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Concerned Veterans for America

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{{#badges:Koch Exposed|front groups}}'''Concerned Veterans for America''' (CVA) says it is a group of "veterans from every branch of uniformed services and every conflict from World War II to the Global War on Terrors" whose "mission is to advocate for policies that will preserve the freedom and prosperity."<ref name=cva>CVA [https://cv4a.org/our-mission/ our missions] organizational website, accessed April 24, 2019</ref> CVA is "one of the most muscular arms of the conservative Koch network."<ref name=wapo2018>Michelle Ye Hee Lee Lisa Rein and David Weigel [501(c)(4)https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/how-a-koch-backed-veterans-group-gained-influence-in-trumps-washington/2018/04/07/398b67c4-3784-11e8-9c0a-85d477d9a226_story.html?utm_term=.5b7d3d27ccd6 How a Koch-backed veterans group gained influence in Trump’s Washington]''Washington Post'' April 7, 2018</ref> CVA is "the Kochs' veterans astroturf organization"<ref name=cvaaction>David Armiak [https://www.prwatch.org/news/2018/11/13415/team-koch-steps-game-veterans-astroturf-operation-2018-midterms Team Koch Steps Up Game with Veterans Astroturf Operation in 2018 Midterms] non-profit whose major funders through the years have been ''Prwatch'' Nov. 2, 2018</ref> It lists the same office address as [[Koch brothersAmericans for Prosperity]]<ref>AFP [https://americansforprosperity.org/contact-us/ contact] organizational website, accessed April 24, 2019</ref> and their donor network; as such Sourcewatch[[The Libre Initiative]] on its website.<ref>Libre Initiative [https://thelibreinstitute.org considers CVA to be a Koch Brothers front group./about-libre-institute/ about] organizational website, accessed April 24, 2019</ref><ref name=cva/><ref name="koch players">Matea Gold, "[http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/the-players-in-the-koch-backed-400-million-political-donor-network/2014/01/05/714451a8-74b5-11e3-8b3f-b1666705ca3b_story.html The players in the Koch-backed $400 million political donor network]," ''Washington Post'', January 5, 2014. Accessed June 18, 2014.</ref> The Koch donors network appears to use CVA warns against straying from "free markets" and is "working to advocate for reductions in federal spending, return to attack the 2010 Affordable Care Act and to advance other tradition of limited, effective government."free market" policies.<ref name=cva/>
An investigation by ''ProPublica'' found that Concerned Veterans for America submits its IRS filings under As of April 2019, CVA states "reforming and fixing the VA" is a "top priority" of the name Vets for Economic Freedom Trustorganizations. Those documents list former [[Koch Industries]] managing director [[Wayne Gable]] CVA's "solution" is to "give veterans a choice" which is often read as a trusteeprivatization. Many fear this "would be costly and siphon resources from the VA system."<ref name=wapo2018/> Additionally, CVA states "TOHEthat our growing national debt is the greatest long-term national security threat facing our country,">Kim Barker and Theodoric Meyer, that Social Security and Medicare are "unsustainable."<ref>CVA [httphttps://www.propublicacv4a.org/articleissue-priorities/who-controls-koch-political-network-asmi-slah-tohe Who Controls the Kochs’ Political Network? ASMI, SLAH and TOHEIssue Priorities]organizational website," ''ProPublica'', March 17, 2014. Accessed June 18accessed April 24, 2014.2019</ref>
Many Koch funding vehicles are set up as nonprofit trusts rather than not-Concerned Veterans for-profit corporations, "an unusual step that reduces their public reporting requirements," says ProPublica.“My guess is that we’re looking at various forms of disguise — America used to disguise control, to disguise submit its IRS filings under the flow of funds from one entity to another,” said Gregory Colvin, a tax lawyer and campaign-finance specialist in San Francisco who reviewed all the documents name Vets for ProPublicaEconomic Freedom Trust.”<ref name="TOHE">Kim Barker and Theodoric Meyer, "[http://www.propublica.org/article/who-controls-koch-political-network-asmi-slah-tohe Who Controls the Kochs’ Political Network? ASMI, SLAH and TOHE]," ''ProPublica'', March 17, 2014. Accessed June 18, 2014.</ref> When it was founded in 2011 with the help of $2 million from Koch network donors."<ref name=wapo2018/> In the beginning, CVA tried to create the image of itself as "a full-service veterans advocacy group." But, it broke from that mold to support Koch-back policies outside of the typical realm of veterans affairs.