Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America Report Card

The IAVA Action Fund is the foremost nonprofit, non-partisan advocate for our nation's returning warriors and their families.

The IAVA addresses critical issues facing new veterans and their families, including mental health, Traumatic Brain Injury, a stretched VA system, inadequate health coverage for national guardsmen and reservists, and outdated GI Bill educational benefits.

IAVA is dedicated to educating the public about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, advocating on behalf of those who have served, and fostering a community for troops, veterans, and their families.

IAVA Action has taken a straightforward approach to scoring lawmakers' support for veterans.

Based on the legislative priorities outlined in IAVA's Legislative Agenda, IAVA Action has selected 22 key votes on veterans' issues in the 110th Congress (9 votes in the Senate and 13 votes in the House). The votes cover the entire range of issues facing new veterans, including veterans' health care, the new GI Bill, mental health, and support for homeless veterans.

Scores, from A+ to F, are based on how often legislators took the pro-veteran position and voted with IAVA Action. For every vote in line with IAVA Action and in support of veterans, the lawmaker receives one point. Those who vote against the position of IAVA Action, or those who fail to vote, do not receive a point.

In addition, because the fight for the new GI Bill was of such historic importance, we wanted to recognize those who had gone above and beyond voting in the bill's favor. Any Senator or Representative who signed on to be a cosponsor of the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Senate bill 22, and House bill 5740) receives two additional points.

SOME CONGRESS MEMBER SCORES OF INTEREST:

Senator John McCain (R-AZ)- SCORED D
see results

Senator Barack Obama (D-IL)- SCORED B, co-sponsor of Post-9/11 GI BILL
see results

Senator Diane Feinstein (D-CA)- SCORED A+, co-sponsor of Post-9/11 GI BILL
see results

Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA)- SCORED A+, co-sponsor of Post-9/11 GI BILL
see results