IAVA | August 28, 2020
IAVA Weekly SITREP
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:
8/24
VETERAN NEWS COVERAGE
San Antonio Express News: Veterans see mail-in ballots as ‘most sacred of the sacred’
By Sig Christenson
“There are two things that you don’t mess with in the military: food and mail,” said Paul Rieckhoff, an Army infantry officer who served in the 2003 invasion of Iraq and founded Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America the next year. “And voting by mail is the most sacred of the sacred.”
FOX News: USPS lost veteran’s remains for 12 days, family alleges
By Bradford Betz
The veteran, Scot Egan, died last month in St. Louis, and his remains were mailed to his sister in Maryland. His other sister, Dr. Jean Egan, told WTNH that his remains were supposed to be delivered within two days of being shipped but were lost for 12 days. She claimed that the USPS did not provide the family with a reason for the delay.
Military Times: Trump’s second-term plan includes stopping ‘endless’ wars, boosting military support
By Leo Shane III
President Donald Trump released a 50-point second-term agenda on Sunday which vows to maintain American military might and “wipe out” terrorist groups overseas but also to stop the country’s involvement in “endless wars.” The move comes as Trump prepares to accept his party’s nomination at the Republican convention this week for four more years as commander-in-chief. Democratic Party leaders formally nominated former Vice President Joe Biden at their event last week.
By Amy Sokolow
In order to receive VA reproductive health care benefits, veterans must have suffered a service-connected injury, be married, and be able to supply their own eggs or sperm. Surrogacy is not covered. That excludes unmarried veterans, same-sex and transgender couples, and those who cannot produce eggs or sperm due to a service-connected injury or another medical issue, such as cancer treatments. The VA added fertility coverage in 2016, largely because of the efforts of U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash. Now some veterans and infertility advocates say the coverage should be made permanent and expanded to cover more people.
Associated Press: Immigrant US Marine Veteran Makes Deportees’ Return His Work
By Ricardo Torres-Cortez
Lopez, a U.S. Marine veteran, was born in Mexico and arrived in the U.S. as a child in the 1980s. He was deported about eight years ago after a 12-year-old marijuana conviction was discovered during a customs check on a return trip from Central America. For now, the only way for veteran deportees to legally return to the U.S. is when their remains are brought to the U.S. for a military funeral.
Stars and Stripes: Family Seeks Damages After Veteran’s Suicide Inside VA Mental Health Unit
By Nikki Wentling
The family of Sgt. Brieux Dash, a veteran who died by suicide in a Department of Veterans Affairs mental health unit last year, filed a claim against the VA on Friday, arguing that the agency’s “deliberate indifference” and “complete disregard for patient safety” contributed to Dash’s death. Dash, 33, hung himself March 14, 2019, on a door in the locked mental health unit at the West Palm Beach VA Medical Center. His death prompted an investigation by the VA Office of Inspector General, which found unsafe practices in the unit.
The Post Millenial: US Marine on 300-mile hike to raise awareness for veteran suicide
By Mia Cathell
The two-week journey sounded off on Monday from his hometown of Holland, Michigan, and will end at his destination in Mackinaw City, Michigan. “I’m doing it in support of the Mission 22 organization,” Travis Snyder told the Daily Caller. “They work nationwide to help veterans and their families find their way through mental health challenges.”
8/25
VETERAN NEWS COVERAGE
Yahoo News: What a poll of rural Pennsylvania voters may say about November [Clip]
By Staff
Political scientist Rachel Bitecofer and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America founder Paul Rieckhoff join Morning Joe to discuss new polling on rural Pennsylvania voters in Republican congressional districts and what it may say about November.
CBS News: USPS delays could put 14 million at risk for late prescriptions: “This is ridiculous”
By Aimee Picchi
Michael Porter, a former Marine, said he usually receives his medication from the Department of Veterans Affairs within three to four days of ordering it. His last prescription refill, however, took 10 days to reach his home.
NBC New York: US Postal Service delays force Department of Veterans Affairs to shift prescription delivery methods
By Mikayla Newton
The Department of Veterans Affairs has been forced to find alternative ways to ship mail-order prescriptions for patients whose medication is delivered by the United States Postal Service, including FedEx and UPS.
SC Times: Military women battle entrenched culture of sexual harassment, assault
By Patricia Wilson
There were 6,236 cases of sexual assault in the military in 2019, up 3% from 2018, according to the Defense Department. Women serving in the military for the first time, ages 18 to 24, head the victim list.
