2008 Congressional Report Card Released by IAVA Action

2008 Congressional Report Card Released by IAVA Action

2008 Congressional Report Card Released by IAVA Action
Every Lawmaker Including Obama, McCain, and Biden Graded on Veterans Voting Record  

NEW YORK - Today, the nonpartisan IAVA Action Fund released its 2008 Congressional Report Card.   The Report Card grades every Senator and Congressman on his or her leadership and voting record on key Iraq and Afghanistan veterans' issues including the GI Bill, VA funding and mental health care. The Report Card recognizes the 110^th Congress' unprecedented achievements on behalf of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans (more than 150 legislators received an A+). It also highlights the lawmakers who failed to make veterans a priority (9 politicians earned a D or F). A searchable version of the Report Card can be found at www.VeteranReportCard.org [1]

"IAVA Action's 2008 Congressional Report Card reveals which lawmakers took a stand on behalf of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and which ones failed to truly support the troops," said Paul Rieckhoff, Executive Director of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA). "From their leadership on the GI Bill to their support of increased VA funding, IAVA Action holds lawmakers accountable with this campaign. Now every American can find out who in Washington really supports Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, and who is just full of hot air."

As part of the release, IAVA Action held a conference call to discuss the Report Card for members of the media.  IAVA Executive Director Paul Rieckhoff and IAVA Policy Director Vanessa Williamson led the call.

Click here [2] for a full recording of the call.

"The most urgent issues facing the 1.7 million men and women who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan have been largely absent from the national political dialogue," Rieckhoff added. "As we head into tonight's presidential debate and a historic election next month, there is a tremendous amount at stake for America's newest generation of heroes and their families."

To arrange an interview with IAVA Executive Director Paul Rieckhoff or another IAVA veteran, please contact Michael Houston at 212-982-9699 (office), (917) 697-6406 (cell) or michael@iava.org [3]

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) is the nation's first and largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. It has more than 125,000 veteran members and civilian supporters nationwide. IAVA Action Fund is IAVA's, nonpartisan 501c(4) advocacy organization. For more information, please visit www.iava.org [4] or www.iavaaction.org [5].