As the leading voice for the post-9/11 community, IAVA continues to create awareness on issues and topics impacting our community. Below are articles and news sources from the past week:

Monday, November 2

IAVA NEWS COVERAGE 

Stars and Stripes: Senator: VA is ‘playing political games’ by withholding veteran suicide report

By Nikki Wentling 

“Timely and accurate data from the VA is essential to understanding the success or failure of the national fight to stop the persistent rise in veteran suicide,” said Jeremy Butler, CEO of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. “The best tool that we can have is accurate information about those who have died by suicide so that the experts can accurately determine where and how to direct resources and attention to finally bring an end to this national tragedy.”

VETERAN NEWS COVERAGE

ConnectingVets.com: Veterans Affairs records 4,000 deaths from the coronavirus as active cases continue to rise

By Abbie Bennett

The Department of Veterans Affairs reached a grim milestone on Nov. 1 — 4,000 deaths from the coronavirus pandemic as active cases continue to rise. VA’s overall mortality rate of about 5.2% is still more than double the overall American mortality rate of about 2.5%.

Associated Press: Biden looks to restore, expand Obama administration policies

By Staff

Biden says he would work with Congress to improve health services for women, such as by placing at least one full-time women’s primary care physician at each Department of Veterans Affairs’ medical center. He promises to provide $300 million to better understand the impact of traumatic brain injury and toxic exposures, hire more VA staff to cut down office wait times for vets at risk of suicide to zero as well as continue the efforts of the Obama-Biden administration to stem homelessness.

*Also reported in the Washington Post, and Federal News Network

Pagosa Daily Post: US Senators Urge VA to Follow Through on Promises to End Veteran Suicide Epidemic

By Staff

Colorado Senator Michael Bennet joined 30 Senate colleagues in a letter to Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert Wilkie to follow through on authorities under President Donald Trump’s Executive Order to increase veterans’ access to mental health care. The senators also urged the administration to aggressively implement critical provisions and new authorities under the law to provide more veterans with the mental health resources they need and earned.

Military Times: Serving the visible and invisible wounds: Remembering mental health during times of uncertainty

By Ken Fisher, chairman and CEO of Fisher House Foundation

Now more than ever, it is important to engage in the challenging conversation around mental health and suicide prevention for all Americans ― but especially our veterans who may be nursing invisible wounds of war.

Huffington Post: Veterans Would Be ‘Happy’ To Escort Defeated Trump From The White House, Zaps Ad

By Mary Papenfuss

VoteVets warned in a gutsy new political ad released Sunday that their members would be “happy” to escort a reluctant Donald Trump from the White House if he’s defeated in the oncoming election. Trump has refused to commit to a peaceful transition of power and has repeatedly predicted the vote will be rigged, setting the stage for him to challenge a loss.

The Hill: More veterans running for office as numbers dwindle in Congress

By Ellen Mitchell

More than 180 veterans are on the ballot Tuesday, up 5 percent from 2018, according to tracking from the University of San Francisco and Veterans Campaign, a nonprofit that helps veterans run for office. That figure includes 163 House nominees – the most since 2012 – and another 18 in the Senate, including double the number of women veterans compared to two years ago.

Tuesday, November 3

VETERAN NEWS COVERAGE

Military.com: After 8 Months of Delays, VA Launches New Electronic Medical Records System

By Patricia Kime

After several months-long delays, the Department of Veterans Affairs has announced a major milestone in adopting a new electronic health records system: the launch of the Cerner Millennium EHR at a hospital in Spokane, Washington.

ConnectingVets.com: Women veterans poised to play pivotal part in 2020 Congressional elections

By Abbie Bennett

The 2019-20 session of Congress saw the most women veterans in Congress in United States history with seven. Now, 24 are running for House seats and four for the Senate, a major increase over prior years. 

Ripon Advance: McSally’s post-traumatic growth therapy bill for veterans signed into law

By Staff

Bipartisan legislation offered by U.S. Sen. Martha McSally (R-AZ) to expand mental health treatment options for United States military veterans became law last month with the president’s signature as part of a larger mental health care bill.

Military Times: White House recognizes November as Veterans and Military Families month

By Leo Shane III

The White House over the weekend issued its annual proclamation declaring all of November as a month to honor American veterans and military families, in advance of the traditional Veterans Day commemorations planned for Nov. 11.

Military.com: US Military Veterans Running for Congress 2020: 16 Hot Races to Watch

By Hope Hodge Sack

There are 163 party nominees, including challengers and incumbents, running for House seats — the most since 2012. That figure includes 24 women, double the number of female House candidates in the 2018 election. Overall, 77 of the 435 current members of Congress are veterans.

Business Insider: Military veterans are deploying their own ‘quick reaction force’ to counter Trump’s ‘army’ at the polls

By David Choi

In the past few weeks, roughly 200 veterans signed up to train in deescalation techniques with Common Defense, a grassroots organization that opposes President Donald Trump and seeks to elect progressive candidates and advance policies for former service members. The veterans have mobilized in 45 cities to recruit other veterans to join their cause.

Wednesday, November 4

VETERAN NEWS COVERAGE

Military.com: ‘We’re Better Than This’: Jon Stewart, Veterans Advocates Rally for Bipartisan Burn Pit Legislation

By Kelly Kennedy

No matter who wins the presidential election, talk show host Jon Stewart and activist and Army veteran John Feal say they’ve got a plan to push through legislation to get health care, research and recognition for service members exposed to toxins — particularly the massive pits used to burn trash in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Federal News Network: After years of practice, VA says its innovation ecosystem was ready-made for the pandemic

By Nicole Ogrysko

Over the past few years, VHA has tried support its employees who, throughout the course of their day-to-day work, saw a problem and found a solution. Through VHA’s Innovation Ecosystem, it’s built an infrastructure to fund, develop and spread viable solutions throughout the VA network.

