With Post-9/11 Veteran Unemployment at 10%, IAVA Welcomes Rep. Miller’s and Rep. Michaud’s Leadership for the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, Dec. 7, 2012
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With Post-9/11 Veteran Unemployment at 10%, IAVA Welcomes Rep. Miller’s and Rep. Michaud’s Leadership for the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs

 Strong Veterans Advocates Present Huge Potential for New Vets

NEW YORK (Dec. 5, 2012) -- Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America congratulates Rep. Jeff Miller (FL-01) for maintaining his position as chair of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. IAVA also welcomes Rep. Michael Michaud (ME-02) as the Ranking Member of the committee and looks forward to working with both leaders on critical issues facing new veterans.

“IAVA is thrilled that Chairman Miller will continue his leadership of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs,” said IAVA founder and CEO Paul Rieckhoff. “He has been a steadfast leader, particularly in the fight to lower the high rate of veteran unemployment – still holding at 10% in November. We look forward to continue working with him to help veterans get the care and benefits that they’ve earned.”

In a difficult political climate, Chairman Miller deftly navigated the passage of major pieces of legislation, including the Vow to Hire Heroes Act and the New GI Bill Grandfather Clause, that have made a real difference for veterans' education and employment. Chairman Miller worked closely with his colleagues in both the House and Senate, putting aside partisan politics to stand up for the new generation of veterans. IAVA is counting on Chairman Miller for continued calls for accountability from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

Chairman Miller’s leadership will be strengthened by Michaud’s appointment as the committee’s ranking member.

“Representative Michaud has been an invaluable member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs,” Rieckhoff said. “He has been instrumental in the forwarding of significant progress on critical issues for veterans, like suicide, education, homelessness and health care.”

IAVA applauds Ranking Member Michaud’s work on veterans' healthcare as ranking member of the House Veteran Affairs Committee Subcommittee on Health, which he formerly chaired. 

IAVA looks forward to working with Chairman Miller and Ranking Member Michaud during the 113th Congress. “With more than one million veterans returning home within the next five years, together, we must make big steps to address the challenges confronting veterans,” Rieckhoff added.

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) is the nation's first and largest nonpartisan, nonprofit organization representing veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan, has more than 200,000 Member Veterans and civilian supporters nationwide. IAVA recently received the highest rating - four-stars - from Charity Navigator, America's largest charity evaluator.

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