Blog Post

RIP Senator Arlen Specter
Posted by Paul Rieckhoff on October 16 2012

IAVA is saddened by the loss of Senator Arlen Specter after his long and courageous battle with cancer. As a veteran himself and an advocate for other vets during his three decades of service in the Senate, Senator Specter understood our community and fought to ensure that politics and partisanship never stood in the way of helping veterans and their families.

His tenacity and willingness to cross party lines for the causes he believed defined his leadership--and serve as an example for all Americans. IAVA will always remember that he was a consistent, dependable champion of issues facing veterans and their families, especially while serving as the Chair of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee from 1997-2001 and from 2003-2005.

Senator Specter was a staunch advocate for many of the issues facing veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan. As one of 57 cosponsors, he was a key ally in the fight to pass and improve the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Senator Spector was also critical in the fight for Advance VA Appropriations, mandatory mental health screening, and retroactive stop-loss backpay.

Our thoughts are with Senator Specter's family today. To Senator Specter, thanks for having our backs. RIP