MONTGOMERY — Representatives of multiple Alabama veterans' associations crowded into a small committee room at the Alabama State House on Wednesday to speak out against proposed legislation that would change the makeup of the State Board of Veterans Affairs and how the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs (ADVA) commissioner is appointed.
The House Veterans and Military Affairs Committee held a public hearing on House Bill 154 (HB154) by State Rep. Ed Oliver (R-Dadeville). The committee declined to vote on it due to multiple concerns of veterans' associations and the ongoing debate in the Senate over the same bill, which Gov. Kay Ivey championed in her State of the State Address.
The legislation, with versions in both the House and Senate, would change the ADVA commissioner's role to being appointed by the governor. Currently, the State Board of Veterans Affairs hires and fires the position. The State Board of Veterans Affairs would also be changed to an "advisory" role.
After a lengthy debate, the Senate delayed voting on the legislation yesterday after adding nine amendments. Many of the Senate amendments addressed the concerns of veterans' groups that spoke before the House Committee on Wednesday.
SEE: Vote on amended Ivey-backed ADVA 'restructure' bill delayed
The amended version of the bill gives appointing authority to the governor, lieutenant governor, House speaker, and Senate pro-tem. It also restored some input from veteran service organizations to appointments made by the legislative appointees. The bill also required some board members to have active duty military service and Alabama National Guard experience. The bill would still require the commissioner to be appointed by the governor and change the purpose of the veterans board to an "advisory role."
The bill follows a public feud between Ivey and former ADVA commissioner Kent Davis.
In October last year, Ivey removed Davis from office. After the board voted twice to keep Davis and not accept his forced resignation, Ivey exercised her "supreme executive power" to remove him for allegedly mishandling American Rescue Plan Act funds.
Former ADVA commissioner Kent Davis has said the bill is "retaliation" for his ethics complaint against a member of Ivey's cabinet last year.
However, representatives from Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), American Legion, Disabled American Veterans (DAV), and other groups barely addressed the perceived retaliatory nature of the legislation. Rather, the speakers advocated for giving veterans a voice in the new conception of the State Board of Veterans Affairs.
Nobody spoke in favor of the legislation, while nine veterans signed up to speak against it.
"While the current system has served as well, we recognize the need for modernization to better meet the evolving needs of our veterans," said Robert Schmidbauer, legislative officer for the Alabama Department of the VFW. "We recognize that no one, especially veterans, likes change. However, we do recognize that proposed changes in House Bill 154 present both opportunities and concerns for our veterans who have served our great nation."
He continued, "I hope it's clear that we are not here supporting one individual and that we are not here today as Republicans who are Democrats. We are here as veterans."
All the speakers emphasized that they were not advocating for their respective organizations. Instead, they emphasized the work each does for all veterans.
"We are here for all veterans," said Eric Dudash with the VFW. "We are not here for one individual. We're not here just for the paid members in our organization. And we're also not here to talk about the past. We need to talk about the future right now."
The speakers didn't balk at the ADVA commissioner being a cabinet position, but they insisted that the commissioner be a veteran and Alabama native who can best understand the needs of the state's veterans. Most other concerns were addressed in the Senate amendments yesterday. The bill's final version is anticipated to receive a vote next week.
Former Mobile mayor, Vietnam veteran and DAV representative Mike Dow also spoke out against the bill, pleading with lawmakers to permit veterans' voices in the reconstructed board.
"We want our director to be in the governor's office," Dow said. "We've been isolated. And if you're not careful, this bill is going to isolate us further. It's going to take the operating side away. You put an ordinary businessman on our board that doesn't understand the veteran, he's not going to make the decisions that these people behind me are going make. It's not going to be as heartfelt and as understanding of their need."
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email craig.monger@1819news.com.
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