In Advance of Friday’s Jobs Report, IAVA Releases 2011 Policy Agenda with Primary Focus on Employment

Recommendations Urge Broad Private and Public Job Support for Veterans 

NEW YORK- Today, in advance of new unemployment figures expected to be released tomorrow, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), the nation’s first and largest nonpartisan organization representing veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, introduced its 2011 Policy Agenda.  The 2011 Policy Agenda is an extensive blueprint for Congress, the Administration, state and local governments, and private businesses to address veteran unemployment, military suicide and other urgent challenges facing Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and their families.  During IAVA’s annual Storm the Hill campaign in Washington, D.C. from March 28^th – April 1^st, Iraq and Afghanistan veterans from across the country will meet with Congress to discuss these key policy priorities.
 
“As thousands of troops return from Iraq and Afghanistan in the coming years, the need for bold action is more urgent than ever.  Unemployment and suicide rates for new veterans continue to skyrocket. Reversing these trend lines and making real change on the ground is IAVA’s top focus,” said IAVA Founder and Executive Director Paul Rieckhoff.  “IAVA’s 2011 Policy Agenda is an actionable blueprint to address the most critical issues facing our community and should serve as a tool for every member of Congress, White House official and business across the country. Working collaboratively, we can implement meaningful change for every single Iraq and Afghanistan veteran.”
 
The priorities outlined in IAVA’s2011 Policy Agenda derive from an extensive, annual survey of IAVA’s more than 90,000 Member Veterans as well as coordination with the Departments of Defense (DoD), Veterans Affairs (VA), partner Veterans Service Organizations and community-based nonprofits nationwide.  Click here to view IAVA’s 2011 Policy Agenda.
 
Key priorities in IAVA’s 2011 Policy Agenda include: 

• • Employ the Next Greatest Generation:  In January 2011, the unemployment rate for Iraq and Afghanistan-era veterans hit a staggering 15.2 percent, leaving over 278,000 combat veterans struggling to find gainful employment after their service in the most severe economic recession in decades. IAVA recommends a comprehensive veterans’ job package that includes strengthening USERRA protections, modernizing employment-transitioning services and developing tax incentives for hiring veterans.
  • • Prevent Suicides Among Troops and Veterans:  One active duty service member commits suicide, on average, every 36 hours, and the rates have nearly doubled for National Guardsmen and Reservists.  IAVA recommends that the DoD launch a national campaign to combat the stigma of seeking help for combat stress injuries and to promote the use of VA and DoD services such as Vet Centers and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. This effort must be complemented by a presidential call to action for a dramatic increase in the number of military mental health professionals.
    • • Reduce the VA Claims Backlog: The antiquated VA disability system focuses on quantity over quality, leading to frequent errors and a lengthy wait for benefits. With the claims backlog growing larger each month, IAVA recommends upgrades to the VA claims processing system that would digitize records, hold processors accountable for the accuracy of their work and remove unnecessary steps in the evaluation process.
      • • Improve Care for Female Veterans: Women veterans are the fastest-growing segment of the veteran population, and their enrollment in the VA is expected to more than double in the next 10 years.  IAVA recommends that Congress establish a firm deadline for the VA to meet its goal of providing comprehensive health care to women veterans, as recommended by the Government Accountability Office (GAO). The VA must also clearly outline the steps needed for all facilities to meet this goal.
        • • Ease the Transition Home:  Over half a million veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan have turned to the VA for medical care after separating from the service, and the VA can expect a steady influx of new veterans in coming years. IAVA recommends that Congress provide adequate and timely funding for the VA by ensuring that the budget at least matches the recommendations of the annual Independent Budget as it has for the past four years. We also recommend Congress continue to approve funding two years in advance
           
          Added Rieckhoff, “We know Washington alone cannot solve these challenges.  The private sector has a critical role to play in making veterans and their families a top priority.  In the coming weeks, IAVA looks forward to working with public and private partners alike to accomplish our policy agenda and ensure that veterans of all generations have our country’s unwavering support.”
           
          To arrange an interview with IAVA Executive Director Paul Rieckhoff or Deputy Executive Director Todd Bowers, please contact Isabel Black, 212-982-9699, isabel@iava.org.
          
          Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (www.IAVA.org) is the country's first and largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization for veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and has more than 200,000 Member Veterans and civilian supporters nationwide. Its mission is to improve the lives of this country's newest generation of veterans and their families.

           

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