NEW YORK - On the fourth anniversary of the Iraq War, the nation's first and largest non-partisan organization representing veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, IAVA, introduces a comprehensive plan to address problems facing new veterans. IAVA's 31 solutions, summarized in our 2007 Legislative Agenda, are designed to help Congress stop playing politics and start taking real action to support the 1.6 million men and women who have served and continue to serve in Iraq and Afghanistan. The full text of the IAVA 2007 Legislative Agenda is available at http://www.iava.org/.

"After four years of war, America's heroes deserve real solutions to the problems they face. IAVA's 2007 Legislative Agenda delivers those solutions" said Paul Rieckhoff, an Iraq War veteran and the executive director of IAVA. "The members of IAVA look forward to working with Congress and the American people to get new veterans the care and support they have earned."

Highlights of the legislative package include seven key components that members of Congress must enact this session to show that they really support the men and women who have served, and continue to serve, in Iraq and Afghanistan. These components are:

1. A new G.I. Bill that provides real education benefits for members of the military.
2. Mandatory and confidential mental health counseling for all troops returning from duty.
3. Tax credits for employers who hire new veterans or provide income support to active troops.
4. An end to the "Widows' and Veterans' Taxes," which unjustly reduce earned benefits.
5. Reliable, timely and sufficient funding of veterans' health care.
6. A "Truman Commission" to investigate fraud and waste in the DoD contracting process.
7. A commitment to involve new veterans in the planning of a memorial to the veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

IAVA: Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, is the nation's first and largest organization for veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, representing more than 60,000 members in all 50 states.

Since 2004, IAVA has worked closely with Congressional offices on both sides of the aisle to address issues such as armor shortages, the challenges of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and inadequate funding for veterans' healthcare. IAVA member veterans have provided Congressional testimony, spoken at dozens of colleges and universities across the country, and commented for hundreds of news reports. In 2006, the group released the IAVA Congressional Ratings, which graded every lawmaker on their votes affecting troops, veterans, and military families.

To arrange an interview with Paul Rieckhoff or any other IAVA member veterans, contact Michael Houston at 212-982-9699 or email michael[at]iava.org. Visit http://www.iava.org/ for the full text of IAVA's 2007 Legislative Agenda, as well as other information on the organization and its member veterans.

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