IAVA Weekly SITREP (22)

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:

Friday, November 13

IAVA NEWS COVERAGE

Florida Daily: Vern Buchanan: Time for Feds to Recognize More Health Problems Associated With Burn Pits

By Kevin Derby

A member of the Florida delegation is backing U.S. Rep. Raul Ruiz’s, D-Calif., effort to “streamline the process for obtaining VA benefits for burn pit and other toxic exposures” while expanding the number of health problems the federal government associated with burn pits. The Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) and other groups are backing the proposal.

LA Weekly: Survey Shows 75% of Veterans are Interested in Cannabis

By Kaitlin Domangue

According to a 2019 survey conducted by Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), 75% of military veterans say they’d consider using either “cannabis or cannabinoid products as a treatment option.

VETERAN NEWS COVERAGE

Military.com: Suicides and Attempts Among Veterans Dropped During Pandemic, VA Says

By Patricia Kime

Suicides and suicide attempts among veterans declined during the first few months of the COVID-19 pandemic, as did emergency room visits at Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals for suicide-related injuries, according to a new report from the VA.

Military Times: Suicide rate among veterans up again slightly, despite focus on prevention efforts

By Leo Shane III

The rate of suicide among veterans ticked upwards in recent years despite increased public attention and funding on the problem, according to a new report released by Department of Veterans Affairs officials on Thursday.

*Also in, Stars and Stripes

Atlanta-Journal Constitution: Veteran suicide rate ticks up in Georgia

By Jeremy Redmon

The suicide rate among veterans increased slightly in Georgia and across the nation between 2017 and 2018, according to a U.S. Veterans Affairs Department report released Thursday.

Federal News Network: VA declares victory, but AFGE isn’t accepting latest impasse panel decision

By Nicole Ogrysko

After nearly a year of contentious negotiations and disagreements, the Federal Service Impasses Panel has issued a highly-anticipated decision in the ongoing collective bargaining dispute between the Department of Veterans Affairs and the American Federation of Government Employees.

Marine Corps Times: VA coronavirus cases reach record high for 10th consecutive day

By Leo Shane III

The Department of Veterans Affairs on Veterans Day hit its 10th consecutive day of record-high levels of active coronavirus cases among patients, more than doubling infection levels in the last month alone.

The Ripon Advance: Tillis unveils bipartisan bill to require better VA management of veterans’ legal claims

By Staff

U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) on Nov. 10 introduced a bipartisan bill that seeks to improve legal recourse for United States military veterans who file claims against the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Military.com: Native American Veterans Have Unique Transition Needs. They Deserve the Nation’s Help [Opinion]

No other demographic serves at the rate that Native Americans do and no other demographic is so underserved in their post-active duty lives. As a nation we need to step up to put Native Americans into the jobs of the future where their service, experience and leadership is needed and valued.

Thursday, November 12

IAVA NEWS COVERAGE

The Well News: Veterans Group Sees Ally In Biden on Toxic Exposure Issue

By Dan McCue

The head of the nation’s largest advocacy group for Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans predicted Tuesday that 2021 will be a very good year for those who have long sought comprehensive aid for soldiers harmed by burn pit and toxin exposure in those wars. “It’s been a priority for us for the past two, if not three years, and we’ve made some small progress,” said Jeremy Butler, CEO, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.

Good Day San Fransisco: Veterans Day 2020 Events In Sacramento

The Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) Support America’s Veterans (SAV) March is a first of its kind virtual parade across this beautiful country. On November 11, all of the mini parades combined will virtually take participants from coast to coast for a combined 2,093 miles.

Green Market Report: Survey shows 75% of veterans are interested in cannabis

By Kaitlin Domangue

The Ledger Independent: Gold Star families, vets given free entrance to national parks

By Staff

“Exposure to outdoor recreation can provide a wide range of mental health benefits, and 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 Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America CEO Jeremy Butler.

VETERAN NEWS COVERAGE

NPR: Their Service Entitles Them To Low-Cost Loans. But Veterans Often Pay More

By Chris Arnold

A new study finds that the rates charged on VA loans vary widely and that veterans like Forr often pay more than they should for their mortgages. That can end up costing them tens of thousands more over the life of the loan.

The Hill: Veterans and their families are the ‘face of America’ [Opinion]

By Dov Zakheim

Our veterans who have served, too often in the face of danger while their families at home worried for their safety, are now home for good. We should honor their service to us all, not only on Veterans’ Day but throughout the year.

