From local grassroots events to a “fire watch” on the U.S. Capitol steps, IAVA’s fierce advocacy resulted in passage of the largest veteran health care legislation ever!
Undeterred by setbacks in the Congressional process, IAVA kept up pressure on legislators, collaborated with other organizations to magnify the collective veteran voice, and called out hypocrisy where needed.
Building on the advocacy groundwork of previous years, IAVA’s leadership of the VSO community yielded historic results for veterans in 2022.
Finally, after considerable wrangling between the Houses of Congress, on August 10th, 2022, veterans received comprehensive legislation that includes healthcare, benefits, and a framework to address military toxic exposures, one of the signature injuries of the post-9/11 wars.
The Honoring Our PACT Act will provide health care and benefits for over 3.5 million veterans and military families.
In July 2022, IAVA applauded the launch of the new 988 Mental Health Crisis Lifeline/Veterans Crisis Line (VCL).
The National Suicide Hotline Designation Act (S. 2661), was signed into law on October 17, 2020, designating 9-8-8 as the national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline.
The new service helps ensure that individuals and families, including veterans, experiencing mental health distress are able to easily access help and resources.
IAVA proudly endorsed the Afghan Adjustment Act (AAA) when it was introduced in the Senate in August 2022, joining forces with Afghan Allies in the U.S. to strongly advocate for its passage.
“The Afghan Adjustment Act (AAA) is a vital piece of legislation because it will fix the structural flaws in the SIV program and provide a pathway to secure residency for those Afghans needing protection. We will fight to ensure that our country keeps its promise to those who served us,” said Matt Zeller, Senior Advisor for IAVA.
On August 15, 2022, the anniversary of the withdrawal from Afghanistan, IAVA, in partnership with the Association of Wartime Allies (AWA) and Veterans For American Ideals (VFAI), announced the results of the Afghanistan Evacuation Survey which focused on our community’s engagement with the evacuation and how the evacuation and ongoing resettlement efforts continue to impact veterans and our wartime allies.
The comedian Jon Stewart, who has advocated for 9/11 first responders and military veterans for years, excoriated Republican lawmakers outside the Capitol after the failed Senate vote on the PACT Act in July, 2022, angrily describing their opposition to the bill as “an embarrassment to the Senate, to the country, to the Founders.”