FOX Colorado: Group of veterans walks 100 miles across Colorado to raise awareness of PTSD, veteran suicide
By Courtney Fromm
A group in veterans walked 100 miles from Westminder to Colorado Springs on Sunday to raise awareness for PTSD and Veteran suicide.
Atlantic Council: Mental health care in the military: An opportunity for progress
By Andrew Farnsworth
The future of warfare will look dramatically different than it does today as autonomous weapons proliferate, and mental health problems among service members are likely to evolve as a direct result. As the nature of warfare changes, mental health policy needs to be front and center for the national security community.
ConnectingVets.com: Post office finds cremated remains of veteran after 12 days
By Julia Ledoux
A Connecticut woman said her veteran brother’s cremated remains went missing for 12 days after she tried to mail them to her sister. Egan told the Connecticut Post that she mailed the package with two-day expedited shipping and noted their contents on the outside of the package. A week later, they still were not delivered.
Military Times: New Best for Vets: Employers rankings for 2020
By Staff
Military Times has unveiled the annual “Best for Vets: Employers” rankings for 2020, offering a comprehensive look at how companies nationwide have greatly expanded in recent years their support to recruit and retain former service members into the civilian job market.
8/26
VETERAN NEWS COVERAGE
Military Times: Veterans Affairs has now reported more than 50,000 coronavirus cases
By Leo Shane III
The Department of Veterans Affairs on Tuesday surpassed 50,000 coronavirus cases among its patients since the start of the pandemic in March, with more than half of those positive tests coming in the last 50 days alone.
Military Times: Huge slate of veteran suicide prevention measures set for debate next month
By Leo Shane III
Democratic leaders of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee this week announced plans to mark up a hefty slate of suicide prevention bills early next month as Senate lawmakers and administration officials lament that already existing solutions to the problem aren’t moving fast enough through Congress.
Military.com: The VA Is Now Offering Transition Services Specially Tailored for Female Veterans
By Jim Absher
The Department of Veterans Affairs is teaming up with the Department of Defense to offer Women’s Health Transition Training (WHTT) for female service members who are transitioning to civilian life.
Stars and Stripes: Trump’s VA accountability office has recommended discipline for seven leaders since 2018
By Nikki Wentling
An office created by President Donald Trump to root out poorly performing Department of Veterans Affairs leaders has received thousands of complaints since 2018, has investigated 389 of them and has recommended disciplinary action against seven senior employees.
Arizona Mirror: ‘Extremely frustrating’ mail delays for prescriptions hit veterans, rural areas
By Jacob Fischler
Veterans, people who require specialty medications, rural residents far from pharmacies and others who receive their prescription medications through the Postal Service say they have experienced delays and other delivery disruptions after the Trump administration made changes to post office operations.
Military.com: Why Veterans Are Quitting Federal Jobs at Higher Rates Than Non-Vets
By Richard Sisk
Veterans leave their government jobs at higher rates than non-veterans due to a variety of issues, including dissatisfaction with the “meaningfulness” of the work, according to a new Government Accountability Office report.
8/27
IAVA NEWS COVERAGE
Military.com: VA Secretary Moves to Block Gender-Neutral Change to Motto
By Richard Sisk
VA Secretary Robert Wilkie went to President Abraham Lincoln’s hometown of Springfield, Illinois, Wednesday to double down on his opposition to a gender-neutral update to the agency’s iconic motto. The organizations Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America and the Service Women’s Action Network and several lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have argued that the current motto is exclusionary. Tom Porter, Government Affairs vice president at IAVA, noted that Wilkie’s trip to Springfield coincided with the Defense Department’s marking of “Women’s Equality Day.” It seems like he’s trying really hard” to make it more difficult for any future change to the motto, Porter said of Wilkie. “It’s kind of head-scratching what he’s doing.”
VETERAN NEWS COVERAGE
Task & Purpose: Marines who appeared in Trump RNC video did not violate DoD policy, Corps says
By Jeff Schogol
Two Marines who opened doors for President Donald Trump during an event that was featured during the Republican National Convention were just doing their jobs, the Corps said in a statement. “Using the Marines in this segment is just the latest example of Trump shamelessly and damagingly politicizing our military,” Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans for America founder Paul Rieckhoff tweeted Tuesday, adding that the Marines were merely “props” for the president.
