In a move strongly urged and promoted by The American Legion, the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs is born, transferring Senate responsibility of veterans issues from the Finance and Labor committees into a nine-member panel of its own.
U.S. Sens. Ted Stevens of Alaska and Howard Cannon of Nevada, both Legionnaires, introduced legislation in February 1969 to establish the committee, which was described at the time as “a major goal of The American Legion.” American Legion National Commander William J. Rogers sends telegrams, following a proposal to make the Senate panel a subcommittee under the Human Resources Committee, to every member of the Senate Rules and Administration Committee, successfully arguing for the Senate Committee in Veterans Affairs to stand on its own. The committee has since grown from nine to 15 members.
