A great thing about being on the IAVA Team is the ability to impact national policy making to improve the lives of veterans. We did plenty of that this week and head right into another!

Wednesday was the 18th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, which remains at the forefront of our minds because of the nearly 3,000 victims of those attacks, many first responders to the attack sites, and the massive sacrifices our military and their families have made in the American responses to 9/11.

It was especially rewarding this anniversary to have our CEO, Jeremy Butler, testify before the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Health on provisions of the Deborah Sampson Act and other bills we champion as part of our #SheWhoBorneTheBattle campaign to fill gaps in care for women veterans. Improving the lives of those who have served in uniform, including many who have deployed in response to the attacks is the very best we can do on this day.

Among other things, the legislation would expand newborn care, ensure VA facilities have a women’s health care provider and gender specific services for veterans, allow women to receive counseling in retreat settings, increase reporting on women who use VA services, and increase the availability of female prosthetics.

IAVA CEO Jeremy Butler and the DC Team with Health Subcommittee Chairwoman Julia Brownley following our hearing testimony.

With our hearing behind us, look out for us next week as our members will fly in from around the country to Storm The Hill Sept. 16-18.

We’ll be meeting with Members of Congress from both parties asking for their support of our Big Six priorities for 2019, including Combating Suicide, Defending Veterans Education Benefits, Reforming Government, Support for Injuries from Burn Pits and Toxic Exposures, Improving Services for Women Veterans, and Support for Veteran Medicinal Cannabis Use.

Follow along with us on IAVA’s social media channels (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) and chime in with your support!  See past Storms HERE.