WATCH: IAVA Tackles VA Claims, Veteran Unemployment, Home Ownership and Military Sexual Trauma Issues on Capitol Hill

WATCH: IAVA Tackles VA Claims, Veteran Unemployment, Home Ownership and Military Sexual Trauma Issues on Capitol Hill
Posted by Michelle McCarthy [1] on May 27 [2] 2010

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This week, IAVA participated in a series of high-level hearings on Capitol Hill to address four critical issues facing service members and new veterans: a challenging VA claims process, rising veteran unemployment, veteran home ownership amid the recession, and the incidence of military sexual trauma. Click on the issues below to watch highlights from the testimonies and learn more about IAVA's recommendations to lawmakers.

• Military Sexual Trauma
• VA Claims and Post-9/11 GI Bill Upgrades
• Veteran Unemployment and Home Ownership

Healing the Wounds: Military Sexual Trauma Issues

On Thursday, IAVA Project Coordinator Jennifer Hunt testified before the House Veterans Affairs Committee to share IAVA's recommendations for the VA and Department of Defense to address the impact of military sexual trauma on women warriors.

• Read Jennifer's testimony addressing military sexual trauma. [4]
• Read Tim's full testimony on how the housing crisis is impacting new veterans. [5]
• Download IAVA's latest Issue Reports Women Warriors [6] and Coming Home [7].

VA Claims and Post-9/11 GI Bill Upgrades

IAVA Legislative Associate Tom Tarantino also participated in a  hearing before the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee to share IAVA's recommendations on pending legislation addressing the VA claims backlog and rising veteran unemployment through upgrades to the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

• Read Tom's full testimony on a variety of pending legislation to address the VA claims backlog, veteran unemployment and GI Bill upgrades. [8]
  [9]
• Download IAVA's latest Issue Reports Red Tape [10] and Careers After Combat [11].

Veteran Unemployment and Home Ownership

IAVA Legislative Associate Tim Embree also testified during two hearings before the House Veterans Affairs and House Oversight Committees to discuss rising veteran unemployment and how the housing crisis is affecting military families. Tim also offered IAVA recommendations on how the VA can better assist new veterans through its Loan Guaranty Program.

• Read Tim's full testimony on rising veteran unemployment. [9]
• Read Tim's full testimony on how the housing crisis is impacting new veterans. [5]
• Download IAVA's latest Issue Reports Careers After Combat [11] and Coming Home [7].

For the latest testimonies and developments on issues impacting Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and their families, click here. [12]

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