jan Schneider (D), supporter Mary Judge Ryan (D), unknown Rep. Sam Farr (D), opponent District 39 Rep. Thomas Tancredo (R), supporter District 14 Clint Engler (R), supporter Tim Escobar (R), supporter Lance Wright (D), unknown Rep. Porter Goss (R), supporter Arkansas District 18 Linda Sanchez (D), unknown District 7 District 15 Sen. Tim Hutchinson (R), supporter Dennis Cardoza (D), supporter District 40 Bob Beauprez (R), supporter Rep. Dave Weldon (R), supporter Mark Pryor (D), opponent Dick Monteith (R), supporter Rep. Ed Royce (R), supporter Mike Feeley (D), opponent Jim Tso (D), unknown District 1 District 19 Christina Avalos (D), supporter District 16 Rep. Marion Berry (D), supporter Rep. George Radanovich (R), supporter District 41 Connecticut Rep. Mark Foley (R), supporter Tommy Robinson (R), supporter John Veen (D), unknown Rep. Jerry Lewis (R), supporter District 1 District 17 District 2 District 20 Keith Johnson (D), supporter Rep. John Larson (D), supporter Kendrick Meek (D), unknown Rep. Vic Snyder (D), opponent Rep. Calvin Dooley (D), supporter District 42 Phil Steele (R), unknown District 18 Alex MacDonald (R), unknown Andre Minuth (R), supporter Rep. Gary Miller (R), supporter District 2 Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R), supporter District 3 District 21 Richard Waldron (D), unknown Rep. Robert Simmons (R), supporter Rep. John Boozman (R), supporter David Lapere (D), supporter Joseph Courtney (D), opponent SEE FLAG, PAGE 5 Mike Sodrel (R), supporter Rodney Alexander (D), supporter Katheryn Lynnes (D), opponent Illinois Sam Houston Melton (D), unknown District 4 FROM PAGE 4 FLAG Sen. Richard J. Durbin (D), opponent Iowa District 6 Rep. Dave Camp (R), supporter Ray Chote (D), supporter Jim Durkin (R), supporter Sen. Tom Harkin (D), opponent Rep. Richard Baker (R), supporter Lawrence Hollenbeck (D), unknown District 19 District 1 Greg Ganske (R), supporter District 7 District 5 Rep. Robert Wexler (D), opponent Rep. Bobby Rush (D), supporter District 1 Rep. Chris John (D), supporter Rep. Dale Kildee (D), supporter Jack Merkle (R), supporter Ray Wardingly (R), supporter Rep. Jim Nussle (R), supporter District 6 District 20 District 2 Ann Hutchinson (D), unknown Maine Rep. Fred Upton (R), supporter Rep. Peter Deutsch (D), supporter Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D), opponent District 2 Sen. Susan M. Collins (R), supporter District 7 District 21 Doug Nelson (R), supporter Rep. Jim Leach (R), opponent Chellie Pingree (D), unknown Rep. Nick Smith (R), supporter Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R), supporter District 3 Julianne Thoms (D), unknown District 1 Mike Simpson (D), supporter District 22 Rep. William Lipinski (D), supporter District 3 Rep. Thomas Allen (D), opponent District 8 Rep. E. Claw Shaw (R), supporter District 4 Rep. Leonard Boswell (D), supporter Steve Joyce (R), supporter Rep. Michael Rogers (R), supporter Carol Roberts (D), unknown Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D), supporter Stan Thompson (R), supporter District 2 Frank McAlpine (D), unknown District 23 Tony Lopez-Cisneros (R), unknown District 4 Michael Michaud (D), supporter District 9 Rep. Alcee Hastings (D), opponent District 5 Rep. Tom Latham (R), supporter Kevin Raye (R), supporter Rep. Joseph Knollenberg (R), supporter Charles Laurie (R), supporter Rahm Emanuel (D), unknown John Norris (D), unknown David Fink (D), unknown District 24 Mark Augusti (R), opponent District 5 Maryland District 10 Tom Feeney (R), supporter District 6 Steve King (R), supporter District 1 Carl Marlinga (D), supporter Harry Jacobs (D), unknown Rep. Henry Hyde (R), supporter Paul Shomshor (D), unknown Rep. Wayne Gilchrest (R), opponent Candice Miller (R), supporter District 25 Tom Berry (D), unknown Ann Tamlyn (D), unknown District 11 Mario Diaz-Balart (R), supporter District 7 Kansas District 2 Thaddeus McCotter (R), supporter Annie Betencourt (D), supporter Rep. Danny Davis (D), opponent Sen. Pat Roberts (R), supporter Helen Delich Bently (R), supporter Kevin Kelley (D), unknown Mark Tunney (R), unknown District 1 Dutch Ruppersberger (D), supporter District 12 Georgia District 8 Rep. Jerry Moran (R), supporter District 3 Rep. Sander Levin (D), opponent Sen. Max Cleland (D), supporter Rep. Philip Crane (R), supporter District 2 Rep. Benjamin Cardin (D), opponent Harvey Dean (R), supporter Saxby Chambliss (R), supporter Melissa Bean (D), unknown Rep. Jim Ryun (R), supporter Scott Conwell (R), unknown District 13 District 1 District 9 District 3 District 4 Rep. Carolyn Kilpatrick (D), opponent Rep. Jack Kingston (R), supporter Rep. Janice Schakowsky (D), opponent Rep. Dennis Moore (D), opponent