Spring 2020 Storm the Hill (STH) is just over a week away and the DC team is working hard to put together one of our biggest STH weeks to date. We have IAVA veteran members from across the country “storming” Capitol Hill to advocate on behalf of our over 425,000 members and bring awareness to our #Big6 policy priorities. Along with all of our STH planning, IAVA is also prepping for our joint testimony before the House and Senate Veterans Affairs Committees that will take place during STH.

Spring 2019 Stormers at IAVA’s Joint Testimony Last Year

Every year, the House and Senate Veteran Affairs Committees invite national Veteran Service Organizations (VSOs) to present their legislative priorities for the year. IAVA CEO Jeremy Butler will be delivering IAVA’s testimony on March 3 at 2 pm (Watch at this LINK). He will testify alongside leaders from Student Veterans of America, Fleet Reserve Association, Paralyzed Veterans of American, American Ex-Prisoners of War, Military Officers Association of America, and Gold Star Wives.  Other VSOs will testify on these dates:
• Feb. 25 at 2 pm – Disabled American Veterans.
• Feb. 26 at 2 pm – Wounded Warrior Project, Blinded Veterans Association, National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs, Jewish War Veterans, Vietnam Veterans of America, Military Order of the Purple Heart, and AMVETs.
• March 4 at 10 am – Veterans of Foreign Wars
• March 11 at 10 am – The American Legion
These hearings are crucial for the VSO community and allow us to inform Congress of our policy priorities for the year.

IAVA CEO Jeremy Butler testifying before the House and Senate Veterans Affairs Committees

Our testimony is not the only exciting event that will take place during our Spring 2020 STH. IAVA will also host our 10th Annual Member Survey Release Reception on March 4 in the Rayburn House Office Building Foyer. Hors d’oeuvres will be served at 5 pm and the program will begin at 5:30. All IAVA members are invited to attend; please RSVP here.

IAVA’s 9th Annual Survey Release Event

New Cosponsors for IAVA-Supported Legislation

IAVA gained two new cosponsors for The VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act (S.179/H.R.712). Thank you to Reps. Colin Peterson (MN-7) and Mike Levin (NY-25) for supporting legislation that could answer the two most important questions that we have about cannabis: Is it safe and does it work?