Advocacy in Action

Each year, generally in the April timeframe, Council presidents from around the country participate in the MOAA-sponsored, “Advocacy in Action” event held in Washington DC. During this event, Illinois MOAA members meet with both Senators and all eighteen Representatives soliciting legislator support for national issues and initiatives affecting America’s veterans. COVID restrictions necessitated conducting this event virtually in 2020, 2021 and to some extent, again this year.

Illinois MOAA members were successful in presenting the 2022 issues to all twenty of our elected officials. Several of these meetings were with the Representative in their local Illinois district offices. (See pictures of some of those meetings at the link above.)

This year’s topics are: the Major Richard Star Act supporting 50,300 combat-injured veterans, Stop Copay Overpay Act to reform TRICARE mental health copays, and Support of a 4.6% Military Pay Raise keeping our servicemembers’ wages competitive. Information about these initiatives can be found at www.MOAA.org and on the "Action Topics" listing on the right hand side of this web page.

In addition to the face-to-face meetings with elected officials, the Council actively encourages Chapter and individual member contact throughout the year with their elected officials at the National and State levels on key legislative issues affecting the military community.

The Illinois Council of Chapters point of contact for legislative affairs is: Col Richard V. Smith, USAF (Ret) who may be reached at: smithrv75@gmail.com

2022 Advocacy in Action Topics

Listed below are links to MOAA Issue Papers for each of the Advocacy in Action topics for this year:

Advocacy in Action Meeting Sessions

Several members of our Advocacy In Action (AIA) Team have starting meetings and have recently met with some of our Congressional Leadership during 2022.

Below are some photos during some of the sessons.

Congressman Darin LaHood (IL-18, R)

COL Darrell Roll, USA (Ret), Congressman Darin LaHood (IL-18, R), Col Bob Tylerm USMC (Ret), and MAJ Jerry Jackson, USA (Ret) (Left to Right in both photos below, which were taken during this the April 11th Advocacy on Action meeting with the Congressman in his Peoria, IL office.

Congressman Brad Schneider (IL-10, D)

North Shore & Chicago Chapter President, George Gill (Col, USMC, Ret); IL Council Special Advisor, John DeReu (LTC, USA, Ret) and Congressman Brad Schneider (D, 10th) (Left to Right in Photo Below). AIA session on April 18th.

Congressman Rodney Davis (IL-13, R)

Col Bob Tyler, USMC (Ret) and COL Darrell Roll, USA (Ret) met with Congressman Rodney Davis (Left to Right in photo below) in his Decatur, IL office on May 13th.

Representative Robin Kelly (IL-2, D)

Col Robert Norman (USAF, Ret) and Col Richard Smith (USAF, Ret) met online with William Dwyer, staffer for Congresswoman Robin Kelly (IL-2, D) on April 13th.

Representative Bill Foster (IL-11, D)

COL Darrell Roll (USA, Ret) (Lincoln Land Chapter), Col Bob Tyler (USMC (Ret) (IL Council President, and MAJ Jerry Jackson (USA, Ret) (Heart of Illinois Chapter) met virtually (via Zoom) with Brian Robb, Sr. Advisor to Representative Foster and Representative Bill Foster (IL-11, D) on April 12th.

Representative Danny Davis (IL-7, D)

Advocacy in Action Zoom meeting with Congressman Danny Davis (IL-07). MOAA participants, LTC John DeReu (USA, Ret), and Col Bob Tyler, USMC, Ret), President Illinois Council of Chapters.

Meeting date: 5 May, 2022.

Representative Bobby Rush (IL-1, D)

Advocacy in Action Zoom meeting with Congressman Bobby Ruch (IL-01). MOAA participants, Top Left: Col Bob Norman, President, Southwest Illinois Chapter & IL CoC Treasurer. Top Right: Col Robert Tyler, IL CoC President. Bottom: Mr. Nishith Pandya, Chief of Staff for Rep. Bobby Rush