<ref name=wapo2018/> Between 2011 and 2016 CVA spent over $52 million on campaigns and policy work. It "was funded almost entirely by [[TC4]]" -- a now-defunct Koch-connect "shadow money mailboxes”<ref>Robert Maguire and Viveca Novak [https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2013/09/exclusive-largest-dark-money-donor-groups-hide-ties-using-new-trick/ Exclusive: Largest Dark Money Donor Groups Share Funds, Hide Links] Open Secrets, Sept. 10, 2014</ref> -- in 2012.<ref name="koch players"/> The [[Freedom Partners]] provided $44,580,000 in funding from 2012-2016.  In September of 2016, the Kochs reorganized their political network to make CVA, their Latino front group [[Libre Initiative]], and their youth front group [[Generation Opportunity]] sub-projects of [[American for Prosperity]] (AFP).<ref>David Armiak, [https://www.exposedbycmd.org/2018/11/26/koch-brothers-freedom-partners-group-spends-115-2-million-2017/ "The Koch Brothers' Freedom Partners Group Spends $115.2 Million in 2017"], ''ExposedbyCMD'', November 26, 2018.</ref> CVA Action, its sister organization, is now registered with the Virginia Corporation Commission as a "fictitious name" for [[Americans for Prosperity Action]].<ref name=gibson>Connor Gibson, [https://www.exposedbycmd.org/2022/08/30/charles-kochs-shape-shifting-influence-machine/ "Charles Koch's Shape-Shifting Influence Machine"], ''ExposedbyCMD'', August 30, 2022.</ref>  __TOC__ ==News and Controversies=====Launching of New Website That Aims to Privatize Health Care for Veterans===In June 2023, Concerned Veterans for America launched its [https://vamissionact.com/ VA Mission Act website] in which they "provide resources once found on a VA website designed to educate veterans about their health benefits under the Mission Act, legislation passed in 2018 that made it easier for veterans to get care at non-VA facilities."<br>The websites creation serves as a response to the removal of these resources with Darin Selnick, a senior adviser to CVA, starting "It seems to be part of the programmatic efforts to not let veterans be educated about their options," <ref> Patricia Kime, [https://www.military.com/daily-news/2023/06/07/conservative-group-launches-website-help-vets-find-health-care-outside-of-va.html Conservative Group Launches Website to Help Vets Find Health Care Outside of VA], Military.com, June 7th, 2023 </ref>Another key reason CVA launched this website was to promote private healthcare facilities to help make it more costly for VA facilities to operate. With this shift towards privatized health care for veterans, those involved in these lobbying efforts stand to make millions of dollars while the quality of veteran healthcare in America declines. ===7 Figure Policy Campaign to Try and Stop American Global Involvement===CVA, in January of 2023, launched a seven-figure campaign to "inform the public about U.S. involvement overseas and question the burden-sharing in alliance commitments in Europe and elsewhere." The campaign includes digital, grassroots, and classroom-style programming to "foster a broader discussion about the nature of U.S. defense agreements toward advancing U.S. interests."<br>John Byrnes, a senior adviser at the Concerned Veterans for America Foundation, stated, "Given the shifting nature of international challenges over the last few years, it’s really important that Americans understand with whom we have alliances, why we have alliances right now with those countries, and how we can improve those alliances for Americans’ benefit, as well as those countries' benefit,”<ref> Katherine Doyle, [https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/white-house/concerned-veterans-alliance-campaign Koch-aligned group launches seven-figure grassroots foreign policy campaign], Washington Examiner, January 17th, 2023 </ref> ===Supporting Afghanistan Troop Withdrawal===In the wake of President Biden's withdrawal from Afghanistan, CVA came out to publically support the move "I think he made the right decision to withdraw," Dan Caldwell, a senior advisor to CVA. This surprises many sense that the " Koch political network was one of the foremost antagonists of the Obama administration in which Biden served as vice president."<br> In response to some Republicans who openly criticized Bidens move, Caldwell also stated, "It's incredibly disappointing to see people using the chaos in Afghanistan to score political points against their opponents, primarily against Joe Biden who, in many ways, just was following through on the plan set in motion by President Trump."<ref> Lachlan Markay, [https://www.axios.com/2021/08/17/koch-concerned-veterans-biden-afghanistan-withdrawal Kochworld comes to Biden's defense on Afghanistan], Axios, August 17th, 2021 </ref> ==CVA Action== Concerned Veterans for America Action (CVA Action) is a project of the Americans for Prosperity Action (AFP Action) super-PAC. Its logo and name are trademarked by AFP Action.<ref>CVA Action [https://concernedvetsaction.com/ home] organizational site, accessed April 25, 2019</ref> In 2018, CVA action was a part of "Team Koch" increasing its game via a "Veterans Astroturf Operation in 2018." CVA Action supported Republicans and opposed Democrats in the midterm.<ref name=cvaaction/>