Reo, Albert Wynn (D), supporter District 14 Don Smart (D), unknown District 10 Adam Taff (R), supporter John Kimble (R), supporter Rep. John Conyers (D), opponent District 2 Rep. Mark Kirk (R), supporter District 4 District 5 Dave Stone (R), supporter Rep. Sanford Bishop (D), supporter Hank Perritt (D), unknown Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R), supporter Rep. (D), opponent District 15 District 3 District 11 Carlos Nolla (D), unknown Joe Crawford (R), supporter Rep. John Dingell (D), opponent Jim Marshall (D), supporter Rep. Jerry Weller (R), supporter District 6 Martin Kaltenbach (R), unknown Calder Clay (R), supporter Keith Van Duyne (D), unknown Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R), supporter District 4 District 12 Sen. Mitch McConnell (R), opponent Don DeArmon (D), opponent Minnesota Denise Majette (D), opponent Rep. Jerry Costello (D), supporter Lois Weinberg (D), supporter District 7 Sen. Paul Wellstone (D), opponent Cynthia Van Auken (R), unknown David Sadler (R), opponent District 1 Rep. Elijah Cummings (D), supporter Norm Coleman (R), supporter District 5 District 13 Rep. Edward Whitfield (R), supporter Joseph Ward (R), supporter District 1 Rep. John Lewis'JD), opporfent ' Rep. Judy Biggert (R), supporter Klint Alexander (D), supporter District 8 Rep. Gil Gutknecht (R), supporter District 6 District 14 District 2 Rep. Connie Morelia (R), supporter Steve Andreasen (D), unknown Rep. Johnny Isakson (R), supporter Rep. J. (R), supporter Rep. (R), supporter Chris Van Hollen Jr. (D), unknown District 2 Jeff Weisberger (D), unknown District 15 David Williams (D), supporter Rep. Bill Luther (D), supporter District 7 Rep. Timothy Johnson (R), supporter District 3 Massachusetts John Kline (R), supporter Rep. John Linder (R), supporter District 16 Rep. Anne Northup (R), supporter Sen. John F. Kerry (D), opponent District 3 Michael Berlon (D), unknown Rep. Donald Manzullo (R), supporter (D), supporter District 1 Rep. Jim Ramstad (R), supporter District 8 John Kutsch (D), unknown District 4 Rep. John Olver (D), opponent Darryl Stanton (D), unknown Rep. Michael Collins (R), supporter District 17 Rep. (D), supporter Matt Kinnaman (R), unknown District 4 Angelos Petrakopoulos (D), unknown Rep. Lane Evans (D), opponent (R), supporter District 2 Rep. Betty McCollum (D), opponent District 9 Pete Calderone (R), supporter District 5 Rep. Richard Neal (D), supporter Clyde Billington (R), supporter Rep. Charles Norwood (R), supporter District 18 Rep. Harold Rogers (R), supporter District 3 District 5 Barry Gordon Irwin (D), unknown Rep. Ray LaHood (R), supporter Sidney Jane Bailey (D), supporter Rep. James McGovern (D), supporter Rep. Martin Sabo (D), opponent District 10 District 19 District 6 Tim O'Flaherty (R), unknown Daniel Nielsen Mathias (R), unknown Rep. Nathan Deal (R), supporter Rep. David Phelps (D), supporter Rep. Ernest Fletcher (R), supporter District 4 District 6 District 11 Rep. John Shimkus (R), supporter Rep. Barney Frank (D), opponent Rep. Mark Kennedy (R), supporter Roger Kahn (D), supporter Louisiana District 5 Janet Robert (D), unknown Phil Gingrey (R), supporter Indiana Sen. Mary Landrieu (D), supporter Rep. Marty Meehan (D), opponent District 7 District 12 District 1 Raymond Brown (D), unknown Charles McCarthy Jr. (R), supporter Rep. Collin Peterson (D), supporter Max Bums (R), supporter Rep. Peter Visclosky (D), opponent John Cooksey (R), supporter District 6 Dan Stevens (R), supporter Charles Walker Jr. (D), unknown Mark Leyva (R), supporter Tony Perkins (R), supporter Rep. John Tierney (D), opponent District 8 District 13 District 2 Ernest Skillman (R), unknown Mark Smith (R), supporter Rep. James Oberstar (D), opponent David Scott (D), supporter (D), supporter Suzie Terrell (R), supporter District 7 Bob Lemen (R), supporter Clay Cox (R), supporter (R), supporter District 1 Rep. Edward Markey (D), opponent District 3 Rep. David Vitter (R), supporter District 8 Mississippi Hawaii Rep. (R), supporter Monica Monica (R), unknown Rep. Michael Capuano (D), opponent Sen. Thad Cochran (R), supporter District 1 Jay Rigdon (D), unknown Robert Namer (R), unknown District 9 Shawn O'Hara (Ref.), supporter Rep. Neil Abercrombie (D), opponent District 4 District 2 Rep. Stephen Lynch (D), supporter District 1 Mark Terry (R), unknown Rep. (R), supporter Rep. William Jefferson (D), supporter District 10 Rep. Roger Wicker (R), supporter District 2 District 5 Troy Carter (D), unknown Rep. William Delahunt (D), supporter Rex Weathers (D), unknown Patsy Mink (D), opponent (deceased) Rep. (R), supporter Irma Muse Dixon (D), unknown Luiz Gonzaga (R), supporter Brenda Blackburn (Reform), supporter Bob