Media
Read: IAVA in Washington SITREP
The federal government shutdown that begun at 12:00 am Jan. 20 came to an end after the President signed into law a stopgap bill on Jan. 22 to keep the government funded through Feb. 8 while additional negotiations over immigration and other matters continue in order to fund the government through Sept. 30, 2018.
IAVA publicly called for an end to the shutdown and kept members informed through social media and with blogs by Founder and CEO Paul Rieckhoff and Political and Intergovernmental Affairs Director Melissa Bryant.
The government shutdown did not stop IAVA’s efforts on our #SheWhoBorneTheBattle campaign. Support continues to grow for the IAVA-led Deborah Sampson Act to help women vets. The number of cosponsors for the Senate bill stands at 23 and the House bill at 52. Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT), the Senate bill sponsor and top Democrat on the Veterans Committee, also asked VA Secretary David Shulkin a question about women veterans during a Jan. 18 Committee hearing. IAVA Research Director, Stephanie Mullen, published an informative blog to continue raise awareness and educate the public on the status of women in the military.
We also continue advocating on our top policy priorities that affect Post-9/11 veterans, including defending the GI Bill, combatting veteran suicide and reforming VA. This week, Stephanie Mullen attended a VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) meeting with other VSO partners. These meetings are critical for our membership as VA OIG is responsible the oversight of VA programs and operations; and through our participation we are able to inform on issues that affect post-9/11 veterans. And IAVA Legislative Associate Edgar Rodriguez joined Melissa Bryant for an important panel at “DC in DC” the military and PTSD in comic books — learn more in a blog by Edgar!
Stay tuned on government funding and other developments. We’ve got your back!