Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) proudly hosted IAVA Salutes 2026 in Washington, D.C. The event brought together veteran advocates, policymakers, and supporters for a breakfast reception and an engaging fireside conversation focused on the evolving needs of today’s veterans and military families.

We were honored to recognize Representatives Don Bacon and Nikki Budzinski as recipients of the 2026 IAVA Leadership in Government Award for their bipartisan leadership and commitment to improving the lives of service members, veterans, and their families. Representative Bacon was recognized for his work as Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee’s Military Quality-of-Life Panel, helping drive meaningful reforms addressing military pay, housing, healthcare, childcare, and spouse employment through the FY2025 NDAA. Representative Budzinski was honored for her leadership on the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee and her work advancing legislation aimed at improving veterans’ access to care, benefits, and modernized systems for the post-9/11 generation.

The conversation reinforced the importance of bipartisan collaboration in addressing the challenges facing veterans and military families today. IAVA remains committed to ensuring the voices of the post-9/11 generation continue to be heard on Capitol Hill and beyond. Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make IAVA Salutes 2026 a meaningful and impactful event.