Washington, D.C. -- The nonpartisan Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) Action Fund has given U.S. Representative Neil Abercrombie an A+ on its 2008 Congressional Report Card, rating his votes on thirteen veterans’ issues. Abercrombie voted with the veterans on 13 out of 13 key votes, and was awarded an additional two points for his co-sponsorship of The GI Bill for the 21st Century, major legislation that better matched education benefits for veterans with the actual costs of attending public colleges and universities.

“I am very grateful for this recognition by the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America,” said Abercrombie, who chairs the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Air and Land Forces. “I cannot think of a group of people who deserve our admiration and respect as much as our military veterans, particularly this new generation of vets, who have sacrificed so much of themselves and their families through repeated and extended deployments.”

The IAVA’s 2008 Congressional Report Card rated Members of Congress on votes including:

• Veterans Health Care funding increase;
• Homes for Heroes Act to provide supportive housing for very low income veteran families and housing vouchers for homeless veterans;
• The Post 9-11 GI Bill of Rights education benefits bill;
• Treatment for Traumatic Brain Injuries to improve diagnosis and treatment, and require mandatory screening for TBI;
• Protecting Iraqi Allies to extend special immigrant visa status for Iraqi and Afghan interpreters working for the U.S. government, allows 500 more Iraqi and Afghan allies to find refuge in the United States, and offers them an opportunity to become permanent U.S. residents; and
• Wounded Warrior Assistance Act included a number of key improvements to veterans' care and benefits. The bill created new "Centers of Excellence" to research, prevent and treat Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Earlier this year, the National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS), an organization representing nearly 45,000 current and former Army and Air National Guard officers, awarded Abercrombie the “Charles Dick Medal of Merit.” The award recognizes his “exceptional support and dedication to the National Guard over an extended period of time” on a range of issues, including the health and education of retired Guard members.

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