National Veterans Foundation Releases Report: “Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans in Crisis”
The Government is Shortchanging Benefits to Our Current War Veterans
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A study released today by the National Veterans Foundation reports that the United States government is shortchanging veterans benefits to the military veterans that have served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The report, “Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans in Crisis,” compares the benefits received by WWII, Korean, and Vietnam War veterans to today’s veterans who have served in the Middle East in order to keep this country safe from terrorists.
“This Administration’s claim that it supports the troops is more rhetoric than fact,” states Shad Meshad, founder and president of the National Veterans Foundation. “It is a national shame that today’s war heroes should receive less help and support than veterans of previous wars and conflicts. Today’s veterans are being shortchanged and the impact will be felt for generations to come.”
“Today’s GI Bill is becoming a skeleton of its original intent. Throughout the years the country’s commitments to veterans have begun to erode. This study shows that the funding cutbacks, especially during the time of the current Administration, will have a devastating effect on the long-term economic and moral health of the country,” states Sean Lunde, a researcher at the William Joiner Center for the Study of War and Social Consequences at the University of Massachusetts, Boston, and an Army medic in both Iraq and Kosovo.
The report addresses the issues of housing, education, healthcare, transition assistance, and employment and entrepreneurship.
The highlights of the report state that:
- Today’s veterans have 1,500% less funding for their education when compared to WWII veterans
- Between 30% and 40% of veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan will have debilitative mental health issues, including depression, PTSD, and anxiety disorders
- The VA failed to allocate $100M in funding earmarked for mental health initiatives between 2005 and 2006
- Veterans represent only 11% of the population, but comprise 26% of the homeless population
- Half of the Iraq and Afghanistan veterans have incomes below the federal poverty line
- Initial data shows 22,000 veterans losing seniority on their jobs, 11,000 being denied prompt reemployment, and 15,000 losing health insurance
- The VA has over 408,000 pending disability claims, and the average claim is taking 181 days to process
The report is damaging to the commitments initially outlined in the Serviceman’s Readjustment Act of 1944, commonly referred to as the GI Bill, passed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The GI Bill resulted in a growing and well educated middle class that brought unprecedented prosperity in the 1950s.
About The Foundation
The National Veterans Foundation is a 501(c)(3) human services organization. Since 1985, it has run the only nationwide help line for veterans and their families that provides crisis intervention, benefits information, resource referral, and emotional support. For more information call toll free at 1-888-777-4443 or visit www.nvf.org.
