Washington DC (June 10, 2014) – Today, leaders of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), including IAVA CEO and Founder Paul Rieckhoff, met with the Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, Senator Richard Burr (R-NC), about the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) scandal and combating veteran suicide, IAVA’s top priorities in 2014.

“IAVA is appreciative of the positive and productive meeting we had today with Senator Burr,” said IAVA CEO and Founder Paul Rieckhoff. “Senator Burr has a comprehensive understanding of the challenges facing the VA and of the increasing population of new veterans it serves, and he is very engaged in finding creative solutions to build a 21st Century VA. We look forward to working closely with Senator Burr and his staff in the future to improve the lives of veterans and their families throughout North Carolina and across the country.”

Last Monday Rieckhoff, joined by IAVA veterans from across the country, unveiled eight steps the Obama Administration and Congress can take now to restore confidence in the Department of Veterans Affairs. Among the steps are recommendations from IAVA’s 2014 Policy Agenda. IAVA urged Congress and the President to enact all of the recommendations from the plan.

Senator Burr and IAVA also discussed effective measures to combat suicide among America’s troops and veterans, IAVA’s top priority for 2014.