Annual event celebrating bipartisan leadership on behalf of the post-9/11 veteran community will feature a fireside conversation on the future of veteran policy.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 16, 2026

WASHINGTON, D.C. –  Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), the nation’s premier advocacy organization for post-9/11 veterans, is proud to announce IAVA Salutes 2026, taking place on the morning of Thursday, May 14, 2026, at 600 Massachusetts Ave NW in Washington, D.C.

This year’s program will feature a breakfast reception and an intimate fireside conversation with this year’s IAVA Leadership in Government Award recipients, Congressman Don Bacon (R-NE) and Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (D-IL), focused on the evolving needs of today’s veterans and their families.

“IAVA Salutes convenes government, business, media, and the veteran community to recognize public officials who have demonstrated unwavering leadership on behalf of veterans,” said Dr. Kyleanne Hunter, CEO of IAVA and an Iraq and Afghanistan War veteran.

“It’s an opportunity for our community to directly engage with those shaping veteran policy, to thank them for their leadership and to have an honest conversation about what’s working and what still needs to change. Both of our honorees understand the needs of the post-9/11 generation, and that’s exactly who we want in this conversation.”

Congressman Don Bacon (R-NE-02): A Decade of Delivering for Those Who Serve and a Lifetime of Service

IAVA is proud to honor Representative Don Bacon, a U.S. Air Force veteran and Member of Congress representing Nebraska’s 2nd District, with the 2026 IAVA Leadership in Government Award.

As Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee’s Military Quality-of-Life Panel, Representative Bacon led a bipartisan inquiry into the pressures facing servicemembers and their families—including pay, housing, childcare, healthcare, and military spouse careers—resulting in more than thirty legislative recommendations enacted in the FY2025 NDAA. He voted for the final passage of the PACT Act and co-founded the For Country Caucus, reflecting a legislator who has led with service throughout his time in Congress.

“Representative Bacon understands that military quality-of-life is directly connected to veteran outcomes,” said Dr. Hunter. “His work on the Quality-of-Life Panel was a sustained effort to translate servicemembers’ experiences into policy that lasts. As a veteran of both Iraq and Afghanistan myself, I know what it means to have a leader in Congress who treats that reality with the gravity it deserves.”

“I’m grateful to IAVA for this recognition and for their tireless advocacy on behalf of the post-9/11 generation of veterans. As a nearly 30-year Air Force veteran, I know firsthand that strong veteran outcomes start with strong support for servicemembers and their families. As Chairman of the Military Quality-of-Life Panel, we worked in a bipartisan way to deliver the largest pay raise for junior enlisted in 40 years and ensure no servicemember has to rely on SNAP or food banks to feed their family.” — Representative Don Bacon

Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (D-IL-13): Rising Leadership with a Focus on What Works

IAVA is also proud to present the 2026 IAVA Leadership in Government Award to Representative Nikki Budzinski for the strong leadership she has demonstrated on behalf of veterans across two terms in Congress serving Illinois’ 13th District.

As a member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Technology Modernization, Representative Budzinski focuses on improving the systems veterans depend on—from access to care and benefits to VA digital infrastructure. Her work on the Improving Veterans’ Experience Act of 2025 and the SAFE STEPS for Veterans Act reflects substantive engagement with the issues that matter most to the post-9/11 generation.

“As a Marine combat veteran who contributed to the Department of Defense’s Independent Review Commission on Sexual Assault, I deeply appreciate Representative Budzinski’s commitment to ensuring survivors receive fair access to care and benefits and are treated with the dignity they deserve,” said Dr. Hunter. “She has done the work to understand the systems veterans navigate every day—and she’s shown up to improve them. That’s exactly the kind of leadership our community needs in Congress.”

“It is an honor to receive IAVA’s 2026 Leadership in Government Award for my work on the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee. As the Ranking Member of Technology Modernization Subcommittee, I have been focused on ensuring VA is equipped to fully implement the PACT Act and deliver the benefits our veterans deserve. Supporting our women veterans is also one of my top priorities, including working to ensure access to the unique care they’ve earned. I look forward to sitting down with Congressman Bacon and IAVA to talk about how we can all work together to meet the needs of the post-9/11 generation.” — Representative Nikki Budzinski

A Tradition of Bipartisan Recognition

Representatives Bacon and Budzinski join a distinguished group of prior IAVA Leadership in Government Award recipients whose bipartisan leadership has improved outcomes for veterans and military families, including Senator John Boozman, Representative Brian Mast, Governor Wes Moore, Senator Jerry Moran, Senator Jon Tester, and Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi.

Event Sponsorship and Information

Sponsorship packages and tickets are available for the event online or by contacting IAVA at events@iava.org for more information on how to support the event.

About IAVA: IAVA stands at the center of people, policy, and institutions to ensure that the lived experience of post-9/11 veterans is heard, measured, and acted on. We pair the experiences of post-9/11 veterans with evidence, use that to shape policy, and work with institutions that serve veterans to ensure that policies become real in veterans’ lives. By convening veterans, researchers, and decision-makers, IAVA drives the changes needed to ensure America serves the newest generation of veterans. 

Contact Information:

Jessica Finucan
Director, Policy and Advocacy
Email: press@iava.org
Website: IAVA.org

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