Military.com: These 2020 State Ballot Measures Could Offer New Benefits to Veterans

By Hope Hodge Seck

Most voters heading to the polls Nov. 3 are thinking primarily about the top of their ballot and the fiercely contested presidential election. But in several states, voters will also be asked to consider a proposed constitutional amendment or public question affecting veterans and their families.

Marine Times: How veterans power the polls in 2020 election

By Sarah Sicard

In 2020, a number of veterans have taken to volunteering to work the polls at their local election sites.

Federal News Network: VA needs better data to serve increasing LGBTQ+ veterans, GAO says [Podcast]

By Amelia Brust

The veterans population, thanks to changes in military policy and what may have occurred after military life, has growing numbers of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. Now the Department of Veterans Affairs is urged to improve its data collection to help it better meet the needs of such veterans.

Military.com: Former White House Doctor, Navy Admiral Ronny Jackson Wins House Seat in Texas

By Gina Harkins

Dr. Ronny Jackson, a retired Navy flag officer who dropped out of the running to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs amid allegations of wrongdoing, has picked up a congressional seat representing Texas in the state’s right-leaning 13th District.

Thursday, November 5

VETERAN NEWS COVERAGE

Military.com: COVID-19 Cases Reaching Record Highs in Military, Among Veterans

By Patricia Kime

The Department of Veterans Affairs is seeing a resurgence of patients with COVID-19, with the number of active cases at 6,454 as of Tuesday, exceeding the record high of 6,424 set July 20.

MyChesCo: VA Partnership Helps Secure Permanent Housing for More Than 4,000 Formerly Homeless Veterans

By Staff

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced recently their partnership with Veterans Matter has helped more than 4,000 Veterans exit homelessness and move into permanent housing since 2012.

Marine Times: What veterans and service members want from the next commander in chief

By Sarah Sicard

For some, the hope lies within prioritizing where the Pentagon is using its budget. One user hopes to see more diversity among the ranks and withdrawal from the “Forever War” in Afghanistan. Many veteran respondents shared their thoughts about the Department of Veterans Affairs in particular and the need for sweeping reforms.

Stars and Stripes: Number of veterans serving in Congress could slightly decrease after election

By Nikki Wentling

Less than half of the 182 veterans running for Congress in Tuesday’s election were declared winners in their races by Wednesday morning — incomplete results that appear likely to mean the overall number of veterans in Congress would keep steady or slightly decrease. 

The Hill: Voters in three states pass ballot measures aimed at veterans, spouses

By Celine Castronuovo  

Voters in Florida, New Jersey and Virginia on Tuesday all passed ballot measures aimed at increasing benefits for veterans and their families, according to projections from The Associated Press. 

Military Times: The searing pain of losing a service member to suicide calls us to action

By Michael L. “Mikey” Weinstein

It is the shocking number of daily suicides among America’s service members and veterans. Approximately three active-duty service members and 17 veterans kill themselves every day, according to the latest study from the Department of Veterans Affairs. This dismal national outrage must stop, and we are all complicit unless we do something to help.

Friday, November 6

VETERAN NEWS COVERAGE

ConnectingVets.com: Veterans Affairs active COVID-19 cases reach record highs for days, doubling since September

By Abbie Bennett

The number of Department of Veterans Affairs patients and staff sick because of the coronavirus have reached record highs for four straight days as of Nov. 5 — more than doubling since September. 

Courthouse News Service: VA Must Pay Retroactive Benefits to Blue Water Vietnam Vets

By Nicholas Iovino 

The U.S. Veterans Administration must honor the terms of a 1991 settlement and pay retroactive benefits to thousands of Navy veterans who served on ships off Vietnam’s coast for Agent Orange-related health problems, a federal judge ruled Thursday.

ClarksvilleNow.com: K2 Army base blamed for cancer outbreak in veterans, including Congressman Mark Green

By Keely Quinlan

Earlier this year, Green and Rep. Stephen Lynch, D-Massachusetts, introduced the K2 Veterans Toxic Exposure Accountability Act in Congress. The bill, HR 5957, would require the DoD to conduct its own epidemiological study of the environment at the overseas site. The bill would also create eligibility for K2 vets in the VA’s Burn Pits Registry, along with depleted uranium medical follow-up programs at the DoD and the VA.

Military.com: More Veterans Ran for Congress This Year Than in 2018. Here’s How the Races Went

By Richard Sisk

As of midafternoon Wednesday, 74 of the 182 veterans running for the House and Senate had been declared winners, while 83 had lost their races. The rest of the races had yet to be called, according to The Associated Press.

Military Times: VA physician charged with sexually assaulting fellow staffers

By Leo Shane III

A Veterans Affairs physician working at the department’s hospital in Clarksburg, West Virginia, was indicted on assault and abusive sexual contact charges Thursday for allegedly molesting two women in separate incidents last year.

Kaiser Health News: VA Joins Pentagon in Recruiting Volunteers for COVID Vaccine Trials

By Patricia Kime

The Department of Veterans Affairs is recruiting 8,000 volunteers for the Phase 3 clinical trials of at least four COVID-19 vaccine candidates at 20 federal medical facilities across the U.S., according to officials with the VA.

Newsweek: Veterans Criticize Trump’s Calls to Stop Vote Count as Military Ballots Could Prove Pivotal

By Lydia Smith

A number of military officers have strongly criticized Donald Trump’s calls to stop the vote counting across several states, imploring him not to intervene in the electoral procedure. Absentee ballots can be cast by U.S. military members working overseas and their families, as well as those with illnesses or other conditions that prevent them from voting in person or by those who would rather mail in a ballot.