With the elections less than a week away the IAVA team is busy building up legislative victories. Our NY office testified in front of the NYC Council, IAVA’s Founder and CEO went on CNN & we’ve added an additional 5 cosponsors on IAVA-backed legislation!

On Monday this week, Rapid Response Referral Program (RRRP) Senior Veteran Transition Manager, Vadim Panasyuk, delivered an impactful testimony in front of the New York City Council Committee on Veterans regarding RRRP’s work with the NYC Division of Veteran Services (DVS). He delivered testimony on additional reporting requirements by DVS and whether they will improve the department. You can read his full testimony here.

On Thursday, IAVA Research Director Steph Mullen, and Legislative Director Tom Porter, attended a wreath-laying ceremony at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial hosted by the American Psychological Association (APA). They honored the 200 psychiatrists who served during the Vietnam War and did critical work with the men and women who served during the war.

Also on Thursday, IAVA Founder and CEO, Paul Rieckhoff went on CNN to discuss the President’s plan to deploy troops to the southern border. They discussed the potential rules of engagement and broader topics concerning troops on the southern border. Be sure to check out his full appearance here.

New Cosponsors to IAVA-Backed Legislation:

This week the #BurnPits Accountability Act (S. 3181/H.R. 5671) gained an additional 3 cosponsors! Huge thanks to Reps. Mo Brooks (R-AL), Lloyd Smucker (R-PA), and Dan Donovan (R-NY) for their support on this much-needed piece of legislation. We now have over 150 total cosponsors across both Chambers of Congress!

Additionally, the Deborah Sampson Act (S. 681/H.R. 2452), the centerpiece of IAVA’s #SheWhoBorneTheBattle campaign, picked up an additional 2 cosponsors! Huge thanks to Reps. Dan Kildee (D-MI) and Sean Patrick Maloney (D-NY) for their support of women veterans!

Help us keep the momentum growing on all of our Big Six priorities by contacting your Members of Congress through our Take Action page here.