IMPORTANT. With US and NATO forces withdrawing soon from Afghanistan thousands of Afghan allies who worked alongside our forces are at risk, and IAVA has been joining with our VSO partners to urge the Biden Administration to bring these friends to safety immediately. IAVA Director of Government Affairs Travis Horr participated in TWO press conferences over the last week to ensure Afghans that worked with American troops are protected. This is a critically important issue for IAVA and we will continue to fight to protect our allies. Read more about this important issue HERE. 

The House Veteran Affairs Committee (HVAC) passed the Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act (H.R.3967) on Thursday. This IAVA-supported legislation will FINALLY ensure that veterans receive the VA health care and disability benefits that they deserve for the toxic exposures, like from burn pits, they have suffered on deployments. Act now and tell Congress to support the Honoring our PACT Act! Read our press release HERE.

On June 22, we hosted a Facebook Live to highlight IAVA’s medicinal cannabis and alternative therapies priorities. This event provided an overview of the state of medicinal cannabis, highlighted current IAVA-backed legislation, and pressing research issues in the space.  IAVA’s Director of Government Affairs Travis Horr was joined by Caroline Phillips, Founder and Executive Producer, National Cannabis Festival, and Dr. Sue Sisley, President, and Principal Investigator at Scottsdale Research Institute. Watch the replay HERE, and tell Congress to support the VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act (S. 1467/H.R. 2916) HERE!

Then on June 23, IAVA’s EVP of Government Affairs Tom Porter joined HVAC Ranking Member Mike Bost (R-IL) and Student Veterans of America (SVA) VP of Government Affairs, Lauren Augustine, to host a Facebook Live on a new IAVA-backed benefit to retrain veterans who have lost jobs to COVID. This event provided an overview of the Veteran Rapid Retraining Assistance Program and the Veteran Employment Through Technology Education Courses (VET TEC). It also covered the challenges of reentering the workforce, opportunities for expanding veteran employment, and resources available to veterans seeking employment. Watch the video HERE.

This week, IAVA, in collaboration with Common Defense, Vietnam Veterans of America, Minority Veterans of America, Veterans Recovery Project, AMVETs, Service Women Action Network, Modern Military Association of America, and Protect our Defenders sent a letter to the Senate urging them to bring the legislation to the Senate floor for a vote. This legislation has reached a filibuster-proof majority but despite Sen. Gillibrand’s (D-NY) repeated attempts to obtain unanimous consent, the leadership of the Senate Armed Services Committee have thwarted her efforts on behalf of servicemembers. Read the full letter HERE.

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 7417