Coming off of IAVA’s most impactful and powerful Storm the Hill last week, the DC team has been busy building momentum and picking up legislative victories. We went to the premiere of the documentary film Homemade, released a petition to change the VA Motto, and gained an additional cosponsor on IAVA-backed legislation.

On Monday IAVA’s Legislative team of Tom Porter and Travis Horr, and Hannah Sinoway and Patrice Sullivan of our Rapid Response Referral Program (RRRP) Team, attended the premiere of the documentary Homemade. The film is an intimate view into the world of Adam Sorenson, a decorated Recon Marine, as he recovers from his war injuries. In the film, Adam struggles with symptoms related to PTSD, TBI, and substance abuse. You can check out the trailer below and follow the film on social media here.

On Tuesday, Chief Policy Officer Melissa Bryant, Hannah Sinoway, and Patrice Sullivan conducted a Facebook Live to provide an update on all of our third quarter impacts and results. They covered all of IAVA’s policy and RRRP Team wins over the past three months, which were substantial! Be sure to check out the full video on Facebook here!

Also on Tuesday, Travis Horr met with IAVA’s partner VSOs to discuss the future of the Military Lending Act (MLA), which protects servicemembers and their families from harmful predatory loans. MLA enforcement is in danger and IAVA is teaming up with Veterans Education Success (VES), TAPS, American Legion, VFW, and many more to ensure that servicemembers and their families are getting the protections that they deserve. You can add your name to the petition sent to the Department of Defense Secretary James Mattis and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Mick Mulvaney, here.

This week IAVA teamed up with the Service Women’s Action Network (SWAN) and the New York City Veterans Alliance in order to deliver a “petition for rulemaking” requesting the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) replace its current outdated and exclusionary motto with one that is inclusive of women. This has been a crucial part of our #SheWhoBorneTheBattle Campaign and IAVA continues to fight for a gender-neutral motto to ensure that all veterans feel welcomed at the VA. Check out the exclusive Newsweek story here, and be sure to read the full petition here.

New Cosponsor to IAVA-Backed Legislation:

The #CannabisForVets campaign continues to gain momentum as Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) signed on as a cosponsor of the VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act (S. 2796/H.R. 5520) following IAVA’s ads in the Washington Post and USA Today. Thank you, Sen. Gillibrand, for being the newest supporter of #CannabisForVets!

Ensure that your Member of Congress supports all of IAVA’s Big Six priorities and your voice is heard by going through our Take Action page here.