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 month:

This month, IAVA offered supporters an opportunity to double their giving, hosted a live event highlighting COVID-19 vaccine safety, and worked with national media outlets to discuss the Afghanistan Troop withdrawal and what that means for the veteran community moving forward.

As the leading voice for the post-9/11 veteran community, IAVA continues to advocate on behalf of all veterans and create awareness about issues and topics impacting our community. Below are articles and news sources from the past month:

(IAVA Giving) 2021 Summer Hero Match: You can help change the lives of veterans RIGHT NOW by ensuring they have the care, services and programs they deserve and have your support matched…Double your impact here.

(NBC) IAVA Joins NBC Washington to Discuss Social Media Disinformation & the Targeting of Veterans: “You see people trying to take advantage of the fact that our country is united around the military veteran cause,” said Jeremy Butler, CEO of IAVA…Watch here.

(BBC) IAVA Joins the BBC to Discuss the Troop Withdrawal from Afghanistan: “We were there for the mission of keeping Afghanistan from being used as a staging ground for terrorist attacks against the U.S. and coalition forces and that mission has been achieved,” said Jeremy Butler, CEO of IAVA…Watch here.

(CNN) IAVA Joins CNN New Day to Discuss Afghanistan, the U.S. Military & Vaccines: “If you look at the issue of stability there, it’s a numbers game and a war of attrition between the Afghan forces and the Taliban,” said Jeremy Butler, CEO of IAVA…Watch here.

(CNN) IAVA Joins CNN New Day to Discuss the President’s Speech on the War in Afghanistan: “We’ve reached a point where we achieved the missions that the U.S. intended when we went into Afghanistan,” said Jeremy Butler, CEO of IAVA…Watch here.

(MSNBC) IAVA Joins MSNBC & Rev. Al Sharpton to Discuss the U.S. Military & Military Academics: “The Air Force Academy has a known history of punishing black Airmen at higher rates and with harsher penalties than their white counterparts,” said Jeremy Butler, CEO of IAVA…Watch here.

(NBC) IAVA Joins NBC to Discuss Military Toxic Exposures: “Injuries from toxic exposures and burn pits are the most widespread health impact of the post-9/11 generation,” said Tom Porter, EVP of Government Affairs for IAVA…Watch here.

(Press Release) IAVA Releases Statement on President’s Announcement of Operation Allies Refuge to Protect Afghan Allies: “We must ensure that this operation is as robust as possible, to protect all of our allies and their families, including those not yet in the SIV pipeline, from the Taliban,” said Jeremy Butler, CEO of IAVA…Read more.

(IAVA Events) IAVA Joins the Bob Woodruff Foundation & Dr. Kavita Patel to Raise Awareness of Vaccine Safety & More: “We are honored to join forces with this incredible organization to raise awareness about the impacts of the pandemic and provide valuable information to veterans and their families about vaccines,” said Jeremy Butler, CEO of IAVA…Watch here.

(Press Release) IAVA Applauds Senate Armed Services Committee’s Inclusion of Landmark Military Justice Reform Legislation Within NDAA: “IAVA has fought to see this legislation passed for several years. We urge the House to follow the Senate’s lead and ensure the original language, and spirit of MJIIPA, remains in the final version of the NDAA,” said Jeremy Butler, CEO of IAVA…Read more.

(Press Release) IAVA Applauds Decision of VA Secretary to Make COVID-19 Vaccines Mandatory for VA Health Care Workers: “Since the start of the pandemic, IAVA has pushed for the VA to maximize transparency about COVID treatment and, now that vaccines are available, to educate and expedite the delivery of vaccines to all,” said Jeremy Butler, CEO of IAVA…Read more.

MSNBC: America Must Learn to Fight For it Veterans as Hard as They do For us

By Willie Geist

There is a deal America makes with its troops: You risk your lives in dangerous places to defend the country and to preserve its freedom, and, in return, we will take care of you when you come home. Paul Rieckhoff, a first lieutenant who served with the Army in Iraq and founded the prominent post-9/11 veterans group IAVA, warns that burn pits may well be the Agent Orange of this generation’s military. The issue demands our urgent attention.

Stars and Stripes: ‘Bold action’ needed by DOD to prevent consequences of sexual assault and harassment in the military

By Rose L. Thayer

The Defense Department must take bold steps to put prevention and reporting at the forefront of its fight against sexual assault and harassment or the behaviors will remain a persistent problem for the military, according to a report released Monday by the Rand Corp. “It seems, especially with everything that has been brought up over the past year, the public is finally getting somewhat of an insight into the sexual assault problem within our military, since the tragic death of Spc. Vanessa Guillen,” said Navy veteran Kaitlynne Hetrick, an associate of government affairs for the veterans group Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. “It seems as though they’ve definitely made improvements, but there is a lot to be done.”

Globe Newswire: The Bob Woodruff Foundation Partners with Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America to Raise Awareness of the COVID-19 Vaccine Amongst Veteran Community

To raise awareness about vaccine safety and availability and share solutions for communities serving veterans and their families, the Bob Woodruff Foundation (BWF) today announced a partnership with Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) to support vaccination education efforts for the military-veteran community. The partnership with IAVA will include a Facebook Live event on July 20, featuring a discussion with Jeremy Butler, CEO of IAVA; Bob Woodruff, co-founder of the Bob Woodruff Foundation; and Dr. Kavita Patel, physician and former Obama administration official, that dives deeper into the current impact of the pandemic, the benefits of the COVID-19 vaccine, and information on the available and accessible options for veterans and their families to get vaccinated.

NBC 4 Washington: Deployed Then Denied: Veterans Fight for Benefits After Toxic Exposure

By Jodie Fleischer, Katie Leslie, Steve Jones and Jeff Piper 

More than a decade after serving in Iraq, Kate Hendricks Thomas was just 38 and married with a young son when a military nurse suggested she get an early mammogram.  That screening uncovered a rare and aggressive form of breast cancer that, at Stage 4, had already spread throughout her body. IAVA’s surveys indicate more than 80 percent who faced toxic exposure during service report health impacts from cancers to asthma, [Tom Porter, executive vice president of government affairs with the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America] said, but eight out of 10 who try to get healthcare and disability benefits for those injuries are turned down.

IAVA is the voice for the post-9/11 veteran generation. With over 425,000 veterans and allies nationwide, IAVA is the leader in non-partisan veteran advocacy and public awareness. We drive historic impacts for veterans and IAVA’s programs are second to none. Any veteran or family member in need can reach out to IAVA’s Quick Reaction Force at quickreactionforce.org or 855-91RAPID (855-917-2743) to be connected promptly with a veteran care manager who will assist. IAVA’s The Vote Hub is a free tool to register to vote and find polling information. IAVA’s membership is always growing. Join the movement at iava.org/membership.

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