No more rationed care for veterans, thank you IAVA

Dear readers,

If you signed and helped pass this legislation, you've probably received your own letter from IAVA and Paul. If not, the good news is THEY DID IT! These guys are really on the ball, they passed this new GI Bill, by tapping into the Veterans community on and off line. My hat is off to them and I strongly recommend you get on their e-mail list, so you can help them support all veterans, combat and non-combat, male and female, from Vietnam to Iraq and Afghanistan. Here's the letter they sent explaining more about that recent GI Bill...

Dear Lisa,

I'm writing from Washington, DC, and I have some big news.

The President just signed IAVA's number one legislative priority for the year into law- advance funding for VA healthcare. And it's all because of your support.

Click here to watch a quick video update I recorded at the White House before the signing ceremony, and find out how you played a huge role in today's victory.

The new law requires Congress to pass the VA healthcare budget one year in advance. It means no more rationed care for veterans- regardless of what year it is, or what party is in power. Period.

This is what we've been fighting for since January- and it's a huge win for veterans of all generations.

For the past ten months, you've played a crucial role in this historic process by calling Congress, forwarding emails, making donations, and recruiting others to join the fight. Click here to see how you contributed to this historic victory.

Last year, IAVA made passing a new GI Bill our number one priority. And because of you, we got it done. This year, we chose a new goal, and again, we got it done. You stepped up to the plate, and ensured that the VA will always have a budget that passes on time.

Click here to see how we won this fight together.

Thank you for standing with us.

Sincerely,

Paul

Paul Rieckhoff
Executive Director & Founder
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA)

Hey folks,

this is REALLY important so pay attention . Take 5-10 minutes to read the links and call your senator. I just did it, it takes literally 4-5 minutes to call. Paul from IAVA has provided a call back number, so all you do is plug in your zip code and they take care of the rest. You are connected with your senators office, you can let them know about how you feel about them not getting this vote passed in time for VA hospital funding. thanks for helping to take care of the men and women who are taking care of us!!

Dear Veteran supporter,

This could be one of the most important phone calls you make this year.

Last week, the Senate failed to pass the VA budget, and six million veterans who rely on the VA for healthcare are paying the price. All passing the budget takes is one vote - the Senate just hasn't gotten around to it.

Now, VA hospitals and clinics nationwide can't plan for critical staffing and equipment needs, leading to longer waits for appointments, and rationed care. This is completely unacceptable.

Take action by calling your Senators now. Tell them to pass the VA budget, so that veterans get the care they deserve. Click here to place your call - our online tool makes it easy.

The VA budget has been late an astounding 20 times in the last 23 years. And every year we've had to fight to get it passed. But your phone call could change that forever. This year's budget includes a provision that will fund the VA a full year in advance. Advance funding the VA is IAVA's top legislative goal for 2009, and it means veterans' healthcare will never be rationed again.

So please place a call to your Senators now and make sure that the VA is fully funded this year, and for years to come.

The only budget that Congress passed on time last week is the one that pays their salaries. Veterans shouldn't have to wait while Congress gets paid. Help us change that today.

Thank you for making your voice heard.

Sincerely,

Paul

Paul Rieckhoff
Executive Director & Founder
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA)

More exciting news from IAVA and President Obama

Thank you Paul Rieckhoff, IAVA for your hard work on moving the DOD and VA into the computer age and toward a cooperative effort that will benefit us ALL! This new seamless sharing of information and records will: help vets, increase quality of care, decrease waiting time, slash spending and eliminate the waste of unnessasary re-tests and misdiagnosis. Here's more explaination from Mr. Rieckhoff...

"Right now, there is no easy process for transferring service members' medical records from the DOD to the VA when they leave active duty. As a result, some of our most seriously wounded troops are suffering through redundant tests, misdiagnoses, and delayed treatment. This initiative will make medical and military records electronic and transferable, meaning a more streamlined, less bureaucratic process for our injured troops.

But this isn't just a matter of eliminating red tape. This change impacts the health, and lives, of the men and women who have served our country."

Today, IAVA and the nation's leading Veterans Services Organizations stood with President Obama, Secretary Gates and Secretary Shinseki at the White House to renew the nation's commitment to our newest generation of heroes.

Fulfilling two of his campaign promises, President Obama announced his support for advance funding the VA and ensuring a seamless transition between the VA and DOD healthcare, which will have a huge impact on the lives of troops and veterans.

Can you take a minute to join IAVA in thanking President Obama, Secretary Gates and Secretary Shinseki for making veterans and their families a priority? This is an important first step to giving our veterans the health care and benefits they've earned.

Click here to watch a quick video and add your name! http://www2.iava.org/o/436/t/8492/petition.jsp?petition_KEY=1906

We sent them to war, let's send them to college!

We send them to war, why can't we send them to college?

This is IAVA's excellent slogan for the G.I Bill that was signed in June. After lots of hard work it's a reality. Here is a web link for veterans to find out more about how they can take advantage of the benefits they have earned...http://www.gibill2008.org/

Hats off to two of the main co-sponsors of the legislation, Senators Jim Webb (D-VA) and Chuck Hagel (R-NE), along with Patrick Campbell, IAVA's Legislative Director, and Paul Rieckhoff, IAVA's Executive Director.

Homeless vets-VA has a bigger count than Bill O'Reilly

Last night, Bill O'Reilly talked about the plight of homeless veterans on his television show. Unfortunately, he got the facts wrong.

O'Reilly: "They (homeless veterans) may be out there, but there's not many of them out there. Okay?...If you know where there is a veteran, sleeping under a bridge, you call me immediately, and we will make sure that man does not do it."

I'm not sure where Mr. O'Reilly got his statistics but according to the Department of Veterans Affairs, almost 200,000 veterans sleep on our nation's streets each night. And Iraq and Afghanistan veterans are joining those ranks at an alarming rate. In fact veterans make up about a third of the homeless adults in America.

If you would like to drop Bill a line go to http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/436/t/26/petition.jsp?petition_KEY=884
and sign the open letter that Paul Rieckhoff from Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America has organized. Awareness is the first way to encourage the healing that these vets deserve.