CNN: The desperate ‘pandemic’ among US veterans
By David Shulkin
The rate of veteran suicide is likely increasing during Covid-19. One study says that with increased social isolation and higher veteran unemployment, 550 additional veterans beyond the projected 20 per day are expected to take their own lives within the next year.
Stars and Stripes: Toxic-exposure conference Friday to bring big names to call for VA reform
By Rose Thayer
A former Department of Veterans Affairs secretary, policy and medical experts, and a famous comedian are joining forces Friday night to discuss toxic exposure among veterans and reforms necessary to get those veterans treatment, care and disability resources.
Government CIO: VA Launches Initiatives Addressing Mental Health, Veteran Homelessness
By Adam Patterson
As part of the Department of Veterans Affairs’ renewed focus on caring for America’s most vulnerable retired service members, the agency has announced two programs dedicated to expanding access to emergency mental health services and ending veteran homelessness.
USA Today: ACLU files lawsuit for Portland protesters, military veterans against Trump administration
By Kristine Phillips
Military veterans and protesters in Portland, Ore. are suing President Donald Trump and other administration officials over the federal government’s response to the unrest in the city – the latest in a flood of litigation that has resulted from the unrest in Portland and elsewhere.
*Also reported in The Hill
Military Times: VP Pence credits Trump with rebuilding the military, fixing VA in reelection pitch
Leo Shane III
Vice President Mike Pence lauded President Donald Trump for rebuilding the military, fixing the Department of Veterans Affairs and strengthening America’s national security in his Republican convention speech on Wednesday night.
8/28
IAVA NEWS COVERAGE
Restaurant Business: Starbucks Wants its Customers and Employees to Vote
By Jonathan Maze
Starbucks is working with a handful of organizations on the effort, including the NAACP, Civic Alliance, the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, Hispanic Federation, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America and the Born This Way Foundation. The company stressed that its effort is nonpartisan.
VETERAN NEWS COVERAGE
The Hill: Enough is enough: Trump gave veterans real and permanent choice [Opinion]
By Robert Wilkie
Reporters are playing word games instead of reporting the facts, and are failing to tell the public what millions of veterans know: the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has never worked better, in part because President Trump gave veterans the real, permanent choice of using private health care providers.
ConnectingVets.com: VA Secretary redoubles support of disputed motto with new signs for national cemeteries
By Abbie Bennett
The Department of Veterans Affairs motto, or mission statement, is a quote from President Abraham Lincoln’s second inaugural address 155 years ago. But in recent years, some have called it exclusionary. Now, VA Secretary Robert Wilkie, who has repeatedly defended the motto, is redoubling his support, unveiling new signs planned to be installed at veterans cemeteries nationwide.
ABC News: Military sexual assault victims say the system is broken
By Ella Torres
The death and alleged sexual harassment of Fort Hood soldier Vanessa Guillen prompted widespread calls for both justice and change. The Army itself announced that five civilians would review the “command climate and culture” at Ford Hood after her killing, with Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy saying, “the Army is committed to taking care” of its soldiers, civilians, veterans and families. Yet for some women in the military, it was a breaking point — a story all too familiar, they said.
Federal News Network: VA’s accountability office recommended 7 senior leaders for discipline within 18-month period
By Nicole Ogrysko
The office designed to hold top leaders accountable for poor performance, misconduct and retaliation at the Department of Veterans Affairs has received thousands of complaints and recommended disciplinary action against seven senior leaders and supervisors.
Military Times: Trump vows to continue military rebuild, halt endless wars in convention finale
By Leo Shane III
In a controversial speech from the White House lawn, President Donald Trump on Thursday accepted the Republican Party’s nomination for a second term as commander-in-chief with a promise that “the best is yet to come” and to continue rebuilding the military.
Newsweek: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Gets an F Grade While House Earns an A
By Daniel Villareal
The Lugar Center, a DC-based nonprofit public policy institute focused on bipartisan governance, has given the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs a grade of an “F”, the lowest grade Lugar has given the committee since 2009. The Senate committee failed because it didn’t hold any investigative oversight hearings into veterans issues for the last year. Comparatively, Lugar gave the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs an “A” for the seventh year in a row, according to Military Times.
Tampa Bay Times: As more women turn to the VA for care, bipartisan bill and efforts in Tampa Bay would improve services
By Ileana Najarro
The Deborah Sampson Act, which passed the U.S. House of Representatives in November, has made it to the U.S. Senate. It has been in the works for years, Barber said. It’s named after a woman who disguised herself as a man to fight in the Revolutionary War.
