As the leading voice for the post-9/11 veteran community, IAVA continues to facilitate change and create awareness about issues and topics impacting our community. Below are highlights from the last three months:

IAVA IN THE NEWS:

(Fox News) David Shulkin: VA Needs to Secure Relief for Burn Pit Veterans

September 30, 2020: “We should be offering [veterans] the help and actually helping them in documenting the evidence for why they may have been injured, or disabled, in their line of service,” said Dr. David Shulkin, former Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary and IAVA Board Member…Read more.

(Marijuana Moment) Military Veterans Group Asks Federal Court to Hear Marijuana Case Challenging DEA Classification

October 8, 2020: “It is for these reasons that IAVA believes it is crucial to remove cannabis as a schedule I drug, to allow this research to be done and potentially provide much-needed relief for veterans,” said Travis Horr, Director of Government Affairs for IAVA…Read more.

(ConnectingVets.com) IAVA: ‘Remove Marijuana as a Schedule I Drug’ to Allow Veterans Affairs Research

October 13, 2020: “IAVA believes it is crucial to remove cannabis as a schedule I drug, to allow this research to be done and potentially provide much-needed relief for veterans,” said Travis Horr, Director of Government Affairs for IAVA…Read more.

(ConnectingVets.com) IAVA Planning Virtual March Across America This Veterans Day

October 21, 2020: “It’s a way for veterans to find other veterans in their community and get together with civilians to bridge the divide,” said IAVA CEO Jeremy Butler.​​​​​​..Read more.

(Cannabis Business Times) Amicus Briefs Filed in Support of Dr. Sisley’s Petition to Facilitate Medical Cannabis Research for Veterans with PTSD

October 21, 2020: IAVA and several doctors filed the amicus briefs in support of Sisley’s petition, which ultimately seeks to facilitate medical cannabis research for veterans suffering from PTSD…Read more.

(Washington Post) Spin, Hyperbole and Deception: How Trump Claimed Credit for an Obama Veterans Achievement

October 26, 2020: “He’s calling it ‘Choice,’ when he means the Mission Act, but to the average listener, the Mission Act doesn’t mean anything, but ‘Choice’ does.” said IAVA CEO Jeremy Butler.​​​​​​..Read more.

(U.S. Department of the Interior) Trump Administration Grants Gold Star Families and Military Veterans Free Entrance to National Parks, Refugees and Other Public Lands

October 29, 2020: “Given our nation’s ongoing veteran suicide crisis, this is a welcome step forward using a whole of government approach to improve the lives of veterans.” said IAVA CEO Jeremy Butler…Read more.

(Stars and Stripes) VA is ‘Playing Political Games’ by Withholding Veteran Suicide Report

October 30, 2020: “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 IAVA.​​​​​​..Read more.

(McClatchy DC) Biden Suspects Toxic Exposure in Iraq Killed Beau. He Has a Plan

November 10, 2020: “It’s just like with K2, where it’s been 20 years, and they’ve got nothing, no health care, no response from the government,” said Jeremy Butler, CEO of IAVA…Read more.

(Mediaplanet) How VSOs Can Help Veterans Navigate Life After Service

November 11, 2020: “It’s important that Veterans have access to programs like QRF that truly meet their needs and ensure pathways to stable futures for the long-term,” said Jeremy Butler, CEO of IAVA…Read more.

(Military.com) Veteran Suicide Rate Creeps Up as VA Makes New Investments in Prevention

November 12, 2020: “The Annual National Veteran Suicide Prevention report shows that we need to get as many veterans as possible into the VA,” said Tom Porter, EVP of Government Affairs at IAVA…Read more.

(Air Force Times) Biden’s Pick for VA Secretary may be a Post 9/11 Veteran

November 18, 2020: “A veteran from the current wars could help bridge the gap on issues from older generations to the newer ones,” said Jeremy Butler, CEO of IAVA…Read more.

(The Washington Post) Trump’s Military Cuts in Afghanistan Highlight an Array of Divisions in 19-Year-Old Conflict

November 18, 2020: “I know there is going to have to be date that we have to leave there. We just want to make sure it’s under the right circumstances,” said Tom Porter, EVP of Government Affairs for IAVA…Read more.

(Connecting Vets.com) Thousands of Veterans Eligible for Discharge Reviews After Army Settles Lawsuit

November 18, 2020: “This is a watershed vindication of veterans’ rights,” said Steve Kennedy, US Army Veteran and Member of IAVA…Read more.

(The Oklahoman) US Vets, Gold Star Families can get into National Parks for Free for Life

November 19, 2020: “Exposure to outdoor recreation can provide a wide range of mental health benefits given our nation’s ongoing veteran suicide crisis,” said Jeremy Butler, CEO of IAVA…Read more.

(FOX 13) Report: Social Media Spoofing is Targeting Veterans 

December 2, 2020: “These are becoming much more high-tech. Real groups are now getting infiltrated by bad actors, sometimes actual individuals, sometimes bots. They’re becoming increasingly sophisticated,” said Jeremy Butler, CEO of IAVA…Read more.

