Blog Post

Update: Are you a veteran who is stuck in the VA backlog? Click here to tell your story on our Tumblr page!

Next week, IAVA's membership is converging on Washington, DC, to demand an end to the disability benefits backlog as part of IAVA's annual Storm the Hill leadership development program. We will be calling on President Obama to appoint a Presidential Commission to #EndTheVABacklog which is affecting hundreds of thousands of returing vets. Sign the petition today and share with everyone you know. IAVA members will deliver the petition directly to the White House at our meeting with them next Wednesday.

Storm the Hill is all about bringing veterans face-to-face with legislators and policymakers to tell their stories and use them to affect change. Check out everything we did last year at Storm the Hill 2012. Throughout this week, our members and staff will be hosting and participating in several events to drive our message home: it's time to end the VA backlog. 

Here's some of what IAVA will be doing this week:

Monday, March 18

Panel Discussion with Veterans Aired Live on SiriusXM

WHAT: Pete Dominick, host of Stand Up! with Pete Dominic, will host a live, one-hour pane discussion with "Storm the Hill" participants on Indie (SiriusXM channel 104) about the goals of the week, their military service, and veterans' issues in front of a studio audience comprised of veterans.
 Pete will continue to cover Storm the Hill throughout the week.

WHEN: 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.

WHERE: SiriusXM, 1500 Eckington Place NE, Washington, D.C.

RSVP: Media may contact Hillary Schupf at 212-901-6739 or hillary.schupf@siriusxm.com to attend.

Aspen Institute Launch of Aspen Veterans Initiative 

WHO: Paul Rieckhoff, founder and CEO of IAVA, will join "Storm the Hill" veterans and a distinguished panel of experts from various fields

WHAT: Collaborating with IAVA, the Aspen Institute will announce the launch of its Aspen Veterans Initiative and outline their 5 year plan to foster discussion among clinicians, organizations and policy makers on meeting the challenges related to the mental health needs of veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

IAVA’s 2013 Policy Agenda Launch

WHO:
 Paul Rieckhoff, founder and CEO of IAVA; Tom Tarantino, chief policy officer of IAVA; 
“Storm the Hill” veterans

WHAT: IAVA will launch its 2013 policy agenda at a briefing for about 100 Capitol Hill staff members. The agenda explains what stakeholders across the country can do to improve the lives of veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan and their families.Representatives from IAVA's membership will call attention to two of the most pressing issues confronting new veterans: the VA claims backlog and the rising number of troops and veterans lost to suicide.

WHEN: 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

WHERE: HVAC Hearing Room, 335 Cannon HOB, Washington, D.C.

RSVP:  Email policy@iava.org to RSVP

Wednesday, March 20

Fundraiser & Reception for the 10th Anniversary of the Iraq War

WHAT: IAVA will host a fundraiser and reception on the 10th anniversary of the start of the Iraq War in support of IAVA's critical work to break the VA claims backlog and reduce veteran suicide rates.

WHEN: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

WHERE: 131 C Street SE, Washington, D.C.

RSVP: Contact Kate Kelly at 212-982-9699 or katek@iava.org for more information.

Thursday, March 21

An Event to End the VA Backlog

WHAT: IAVA will hold an event on the Hill to call for Congressional and Presidential leadership to end the VA backlog.

WHEN: 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

WHERE: Capitol Triangle

RSVP: Click Here

The following items are prohibited: knives, weapons, signs, alcohol, loudspeakers, and bullhorns