The group's current President PAC serves as the action arm of CVA and Chief Operating Officer, [[Jae Pak]], has been with CVA since July 2014.<ref name="staffdescribes its work as being "/> After his career in committed to electing champions for positive policies that promote the militarywellbeing, Pak held various operations roles withe [[Capital One Financial Corporation]]prosperity, the College Boardand self-sufficiency of not only veterans, but also their families and International Baccalaureatetheir communities. But it doesn’t stop there. <ref name="staffVeterans across the country have fought to preserve America’s prosperity"/>
The former CEO, [[Pete Hagseth]], was CVA Action describes its founding goals as "to build the former executive director of the pro-Iraq War [[Vets for Freedom]]<ref name="staff">Concerned Veterans for America, [http://concernedveteransforamericabroad coalitions in Washington needed to make them a reality.org/staff/ Staff], organizational website, accessed February 9, 2016.</ref> and as Our vision is to build movements of June 2014 was finance chair millions around policies that lead to a society of mutual benefit – where people succeed by helping others improve their lives – and to break the Republican Party of Minnesotainternal and external barriers that prevent people from realizing their potential."<ref name="new finance chair">Cyndy BrucatoCVA Action About, "[httphttps://www.minnpostconcernedvetsaction.com/party-politics/2014/06/new-gop-finance-chair-pete-hegseth-comes-out-swinging-va-management New GOP finance chair Pete Hegseth comes out swinging on VA management]," ''Minnesota Post'', June 4CVA Action, 2014. Accessed June 2420th, 2014.2023 </ref> Hegseth appears to have attended at least one [[Koch network]] summit meeting.
In 2018:
* CVA Action launched an ad campaign against U.S. Senator Jon Tester (MT-D). Republican challenger Matt Rosendale ultimately lost to Tester.<ref name=cvaaction/>
* CVA Action also announced a "six-figure" direct ad mail campaign to support U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis (R) in his campaign for governor of Florida. DeSantis, who supported CVA's efforts to begin privatizing the VA while in Congress, won the race against Democrat Andrew Gillum.<ref name=cvaaction/>
* CVA Action paid for a direct mailer campaign for Rep. Ted Budd (R-NC) and Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA).<ref name=cvaaction/>
{{Template:KochConnection}}By 2022, [[File:W-kochnetworkAmericans for Prosperity Action]] (AFP Action) was acting as the super PAC for CVA.jpg|thumb|alt=The $400 million Koch networkCVA Action is now listed on the FEC as an "alternative business name" of AFP Action.|The $400 million Koch network uses a maze of nonprofit groups and LLCs to conceal donations and campaign activity<brref name=gibson/>''Source: Robert Maguire with the Center for Responsive Politics. Matea Gold and Cristina Rivero/The Washington Post.'']]
==2015-2016 Election Cycle==
{{#ev:youtube|DoIXLUeHiO8|250|left|Tell Congress: Don't Stand With Hillary, Support VA Reform!|frame}}According to ''Politico'''s Austin Wright, CVA is was preparing for the 2016 elections by "pushing for a more muscular U.S. foreign policy and is [was] seeking to give veterans the option of government-subsidized private health care — a priority that aligns with the Koch agenda."<ref name="Elections 2016">Austin Wright, "[http://www.politico.com/story/2015/06/partisan-veterans-koch-steyer-2016-elections-119396 Well-funded vets groups prepare for 2016 battle]," ''Politico'', June 25, 2015.</ref>  ===CVA Referenced in Democratic Debate===
During the February 4, ===CVA Releases TV Ad Backing Rep. Joe Heck for Senate in Nevada===In its first political TV ad of 2016 debate in New Hampshire, both Democratic presidential hopefuls, Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton, critiqued CVA in reference went after the seat of the soon-to their views on VA reform-be retired Senate Majority Leader [[Harry Reid]].<ref name="military timesncny">Leo Shane IIINick Corasaniti, "[http://www.militarytimesnytimes.com/storypolitics/military/electionfirst-draft/2016/0203/0501/cvakoch-linked-group-releases-ad-backing-g-o-p-candidate-for-democraticharry-debatereids-backlashseat/79883034/ CVA officials push back after attacks from Clinton, Sanders?partner=IFTTT&_r=2 Koch-Linked Group Releases Ad Backing G.O.P. Candidate for Harry Reid’s Seat]," ''Military New York Times'', February 5March 1, 2016.</ref> Former Secretary The TV spot features military veterans speaking in support of StateRep. Joe Heck (R-NV), Hillary Clinton referred to the group during the debate, claiming their mission who is “to convince Americans we should no longer have guaranteed health care, specialized care challenging Catherine Cortez Masto for our veteransthe opening.”<ref name="military timesncny"/> Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders directly, stating “Concerned Veterans of America, funded by the Koch brothers … who want According to destroy Social Security''The New York Times'', Medicare, MedicaidCVA had made a "$700, every governmental program passed since the 1930s” 000 broadcast and added “Yes, there are people out there who want to privatize VAdigital buy.”"<ref name="military timesncny"/>
