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Resolution of the Annual Convention No. 1 Reduced dues for Active Duty Military RESOLVED by The American Legion, Department of Mexico in annual convention at Chapala, Jalisco, Mexico on June 21 & 22, 2006 That active duty military personnel will be accepted as members of this Department subject only to the payment of National dues (without payment of the Department's portion of annual dues) provided that the member is also exempted by his Post from the assessment of post dues. Resolution of the Annual Convention No. 2 Change Department's Name RESOLVED by The American Legion, Department of Mexico in annual convention at Chapala, Jalisco, Mexico on June 21 & 22, 2006 That the National Convention be petitioned to authorize the change of the name of this Department of Mexico to the “Department of Latin America”, and be it FURTHER RESOLVED That Article I, Section 1 shall be considered to be amended to read: “Section1. The name of the organization shall be The American Legion, Department of Latin America” at the close of any National Convention that approves a name change for this Department. Resolution of the Post Convention DEC: RESOLVED by the Department Executive Committee assembled inChapala, Jalisco, Mexico on June 22, 2006 That at the close of any National Convention that approves a name change for this Department to “The Department of Latin America” the Uniform Code of Procedures shall be amended to use that name in any place the a reference to “the Department of Mexico” might be found. Internal Affairs – 2006 - No. 1 Web Site Competition Whereas Electronic communications have become the prefered manner by which many people accquire information, and Whereas there exists a need for effective and efficient Public Relations to promote the public service programs and legislative agenda of The American Legion, and Whereas every Post and Department of The American Legion have information that can profitably be communicated to the local community, and Whereas many Departments and Posts maintain Internet Web Sites, and Whereras the development of attractive, informative web sites can be promoted through competition between similar sized organizations, and Whereas The American Legion currently administers several annual competitions with participants separated into categories based upon the size of Departments participating, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Department of Mexico of The American Legion, convened in annual convention on June 21 and 21, 2006 in the City of Chapala, Jalisco, Mexico that The American Legion be petitioned to establish an annual competition to promote the use of Internet Web Sites to inform Legionnaires and the general public about the programs and initiatives of the various Departments and of local Posts, and be it FURTHER RESOLVED that such competition shall be administered by a national commision of The American Legion in such a manner that web sites of similar sized units be judged together. Americanism - 2006 - No. 1- Geography Literacy for International Security Whereas polls conducted during this year of 2006 have found that despite intensive media coverage of the damage from Hurricane Katrina, nearly one-third of young Americans recently polled could not locate Louisiana on a map, and Whereas in relation to geographic illiteracy, the president of the National PTA Anna Marie Weselak, has said, “Geography exposes children and adults to diverse cultures, different ideas and the exchange of knowledge from around the world”, and Whereas a Roper poll of young adults, 18 to 24 years of age conducted in 2006 for the National Geographic Society found that - Only 37 percent could identify Iraq on a map of the Middle East; - Only 12 percent could locate Afghanistan on a map of Asia. - 75% were unable to locate Israel on a map of the Middle East. - 74% of respondents thought the most widely spoken language in China was English instead of the correct answer “Mandarin Chinese”; - 60% did not know that the border between North and South Korea is the most heavily fortified in the world. - 30% thought the most heavily fortified border was between the United States and Mexico.(This was before the President authorized sending National Guard units to provide assistance to the Border Patrol) - 47% could not find the Indian subcontinent on a map of Asia. - When given a list of four countries (Indonesia, India, Armenia and South Africa) and asked which one was majority Muslim, only 25 percent correctly answered that it was Indonesia. Nearly half (48 percent) answered India, which is only 13 percent Muslim; and Whereas John Fahey, the President of the National Geographic Society has recently stated, “Geographic illiteracy impacts our economic well-being, our relationships with other nations and the environment, and isolates us from the world”, and Whereas the National Geographic Society is actively searching for like minded organizations interested in promoting geographic literacy, and Whereas a lack of general knowledge concerning geography can result in ignoring or misunderstanding basic considerations relating to our National Security, therefore be it RESOLVED by the Department of Mexico assembled in annual convention in Chapala, Jalisco, Mexico on June 21 and 22, 2006 That The American Legion petition the Department of Education to develop and provide the various states with age appropriate teaching material for the teaching of geography to America's school children, and be it FURTHER RESOLVED that The American Legion associate itself with any other groups promoting geographic literacy. Foreign Relations Resolution 2006 - 1. Cuba: WHEREAS, The communist government of Cuba has ruined the Cuban economy, repressed the Cuban people, provided a base area for forces inimical to the United States, and committed aggression in many lands; and WHEREAS, Following the demise of the Soviet Union and the liberation of Eastern Europe, Cuba has lost the sources of foreign subsidies that alone sustained its inefficient communist economy; and WHEREAS, If the Free World remains firm in its rejection of communism in Cuba, many economic, social, and political indicators point to the likely collapse of the Castro dictatorship in Cuba; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED by the Department of Mexico of The American Legion, convened in annual convention on June 21 and 21, 2006 in the City of Chapala, Jalisco, Mexico , That The American Legion urges the U. S. Government to continue to maintain control of Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, continue intelligence overflights over Cuba, remain firm in opposition to export of revolution by Cuba, continue