ARLINGTON, Va.—Concerned Veterans for America (CVA) and VoteVets launched a video on Tuesday announcing their partnership in a lobbying effort to end America’s involvement on ‘forever wars’ and restore constitutional responsibilities to Congress.
CVA and VoteVets, traditionally bitter rivals, have joined forces to promote a more responsible policy on how the United States wages war. Setting the example for lawmakers and the administration, the groups have found common ground on this issue and have flown activists and volunteers in to meet with their members of Congress to bring some real, lasting policy change in Washington. Their efforts will culminate with an event, “United for a Better Foreign Policy,” where attendees can hear from prominent lawmakers on both sides of the aisle on what is needed to reshape a better American foreign policy.
“After almost two decades of fighting what is now America’s longest war, it is past time we reexamine the status quo,” said Nate Anderson, CVA Executive Director. “Business as usual isn’t working, so for the first time in five years of Vets on the Hill, we are setting differences aside and partnering with VoteVets to bring a unified message to lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. This issue affects us all, and we are calling on Congress to put good policy over partisanship for the sake of Americans everywhere.”
“If you told me last year that VoteVets would be partnering with CVA on a major foreign policy initiative, I would have said you were crazy,” said Jon Soltz, Iraq War Veteran and Chair of VoteVets. “It is clear that politicians in Washington needs a push when it comes to rebalancing war powers and that, unless they get it, these forever wars will continue. That’s why, even while we disagree on many other issues, we are joining forces on this one. The coalition we’ve formed, and the combined strength that we bring, will change the debate and the policy dynamic.”
The joint effort is coinciding with CVA’s fifth annual “Vets on the Hill” lobbying effort. CVA activists from all over the country fly in for meetings with senators and representatives to discuss the issues of importance to them and the veterans in their respective states.
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