McDermott (R), supporter Katherine Fox Carr (D), supporter Clarence Hunt (D), unknown District 2 District 6 Silky Sullivan (R), unknown Michigan Rep. Bennie Thompson (D), supporter Idaho Rep. (R), supporter District 3 Sen. Carl Levin (D), opponent Clinton LeSueur (R), unknown Sen. Larry E. Craig (R), supporter Melina Fox (D), unknown Rep. W.J. Tauzin (R), supporter Andrew Raczkowski (R), supporter District 3 Alan Blinken (D), supporter District 7 District 4 District 1 Rep. Charles Pickering Jr. (R), supporter District 1 Rep. (D), opponent Rep. Jim McCrery (R), supporter Rep. Bart Stupak (D), supporter Rep. Ronnie Shows (D), supporter Rep. C.L. Otter (R), supporter Brose McVey (R), supporter John Milkovich (D), unknown Don Hooper (R), supporter District 4 Betty Richardson (D), unknown District 8 District 5 District 2 Rep. Gene Taylor (D), supporter District 2 Rep. (R), supporter Robert Barham (R), supporter Rep. Peter Hoekstra (R), opponent Karl Cleveland Mertz (R), supporter Rep. Mike Simpson (R), supporter Bryan Hartke (D), supporter Lee Fletcher (R), supporter Jeffrey Wrisley (D), unknown Edward Kinghorn (D), unknown District 9 Clyde Holloway (R), supporter District 3 Rep. (D), opponent Jack Wright (R), unknown Rep. Vernon Ehlers (R), opponent SEE FLAG, PAGE 6 6 Dispatch October 11, 2002

District 3 Arne Mattson (D), unknown District 12 District 5 FLAG FROM PAGE 5 Rep. Jim Saxton (R), supporter District 14 Rep. Melvin Watt (D), opponent Rep. Ernest Istook Jr. (R), supporter Richard Strada (D), unknown Rep. (D), opponent Jeff Kish (R), supporter Lou Barlow (D), unknown Missouri District 4 Anton Srdanovic (R), unknown District 13 Sen. Jean Carnahan (D), supporter Rep. Christopher Smith (R), supporter District 15 Brad Miller (D), unknown Oregon Jim Talent (R), supporter Mary Brennan (D), supporter Rep. (D), opponent Carolyn Grant (R), supporter Sen. Gordon H. Smith (R), supporter District 1 District 5 Jessie Fields (R), unknown Bill Bradbury (D), opponent Rep. William Clay Jr. (D), opponent Scott Garrett (R), supporter District 16 North Dakota District 1 Richard Schwadron (R), unknown Anne Sumers (D), unknown Rep. Jose Serrano (D), opponent At-large Rep. David Wu (D), opponent District 2 District 6 Frank Dellavalle (R), unknown Rep. Earl Pomeroy (D), supporter Jim Greenfield (R), unknown Rep. Todd Akin (R), supporter Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D), supporter District 17 Rick Clayburgh (R), supporter District 2 John Hogan (D), unknown Ric Medrow (R), opponent Rep. (D), opponent Rep. Greg Walden (R), supporter District 3 District 7 C. Scott Vanderhoef (R), unknown Peter Buckley (D), opponent Rep. Richard Gephardt (D), supporter Rep. Michael Ferguson (R), supporter District 18 District 1 District 3 Catherine Enz (R), supporter Timothy Carden (D), unknown Rep. (D), opponent Rep. Steve Chabot (R), supporter Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D), opponent District 4 District 8 District 19 Greg Harris (D), opponent Sarah Seale (R), supporter Rep. Ike Skelton (D), supporter Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr. (D), supporter Rep. Sue Kelly (R), supporter District 2 District 4 James Noland (R), supporter Jared Silverman (R), unknown Janine Selendy (D), unknown Rep. Rob Portman (R), supporter Rep. Peter DeFazio (D), opponent District 5 District 9 District 20 Charles Sanders (D), supporter Liz Vanleeuwen (R), supporter Rep. Karen McCarthy (D), opponent Rep. Steven Rothman (D), supporter Rep. John Sweeney (R), supporter District 3 District 5 Steve Gordon (R), supporter Joseph Glass (R), supporter Franz Stoppenbach (D), unknown Rich Came (D), supporter Rep. Darlene Hooley (D), opponent District 6 District 10 District 21 Mike Turner (R), supporter Brian Boquist (R), supporter Rep. Sam Graves (R), supporter Rep. Donald Payne (D), opponent Rep. Michael McNulty (D), supporter District 4 Cathy Rinehart (D), unknown Andrew Wirtz (R), supporter Charles Rosenstein (R), unknown Rep. Michael Oxley (R), supporter Pennsylvania District 7 District 11 District 22 Jim Clark (D), unknown District 1 Rep. Roy Blunt (R), supporter Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R), supporter Rep. (D), opponent District 5 Rep. Robert Brady (D), opponent Ron Lapham (D), unknown Vij Pawar (D), unknown Eric Hall (R), supporter Rep. Paul Gillmor (R), supporter Marie Delaney (R), unknown District 8 District 12 District 23 Roger Anderson (D), unknown District 2 Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (R), supporter Rep. Rush Holt (D), opponent Rep. John McHugh (R), supporter District 6 Rep. (D), opponent Gene Curtis (D), unknown DeForest Soaries (R), supporter District 24 Rep. Ted Strickland (D), supporter