Final Public Meeting of Dole-Shalala Commission Tomorrow
Commission Set Up After Walter Reed Fiasco to Vote on Recommendations for President; IAVA Veterans Available for Comment

NEW YORK - Members of the nation's first and largest organization for the veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), will be available for interviews and commentary on Wednesday after the final public meeting of the Dole-Shalala Commission.  The Commission was authorized by President Bush in response to reports of poor conditions, neglect, and bureaucratic hurdles faced by outpatients at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.  Based on the results of this meeting, recommendations will be made to the President concerning the care of returning servicemembers.  A final report is expected to be made public next week.

The meeting will take place at 11:15 am EDT Wednesday, July 25, 2007 at the Ronald Reagan Building & International Trade Center Atrium Ballroom, 14^th Street and Pennsylvania Ave, N.W. during which a draft of the working document is expected to be released.  Following the Commission's meeting, there will be a media availability from 1:00-1:30 pm EDT, as well as a media conference call at 3:00 pm EDT.  The official press release from the Commission may be found here.

Established by President Bush after the Walter Reed fiasco, the Commission sought "a comprehensive review of the care America is providing our wounded servicemen and women returning from the battlefield."  Since its first public meeting on April 14^th, the nine-member Commission has conducted 23 site visits at VA facilities and held seven public meetings

IAVA has testified before the Commission, and both Todd Bowers, IAVA Director of Government Affairs, and Patrick Campbell, IAVA Legislative Director, will be onsite at the Reagan Building and available for comments.  IAVA Executive Director Paul Rieckhoff will also be available for comment from New York. 

• IAVA Director of Government Affairs, Todd Bowers.  Bowers served two tours of duty in Iraq with the U.S. Marine Corps.  During his second voluntary tour in Iraq as a Civil Affairs Team Sergeant, Bowers was wounded by a sniper's bullet.  He will be onsite in Washington, DC.
• IAVA Legislative Director, Patrick Campbell.  Campbell served in Iraq as a combat medic with the Louisiana National Guard.  Campbell is outspoken about his experience with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and has testified in front of House and Senate veterans affairs committees on mental health issues.  He will be onsite in Washington, DC.
• IAVA Executive Director, Paul Rieckhoff.  Rieckhoff was a First Lieutenant and infantry rifle platoon leader in Iraq from 2003-2004 and is the author of Chasing Ghosts: Failures and Facades in Iraq: A Soldier's Perspective.  He is now a nationally recognized authority on the war in Iraq and issues affecting troops, military families and veterans.  Rieckhoff is available for comment from New York

A public statement will also be released by IAVA immediately following Wednesday's meeting.

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 and civilian supporters in all 50 states. 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.  For more information, visit www.iava.org.

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