<div class="xtend"><a id="pl.1.1"></a><var>1.1</var>A resolution<br />
         		<a id="pl.1.2"></a><var>1.2</var>memorializing Congress to amend the charter for the American Legion to authorize <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.3"></a><var>1.3</var>all veterans to join the Legion.<br />
         		<a id="pl.1.4"></a><var>1.4</var>WHEREAS, the American Legion was chartered by Congress on September 16, 1919, <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.5"></a><var>1.5</var>and millions of American Legion veterans have provided countless hours of service to their <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.6"></a><var>1.6</var>communities, states, and nation through the Legion; and <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.7"></a><var>1.7</var>WHEREAS, Legion membership is limited because it is restricted to veterans who have <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.8"></a><var>1.8</var>served at least one day of active duty during a period of wartime defined by Congress; and <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.9"></a><var>1.9</var>WHEREAS, particular Legion posts, particularly in rural areas, have been severely affected <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.10"></a><var>1.10</var>by a reduction in membership attributable in part to the wartime service restriction; and <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.11"></a><var>1.11</var>WHEREAS, there is extensive support among Legion members for the expansion of <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.12"></a><var>1.12</var>membership in the Legion by making it available to all veterans, and many otherwise ineligible <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.13"></a><var>1.13</var>veterans wish to join the Legion; and<br />
         		<a id="pl.1.14"></a><var>1.14</var>WHEREAS, Legion leadership has refused to expand eligibility for membership in the <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.15"></a><var>1.15</var>Legion because of concerns regarding the authorization provided in the Congressional charter; <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.16"></a><var>1.16</var>NOW, THEREFORE, <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.17"></a><var>1.17</var>BE IT RESOLVED by the Legislature of the State of Minnesota that it urges the President <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.18"></a><var>1.18</var>and the Congress of the United States to amend the charter provided for the American Legion to <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.19"></a><var>1.19</var>authorize the membership of all veterans in the Legion.<br />
         		<a id="pl.1.20"></a><var>1.20</var>BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of State of the State of Minnesota is <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.21"></a><var>1.21</var>directed to prepare copies of this memorial and transmit them to the President of the United <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.1"></a><var>2.1</var>States, the President and the Secretary of the United States Senate, the Speaker and the Clerk <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.2"></a><var>2.2</var>of the United States House of Representatives, the chair of the Senate Committee on Veterans, <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.3"></a><var>2.3</var>the chair of the House Committee on Veterans, Minnesota's Senators and Representatives in <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.4"></a><var>2.4</var>Congress, and the national Commander of the American Legion.<br />
         		
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