Minority Vets
Policy
Priorities
Minority Veterans of America’s Policy Priorities are based on the real lives of real veterans to ensure that all veterans receive the care, recognition, and support that they earned.
Equity and justice
Minority Vets
Advocacy
Our goal is to ensure that minority veterans can move through post-service life in a just, equitable, and supportive environment.
Minority Veterans of America advocative efforts are driven by certainty that effectively supporting our nation’s minority veterans begins with recognition that at the heart of the problem lies with social and structural inequalities. We advocate social and structural change to equitably serve all veterans.
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Minority Veteran Economics
Often, minority veterans have lower economic status and opportunity compared to their non-minority counterparts.
0
%
of minority veterans have incomes below poverty level
0
unemployed veterans living in the United States
0
%
higher risk of unemployment for minority vets compared to peers
Priorities for the 117th congress
Minority Vets
Policy Priorities
Every piece of policy has the potential to impact at least one of the veterans we serve and becomes our responsibility to support the legislation that will make the most difference for our communities.
Addressing Economic Disparities
Addressing economic disparities begins with fully funding GI Bill Education to include break pay and childcare, access to capital for home ownership and entrepreneurship, and facing the veteran homelessness crisis head on.
Resolving Systemic Injustices
Resolving systemic injustices includes ending MST and supporting survivors, repatriating deported veterans, codification of the Military Trans Ban Repeal, reducing justice system involvement and recidivism, and reparations for institutional racism and homophobia.
Pandemic Recovery
The pandemic has disproportionately impacted minority veterans. Legislative emphasis on physical and financial circumstance to include food and transportation assistance, childcare assistance, education assistance, and job/skill retraining is paramount.
Healthcare Access Disparities
Healthcare access disparities exist for veterans based on their sex, gender, and race. We aim to rectify such disparities by working to guarantee access to IVF and surrogacy programs, abortion and contraception, and gender confirmation surgery through VA for veterans.
Creating a More Equitable VA
With a substantial lack of equitable services, we seek answers to problems and advocate decisive responses to build a more inclusive VA with comprehensive data collection and mandated, minority-focused training for VSOs, VA staff, and contracted organizations.
Addressing Mental Health Disparities
Addressing mental health disparities, including veteran suicide, requires focus on minority stress/social determinants of health, eating/substance abuse disorders, expanded psycho-pharmacological medical interventions (cannabis/psychedelics), and gun violence.
Congressional Testimonies
Check out some of our past advocacy work.
For more information, contact:
Andy Blevins, JD, MBA
Acting Policy Director
ablevins@minorityvets.org
Ensuring Equitable Representation and Support for Minority Veterans
September 10, 2020
Testimony Submitted To: Committee On Veterans’ Affairs United States House of Representatives 116th Congress
Ensuring Equitable Representation and Support for Minority Veterans Written Testimony Provided for the Open Session Legislative Hearing Covering H.R. 6039, HR 6082, H.R. 4908, H.R. 2791, H.R. 4526, H.R. 3582, H.R. 96, H.R. 4281, H.R. 3010, H.R. 7163, H.R. 7111, H.R. 2435, H.R. 7287, H.R. 3228, H.R. 6141, and several Discussion Drafts
It’s Not “Quality Of Life,” It’s “Life Or Death” The Disparate Structural Barriers That Accompany VA Regulatory Policies For Minority Veterans Holding “Bad Paper” Discharge Characterizations
July 8, 2020
It’s Not “Quality Of Life,” It’s “Life Or Death” The Disparate Structural Barriers That Accompany VA Regulatory Policies For Minority Veterans Holding “Bad Paper” Discharge Characterizations
Written Testimony Provided for: The House Veteran’s Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs’ Hybrid Oversight Hearing: Stuck in Red Tape: How VA’s Regulatory Policies Prevent Bad Paper Veterans from Accessing Critical Benefits
Veterans’ Access To Reproductive Healthcare And Our Women Veteran Community
July 1, 2020
Veterans’ Access To Reproductive Healthcare And Our Women Veteran Community
Testimony submitted to: House Veterans Affairs Committee Subcommittee on Health and the Women Veterans Task Force U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 116th Congress
VA Telehealth During The COVID-19 Pandemic: Expansion And Impact
June 23, 2020
VA Telehealth During The COVID-19 Pandemic: Expansion And Impact
Testimony submitted to: House Veterans Affairs Committee Subcommittee on Technology Modernization & Subcommittee on Health U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 116th Congress
Cultural Barriers Impacting Women Veterans Access To Healthcare
May 2, 2019
Cultural Barriers Impacting Women Veterans Access To Healthcare
Testimony submitted to: House Veterans Affairs Committee Subcommittee on Health 116th Congress
Securing Equitable and Just Conditions for the Minority Veteran Community
March 3, 2021
Securing Equitable and Just Conditions
for the Minority Veteran Community
Written Testimony Provided for the House of Representatives and Senate Committees on Veterans’ Affairs Joint Session on VSO Legislative Priorities Presentations
Beyond Deborah Sampson: Improving Healthcare For America’s Women Veterans In The 117th Congress
March 18, 2021
Beyond Deborah Sampson: Improving Healthcare For America’s Women Veterans In The 117th Congress
Written Testimony Provided for: the House of Representatives Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health’s Oversight Hearing
Advocating for the Provision of Quality, Comprehensive Healthcare Services
April 15, 2021
Advocating for the Provision of Quality, Comprehensive Healthcare Services
Statement of Lindsay Church, Minority Veterans of America Executive Director, for the Open Session Legislative Hearing Covering HR 234, HR 344, HR 958, HR 1448, HR 1510, and several Discussion Drafts
While the world around us changes, know that we stand with you today, tomorrow, and always.
Questions?
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If you have any questions specifically related to MVA’s Advocacy or Policy Priorities, please contact us at info@minorityvets.org
About Us
Minority Veterans of America (MVA) is a non-partisan, 501(c)3 non-profit organization designed to create belonging and advance equity for underrepresented veterans.
Copyright © 2020 Minority Veterans of America, All rights reserved.
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Mailing Address:
Minority Veterans of America
PO Box 65089
Washington, D.C. 20035