Thomas Dougherty (R), unknown District 9 District 13 Rep. (R), supporter Mike Halleck (R), supporter District 3 Rep. Kenny Hulshof (R), supporter Rep. Robert Menendez (D), supporter District 25 District 7 Rep. Philip English (R), supporter Donald Deichman (D), unknown James Geron (R), unknown Rep. James Walsh (R), supporter Rep. David Hobson (R), supporter District 4 Stephanie Aldersley (D), unknown Kara Anastasio (D), unknown Rep. Melissa Hart (R), supporter Montana New Mexico District 26 District 8 Stevan Drobac Jr. (D), supporter Sen. Max Baucus (D), supporter Sen. Pete V. Domenici (R), supporter Rep. Thomas Reynolds (R), supporter Rep. (R), supporter District 5 Mike Taylor (R), supporter Gloria Tristani (D), unknown Ayesha Nairman (D), unknown Jeffrey Hardenbrook (D), unknown Rep. John Peterson (R), supporter At-large District 1 District 27 District 9 District 6 Rep. Dennis Rehberg (R), supporter Rep. Heather Wilson (R), supporter Rep. (R), supporter Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D), supporter (R), supporter Steve Kelly (D), opponent Richard Romero (D), opponent Peter Crotty (D), unknown Ed Emery (R), unknown Daniel Wofford (D), unknown District 2 District 28 District 10 District 7 Nebraska Steven Pearce (R), supporter Rep. (D), opponent Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D), supporter Rep. (R), supporter Sen. Chuck Hagel (R), supporter John Arthur Smith (D), supporter Henry Wojtaszek (R), unknown Jon Heben (R), supporter Peter Lennon (D), unknown Charlie Matulka (D), supporter District 3 District 29 District 11 District 8 District 1 Rep. Tom Udall (D), opponent Rep. Amory Houghton Jr. (R), supporter Rep. Stephanie Jones (D), opponent Rep. Jim Greenwood (R), opponent Rep. Doug Bereuter (R), supporter Kisun Peters (D), unknown Patrick Pappano (R), opponent District 9 District 2 New York District 12 Rep. (R), supporter Rep. Lee Terry (R), supporter District 1 Rep. Patrick Tiberi (R), supporter John Henry (D), unknown Jim Simon (D), supporter Rep. Felix Grucci Jr. (R), supporter Elizabeth Dole (R), supporter Edward Brown (D), unknown District 10 District 3 (D), unknown Erskine Bowles (D), supporter District 13 Rep. (R), supporter Rep. Tom Osborne (R), supporter District 2 District 1 Rep. Sherrod Brown (D), supporter District 11 Rep. (D), opponent Frank Ballance (D), unknown Ed Oliveros (R), unknown Rep. Paul Kanjorksi (D), supporter Joe Finley (R), supporter Greg Dority (R), unknown District 14 Louis Barletta (R), supporter District 1 District 3 District 2 Rep. Steven LaTourette (R), supporter District 12 Rep. Shelley Berkley (D), supporter Rep. Peter King (R), supporter Rep. Bob Etheridge (D), supporter Dale Vergil Blanchard (D), unknown Rep. John Murtha (D), supporter Lynette Boggs McDonald (R), supporter Stuart Finz (D), unknown Joseph Ellen (R), supporter District 15 Bill Choby (R), opponent District 2 District 4 District 3 Rep. Deborah Pryce (R), supporter District 13 Rep. James Gibbons (R), supporter Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D), supporter Rep. Walter Jones Jr. (R), supporter Mark Brown (D), opponent Rep. Joseph Hoeffel III (D), opponent Travis Souza (D), unknown Marilyn O'Grady (R), unknown District 4 District 16 Melissa Brown (R), supporter District 3 District 5 Rep. David Price (D), opponent Rep. Ralph Regula (R), supporter District 14 Dario Herrera (D), supporter Rep. (D), opponent Tuan Nguyen (R), unknown Jim Rice (D), unknown Rep. Mike Doyle (D), supporter (R), supporter Perry Reich (R), supporter District 5 District 17 District 15 District 6 Rep. Richard Burr (R), supporter Rep. James Traficant Jr. (HMD), supporter Rep. (R), supporter New Hampshire Rep. (D), opponent David Crawford (D), unknown Tim Ryan (D), unknown Ed O'Brien (D), unknown John E. Sununu (R), supporter District 7 District 6 Ann Womer Benjamin (R), supporter District 16 Jeanne Shaheen (D), supporter Rep. Joseph Crowley (D), supporter Rep. Howard Coble (R), supporter District 18 Rep. Joseph Pitts (R), supporter District 1 Kevin Brawley (R), unknown District 7 Rep. Bob Ney (R), supporter Dave Baker (D), unknown Jeb Bradley (R), supporter District 8 Rep. Mike McIntyre (D), supporter District 17 Martha Fuller Clark (D), supporter Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D), opponent James Adams (R), unknown Oklahoma Rep. (R), supporter District 2 James Farrin (R), unknown District 8 Sen. James M. Inhofe (R), supporter Rep. (D), supporter Rep. Charles Bass (R), supporter District 9 Rep. Robin Hayes (R), supporter David Walters (D), supporter District 18 Katrina Swett (D), unknown Rep. (D), opponent Chris Kouri (D), supporter District 1 Jack Machek (D), supporter Alfred Donohue (R), unknown District 9 Rep. John Sullivan (R), supporter Tim Murphy (R), supporter New Jersey District 10 Rep. Sue Myrick (R), supporter Doug Dodd (D), unknown District 19 Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D), opponent Rep. (D), supporter Ed McGuire (D), supporter District 2 Rep. Todd Platts (R), supporter Douglas Forrester (R), opponent District 11 District 10 Rep. Brad Carson (D), supporter Ben Price (Green), opponent District 1 Rep. (D), opponent Rep. Cass Ballenger (R), supporter Kent Pharaoh (R), supporter Rep. Robert Andrews (D), supporter Susan Cleary (R), unknown Ronnie Daugherty (D), supporter District 3 Rhode Island District 2 District 12 District 11 Rep. Frank Lucas (R), supporter Sen. Jack Reed (D), opponent Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R), supporter Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D), opponent Rep. Charles Taylor (R), supporter District 4 Bob Tingle (R), unknown Steven Farkas (D), unknown District 13 Sam Neill (D), supporter Darryl Roberts (D), unknown Rep. (R), supporter Tom Cole (R), supporter SEE FLAG, PAGE 7 *

Dispatch 7

District 7 District 16 John Swallow (R), opponent Rep. George Nethercutt Jr. (R), supporter FLAG FROM PAGE 6 Marsha Blackburn (R), supporter Rep. Silvestre Reyes (D), supporter District 3 Bart Haggin (D), unknown District 1 Tim Barron (D), supporter District 17 Rep. Chris Cannon (R), supporter District 6 Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D), opponent District 8 Rep. Charles Stenholm (D), supporter Nancy Woodside (D), supporter Rep. Norman Dicks (D), opponent Dave Rogers (R), unknown Rep. John Tanner (D), opponent Rob Beckham (R), supporter Bob Lawrence (R), supporter District 2 Matt McClain (R), unknown District 18 Vermont District 7 Rep. James Langevin (D), supporter District 9 Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee (D), opponent At Large Rep. Jim McDermott (D), opponent John Matson (R), unknown Rep. Harold Ford Jr. (D), supporter District 19 Rep. Bernard Sanders (I), opponent District 8 Rep. Larry Combest (R), supporter Bill Meub (R), supporter Rep. Jennifer Dunn (R), supporter South Carolina Texas District 20 Heidi Behrens-Benedict (D), unknown Lindsey Graham (R), supporter John Cornyn (R), supporter Rep. Charles Gonzalez (D), opponent Virginia District 9 Alex Sanders (D), opponent Ron Kirk (D), opponent District 21 Sen. John Warner (R), supporter Rep. Adam Smith (D), supporter District 1 District 1 Rep. Lamar Smith (R), supporter Glenda Gail Crook (Ind.), supporter Sarah Casada (R), supporter Rep. Henry Brown (R), supporter Rep. Max Sandlin (D), supporter John Courage (D), unknown District 1 District 2 John Lawrence (R), supporter District 22 Rep. Jo Ann Davis (R), supporter West Virginia Rep. A.J. Wilson (R), supporter District 2 Rep. Tom DeLay (R), supporter District 2 Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D), supporter District 3 Rep. Jim Turner (D), supporter Tim Riley (D), unknown Rep. Edward Schrock (R), supporter Jay Wolfe (R), supporter J. Gresham Barrett (R), supporter Van Brookshire (R), supporter District 23 District 3 District 1 George Brightharp (D), opponent District 3 Rep. Henry Bonilla (R), supporter Rep. Bobby Scott (D), opponent Rep. Alan Mollohan (D), supporter District 4 Rep. Sam Johnson (R), supporter Henry Cuellar (D), supporter District 4 District 2 Rep. Jim DeMint (R), supporter Manny Molera (D), unknown District 24 Rep. Randy Forbes (R), supporter Rep. Shelley Moore Capita (R), supporter District 5 District 4 Rep. Martin Frost (D), supporter District 5 Jim Humphreys (D), supporter Rep. John Spratt (D), supporter Rep. Ralph Hall (D), supporter Mike Rivera Ortega (R), supporter Rep. Virgil Goode (R), supporter District 3 District 6 John Graves (R), supporter District 25 Meredith Richards (D), unknown Rep. Nick Rahall (D), supporter Rep. James Clybum (D), supporter District 5 Chris Bell (D), unknown District 6 Gary McLeod (R), supporter Jeb Hensarling (R), supporter Tom Reiser (R), supporter Bob Goodlatte (R), supporter Ron Chapman (D), unknown District 26 District 7 District 1 South Dakota District 6 Michael Burgess (R), supporter Rep. Eric Cantor (R), supporter Rep. (R), supporter Sen. Tim Johnson (D), supporter Rep. Joe Barton (R), supporter Paul LeBon (D), supporter Ben Jones (D), opponent Jeff Thomas (D), unknown John Thune (R), supporter Felix Alvarado (D), supporter District 27 District 8 District 2 At-large District 7 Rep. Solomon Ortiz (D), supporter Rep. James Moran (D), opponent Rep. (D), opponent Bill Janklow (R), supporter Rep. John Culberson (R), supporter Pat Ahumada (R), supporter Scott Tate (R), unknown Ron Greer (R), unknown Stephanie Herseth (D), supporter John Martinez (D), unknown District 28 District 9 District 3 District 8 Rep. Ciro Rodriguez (D), supporter Rep. Rick Boucher (D), opponent Rep. (D), opponent Tennessee Rep. Kevin Brady (R), supporter Gabriel Perales Jr. (R), supporter Jay Katzen (R), supporter Bill Arndt (R), unknown Lamar Alexander (R), supporter Gil Guillory (L), opponent District 29 District 10 District 4 Bob Clement (D), supporter District 9 Rep. Gene Green (D), supporter Rep. Frank Wolf (R), supporter Rep. Jerry Kleczka (D), opponent District 1 Rep. Nicholas Lampson (D), supporter Paul Hanson (L), opponent District 11 District 5 Rep. William Jenkins (R), supporter Paul Williams (R), supporter District 30 Rep. Thomas Davis (R), supporter Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner Jr. (R), supporter District 2 District 10 Rep. E.B. Johnson (D), opponent District 6 ■ • !it; /ip bi’/rtoW toluuCT Rep. John Duncan (R), supporter Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D), opponent Ron Bush (R), supporter Washington Rep. Thomas Petri (R), opponent John Greene (D), opponent District 11 District 31 District 1 District 7 District 3 Rep. Chet Edwards (D), supporter John Carter (R), supporter Rep. Jay Inslee (D), opponent Rep. David Obey (D), opponent Rep. Zach Wamp (R), supporter Ramsey Farley (R), supporter David Bagley (D), unknown Joe Marine (R), supporter Joe Rothbauer (R), supporter John Wolfe (D), unknown District 12 District 32 District 2 District 8 District 4 Rep. Kay Granger (R), supporter Rep. Pete Sessions (R), supporter Rep. Rick Larsen (D), opponent Rep. Mark Green (R), supporter Janice Bowling (R), supporter District 13 Pauline Dixon (D), supporter Norma Smith (R), supporter Andrew Becker (D), unknown Lincoln Davis (D), supporter Rep. William Thomberry (R), supporter District 3 District 5 Zane Reese (D), supporter Utah Rep. Brian Baird (D), supporter Wyoming Jim Cooper (D), opponent District 14 District 1 Joe Zarelli (R), unknown Sen. Michael B. Enzi (R), supporter Robert Duvall (R), supporter Rep. Ron Paul (R), opponent Rob Bishop (R), supporter District 4 Joyce Corcoran (D), supporter District 6 Corby Windham (D), unknown Dave Thomas (D), unknown Rep. Doc Hastings (R), supporter At Large Rep. Bart Gordon (D), supporter District 15 District 2 Craig Mason (D), unknown Rep. Barbara Cubin (R), supporter Robert Garrison (R), supporter Rep. Ruben Hinojosa (D), supporter Rep. James Matheson (D), opponent District 5 Ron Akin (D), supporter Budget process lagging; VA appropriations will suffer The fiscal 2003 budget process is in disarray. As intense speculation on how this fiscal 2003 budget cri¬ of Oct. 2, none of the 13 appropriations bills Dateline: Capitol Hill sis will be resolved: necessary to fund federal government opera¬ ■ If previous years are indicative, Congress may tions have become law. Debate Military Construction spending measure, H.R. 5011. pass a series of continuing resolutions to fund the fed¬ over Iraq and a new Home¬ All three of these measures are in conference commit¬ eral government for several weeks or several months. land Security department, a tees, where differences in the two versions passed by Last year, eight continuing resolutions were necessary senior citizens' prescription each chamber are being reconciled before they can be until the final fiscal 2002 appropriations bills were bill and the pressure of up¬ enacted. In addition, the DoD authorization bill, H.R. signed by Bush on Jan. 10. coming midterm congressional 4546, also is in conference committee. ■Two years ago, it took 21 continuing resolutions elections have all contributed Fiscal 2003, which began on Oct. 1, currently is to fund federal operations until the final omnibus to cause an extreme slowdown being funded by a continuing resolution, Public Law spending measure was enacted on Dec. 21, 2000. in the appropriations process. 107-228, which was signed by President George W. Another feature of the fiscal 2001 budget cycle was This lag could spell trouble for Bush Sept. 30. This measure allows federal govern¬ the convening of a "lame-duck" session of Congress the Department of Veterans ment programs to continue functioning, but at the after the November 2000 elections. This extra session Affairs and slow its efforts to previous fiscal year's spending amounts, until Oct. 4. then worked throughout the month of December to meet the burgeoning health¬ This means that, for now, all federal government wrap up unfinished business, including the fiscal care needs of America's agencies, departments and programs will be forced to 2001 appropriations bills. Congressional leaders have veterans. continue their operations without any funding insisted that there will be no lame-duck session after To date, only three spend¬ increases. Passage of this first continuing resolution the midterm elections. ing bills have been passed by now creates a complicated situation. Both chambers ■ Recently, a new twist on the use of continuing both the House and Senate, namely the Department of Congress were hoping to adjourn by Oct. 4 to resolutions emerged. There is further speculation that of Defense appropriations measure, H.R. 5010, the return home to campaign for the November midterm Legislative Branch funding bill, H.R. 5121, and the elections. That will not occur this year. There is SEE BUDGET, PAGE 8 5* • -"V ■> 8 Dispatch October 11, 2002

