Continues six week campaign to highlight priority issues

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
February 22, 2021
CONTACT: press@iava.org

New York, NY – In the fourth week of its six-week campaign, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) is highlighting its advocacy efforts to expand and protect veteran education benefits, including protecting military and veteran students from predatory schools. As a leading veteran service organization, holding these schools accountable for taking advantage of GI Bill recipients is one of IAVA’s top priorities. 

“Everyone deserves to receive quality higher education. Predatory schools take advantage of veterans and their service by preying on GI Bill recipients, in exchange for substandard education,” said Jeremy Butler, CEO for IAVA. “As an advocate for post-9/11 veterans, IAVA will fight to protect veteran education benefits and will work to ensure that GI Bill recipients do not fall prey to for-profit college scams.” 

IAVA backed the first bipartisan bill to close the 90/10 loophole and ensure that military connected students were not unfairly targeted by predatory schools. During COVID-19, IAVA advocated alongside VSOs and Congressional allies to ensure that veterans did not lose their education benefits if schools went online due to the pandemic. 

The Department of Veterans Affairs’ information technology infrastructure must be updated to reflect recent changes to GI Bill payments  and schooling, and to reflect the needs caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. To continue to protect our veterans’ education benefit, IAVA will work with VSOs, Congress and Secretary McDonough to ensure that students who have been defrauded by predatory schools do not lose their GI Bill benefits. Learn more about IAVA’s advocacy efforts regarding veteran education benefits here.

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IAVA is the voice for the post-9/11 veteran generation. With over 400,000 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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