FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, April 21, 2010

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House Passes Sweeping Legislation for Female Vets and Caregivers  

IAVA Commends Congress for Taking Action on Needed Reforms

NEW YORK – Today, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), the nation’s first and largest nonprofit, non-partisan organization for the veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, issued the following statement on the U.S. House of Representatives’ passage of S.1963, The Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act:

“Today, the House took critical action on a long overdue bill for female veterans and caregivers of seriously wounded veterans. This landmark, bi-partisan legislation will make necessary improvements to VA health care for women warriors, support family caregivers of severely wounded veterans and expand mental health care for rural veterans.

With enrollment of women at the VA expected to double within the next 15 years, and for the thousands of caregivers nationwide, this legislation is coming at a critical time.

With this vote today, we are one step closer to seeing this measure become law, and making a real difference in the lives of our nation’s veterans. IAVA urges the Senate to honor the work they started, and send this bill to the President’s desk quickly.”

To arrange an interview with IAVA Executive Director Paul Rieckhoff or another veteran spokesperson, please contact Chrissy Stevens (212)-982-9699 or Chrissy@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 180,000 veteran members and civilian supporters nationwide.

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