Vets on the Hill 2023 is in the books! This year, we brought nearly 50 staff members and volunteers from all over the country to lobby on Capitol Hill. For three days, these veterans and military family members met with members of Congress to share their stories — from the battlefield to the transition out... Read more »

The post Vets on the Hill 2023: Who we met with, and who is a champion for veterans appeared first on Concerned Veterans for America.

March marked 20 years since the start of the Iraq War and May marked another anniversary in the timeline of the war. Twenty years ago, President George W. Bush gave his infamous “Mission Accomplished” speech in which he celebrated “victory” in the war and announced “major combat operations in Iraq have ended” all in front... Read more »

The post 20 years after ‘Mission Accomplished’, our leaders can finally end the wars in Iraq appeared first on Concerned Veterans for America.

In 2003, the third-generation iPod debuted, Pirates of the Caribbean hit the big screen, the Cleveland Cavaliers drafted LeBron James, and Arnold Schwarzenegger was elected governor of California.   The Iraq War also started that year.   20 years later, American troops are still being deployed to Iraq.   To recognize the 20th anniversary of the Iraq War,... Read more »

The post Q&A with CVA Policy Director Tyler Koteskey: A look back at the War in Iraq 20 years later appeared first on Concerned Veterans for America.

March 18th 2003, I arrived home from a late-night bartending shift in Queens. At work, I had been watching news reports of the bombing of the Hussein family compound, marking the start of the Iraq War. At home, a message was waiting on my answering machine: “Specialist Byrnes, report to the Manhattan Armory by 0900... Read more »

The post Those who served in Iraq deserve to see the end of the war. I know, I was there. appeared first on Concerned Veterans for America.

A full generation of warfighters have seen combat since the start of the Iraq War in 2003.  In a new video, U.S. Army and Navy Jason Beardsley points out that new military recruits are taking up arms to fight “the same battles as their parents or grandparents.”   “The sacrifices have been noble and brave,” Jason... Read more »

The post Iraq War vet says new military recruits ‘fighting the same battles as their parents’ appeared first on Concerned Veterans for America.

In the days leading up to the 20th anniversary of the Iraq War, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee took an important step to keep American troops out of unnecessary danger and end our nation’s endless wars. Senators voted to pass Sens. Tim Kaine’s and Todd Young’s bill, S. 316 to repeal the 1991 and 2002... Read more »

The post Senate Foreign Relations Committee passes a historic war powers bill. Will the full Senate and House be on board? appeared first on Concerned Veterans for America.

2023 is shaping up to be a busy year. The new Congress is settling in, and members are setting their priories, presenting new opportunities for Concerned Veterans for America to share the issues veterans and military families are focused on. At CVA, our mission is to defend the freedoms we and our families fought and... Read more »

The post What is CVA working on in 2023? Here are our top priorities appeared first on Concerned Veterans for America.

Politicians are often “champions” for veterans and military families on the campaign trail, but will that carry over into the new Congress?  CVA Executive Director Russ Duerstine recently argued veterans health care and foreign policy should matter to members of the 118th Congress.  Russ wrote in The Hill:  For too long, veterans who receive their... Read more »

The post Russ Duerstine: Congress should focus on veterans health care and foreign policy appeared first on Concerned Veterans for America.

CVA Foundation launches new effort to educate Americans on a better foreign policy   With Russia’s war in Ukraine raging and China continuing to rise as a competitor to the United States, a wise, responsible foreign policy is vitally important. While many are questioning whether American alliances could potentially pull us into war with a... Read more »

The post How much do you know about America’s alliances and foreign policy? appeared first on Concerned Veterans for America.

While Americans were celebrating the holidays, many military families and friends were missing their loved ones deployed oversees. More than 20 years of continuous war have meant constant deployments and missed memories at home that can never be replaced CVA Senior Coalitions Advisor Jason Beardsley spent many holidays deployed, sacrificing special moments with his wife... Read more »

The post America’s military makes sacrifices during the holidays. Here’s what Congress can do to better honor them appeared first on Concerned Veterans for America.