WASHINGTON, DC (March 14, 2019) – Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), the leading voice of the Post-9/11 generation of veterans, is proud to announce that U.S. Sen Ed Markey (D-MA) has become a cosponsor of the Deborah Sampson Act (S. 514), the centerpiece of IAVA’s #SheWhoBorneTheBattle campaign to recognize the service of women veterans.  Sen Markey became a co-sponsor during IAVA’s Storm The Hill – IAVA’s quarterly advocacy push in Washington, DC.

Senator Markey has served in the Senate since 2011. Prior to the Senate, he was a Representative from Massachusets since 1976. Markey is a US Army veteran and was enlisted from 1968-1973. He currently serves on the Committees for Foreign Relations, Environment and Public Works, Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and Small Business and Entrepreneurship.

“Since 2017, IAVA has made it one of our top priorities to recognize the service of, and fill gaps in VA care for, women veterans,” said IAVA CEO Jeremy Butler. “We thank Senator Markey for his support on this crucial and historic piece of bipartisan legislation.”

The Deborah Sampson Act, sponsored by Sens. Jon Tester (D-MT) and John Boozman (R-AR), now has 30 Senate cosponsors. The Deborah Sampson Act and our #SheWhoBornTheBattle campaign is among IAVA’s Big Six priorities for 2019, including Suicide Prevention, Government Reform, #DefendTheGIBill, Burn Pits/Toxic Exposure Injury Support, and Medicinal Cannabis Use for Veterans.