broadcasting true news and information to the Cuban people, and encourage the development of democracy and a free market economy in Cuba. Foreign Relations Resolution 2006-2. U.S. - Mexico Relations: WHEREAS, The United States and Mexico are historic neighbors with a common heritage and thousands of miles of common boundary; and WHEREAS, The United States Congress and the Executive Branch have entered into the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with Mexico; and WHEREAS, College scholarships and educational exchanges go a long way in breaking international barriers and promoting good will and understanding; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, By the Department Convention of the Department of Mexico of The American Legion, in regular meeting assembled in Chapala, Jalisco, Mexico on June 21 and 22, 2006, That The American Legion urges the U. S. government to increase its emphasis on Mexican-U. S. cooperative endeavors on all fronts to enhance the prosperity and security of both nations as well as that of the Western Hemisphere; and, be it FURTHER RESOLVED, That The American Legion urges the U. S. Government to provide an expanded number of scholarships to Mexicans, particularly those lacking funds to attend undergraduate and appropriate vocational-technical programs, provided said students promise to return to Mexico after completing their education; and, be it FINALLY RESOLVED, That The American Legion believes a student exchange program between Mexico and the United States should be conducted to acquaint the future leaders of both countries with their neighbors. Foreign Relations Resolution 2006-3. Drugs: WHEREAS, At the Cartagena Drug Summit in 1990 in Cartagena, Colombia called by then President Barco of Colombia, the United States and six Latin American nations (Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru and Venezuela) agreed to a comprehensive plan of action to reduce the supply of illegal narcotics and the demand for them within the Western Hemisphere; and WHEREAS, The Cartagena agreements, reaffirmed and expanded in the San Antonio Drug Summit in February, 1992, in San Antonio, Texas, called by then President Bush of the United States, encompass a vast array of weapons in the battle to stop the devastating traffic in illegal drugs including eradication, crop substitution, education, police training and economic assistance; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, By the Department Convention of the Department of Mexico of The American Legion, in regular meeting assembled in Chapala, Jalisco, Me´xico on June 21 and 22, 2006, That The American Legion urges the U. S. Government Executive Branch to cooperate fully with Latin American nations to destroy the international traffic of illegal drugs and to provide appropriate economic assistance to aid in this vital endeavor; and, be it FURTHER RESOLVED, That The American Legion urges the U. S. Congress to provide adequate funds to support this program. Foreign Relations Resolution 2006-4. Aid for Central America: WHEREAS, Over the past decade Central America has made great strides toward establishing democratic societies; and WHEREAS, The American Legion has taken a great interest in supporting democracy, development, and security in this area so close to our borders and strategically situated between the naval lifeline between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, the Panama Canal, and one of our major trading partners, Mexico; and WHEREAS, In the light of the decreasing threat from subversion in Central America as well as budget restrictions in the United States, it is inevitable that U. S. aid to Central America must be reduced; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, By the Department Convention of the Department of Mexico of The American Legion, in regular meeting assembled in Antigua, Guatemala on June 11 and 12, 2004, That The American Legion urges the U. S. government to continue economic aid to friendly, democratic Central American nations which are seeking to develop democratic societies with market economies; and, be it FURTHER RESOLVED, That The American Legion recommends the U. S. Government provide minimal amounts of miltary aid while urging nations in the Central American region to adopt the model of Costa Rica and Panama, disbanding military forces and relying solely on police forces for internal security, thus freeing funds for development and contributing to peaceful relations in the region. VA & R Resolution 2006 - No. 1: “VA forms in Spanish” Whereas there are large numbers of United States citizens of Hispanic American decent, including residents of Puerto Rico, for whom English is a second language, and Whereas there is no guarantee that the dependants and/or survivors of Hispanic American veterans will be fluent in the English language, and Whereas the U.S. Armed Forces have accepted volunteers from Latin America during every conflict since WW-II began, and Whereas in recent years the U.S. Armed Forces have actively recruited in Latin America, and Whereas all benefits forms published by the Department of Veterans Affairs are available only in the English language, and Whereas the government liason person to the to the 2005 National Convention's “Convention Committee on Foreign Relations” alleged that benefit forms were available in the Spanish language and promised to provide the Foreign Relations Commission any VA benefits forms published in Spanish and Whereas the Deputy Director for the Foreign Affairs Commission informed the Commission at the Spring Meetings (May 8 & 9, 2006) that no such publications had been provided to the Commission, therefore be it RESOLVED by the American Legion Department of Mexico gathered in Annual Convention in Chapala, Jalisco, México on June 21 and 22, 2006, That The American Legion petition the Department of Veteran Affairs to publish and circulate Spanish language forms and informative pamphlets relating to veteran and survivor benefits, and be it FURTHER RESOLVED that these be made available to VA offices in states and territories with appreciable hispanic populations, and be it FURTHER RESOLVED that these materials be provided to all United States Embassies, Consulates General, and Consulates located in Mexico and Central America, and be it FINALLY RESOLVED that these materials also be provided to veterans service organizations operating in these states and foreign countries. VA&R Resolution 2006 - 2. Status of Forces Agreements: WHEREAS, a portion of the compensated benefits of military retirees is considered to be the use of military facilities, such as PX, BX, Post Exchange, Commissary, recreational facilities, mail, and other