Jim Sensenbrenner: “H.R. 3838 would amend the Federal charter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars to allow any member of the Armed Forces who…”

“H.R. 3838 would amend the Federal charter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars to allow any member of the Armed Forces who received hostile fire or imminent danger pay to be a member of the VFW. The language would allow veterans from conflict areas such as Somalia or Kosovo to be eligible for membership in the VFW. Currently, VFW membership is limited to those who have honorably served in the Armed Forces and who have received a campaign medal for service or those who served honorably for a specific period on the Korean peninsula. Without this amendment, members of the Armed Forces who served under equally dangerous conditions, such as those experienced in the campaign medal service in Korea, are not eligible for VFW membership. The bill also adds the word 'charitable' to the purpose of the VFW. VFW members volunteer millions of hours to local communities. Although volunteerism has always been a large part of the mission of the VFW, in some States the VFW is being denied qualification as a charitable organization because 'charitable' is not included in their charter language.”