Last week, IAVA’s Ryan Britch and Kaitlynne Hetrick began meetings with the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) and the House Veterans Affairs Committee (HVAC) to discuss their 117th Congress initiatives and IAVA’s policy priorities. 

Kaitlynne also joined the Women Veterans Task Force for the first meeting of the year with veteran service organizations. This panel was instrumental in getting the Deborah Sampson Act passed last year and IAVA looks forward to continuing our work together to help women veterans receive the care they deserve at VA. 

Finally, the Department of Labor held a meet and greet with the new Acting Assistant Secretary for its Veterans’ Employment and Training Service, Mr. James Rodriguez. Rodriguez served 21 years in the US Marine Corps and has held numerous positions working within DoD, VA, and serving veterans. Discussing unemployment numbers, 2021 did not begin as well for veterans as we would have hoped, as unemployment rates rose slightly for veterans. Vet unemployment saw an increase from 5.3 percent in December to 5.5 percent in January, and post-9/11 veterans saw their unemployment rate rise even higher, from 5.1 percent in December to 6.3 percent in January. This was the opposite of what the national unemployment rate did in January, as it dropped from 6.7 percent to 6.3 percent. As the year is only beginning, we can continue to hope that this was a minor setback and the unemployment rate will fall as the new administration implements policies. Read more about the unemployment numbers HERE.

To help combat these developments, IAVA is calling on Congress to act now and pass the Veterans Economic Recovery Act that will fund one year of employment retraining for veterans who have lost their jobs to COVID and provide them a generous housing allowance.

IAVA’s Quick Reaction Force 

We know that this time can be stressful and IAVA’s Quick Reaction Force (QRF) is here to help! This program provides 24/7 peer support, comprehensive care management, resource connections, and can help with accessing your VA benefits. To get connected to a Veteran Care Manager for immediate help anytime, day or night, please call 855-91RAPID (855-917-2743) or fill out our online form. Our services are remote, free, and confidential and QRF is here for all veterans, regardless of era, discharge status, or location. If you are a veteran or a veteran family member facing challenges or have questions, QRF is here to help you get back on your feet and meet your goals.

If you are currently experiencing a crisis please contact the Veterans Crisis Line at 1.800.273.8255, and press 1. Alternatively, use the Crisis Text Line by texting “RISING” to 74174