Calls for its Inclusion by Congress in Next Emergency COVID Package

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 30, 2020
CONTACT: press@IAVA.org

New York, NY – Today Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) celebrated passage by the House Veterans Affairs Committee (HVAC) of NINE supported bills, including a top priority for IAVA, the Veterans Economic Recovery Act (H.R. 7111). Sponsored by Committee Ranking Member Dr. Phil Roe and  Rep. Mike Levin, the bill will establish a new one-year rapid retraining program for veterans who have lost their jobs to the Coronavirus. It also includes a generous housing stipend equal to that provided by the Post-9/11 GI Bill. 

The Senate version (S. 3899) is carried by Senate Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Jerry Moran and Ranking Member Jon Tester.

“This will be the most impactful benefit for our generation of veterans and IAVA is proud to be working with Dr. Roe and supporters on passing it,” said IAVA Executive VP Tom Porter. “We strongly encourage Congress to include this important legislation in the coming emergency COVID package and get veterans back to work.”

Other IAVA-backed bills to pass the Committee today include:

Honoring All Veterans Act (H.R. 3010)

Native American PACT Act (H.R. 4908)

Department of Veterans Affairs Tribal Advisory Committee Act (H.R. 2791)

Brian Tally VA Employment Transparency Act (H.R. 4526)

VA Mission Telehealth Clarification Act (H.R 3228)

Veterans Cemetery Grants Improvement Act (H.R. 5487)

To expand eligibility for VA home loans to certain members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces (H.R. 7445)

Veterans Benefits Fairness and Transparency Act (H.R. 7795)

Founded by an Iraq veteran in 2004, IAVA is the non-partisan leader in advocacy, public awareness and 1-on-1 care management and peer support. We organize locally, drive historic impacts nationally and fight for over 400,000 veterans and their allies nationwide. If a veteran or their family is in need of assistance now, please reach out to IAVA’s Quick Reaction Force at www.quickreactionforce.org or 855-91RAPID (855-917-2743) to be connected promptly with a veteran care manager who will assist you. Visit IAVA’s The Vote Hub at www.votehub.org to register to vote and find polling information.

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