Following the debateKoch Industries has been one of Rep. Heck's top contributors throughout his career, CVA leaders responded to the statements made by the candidates<ref>Center for Responsive Politics, dismissing the idea that they aspire to privatize the VA saying[http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/contrib.php?cycle=Career&cid=N00031244&type=I Joe Heck Top Contributors], “While Senator Sanders and Secretary Clinton are engaging in false and petty political attacks, CVA is offering serious, bipartisan''Open Secrets'', 2016.</ref> and Heck voted with Koch-held positions nearly 90 percent of the time in-depth policy proposals 2015 according to reform and fix a "scorecard" compiled by the VAKochs' [[Americans for Prosperity]].”<ref name=>Americans for Prosperity, "military times[https://www.prwatch.org/files/joeheckafp_scorecard.pdf Scorecard: Joe Heck],"organization website, accessed March 2016. Archived by the Center for Media and Democracy.</ref> In 2014, Americans for Prosperity also ran a $200,000 advertisement in support of Heck.<ref> The Democratic National Committee then supported Clinton and Sanders on February 5Zachary Peters, "[https://www.prwatch.org/news/2016, by adding “Vets shouldn’t be fooled by a right/03/13056/koch-concerned-wing front group whose main objective is not helping veterans-america-joe-heck Koch-Funded Concerned Veterans for America Goes to Bat for Joe Heck, but electing Republicans like Marco Rubio" Center for Media and Democracy, ''PR Watch'', Jeb BushMarch 3, and others who support privatizing the VA2016.”</ref name="military times"/>
===CEO Pete Hagseth Resigns===
On January 20, 2016 the ''Military Times'' reported CVA's CEO since July 2012, Pete Hagseth, "quietly resigned'' " in the weeks leading up to first primaries in the 2016 election cycle.<ref name="military">Leo Shane III, "[http://www.militarytimes.com/story/veterans/2016/01/20/cva-hegseth-leadership-changes/79055814/ Conservative-backed veterans group restructures after leader quits]," ''Military Times'', January 20, 2016.</ref> Other CVA officials, as well as Hagseth, say the split was a mutual decision and Jae Pak, the current COOthen CVA's Chief Operating Officer, will would take over the role of president.<ref name="military"/>
===Web Ad Aimed at Hillary Clinton on Department of Veterans Affairs===
 
On November 6, 2015, a 30-second internet ad funded by CVA attacked Hillary Clinton for comments she made about the current state of the Department of Veterans Affairs. In the first Koch-backed attempt to target Clinton's 2016 run for presidency, the CVA spent upwards of $100,000 on the commercial to promote VA reform, which was shown on the internet to users in Florida and South Carolina.<ref name="AP CVA">Julie Bykowicz, "[http://bigstory.ap.org/article/dbc5f408d4ef4cebba7f7e788aaf1bff/clinton-targeted-ad-group-tied-koch-brothers Clinton targeted in ad from group tied to Koch brothers]," ''Associated Press'', November 6, 2015.</ref> The ad uses quotes about poor conditions in VA hospitals, from various media outlets, to contradict Clinton's comments that "it's not been widespread as it has been made out to be." In the end, the ad asserts "our veterans deserve better" and pleads for viewers to support the "VA Accountability Act."<ref>Concerned Veterans for America, [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoIXLUeHiO8 Don't Stand With Hillary, Support VA Reform!], YouTube video. Nov 6, 2015.</ref>
===Web Ad Targets Alan Grayson (D-FL) on Healthcare===
{{#ev:youtube|aV23c-FHkXQ|250|left|Government Health Care Equals Disaster|frame}}