FOX Cleveland: Comedian Jon Stewart pushing to get benefits for veterans exposed to burn pits, denied disability by VA

By Kellie Meyer

Thousands of veterans are waiting for help this Veterans Day after being exposed to toxic burn pits and having disability claims denied by the Department of Veterans Affairs. But veterans advocates and lawmakers on Capitol Hill aren’t taking no for an answer. Comedian Jon Stewart is among those advocates. Due to the pandemic, his latest push to support veterans is happening virtually.

CBS Louisianna: Sen. Kennedy introduces legislation to protect veterans’ Second Amendment rights

By Victoria Cristina

Senator John Kennedy introduced the Veterans Second Amendment Protection Act, which prevents veterans from losing their Second Amendment right to purchase or own firearms when they receive help managing their Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits.

ABC Rochester: Gillibrand calls for expanded health benefits for veterans exposed to Agent Orange

By Staff

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand is calling on fellow lawmakers to include expanded health care and benefits for veterans suffering from Agent Orange-related illnesses to the final Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

NPR: New Memorial Recognizes Generations Of Military Service By Native American Veterans

By Quil Lawrence

Twenty-five years in the making, a new monument on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., opens on Veterans Day — the National Native American Veterans Memorial.

CNN: ‘Faces of Covid’ Twitter account features veterans who lost their lives to Covid-19 every hour on Veterans Day

By Lauren Johnson

“Telling the stories of veterans lost to COVID-19 on a day when the country is focused on veterans feels like an important way of telling the full story, with stories and context, about the way in which veterans are being impacted by this virus right now,” Alex Goldstein said.

CNN: Let’s not forget this group when we say ‘thank you for your service’ on Veterans Day [Opinion]

By Ja’net Bishop

We should support justice-involved veterans by not dismissing their service. Despite being incarcerated, there was a time when they set aside their own lives to serve this country and it shouldn’t be forgotten. When we say “thank you for your service,” it should, without a doubt, include them.

FOX News: Veterans facing dangerous triad amid coronavirus, other health conditions, expert says

By Kayla Rivas

Veterans are already at an increased risk for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and the coronavirus pandemic has only exacerbated mental health issues for some. That strain, coupled with the possibility of a chronic illness like diabetes, is creating a dangerous triad for some among the veteran population.

Military.com: Lawmakers Investigate Cancer Cluster of Veterans Who Served at ‘K2’ Base

By Patricia Kime

The House Oversight and Reform National Security Subcommittee plans to hold a hearing Nov. 18 to determine whether the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense are taking the health concerns of these former service members seriously.

Wednesday, November 11

IAVA NEWS COVERAGE

CBS Sacramento: Veterans Day 2020 Events In Sacramento

By Staff

Miami Herald: Biden suspects toxic exposure in Iraq killed Beau. He has a plan for ill veterans

By Tara Copp

Joe Biden, like many other families of service members diagnosed with illnesses from overseas deployments, suspects toxic exposure may have been behind his son Beau’s brain cancer. Veterans say they are done waiting. “We are overdue,” said Jeremy Butler, chief executive officer of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA). “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. IAVA’s Butler said the group is focused on getting one broad piece of legislation through Congress next year that addresses all toxic exposure.

*Also reported in the Tri-City Herald, Charlotte Observer

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: They volunteered to serve in Iraq and Afghanistan and returned home safe. Then the health problems started.

By Meg Jones

Unlike Agent Orange, a herbicide the U.S. military used to control vegetation in Vietnam, the number of chemicals and toxins troops in Iraq and Afghanistan encountered is varied and vast, said Tom Porter, executive vice president, government affairs of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.

VETERAN NEWS COVERAGE

Military Times: Biden’s transition team for veterans issues includes community advocates and former VA leaders

By Leo Shane III

President-elect Joe Biden’s transition team for the Department of Veterans Affairs includes several agency alumni who will spend the next few months setting policy priorities for the incoming administration.

Minneapolis Star-Tribune: Veterans find COVID silver lining: chance to retrain for new career

By Reid Forgrave

Hampshire’s story is becoming an increasingly common refrain in Minnesota among veterans and others who are changing career paths during the pandemic. Hennepin Technical College, where Hampshire went to retrain, has seen an increase in laid-off workers pursuing a second career. And in fall semester, 65 students are using the GI Bill for tuition.

The Detroit News: Thank veterans for risking their lives by taking action [Opinion]

By Robert Wiklie

There are other ways to say “thank you” to those who took the oath, and I encourage everyone to use Veterans Day as a chance to learn more about the 41 million men and women who have worn the uniform of the United States since we first fought for our freedom in 1775.

