June 29, 2020
NDAA provides opportunity to spend smarter while protecting American interests
Both the Senate and House of Representatives will begin consideration and markup of the National Defense Authorization Act this week. As the process moves forward, there is an opportunity to refocus America’s defense spending and efforts in the annual NDAA. Concerned Veterans for America Executive Director Nate Anderson recently wrote about the need to focus… Read more »
June 15, 2020
The VA MISSION Act made life better for this North Carolina veteran. But restrictions to access mean not all vets will be so fortunate.
Bob Phipps comes from a military family. His father was a gunner’s mate in the Navy during World War II. His siblings answered the call to serve, too, with his sister choosing the Army and his brother serving as a Navy SEAL in Vietnam. Bob added a different branch of service to the family legacy,… Read more »
June 4, 2020
Pentagon might speed up withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan
The New York Times reported last week that the Department of Defense is putting together plans for withdrawing troops from Afghanistan. According to sources, one such plan would speed up the timeline to withdraw troops before early November. Additional plans favor a lengthier timeline, including removing troops by mid-2021 as stated in a deal reached… Read more »
June 1, 2020
Veterans and their families are questioning the foreign policy status quo
After nearly 20 years bearing the weight of constant war, veterans and their families are becoming increasingly disenchanted with our nation’s foreign policy. A survey commissioned by Concerned Veterans for America found a growing number of veterans and military family members support less military engagement around the world. In a recent op-ed, CVA Executive Director… Read more »
May 26, 2020
Q&A: CVA Senior Advisor Darin Selnick on what limiting community care means for vets
As the COVID-19 crisis continues, veterans are still looking for answers about their access to the health care they need. In late March, the Department of Veterans Affairs proposed limiting veterans’ ability to seek care in their communities through the VA MISSION Act. This proposal raised many questions: How should veterans move forward with getting… Read more »
May 12, 2020
CVA executive director Nate Anderson to White House: Direct the VA to reverse its decision on pausing the VA MISSION Act
We’ve seen historic reforms to the Department of Veterans Affairs over the last few years, including increased health care choice for veterans and more accountability at the VA. But in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the VA has backtracked on much of its progress, shutting down most access to community health care, leaving many… Read more »
May 11, 2020
Sam Rogers: I’ve seen what endless war can do
By Sam Rogers, Wisconsin Coalitions Director In 2009, I was preparing for my first deployment with the U.S. Army. My unit was training for engagement in Iraq when we received news that our plans had changed. We would be heading to Afghanistan instead as part of a troop surge that continued what was then eight… Read more »
