Vote Sends Clear Message to Veterans: Your Care and Benefits Are Up For Negotiation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 26, 2023
CONTACT: press@iava.org

Washington, DC — The following is a statement from the CEO of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Allison Jaslow, on the U.S. House of Representatives’ vote to pass The Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023: 

“Today’s vote sends veterans a clear message: your care and benefits are up for negotiation. 

Veterans’ calls to include explicit protections for Department of Veterans Affairs funding in The Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023 went ignored. Politicians effectively turned their backs on us – rushing a bill to the House floor that does nothing to protect veterans’ care and benefits as they seek to aggressively cut federal government spending – and expressed no shame in doing so. 

This is unacceptable. 

How are veterans supposed to trust that they won’t continue to be casualties in the midst of DC budget-cut games? This comes less than a year after we had to fight tooth and nail to provide dying veterans the care they need, simply because some politicians professed it was too high a price to pay. 

Make no mistake — veterans and their families have paid their dues. They deserve the care and benefits they’ve earned. And they deserve leaders who are willing to protect them.

IAVA will be watching closely as negotiations around the debt ceiling and federal budget continue, and we won’t shy away from holding any politician that lays a finger on VA funding accountable.” 

IAVA is the voice for the post-9/11 veteran generation. With over 425,000 veterans and allies nationwide, IAVA is the leader in non-partisan veteran advocacy and public awareness. We drive historic impacts for veterans and IAVA’s programs are second to none. Any veteran or family member in need can reach out to IAVA’s Quick Reaction Force at quickreactionforce.org or 855-91RAPID (855-917-2743) to be connected promptly with a veteran care manager who will assist. IAVA’s The Vote Hub is a free tool to register to vote and find polling information. IAVA’s membership is always growing. Join the movement at iava.org/membership.

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