(Washington Post) VA May Distribute Coronavirus Vaccines Within a Couple Weeks 

December 3, 2020: “Some clarity from the VA is encouraging for an agency that has been challenged in releasing public details but we still have a lot of questions, and there’s still a lot of transparency we’d like to see,” said Jeremy Butler, CEO of IAVA…Read more.

MEDIA HITS:

(Navy Times) How Will Trump and Biden Handle Veterans Issues? Here’s What They Told us

October 15, 2020: Question submitted from IAVA: “What is your position on legislation like the Military Justice Improvement Act (S. 1789), and the Deborah Sampson Act (H.R. 2234)“…Read more.

(The Well News) Veterans Group Sees Ally in Biden on Toxic Exposure Issue

November 10, 2020: “We finally have a chance at securing a much larger piece of legislation to get health care and disability benefits to those veterans who have been sickened by these toxic exposures,” said Jeremy Butler, CEO of IAVA…Read more.

(PhRMA) Recognizing America’s Veterans

November 11, 2020: “We believe it is our duty to ensure that all Veterans have access to proper health resources to effectively meet their needs,” said Sean Ullman, COO of IAVA…Read more.

(CNN) Top Department of Veterans Affairs Official Raises Concerns About Coronavirus Vaccine Distribution 

December 9, 2020: “Front-line health care workers will be prioritized first and there were no details about whether certain veterans would be as well,” said Tom Porter, EVP of Government Affairs for IAVA…Read more.

(The Washington Post) Some Veterans Groups Disappointed Biden’s Pick for VA Chief Never Served in Uniform 

December 10, 2020: “He’ll have to go a long way to prove himself to a very skeptical population who would prefer someone with more direct veteran and VA experience,” said Jeremy Butler, CEO of IAVA…Read more.

(The Hill) What the Veteran Community Needs – A Leader Who Puts Accountability First 

December 15, 2020: “As a leading veterans advocacy organization, IAVA believes the next secretary of Veterans Affairs must bring to bear specific qualities if we are to effectively support our nation’s heroes,” said Jeremy Butler, CEO of IAVA…Read more.

IAVA LEADING THE WAY:

(IAVA Media) IAVA Hosts Facebook Live to Discuss Voting and the Veteran Community 

October 1, 2020: IAVA CEO Jeremy Butler joined the Mission Continues President Mary Beth Bruggeman to discuss voting and issues happening in the veteran community…Watch here.

(The Hill) 19 Years Since Afghanistan and our Veterans are Still Feeling the After-Effects

October 7, 2020: “I want to thank our allies in Congress for passing key legislation in support of our brave service members at a critical time and I urge our legislators to keep up this momentum,” writes Jeremy Butler, CEO of IAVA…Read more.

(IAVA Press Release) IAVA Announces Facebook Live Event to Launch the Virtual Veterans Day Nationwide Parade 

October 15, 2020: On Tuesday, October 20, IAVA will host a Facebook Live event to discuss the upcoming and first of its kind Support America’s Veterans (SAV) March.​​​​​​..Read more.

(IAVA Press Release) IAVA Announces Facebook Live Event to Launch the Virtual Veterans Day Nationwide Parade 

October 15, 2020: On Tuesday, October 20, IAVA will host a Facebook Live event to discuss the upcoming and first of its kind Support America’s Veterans (SAV) March.​​​​​​..Read more.

(IAVA Events) IAVA’s Veterans Day Support America’s Veterans March 

November 11, 2020: IAVA’s first ever Veterans Day Support America’s Veterans March was a huge success! Thank you all for celebrating our nation’s veterans this year by marching virtually with us….Read more.

(IAVA Events) Support America’s Veterans March (SAV March)

November 11, 2020: This year we asked all Americans to go outside, grab their flags, and create their own small community parade experiences and march with us virtually to celebrate our nation’s heroes – and they did not disappoint. Check out IAVA’s Twitter for stories from around the country…Read more.

(IAVA Events) IAVA’s Veteran Leadership Award Ceremony 

November 17, 2020: While our Heroes Gala celebration looked a little different this year, we were very proud to present this year’s Veteran Leadership Award to Colonel Nicole Malachowski (USAF, Retired)…Watch here.
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(IAVA Events) IAVA’s Civilian Leadership Award Ceremony 

November 19, 2020: While our Heroes Gala celebration looked a little different this year, we were very proud to present this year’s Civilian Leadership Award to Maureen “Mo” Siedor, Legal Director of Swords to Plowshares…Watch here.

(IAVA Press Release) IAVA Reacts to Denis McDonough Nomination as Secretary of Veterans 

December 10, 2020: “President-Elect Biden’s selection of Denis McDonough as nominee for VA Secretary is unexpected but also encouraging,” said Jeremy Butler, CEO of IAVA…Read more.

(IAVA Press Release) IAVA Calls for the Immediate Removal of VA Secretary 

December 14, 2020: “VA must take a firm stand against sexual harassment and assault within their facilities, and there should be consequences for those that choose to stand by when instances occur,” said Jeremy Butler, CEO of IAVA…Read more.