FROM PAGE 7

Congress - to avoid a lame-duck ses¬ sion - will pass the three bills that impact this country's defense establish¬ PliklA ment - H.R. 4546, 5010 and 5011. This IuA# IK VI 'i is because DoD will need to be funded for the war on terrorism and a possible war with Iraq. Then, to cover the rest of the federal government's programs, a six-month continuing resolution would keep the federal government function¬ ing through the end of March 2003 at fiscal 2002 funding levels. The burden "The willingness of developing the remainder of fiscal This We Believe 2003 funding would fall on the incom¬ with which our A new generation of young Americans is once again deployed around the ing 108th Congress. world, answering our nation's wartime call to arms. Like so many brave men and It is this third alternative that The young people are women who honorably served before them, these new veterans are fighting, to American Legion fears the most. Each the death when necessary, for the freedom, liberty and security of all. Also, like September, the Legion's newly-elected likely to serve in those who fought before them, today's veterans deserve the due respect of a national commander testifies before the any war, no matter grateful nation when they come home. House and Senate Veterans' Affairs Unfortunately, without urgent changes in health-care funding, our new Committees, outlining VA spending how justified, shall veterans will soon discover their battles are not over. They will be forced to fight increases for the upcoming fiscal year. for the life of a health-care system that was designed specifically for their unique When the Senate Appropriations be directly needs. Just as veterans of the 20th century did, they will be forced into a long¬ Committee approved S. 2797, the com¬ standing battle to fulfill America's promise to make that system accessible to all mittee's recommendations for VA proportional to veterans. funding for fiscal 2003, VA was slated United, the three largest veterans service organizations in the United States - to receive a total of $58.2 billion for fis¬ how they perceive The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Disabled American cal 2003, an increase of $5.4 billion the veterans of Veterans - believe no veteran should be forced to fight for the care he or she from funding totals for fiscal 2002. Of is entitled to receive. that total, VA medical care funding earlier wars were We believe it is time to guarantee health-care funding for all veterans. We would have gone from $21.3 billion to believe health-care rationing must end. We believe it is time the promise is kept. $23.9 billion, a $2.6 billion increase. treated and Access to quality health care for veterans has been compromised in recent Under the six-month continuing reso¬ years by budget shortfalls, rising medical costs and dramatically increased lution plan outlined above, VA would appreciated by demand. VA estimates there will be 4.9 million unique veteran patients in Fiscal receive no additional funds to help it their nation Year 2003, a 31.5 percent increase from the 3.7 million projected only a year ago. meet the needs of an ever-increasing Today, some 300,000 American veterans are waiting for appointments in VA patient population. Currently, more - George Washington facilities. Approximately half of those men and women will wait six months or than 300,000 veterans are waiting six longer for an appointment. VA must be adequately funded to meet its own months or longer for initial or referral growth and end these intolerable waiting periods. appointments. The only way VA could We believe the current discretionary funding formula, in which VA must receive additional money under this compete with other agencies for scarce budget dollars, must be replaced. Our scenario would be through a supple¬ organizations, with more than seven million members, strongly support passage mental appropriation. of the bipartisan Veterans Health Care Funding Act of 