On December 16, 2013, CVA released an ad titled "Government Health Care Equals Disaster" to run online for two weeks in Florida's 9th district, represented by Democratic Rep. Alan Grayson.<ref>Concerned Veterans for America, "[http://concernedveteransforamerica.org/2013/12/16/media-advisory-disaster-veteran-care-failures-obamacare-link/ New Online Ad Targets Florida’s Ninth Congressional District]," organization press release, December 16, 2013. Accessed June 24, 2014.</ref> Conflating the VA healthcare system with the [[PPACA|Affordable Care Act]] (sometimes colloquially called "Obamacare"), the ad highlights long wait times at VA hospitals, then shows a Vietnam veteran saying "Don't expect to be taken care of by Obamacare." The ad ends with the statement: "Tell Congressman Grayson to listen to our vets, government healthcare doesn't work."<ref>Concerned Veterans for America, [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aV23c-FHkXQ Government Health Care Equals Disaster], YouTube video. Accessed June 24, 2014.</ref>
An investigation into CVA by ''ProPublica'' revealed that one of CVA's trustees is [[Wayne Gable]],<ref name="TOHE"/> a former managing director of federal affairs at [[Koch Industries]], president of the [[Charles G. Koch Foundation]], and a board member of [[Freedom Partners]]. Gable has also been involved with the Koch network groups [[Citizens for a Sound Economy]] and [[Americans for Prosperity]].
{{Template:KochConnection}}
[[File:W-kochnetwork.jpg|thumb|alt=The $400 million Koch network.|The $400 million Koch network uses a maze of nonprofit groups and LLCs to conceal donations and campaign activity<br>
''Source: Robert Maguire with the Center for Responsive Politics. Matea Gold and Cristina Rivero/The Washington Post.'']]
 
==Ties to the Trump Administration==
 
===CVA Has a 'Seat at the Table'===
In a post on its website, CVA touted that it has a "seat at the table with the Trump administration."<ref>Katy Abram, [https://cv4a.org/icymi-cva-has-a-seat-at-the-table-with-the-trump-administration/ ICYMI: CVA HAS A SEAT AT THE TABLE WITH THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION], ''Concerned Veterans for America", April 10, 2018.</ref> In particular, CVA reports that Trump is receptive to CVA's push to privatize the Veterans health care, "The Trump administration has been open to the idea of 'VA Choice,' allowing veterans to access private care in their communities."
===Former CVA Employees in Trump Administration===
As of April 2019:<ref>Propublica, [https://projects.propublica.org/trump-town/organizations/concerned-veterans-for-america Concerned Veterans for America], ''Trump Town'', April 2018.</ref>
*Darin Selnick (former Senior Advisor), Veterans Affairs
*William Joseph Turenne (former Director), Department of Energy
*James B. Wilkinson Jr. (former Regional Director), Department of Transportation
*Richard A. Youngblood (former Ohio State Director), Department of Housing and Urban Development
==Activities==
*"Military Voting Reform" through the Safeguarding Elections for our Nation’s Troops through Reforms and Improvements (SENTRI) Act of 2013 (S. 1728/H.R. 3576)
==Funding from Secretive Trusts==
As a [[501(c)(4)]] nonprofit, CVA is not required to disclose its donors. However, CVA appears to have received the vast majority of its revenues from [[Koch network]] funding vehicles, structured to keep donors secret and the public in the dark.
“My guess is that we’re looking at various forms of disguise — to disguise control, to disguise the flow of funds from one entity to another,” said Gregory Colvin, a tax lawyer and campaign-finance specialist in San Francisco who reviewed all the documents for ProPublica.”<ref name="TOHE">Kim Barker and Theodoric Meyer, "[http://www.propublica.org/article/who-controls-koch-political-network-asmi-slah-tohe Who Controls the Kochs’ Political Network? ASMI, SLAH and TOHE]," ''ProPublica'', March 17, 2014. Accessed June 18, 2014.</ref>
From mid-2011 The majority of CVA's budget appears to mid-be funded by the Kochs' [[Freedom Partners]]. Here are CVA's known funders:*[[American Encore]]: [https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/American_Encore $32,062] (2012)*[[Freedom Partners]]: [https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Freedom_Partners#Funding $44,580, the Koch000] (2013-linked 2016)*[[TC4 Trust]] gave : $1,968,000 to CVA, according to research by ''ProPublica''. (2011-2012)<ref>Al Shaw, Theodoric Meyer, and Kim Barker, "[http://projects.propublica.org/graphics/koch How Dark Money Flows Through the Koch Network]," ''ProPublica'', February 14, 2014. Accessed June 18, 2014.</ref> This would appear to be almost *Einhorn Family Foundation Inc: $25,000 (2016)*Garvey Kansas Foundation: $11,000 (2015-2016)*Sarah Ketterer Family Foundation: $77,000 (2016)*Whitecross Foundation, Formerly Bertea Foundation: $50,000 (2015)*Wjo Foundation: $50,000 (2017) ==Core Financials==After restructuring several nonprofits in 2016, Charles Koch's [[Americans for Prosperity]] became the umbrella cooperation that turned Concerned Veterans for America into an extension of AFP's projects. As an extension organization, Concerned Veterans for America receives all of the revenue CVA reported its funding from AFP and no longer needs to the file an IRS for its 2011-2012 fiscal yearfiling.