CBS Denver: Army Ranger Turned Colorado Congressman Introduces Bill To Track Casualties Off The Battlefield

By Shaun Boyd

Rep. Jason Crow, a Democrat who represents Colorado’s 6th Congressional District introduced a bill to require annual reports of suicides on VA or military property as well as more congressional oversight. “We have to figure out where it’s happening, how often it’s happening, why it’s happening and then we put together a working group of best practices to address it,” Crow said.

Today: Why veterans struggle to share their stories with their kids

By Kait Hanson

Dr. Shannon Curry, a clinical psychologist specializing in war-related trauma and PTSD, said it’s common for combat veterans to struggle to open up with their children and other loved ones about what they’ve experienced. This is because war causes such profound psychological stress.

CNBC: Jim Cramer promotes hiring military veterans: ‘It’s good business’

By Tyler Clifford

On the eve of Veterans Day, Jim Cramer hosted his annual “Salute to Service” special on “Mad Money.” “We’ve got millions of veterans, some of the best-trained people in the world, yet they often struggle to find jobs when they come home,” Cramer said. Cramer referenced efforts by companies like Starbucks, JPMorgan, Amazon and Home Depot, who have combined hired more than 100,000 veterans, and some military spouses, within the last seven years.

The New York Times: My Fellow Veterans Reminded Me What This Election Was About

By Elliot Ackerman

The 75 million Americans who voted for Mr. Biden are not going to suddenly erase the 71 million Americans who voted for Mr. Trump. The 146 million people who voted all have some reconciling to do if we hope, as a country, to heal. For our own sake, for the sake of our children and for the sake of our nation, I couldn’t agree with Mr. Biden more strongly on this point. There’s no policy paper that can guide us in the work of forgiveness.

Poynter: Vets only make up 2% of journalists. This group wants to change that.

By Kristen Hare

In a release with the news, Baddorf reports that 7% of Americans are military vets, but that number shrinks to just 2% among journalists, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. For a country that’s been at war for nearly 19 years, Bunting said, it’s critical to hear the voices of the people who served and know the costs of war firsthand.

Tuesday, November 10

IAVA NEWS COVERAGE

Military Times: How veterans can still serve after they take off the uniform

By Jared Morgan

We asked a few questions of some of the better—known veterans service organizations to have them offer a picture of what service with them would be like. The latest from Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, according to spokesperson Hannah Sinoway: IAVA continues to advocate for the veteran community. IAVA’s mission is to connect, unite and empower post-9/11 veterans. Join our fight and take action.

VETERAN NEWS COVERAGE

ConnectingVets.com: Court orders VA to pay retroactive benefits to thousands of Blue Water Navy veterans

By Abbie Bennett

The Department of Veterans Affairs must redecide thousands of Blue Water Navy veterans’ benefits claims that may have been wrongfully denied, and pay retroactive benefits, a federal judge ruled last week.

ConnectingVets.com: VA is America’s last line of defense. But it was left out of early pandemic plans, report finds

By Abbie Bennett

The U.S. Coronavirus Task Force was established on Jan. 29, without VA — the largest single healthcare system in the country and the second-largest federal agency, according to the department’s 557-page COVID-19 Response Report

Federal News Network: VA touts successful first EHR go-live: ‘A lot of things worked’

By Nicole Ogrysko

In the first five days, VA employees in Spokane used the new system to place more than 23,000 orders for clinical tests, medications and admissions, Pamela Powers, VA’s acting deputy secretary said. “Our team works. Our processes work. Our methodologies work. Our strategies work,” John Windom, executive director of VA’s Office of Electronic Health Records Modernization, said.

Federal News Network: VA is helping veterans seeking a career in high technology

By Tom Temin

A new GI Bill offering from the Department of Veterans Affairs aims to help veterans seeking a career in high technology.

Military Times: VA transition work on hold as Trump disputes Biden election win

By Leo Shane III

Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie said his department has not yet begun any transition work related to the projected election of Joe Biden as the next president, but he isn’t worried delays in that effort will disrupt any service to veterans in coming months.

Forbes: Meet America’s Best Employers For Veterans 2020

By Ruth Umoh

Forbes compiled the list, in partnership with market research firm Statista, by surveying more than 5,000 U.S. veterans. With a score of 98.68, Camarillo, California-based discount tool and equipment retailer Harbor Freight Tools took the No.1 spot, followed by Northeastern University in Boston and consumer goods company P&G, headquartered in Cincinnati.

