Press Releases: Wait for Care and Benefits

Blizzard Doesn't Stop Veterans from Storming the Capitol

Despite two storms that crippled the Capital District, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), the nation's first and largest non-partisan, nonprofit organization representing veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, pushed through the snow and have been triumphant during their annual Storm the Hill week.

New IAVA Report Reveals Red Tape Facing Veterans in the Military and VA Health Care and Disability Systems

February 4

NEW YORK - Today, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), the nation’s first and largest non-partisan, nonprofit organization representing veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, released a revealing new report highlighting the countless bureaucratic roadblocks, lengthy waits for care, and complicated disability systems facing wounded veterans. Red Tape: Veterans Fight New Battles for Care and Benefits presents a clear snapshot of the huge obstacles facing our nation’s troops and veterans as they navigate the complicated and confusing military and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care and disability systems.

2010 Legislative Agenda Introduces IAVA’s Annual Storm the Hill Campaign

February 3

NEW YORK – Today, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), the nation’s first and largest non-partisan organization representing veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, released its 2010 Legislative Agenda, a roadmap for Congress to address new veterans’ issues in the coming year. The agenda describes the issues IAVA will bring to Congress during its annual Storm the Hill trip in Washington, D.C. from February 6^th – 12^th.

Health Care for Veterans Addressed by Obama, Shinseki

August 17

NEW YORK—Today, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), the nation’s first and largest non-partisan, nonprofit organization representing veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, issued the following statement in response to the President’s remarks at the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Convention in Phoenix and two town hall meetings focusing on veterans’ issues conducted by Senator Arlen Specter and VA Secretary Eric Shinseki in Pennsylvania:

Iraq, Afghanistan Veterans Ring Closing Bell at NASDAQ; Celebrate July 4th

July 2

NEW YORK –Today, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), the nation’s first and largest non-partisan, nonprofit organization representing veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, will ring the Closing Bell at The NASDAQ Stock Market in New York City. IAVA Board Member and Afghanistan veteran Wes Moore will lead the ceremony, joined by IAVA member veterans from the Tri-State area. The ceremony begins at 3:30 PM (EST) at the NASDAQ MarketSite at 4 Times Square, and is OPEN to the media. To attend, please RSVP to Michael Houston at michael@iava.org.

Craigslist Founder, Ning CEO Participate in Press Conference to Show How Technology is Supporting Troops and Veterans

June 26

NEW YORK - Today, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), the nation’s first and largest non-partisan, nonprofit organization representing veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, announced it will host a press conference on Monday, June 29^th, 10:15AM EST with Craigslist Founder Craig Newmark and Ning CEO Gina Bianchini at the Personal Democracy Forum (PdF). PdF is the world's largest and best known conference on the intersection of technology and politics, attracting the highest level of speakers and participants. The press conference will directly follow a keynote address from NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and it will highlight how the Ning social network model is transforming outreach to new veterans.

President Signs Two Major Provisions for New Veterans into Law

June 24

NEW YORK-Today, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), the nation’s first and largest non-partisan, nonprofit organization representing veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, applauded President Obama for signing the 2009 war supplemental bill into law, which includes two critical provisions for new veterans and their families. The first guarantees retroactive payments for all troops stop-lossed since 9/11 and the second establishes transferability of the new GI Bill to children of servicemembers killed on active-duty since 9/11.

As President Talks Healthcare, House Says Yes to Advance Funding for VA

June 23

NEW YORK–Today, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), the nation’s first and largest non-partisan, nonprofit organization representing veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, applauded the House for passing the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act (H.R. 1016). This critical legislation will provide timely, predictable funding for veterans’ health care by authorizing Congress to approve a health care budget for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) at least one year in advance:

IAVA Joins Pelosi, Lawmakers to Acknowledge Progress on Three Top Issues for Veterans

June 17

Washington, DC—Today, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), the nation’s first and largest non-partisan, nonprofit organization representing veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, joined Speaker Nancy Pelosi, other lawmakers and the National Military Families Association (NMFA) on Capitol Hill in applauding the House of Representatives for taking action on three critical issues impacting veterans and military families:

Congress Moves Two Critical Provisions for Veterans and Gold Star Families

June 16

Washington, DC—Today, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), the nation’s first and largest non-partisan, nonprofit representing veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, applauded the House for passing retroactive stop-loss payments and a new education benefit for children of those killed on active-duty as part of the war supplemental bill (H.R.2346). The stop-loss provision would provide up to $5,000 in back-pay to thousands of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans who were held beyond their enlistment contract before October 2008 under the military’s stop-loss policy. The new education benefit would allow the new GI Bill to be transferred to all children of servicemembers who died while on active-duty since 9/11.