Posted on Aug 7, 2015
Senate launches Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans Caucus. Do you think this political coalition can make a difference?
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Lawmakers in the newly formed Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans Caucus hope the coalition can speed reforms for the Veterans Affairs Department by brokering a deal for their respective parties.
“I think this is the perfect caucus to do that kind of work,” said Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., a co-founder of the new group. “We want to move legislation that benefits our veterans. We think a lot of the issues are urgent … and I think there is a ton of common ground.”
Founders of the caucus, launched this week, also include the co-chairs of the Congressional Veterans’ Job Caucus (Sens. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., and Joe Manchin, D-W.Va.) and Iowa Republican Sen. Joni Ernst, one of the few Iraq veterans to have served in the chamber.
The group unveiled plans to be a legislative force on VA and military issues at a media event with officials from Student Veterans of America and business leaders from Uber and Starbucks, which recently announced new efforts to hire thousands of veterans and military spouses in coming years.
Read more at ...
http://www.militarytimes.com/story/military/capitol-hill/2015/08/07/senate-iraq-afghanistan-caucus/31278441/
“I think this is the perfect caucus to do that kind of work,” said Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., a co-founder of the new group. “We want to move legislation that benefits our veterans. We think a lot of the issues are urgent … and I think there is a ton of common ground.”
Founders of the caucus, launched this week, also include the co-chairs of the Congressional Veterans’ Job Caucus (Sens. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., and Joe Manchin, D-W.Va.) and Iowa Republican Sen. Joni Ernst, one of the few Iraq veterans to have served in the chamber.
The group unveiled plans to be a legislative force on VA and military issues at a media event with officials from Student Veterans of America and business leaders from Uber and Starbucks, which recently announced new efforts to hire thousands of veterans and military spouses in coming years.
Read more at ...
http://www.militarytimes.com/story/military/capitol-hill/2015/08/07/senate-iraq-afghanistan-caucus/31278441/
Posted in these groups: 
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 9
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It's good, but let's not oversell ourselves. A caucus is just a group of people with some common interest. It is not a legislative body, and agency, etc. It may well help these legislators who are veterans network and coordinate activities more effectively. It may allow them to frame and stay on message around veteran's issues - which is hugely important. However, at the end of the day, each of these Senators still has the 1 vote they had at the start of the day.
I think we really need more veterans in congress and I applaud this action. However, it is only one small step.
I think we really need more veterans in congress and I applaud this action. However, it is only one small step.
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SSG Robert Webster
COL Vincent Stoneking - In this case it actually appears to be a legislative body. In Congressional Caucuses there are basically two types, formal and informal. Since this one appears to be a formal body it could be considered a legislative body, where informal ones are not considered that way. See the document at the link.
https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R40683.pdf
https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R40683.pdf
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GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad
Sure it looks good on paper, but years of mismanagement have made me apathetic, or given me a "I'll believe it when I see it" attitude.
I'm afraid that politicians are doing this just to make it look like they're doing something about it.
Sure it looks good on paper, but years of mismanagement have made me apathetic, or given me a "I'll believe it when I see it" attitude.
I'm afraid that politicians are doing this just to make it look like they're doing something about it.
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We don't need another debate team in Washington, we need leaders that can get the work done to end the backlog and bring an end to 22 veterans loss because they can't get it done. They spent trillions fighting the war, but they won't spend a dime to take care and fixing the men and women they sent to war.
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