Military Times: Amid pandemic, Veterans Affairs secretary sees reason for both optimism and worry

By Leo Shane III

Wilkie this week said he is proud of the department’s response to the pandemic so far, if still wary of the havoc it could still cause on veterans nationwide. He spoke with Military Times on Monday to outline what he sees as the successes of his 16 months leading the department and the state of the department now.

Military.com: Trump Fires SecDef Mark Esper, Names Christopher Miller to Lead Pentagon

By Oriana Pawlyk

President Donald Trump has fired Defense Secretary Mark Esper following reports Esper was unlikely to remain in the position following the election. Trump announced Monday via Twitter that he has named Christopher C. Miller, the current director of the National Counterterrorism Center, to replace Esper.

Virginian-Pilot: Veteran suicide crisis demands our action [Opinion]

By Dr. Albert “Skip” Rizzo

For the veteran population, there were more than 6,000 suicides each year from 2008 to 2016. In 2016, the suicide rate was 1.5 times greater for veterans than non-veteran adults after adjusting for age and gender. The challenges of coping with the COVID-19 epidemic are adding even more stress, which many health care professionals believe will only make the situation worse.

Monday, November 9

IAVA NEWS COVERAGE

ConnectingVets.com: More states legalized marijuana in the 2020 election. What does it mean for veterans?

By Abbie Bennett

According to the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America 2019 member survey, at least 75% of veterans who responded said they’re interested in using cannabis or cannabinoid products if available, 88% supported additional research and 84% believe VA should drive that research.

VETERAN NEWS COVERAGE

Military Times: Mental health and suicide crisis among US veterans getting new approach

By Senators John Boozman and Mark Warner

With the passage of the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act, landmark legislation to address this heartbreaking situation, we can empower groups and organizations with proven records of success to expand their ability and available resources to foster healing and provide vital support.

ConnectingVets.com: Post-9/11 veterans have ‘alarmingly high rates’ of insomnia, VA study finds

By Julia Ledoux

Post-9/11 veterans have “alarmingly high rates” of insomnia disorder, according to a Department of Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System study. More than half of those studied had the disorder, according to a recent VA blog post. “Insomnia rates were even higher in veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), and chronic pain.”

Forbes: How The Department Of Veterans Affairs Uses AI To Help Vets

By Kathleen Walch

There are a number of areas for leveraging AI to benefit the VA and veterans. Clinically, areas around diagnosis, prognosis, and notion of a learning healthcare system have high potential- for example, in areas such as oncology and mental health.

Stars and Stripes: VA is seeking minority veterans for coronavirus vaccine trials

By Nikki Wentling

Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals nationwide will soon begin clinical trials for a coronavirus vaccine, and they’re looking for minority veterans to participate. In total, 20 VA locations are recruiting volunteers for investigatory vaccine trials, and 17 of them are part of the Johnson & Johnson trial, according to the VA website.

Reuters: U.S. must compensate ‘blue water’ Vietnam vets for Agent Orange exposure

By Brendan Pierson

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs must compensate Vietnam War veterans who served in the waters around Vietnam, but did not set foot on the landmass, for diseases presumed to be caused by exposure to the defoliant Agent Orange under a 30-year-old consent decree, a federal judge has ruled.

Denver Post: Veterans grapple with increased isolation amid coronavirus pandemic

By Kelsey Hammon

“A lot of veterans rely on that in-person group therapy and socialization to have that sense of community,” Wallis said. “Not having that right now has been a big strain. We fought hard to get out more and not let those symptoms of PTSD affect our lives. Now that’s what we have to do, so it’s easy to slip back into those negative coping mechanisms.”

Military Times: Renewing our commitment to veterans with disabilities

By Kevin Lynch

As our nation turns to Veterans Day to appreciate the heroes who serve our country, this year we owe a special debt of gratitude to the many skilled veterans who are blind or have other disabilities who are manufacturing personal protective equipment (PPE) and other essential supplies and services necessary in the fight against COVID-19.

The Hill: Veterans feel betrayed by how we treat our allies

By Jennifer Patota and Walt Cooper

As the U.S. has fought wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, tens of thousands of Afghan and Iraqi nationals have risked their lives and their families’ to aid the work of U.S. troops, diplomats, and humanitarian workers. But instead of protecting them, the U.S. government has turned its back on these most trusted allies, so much so that even veterans are feeling betrayed.

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