American Legion presents veterans programs, backs HB 40 and Buckeye Boys State recognition to House veterans committee

Jacob Brault, legislative representative for the American Legion Department of Ohio, told the Ohio House Veterans and Military Development Committee about the group's statewide services and legislative priorities, including support for House Bill 40 to raise the disabled veterans homestead exemption and House Concurrent Resolution 7 to recognize Buckeye Boys and Girls State.

Brault said the American Legion, chartered after World War I, now serves about 70,000 members in Ohio and organizes programs under four pillars: veterans affairs and rehabilitation; national security; Americanism; and children and youth. "We were started in 1919. We're fairly chartered by Congress," Brault said, summarizing the organization's history and mission.

The committee heard that the department's veterans affairs and rehabilitation work includes the department service officer program that assists with VA claims, death benefits and appeals. "Those are our bread and butter, our biggest support for veterans," Brault said, and he gave counts: nine full-time service officers, two part-time and one administrative assistant spread around the state in locations including Cleveland, Chillicothe, Cincinnati, Dayton and Toledo.

Brault described workforce-oriented services under a Veterans Education and Employment program the department is revamping to offer resume help, interview preparation and online career resources. He said the department is pursuing an online partnership (speaker-provided name uncertain) to offer courses on GI Bill use and career assessments to veterans and their family members.

On youth and Americanism programs, Brault said Buckeye Boys State enrolls more than 1,200 high school students annually at Miami University and that the department runs an oratorical contest that can lead to scholarship awards "upwards of $25,000" at higher levels (amount not specified by the speaker). He described a fourth-grade FLAG education program focused on flag code and etiquette and said the department has provided temporary financial assistance intended to prevent homelessness among children of veterans who meet the programs' eligibility criteria.

Brault also noted the American Legion's long sponsorship of Special Olympics Ohio: "we've been an active sponsor for over 28 years and are now designated a premier sponsor as of this year," and the department helps run athlete breakfasts and event booths during the games.

Legislative priorities Brault listed to committee members included House Concurrent Resolution 7, to recognize Buckeye Boys and Girls State as a premier leadership academy in Ohio; House Bill 40, to increase the disabled veterans homestead exemption to $100,000 from the current $50,000 for qualifying individuals; and finalizing an American Legion Ohio license plate (Brault said petitions have been waived and the department is "just waiting on state to enact the bill on April 9," after which the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles would determine rollout timing). At the federal level, Brault said the department supports reintroducing the Richard Star Act, which would allow some combat-disabled retirees with fewer than 20 years of service to receive veterans disability compensation and retired pay concurrently; he said the measure did not pass the 118th Congress.

Committee members asked follow-up questions about bringing youth programs to the Statehouse and about what younger veterans prioritize. Brault said younger veterans are often family-oriented and may not have time for post-based social activities, so the department is emphasizing family-focused services: "We're trying to work towards that. Pretty much anything that anyone can think of to help families and make their lives easier, that's the biggest thing for younger generations of veterans." (Direct quotes are from Jacob Brault.)

After questions, the committee returned to business and — without objection — approved the minutes from its previous meeting. No other bills were acted on during this session, and committee members had no further business.