2002, introduced as H.R. Because of this increasingly murky 5250 by House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Christopher H. Smith (R- budget picture, the Legion has an¬ N.J.) and Lane Evans (D-Ill.). The Senate version was introduced as S. 2903 by nounced its support for legislation South Dakota Democrat Sen. Tim Johnson. Once signed into law, the act would recently introduced in Congress. These niej i Legion affix VA health-care funding to the actual average cost of care for veterans bills, H.R. 5250 and S. 2903, are titled enrolled in the system, with annual indexing for inflation. We believe the only .700 ill Pennsylvania way VA can fulfill its mission is to guarantee the funding it needs to operate. the "Veterans Health-Care Funding Indianapolis, W 46204 Guarantee Act." They would change (317) 630-1200 The brave men and women who are currently deployed to far-off regions of VA medical-care funding from discre¬ the world must be assured the VA health-care system will be there for them tionary, or subject to available re¬ Veterans of Foreign mars when they come home. If we fail to deliver that promise, if we fail to give VA a National Headquarters fighting chance to fulfill its duty, what then is the new generation of veterans sources, to mandatory, meaning funds 406West 34th Street to support VA medical care must be Warms City, MQ mm expected to believe? paid regardless of available resources, (816) 756-3390 putting VA medical care on the same level as Medicare and Social Security. ^CTJ2lj A&k' The Legion has been joined in its support for the Veterans Health-Care Maine Ave,SM Ronald F. Conley Ray C. Sisk Edward R. Heath, Sr. Funding Guarantee Act by the Veter¬ Washington, D.C.. 20024 National Commander National Commander in Chief National Commander ans of Foreign Wars and the Disabled (202) 554-3501 The American Legion Veterans of Foreign wars Disabled American Veterans American Veterans (at right). These three veterans' service organizations are mounting a joint lobbying effort to them to become cosponsors of H.R. James McGovern, D-Mass.; Jerry Costello, D-Ill.; 111.; Ciro Rodriguez, D-Texas; Alcee Hastings, D- pass these bills. A joint statement was 5250 in the House and S. 2903 in the Mike McIntyre, D-N.C.; Elijah Cummings, D- Fla.; Bernard Sanders, Ind-Vt.; Joel Hefley, R- released on Sept. 17 and signed by each Senate. Listed below are the current Mary.; Michael McNulty, D-N.Y.; Jo Ann Davis, Colo.; Max Sandlin, D-Texas; Joseph Hoeffel, D- organization's leader. The release stat¬ cosponsors of the bills. R-Va.; John Mica, R-Fla.; Peter DeFazio, D-Ore.; Pa.; Jim Saxton, R-N.J.; Tim Holden, D-Pa.; ed, "We believe it is time to guarantee S. 2903: Richard Durbin, D-Ill.; Mary Juanita Millender-McDonald, D-Calif.; Mike Ronnie Shows, R-Miss.; Rush Holt, D-N.J.; Rob health-care funding for all veterans. Landrieu, D.-La.; Daniel tnouye, D-Hawaii; Doyle, D-Pa.; Jeff Miller, R-Fla.; Chet Edwards, Simmons, R-Conn.; Darlene Hooley, D-Ore.; We believe health-care rationing must Robert Torricelli, D-N.J.; Tim Johnson, D-S.D. D-Texas; Richard Neal, D-Mass.; Lane Evans D- Adam Smith, D-Wash.; Walter Jones, R-N.C.; end. We believe it is time the promise (introduced bill); and Paul Wellstone, D-Minn. 111.; Charlie Norwood, R-Ga.; Bob Filner, D-Calif.; Chris Smith, R-N.J. (introduced bill); Paul [of quality health care] is kept... If we H.R. 5250: Robert Andrews, D-N.J.; John Frank Pallone, D-N.J.; Randy Forbes R-Va.; Bill Kanjorski, D-Pa.; Bart Stupak, D-Mich.; Sue fail to deliver that promise, if we fail to Larson, D-Conn.; John Baldacci, D-Maine; Rick Pascrell, D-N.J.; Barney Frank. D-Md.; Collin Kelly, R-N.Y.; John Thune, R-S.D.; Patrick give VA a fighting chance to fulfill its Larsen, D-Wash.; Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis.; Steve Peterson, D-Minn.; Martin Frost, D-Texas; Kennedy. D-R.I.; Karen Thurman, D-Fla.; Ray duty, what then is the new generation LaTourette, R-Ohio; John Boozman, R-Ariz., Charles "Chip" Pickering, R-Miss.; Jim Gibbons, LaHood, R-Ill.; , R-Ky.; and Lynn of veterans expected to believe?" Barbara Lee, D-Calif.; Corrine Brown, D-Fla.; R-Nev.; Todd Platts, R-Pa.; Bart Gordon, D- Woolsey, D-Calif. The Legion is asking all members of Frank LoBiondo, R-N.J.; Henry Brown, R-S.C.; Tenn.; Nick Rahall, D-W.Va.; Lindsey Graham, the Legion family to contact their elect¬ Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif.; Brad Carson, D-Okla.; R-S.C.; Jim Ramstad, R-Minn.; Gene Green, D- Paul A. Morin is chairman of The ed congressional officials and urge Stephen Lynch, D-Mass.; Julia Carson, D-Ind.; Texas; Charles Rangel, D-N.Y.; Luis Gutierrez, D- American Legion Legislative Commission.