Suicide tops vets’ group list of issues for midterm elections

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America released a voters guide Monday to help veterans “ask the right questions” of candidates in the upcoming midterm elections.

The guide includes six key issues for veterans to consider as they vote, as well as specific questions voters can ask candidates at appearances or town halls leading up to the elections. The top issue is preventing veteran suicide, but also includes questions on ending the Veterans Affairs’ disability-claims backlog, providing more resources for female veterans, increasing awareness of burn pit-related sicknesses, protecting the G.I. Bill and eliminating unemployment among veterans.

“Vote to send the message that you expect more than yellow ribbons and campaign speeches,” the guide says. “You expect real commitment and real results.”

While some questions deal with a specific piece of legislation — whether or not a candidate supports the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act, others are more ambiguous, like supporting legislation to address shortcomings in VA health care for female vets.

Alex Nicholson, legislative director at IAVA, said a candidate’s view on those more ambiguous issues can’t be summed up by support for one specific piece of legislation.

Many of the issues, especially exposure to burn pits, could become a larger issue in the coming years, and addressing them now gives lawmakers a change to legislative proactively, instead of passing bills to deal with crisis after crisis, Mr. Nicholson said.

He also said the campaign trail is a perfect time to nail down a candidate’s position on an issue, since it’s a time when he or she is unlikely to advocate cutting benefits for veterans.

“This is the time when people can least afford to be taking money out of people’s pockets,” he said.

The guide does not endorse specific candidates or even a particular party. Rather, it gives voters the tools to see where candidates stand on important issues and make their own decisions, Mr. Nicholson said.

The checklist will be available on IAVA’s website and will also be emailed to IAVA’s more than 300,000 members. It will also be available as a hard copy at IAVA events around the country.