From November 2012-December 2014, CVA and its related organizations received at least $20,980,000 in funding from [[Freedom Partners]],'''<ref name="freedom partners 2012 990"/big>2016<ref name="freedom partners 2014 990"/big> which ''Politico'' has described as the Koch funding network's "secret bank."<ref name="secret bank2016 990"/> That appears to comprise the vast majority of CVA's reported revenues for the same period.* Total Revenue: $3,522,135* Total Expenses: $3,522,135* Net Assets: $0
{| class="wikitable sortable" border="1"|-! scope="col" | '''Funder'''! scope="col" | '''Amount'''! scope="col" | '''Recipient'<big>2015</big>''! scope="col" | '''Period Reported'''|-| [[TC4 Trust]] || $1,968,000 || TOHE, LLC<ref name="2011 2016 990">TC4 Vets for Economics Freedom Trust, [https://bulkprojects.resourcepropublica.org/irs.govnonprofits/organizations/eo453593119/2013_06_EO201812279349302026/36-7519719_990O_201206.pdf 2011 Form IRS990 2016 IRS 990], organizational IRS Filingtax filing, May 14August 15, 2013. On file with the Center for Media and Democracy2018.</ref> || July 2011-June 2012|-| [[Freedom Partners]] || * Total Revenue: $515,245935,000 || TOHE, LLC (Concerned Vets for America)<ref name="freedom partners 2012 990">Freedom Partners Chamber of Commerce, [http321* Total Expenses://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments%5C/2013/453/732/2013-453732750-0aa49565-9O.pdf 2012 IRS Form 990], FY covering 11/1/2012-10/31/2013.</ref> || Nov. 2012-Oct. 2013|-| [[Freedom Partners]] || $316,000372,000 || TOHE, LLC (Veterans for Economic Freedom Trust)<ref name="freedom partners 2014 990">Freedom Partners Chamber of Commerce, [https550* Net Assets://freedompartners.org/wp$-content/uploads/2015/11/FreedomPartners-2014-990-Form.pdf 2014 IRS Form 990]37, 2014 calendar year.</ref> || 2014 calendar year|-| [[Freedom Partners]] || $12,735,000 || Vets for Economic Freedom Trust (501(c)(3))<ref name="freedom partners 2014 990"/> || 2014 calendar year|-</table>523
'''<big>2014</big>'''<ref name="2014 990">Vets for Economics Freedom Trust, [https://pp-990.s3.amazonaws.com/2016_09_EO/45-3593119_990O_201509.pdf?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Credential=Core FinancialsAKIAI7C6X5GT42DHYZIA%2F20180423%2Fus-east-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20180423T140219Z&X-Amz-Expires=1800&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&X-Amz-Signature=f2f20172e1cdefbcc88e488d6f9881238c8c30a2e6592b7cdc6f79c77cd0abda 2014 IRS 990], organizational tax filing, August 15, 2016.</ref><br>* Total Revenue: $14,174,523* Total Expenses: $13,997,969* Net Assets: $399,706
'''<big>20142013</big>'''<ref name="2014 2013 990">Vets for Economics Freedom Trust, [http://pdfs.citizenaudit.org/2015_09_EO/45-3593119_990O_201409.pdf 2013 IRS 990], organizational tax filing, August 15, 2015.</ref><br>'''For the period October 1, 2013-September 30, 2014'''<br>
* Total Revenue: $15,703,141
* Total Expenses: $16,131,623
* Net Assets: $223,152
'''<big>20132012</big>'''<ref name="2013 2012 990">Vets for Economics Freedom Trust, [http://pdfs.citizenaudit.org/2014_09_EO/45-3593119_990O_201309.pdf 2013 2012 IRS 990], organizational tax filing, August 13, 2014.</ref><br>'''For the period October 12, 2011-September 30, 2012'''<br>
* Total Revenue: $3,796,235
* Total Expenses: $3,926,591
* Net Assets: $651,634
'''<big>20122011</big>'''<ref name="2012 2011 990">Vets for Economics Freedom Trust, [http://www.propublica.org/documents/item/1006621-990-2012-vets-for-economic-freedom-trust.html 2012 2011 IRS 990], organizational tax filing, August 30, 2013. Accessed June 18, 2014.</ref><br>'''For the period October 12, 2011-September 30, 2012'''<br>
* Total Revenue: $1,969,994
* Total Expenses: $1,188,004
==Personnel==
