- If you haven't signed the petition yet, it's not too late! Visit www.thisisforthesoldiers.org, or click here
IAVA and Drowning Pool on Capitol Hill to Fight for Better Mental Health Care for U.S. Troops
Veterans' Group and Rock Band Present Congress with Letter of Support Containing 25,000 Signatures for Lane Evans Bill
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
CONTACT: Michael Houston, IAVA (212) 982-9699 or michael[at]iava.org
NEW YORK - Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) and platinum rock band Drowning Pool are on a mission to get U.S. troops and veterans the mental health care they deserve. IAVA and Drowning Pool teamed up to launch the "This Is For The Soldiers " campaign and asked supporters to sign an online petition urging Congress to pass The Lane Evans Veterans Health and Benefits Improvement Act of 2007, bipartisan legislation which requires mandatory mental health screening for returning troops. Today, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., they presented Representative Patrick Murphy, the first Iraq veteran to serve in Congress, with a petition containing 25,000 signatures in support of this legislation.
"It's exciting to be on Capitol Hill with a rock band to raise awareness about this urgent issue. Tens of thousands of people from across the country have stepped up to help us support the troops," said Paul Rieckhoff, IAVA Executive Director. "More than 1.5 million Americans have served in Iraq and Afghanistan and almost a third of them will face a serious mental health issue, ranging from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) to depression. It's critical that we get these troops the help they need now and the Lane Evans Bill is a major step in that direction. We are honored to work with Representative Murphy and Drowning Pool to get this important legislation passed."
Representative Murphy is the first Iraq veteran to serve in Congress. He served in Baghdad in 2003-2004 as a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division. Representative Murphy is a cosponsor of the Lane Evans bill.
Drowning Pool is a longtime supporter of the troops. The band's current single "Soldiers" pays homage to our Armed Forces and their current "This Is For The Soldiers Tour" donates fifty cents of every ticket sold to IAVA and fifty cents to the USO, while encouraging young fans to support the cause. The band is a favorite of U.S. servicemembers, and has performed USO tours in Iraq, Kuwait and South Korea. Drowning Pool's lead vocalist Ryan McCombs said "It's an honor and a privilege to work on something as important as this legislation."
The Lane Evans Bill would help troops and veterans get mental health care in the following ways:
- Require in-person mental health screening for returning combat veterans
- Extend the window of eligibility for mental health treatment from two to five years
- Establish a registry to monitor the health of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and track their benefits use
- Improve the transfer of military records from the Department of Defense to the Department of Veterans Affairs
Media Availability: To arrange an interview with Paul Rieckhoff, another IAVA veteran, or a member of Drowning Pool, please contact Michael Houston at (212) 982-9699 or Michael[at]iava.org.
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