U.S. military facilities worldwide; and WHEREAS, as a direct result of the Status of Forces agreements Celebrated between the U.S. government and host countries many, if not all, of these benefits are usually denied to retired military members and their families/dependents residing or visiting U.S. military facilities located outside the U.S.; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, By the Department Convention of the Department of Mexico of The American Legion, in regular meeting assembled in Chapala, Jalisco, Mexico on June 21 and 22, 2006, That all future Status of Forces Agreements negotiated, renegotiated, or revised with host countries should allow for the unimpeded use of all U.S. military facilities by retired U.S. military members and their dependents. VA & R Resolution 2006 – 3. Support for Non-resident Alien Surviving Spouse: Whereas from its inception The American Legion has been dedicated to guarding the well being of the surviving spouses of members and veterans of the armed services, and Whereas all Legionnaires pledge themselves to "devotion to mutual helpfulness", and Whereas from its inception The American Legion has been dedicated to guarding the well being of the surviving spouses of members and veterans of the armed services, and Whereas the survivors of veterans living in countries where appreciable numbers of U.S. military forces are based benefit from treaties and administrative agreements which are not applicable to other foreign domiciled “nonresident alien beneficiaries”, and Whereas existing Public Law and administrative regulations of the Social Security Administration require Mexican and Central American nationals who claim survivor benefits to provide proof of physical presence inside the territory of the United States either: a)30 days every six months or b)one day per month every month of the year, but such physical presence may not be required of Social Security beneficiaries of other nationalities when residing outside the United States depending upon whether or not the Social Security Administration has entered into international agreements with the governments of those beneficiaries, and Whereas establishing a physical presence in the United States requires considerable expense and disruption of family life when a Mexican or Central American beneficiary lives anywhere except along the US-Mexico border, and Whereas the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), a bureau of DHS (formerly the “Immigration and Naturalization Service or “INS”) exercises the ability to legally deny entry to non-U.S. citizens even when such persons hold valid visas issued by the U.S. Department of State, and Whereas since the events of September 11, 2001 the INS and USCIS have increased the level of its control of persons attempting to enter the United States, and Whereas the USCIS and INS have denied entrance into the United States by visa-holding surviving beneficiaries of veterans based solely upon their apparent lack of means of support even though they would have enjoyed a decorous level of income once they had met the physical presence requirements of the law, and Whereas the regulations implementing Public Law relating to Social Security Survivor Benefits are inherently unfair because they impose different conditions upon surviving spouses which may vary according to the location of that person's domicile, and Whereas existing law allows an individual USCIS officer to be the arbitrator as to whether or not a potential recipient may enter the U.S. for the purpose of meeting the physical presence requirements of the Social Security legislation, and Whereas proposed new Department of Homeland Security regulations would limit visitor visas to a period insufficient to establish physical presence under the requirements of the Social Security legislation, and Whereas Mexican and Guatemalan surviving spouses of American veterans have requested that The American Legion assist them in gaining relief from these unfair and country-specific regulations, and Whereas Section 233 of 42 U.S. Code 433 allows for the establishment of agreements between the social security system established by the act and the social security system of any foreign country, and Whereas Section 404.463 of the Social Security Act contains a listing of the countries which meet the social insurance or pension system requirements which may result in relief from Section 404.460 “nonpayment of monthly benefits”, and Whereas the countries of Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Panama are included in this listing, and Whereas the present situation can be remedied by administrative action by the Office of International Programs of the Social Security Administration without the necessity of any new legislation, and Whereas the Social Security Administration’s own Internet web site indicates that in some cases bilateral negotiations are being conducted or are being planned, but that such negotiations are not currently planned for all countries of Central America and negotiations with Mexico have been postponed on more than one occasion, and Whereas the Social Security Administration has responded in writing to requests for information by Legion staff indicating that no discussions are even contemplated with the governments of Costa Rica, Guatemala, Nicaragua, or Panama, Therefore, be it RESOLVED, By the Department Convention of the Department of Mexico of The American Legion, in regular meeting assembled in Chapala, Jalisco, Mexico on June 21 and 22, 2006, That The American Legion petition The Social Security Administration’s “Office of International Programs” to expedite the negotiation of international agreements with the governments of Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Panama necessary to permit the recession of the nonpayment provisions of Section 404.460 of the Social Security Act, thereby allowing the payment of survivors’ benefits and any other legally accrued benefits to the non-resident alien spouses and children of U.S. veterans residing in the above named countries, and be it FURTHER RESOLVED that such expedited negotiation apply only to the matter of survivor benefits payments and that other matters related to interests of the Social Security Administration not be included if such negotiation would delay the realization of bilateral agreements relating to survivor benefits payments, and be it FINALLY RESOLVED that Congress establish uniform eligibility requirements applicable to all persons receiving Social Security benefits and specifically that all foreign nationals receiving such benefits shall be subject to the same eligibility requirements regardless of the location of the recipient's domicile. |