===Organizing CommitteeBoard of Trustees===According to 2016 tax filings, the Vets for Economic Freedom Trust (doing business as Concerned Veterans for America) lists the following people as its trustees:<ref name="2016 990"/>*Randy Lair*Josh Fisher ===Leadership===According to 2016 tax filings, the Vets for Economic Freedom Trust (doing business as Concerned Veterans for America) lists the following people as its "Officers, Directors, Trustees, Key Employees, and Highest Compensated Employees":<ref name="2016 990"/>*Jae Pak, President and COO (no longer employed at CVA as of April 2019)*Mark Lucas, President and Executive Director*Joseph Gecan, Vice President for Strategy (no longer employed at CVA as of April 2019)*Dan Caldwell, Vice President for Political Action*Nathan Anderson, National Field Director*Fred Ford, General Counsel*Kimberley Palmese, Programs Director,*Peter Gaytan, Communications Director*Peter Hegseth, Former CEO ===National Staff===CVA's national staff is listed on their public site as of June 2023<ref name = "staff"> CVA Our Team, [https://cv4a.org/about-cva/], CVA Organisational Website, June 16th, 2023 </ref>:​​*Russ Duerstine, Executive Director*John Byrnes, Deputy Director*Josh Stanwitz, National Grassroots Liaison*Ray Hoskins, Education Director*Darin Selnick, Senior Advisor*Jason Beardsley, Senior Coalitions Advisor*Herb Ford, General Counsel*Tyler Koteskey, Policy Director*Kyle Buckles, Communications Director*Sarah Shriver Smothers, Press Secretary*Lauren Stewart, Senior Legislative Affairs Liaison*Dominic Nordel, Federal Affairs Liaison ===Field Staff=== As of June 2023:<ref name = "staff"/>*Sam Rogers, Strategic Projects Advisor, Wisconsin*Frank Bullock, Strategic Director, South Carolina*Leo Garcia, Strategic Director, Nevada*Ben Rangel, Strategic Director, Texas*Nate Banks, Strategic Director, Colorado*Chris Enget, Strategic Director, Montana*Jose Ramos, Strategic Director, North Carolina*Jimmie T. Smith, Coalitions Director, Florida*Brian Fay, Strategic Director, Florida*David Huston, Grassroots Engagement Director, Florida*William Huff, Grassroots Engagement Director, Florida*Edrys Leyva, Grassroots Engagement Director, Florida*Jessica Villarreal, Grassroots Engagement Director, Texas*Osvaldo Gutierrez, Grassroots Engagement Director, Texas*William Thomas, Grassroots Engagement Director, Texas*Kandace Raymond, Grassroots Engagement Director, Texas*Kit Amidzich, Grassroots Engagement Director, Wisconsin*Gregory Shaw, Grassroots Engagement Director, New Mexico*Michael Pounds, Grassroots Engagement Director, Ohio*Ian Robinson, Grassroots Engagement Director, Ohio*Michael Pichichero, Grassroots Engagement Director, Ohio Former field staff (As of June 2023)*John Byrnes, North Carolina Coalitions Director*Tom Greer, New Mexico Field Director*Jordon Daniel, Colorado Coalitions Director*Josh Stanwitz, Arizona Coalitions Director*Rick Disney, Florida Senior Field Director*Steve Burkhalter, Ohio Field Director*Russ Duerstine, Texas Senior Field Director*Adam Miller, Senior Ohio Field Director*Tim Tyler, Georgia Field Director*Diego A. Echeverri, Florida Field Director
As of December 2015===Former Staff===*Dan Caldwell, Senior Advisor, formerly Executive Director<ref>CVA [https://cv4a.org/member/dan-caldwell/ Dan Caldwell Profile] organization site, accessed April 25, 2019</ref>refname=andersoned>Concerned Veterans for America*Nathan Anderson, Executive Director, formerly Deputy Executive Director<ref>CVA [httphttps://concernedveteransforamericacv4a.org/organizingmember/nathan-committeeanderson/ Organizing CommitteeNathan Anderson Profile]Organizational website, accessed April 25, 2019</ref><ref name=andersoned>CVA [https://cv4a.org/press-release/cva-names-nate-anderson-as-new-executive-director/?utm_source=CVA+Social&utm_medium=TWITTER&linkId=66715528 CVA NAMES NATE ANDERSON AS NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR] press release, April 29, 2019</ref>*Shannon Hough, Special Projects Manager<ref>CVA [https://cv4a.org/member/Shannon-Hough/ Shannon Hough Profile] organizational website, accessed December 9April 25, 2015.2019</ref>*Jae Pak, President and Chief Operating Officer*Joe Gecan, Executive Vice President of Strategy Development*Tal Coley, Director of Legislative Outreach & Research*Cody McGregor, National Outreach Director
*Commander [[Eric Berryman]], US Naval Reserve (ret.)
