IAVA VP of Government Affairs, Tom Porter, shares his insights about Storm the Hill.

The IAVA advocacy team is omnipresent in Washington, DC, regularly communicating our members’ Big 6 policy priorities to Congress and the Administration, while working alongside our many Veteran Service Organization partners. However, we can’t do it all. We need the support of our members through our signature leadership development and advocacy program – Storm The Hill. 

Multiple times per year, a diverse and talented group of IAVA members are selected from across the country and are flown to Washington, DC to train in advocacy and communication skills before spending 2-3 days meeting with Members of Congress. The week usually also includes one or more high-profile events like Congressional testimony, a press conference, or a Capitol Hill reception.  Storm The Hill has evolved from an inexperienced, but determined, handful of recently-returned vets roaming the House and Senate hallways, into a seasoned, top-shelf government relations operation making the most of our members’ powerful stories and skills.

Stormers successfully fought to establish the Post-9/11 GI Bill, then successfully defended it from cuts and abuse several times in recent years. They have fought for and passed legislation on DoD accountability for burn pits and toxic exposure, VA accountability for bad employees that hurt veterans, improvements in VA suicide prevention, and a major restructuring of VA’s community care program, to name just a few victories.  Above all else, we have FUN!

When IAVA Storms the Hill, our leaders listen. 

If you think you have what it takes, apply to participate in a future Storm. All veteran members will receive an email alerting them to apply when the next date is set. Meet our most recent Stormers HERE.