{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401500", "Smith Addresses American Legion Dept. of NJ at Centennial Gala", "2018-10-27", "2018", "2018-10", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) addressed the American Legion Department of New Jersey at its Centennial Gala in Point Pleasant on Saturday. \r\nOn the eve of American Legion's founding a century agoin September of 1919it behooves every American to take note and acknowledge a century of extraordinary accomplishments, Smith said. The Legion has played an absolutely essential role in ensuring that veterans and their families are honored in both word and deed and that America's military capabilities are second to none.  \r\n\r\nEvery earned veterans benefit we know today was first pushedand often conceived ofby the American Legion.  \r\n\r\nThe American Legion was chartered by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic veterans organization. With more than 13,000 local posts in all 50 states along with the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, France, Mexico and the Philippinesincluding 300 Legion posts in New Jerseythe organization's membership totals over two million and it is the largest wartime veterans service organization.  \r\n\r\nBelow are excerpts of Smith's remarks, The Legion's Extraordinary Century of Accomplishments:  \r\n\r\nCongratulations to State Commander Ray Miller for his lifetime of honorable, dedicated and effective service to our country both in uniform and outand to all veterans and service members and their families.  \r\n\r\nAbsent the Legion, The United States would be a far different place and nowhere near as vet-friendly nor as strong.  \r\n\r\nAbsent the Legion, respect for fundamental American values, the primacy of our Constitution and the Bill of Rights, respect for the rule of law and of our flag, would be diminished.  \r\n\r\nOn the eve of American Legion's founding a century agoin September of 1919it behooves every American to take note and acknowledge a century of extraordinary accomplishments.  \r\n\r\nThe Legion has played an absolutely essential role in ensuring that veterans and their families are honored in both word and deed and that America's military capabilities are second to none.  \r\n\r\nA sufficiently strong military often deters conflict and war.  \r\n\r\nHowever if that fails, America's well-trained and best equipped have always been counted on to secure the peace.  \r\n\r\nAmerican Legion-led efforts in 1921 created the US Veterans Bureau, now the VA. A few weeks ago, Congress passed and President Trump signed the largest VA budget everover $89.5 billion.  \r\n\r\nEvery earned veterans benefit we know today was first pushedand often conceived ofby the American Legion.  \r\n\r\nIn December of 1943, the Legion's National Commander Harry Colmery drafted on Hotel Mayflower stationary in Washington, DC the first draft of the greatest veterans law everthe GI Bill:  \r\n\r\nThe GI bill transformed America.\r\nAmong its provisions, the means to pay for post-secondary education coupled with the no-down payment low interest home loan, incentivized the creation of the middle class.  \r\n\r\nThe American Legion inspired GI Billunleashed unprecedented sustainable prosperitythe likes of which the world has never seena building boom and has significantly enabled veterans and their families to achieve their dreams.  \r\n\r\nThe first 100 years are almost in the book.  \r\n\r\nBut like Ronald Reagan used to say, our best days are still ahead.  \r\n\r\nWe are that shinning city on the hill.\r\nAnd it will continue to be the American Legionwithits 2 million members and leaders like Commander Miller who will continue to guide and inspire and challenge this amazing country of ours bequeathed to us by the sacrifice of our veterans to greatness.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401500"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.8518300019204617, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}