Media

With Obama in San Diego, IAVA Demands Answers on VA Medical Care at 10:30 AM PT War Memorial Building Event

May 7, 2014
Press

San Diego, CA (May 7, 2014) – Allegations of mismanagement and cover-up at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) continue to grow across the country, with reports from Phoenix, Fort Collins in Colorado, Austin and San Antonio. As President Obama is in San Diego Thursday, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) will demand national accountability from President Obama and his Administration at a 10:30 a.m. PT press event outside the War Memorial Building Auditorium at Balboa Park. IAVA Founder and CEO Paul Rieckhoff will join local veteran leaders from across the San Diego community – the largest base of IAVA membership in the country – to call on the President to answer questions of VA accountability and address how his Administration will ensure veterans get the care and support they need. Earlier this week, the American Legion, San Diego Congressman Duncan Hunter and others called on VA Secretary Eric Shinseki to resign.

“How far do the failures at the VA go? That is the question veterans in San Diego and across the nation need to know,” Rieckhoff said. “If they were allegedly cooking the books in Phoenix, Fort Collins, Austin, and San Antonio, were they doing it in San Diego too? We’re in San Diego – with more vets here than anywhere else in the country – demanding accountability and calling on President Obama to ensure vets get the care they need. We deserve answers.”

If vets are struggling to get care, IAVA has their back. Veterans in San Diego and across California who have experienced delays in care, or need any assistance in transitioning from military to civilian life, can contact our Rapid Response Referral Program (RRRP) team at IAVA.org/RRRP or 855-91-RAPID (855-917-2743).

IAVA also continues to gather stories from veterans and VA employees to assess the scope of VA mismanagement and cover up. Vets and employees can confidentially share their story at https://iava.org/share-your-va-story-iava.

WHAT: IAVA Founder and CEO Paul Rieckhoff will join local veteran leaders from across the San Diego community – the largest base of IAVA membership in the country – at a press conference to call on President Obama to answer questions of VA accountability and address how his Administration will ensure veterans get the care and support they need.

WHO: IAVA Founder and CEO Paul Rieckhoff and San Diego veterans.

WHEN: Thursday, May 8, 2014 at 10:30 a.m. PT

WHERE: In front of the San Diego War Memorial Building Auditorium at Balboa Park, 2125 Park Blvd (Next to the Zoo parking lot)