*Captain [[Frank Brayton Harris]], US Navy (ret.)
*General [[P. X. Kelley]], US Marine Corps (ret.)
*Sergeant Major [["Gene Overstreet]], US Marine Corps (ret.)
*Captain [[Darin Selnick]], US Air Force (ret.), Former Special Assistant to the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs and Director, Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, under President [[George W. Bush]]
*Vice Admiral [[Robert J. Spane]], US Navy (ret.)
*Former Captain [[Wade Zirkle]], US Marine Corps (ret.)
 
===Staff===
 
CVA does not list most of its staff on its website. The following names were listed on tax filings and other CVA documents, as of June 2014:
 
*[[Jae Pak]], CEO and Chief Operations Officer<ref name="staff"/>
*[[Pete Hegseth]], Former CEO of CVA and former executive director for [[Vets for Freedom]].<ref name="staff"/>
*[[Wayne Gable]], Trustee<ref name="2012 990"/>
*[[Joseph Gecan]], Vice President. Former Director of Operations<ref name="2014 990"/>
*[[Langhorne C. Sias]], Director of Operations<ref name="2012 990"/>
*[[Kathryn Pomeroy]], Director of Communications<ref name="2014 990"/>
*[[Kathleen Volandt]], North Carolina State Director<ref>Concerned Veterans for America, "[http://www.concernedveteransforamerica.org/2014/06/09/concerned-veterans-america-names-kathleen-volandt-north-carolina-state-director/ Concerned Veterans for America Names Kathleen Volandt as North Carolina State Director]," organizational press release, June 9, 2014. Accessed June 18, 2014.</ref>
*[[Emily Laird]], media contact.<ref name="summer tour">Concerned Veterans for America, "[http://www.concernedveteransforamerica.org/2014/04/21/concerned-veterans-for-america-and-madison-rising-announce-defend-freedom-summer-tour-2014/ Concerned Veterans for America and Madison Rising Announce Defend Freedom Summer Tour 2014]", organizational press release, April 21, 2014. Accessed June 18, 2014.</ref> Laird appears also to have served as a Media Manager for [[Public Notice]].<ref>LinkedIn, [http://www.linkedin.com/pub/emily-laird/25/510/545 Emily Laird], personal profile, accessed June 17, 2014.</ref>
*Nathan Martin, Regional Director, Virginia, Florida, North Carolina, Ohio & Texas; Army National Guard from 2001-2005
*Jeb Wilkinson, Regional Director, Arizona, Colorado, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania & Nevada; U.S. Navy from 1985-1990, active 1991 Navy reserves
*Jason Quick, Regional Director, New Mexico, Georgia, Iowa, Minnesota, South Carolina & Louisiana; U.S. Army from 2004-2011
*Kurt Lofquist, Virginia State Director; U.S. Marine Corps from 2001-2009
*Flora Schmidt, Iowa State Director
*Daniel Brennan, South Carolina State Director
*Matt Dobson, Arizona State Director; US Army
*Paul Passaro, North Carolina State Director; U.S. Army from 1970-1992, Lieutenant Colonel
*Roger Wilkins, New Hampshire State Director
*Leo Garcia, Nevada State Director; U.S. Air Force from 1986-1994
*Tina Kingston, Louisiana State Director; U.S. Army National Guard from 1983-2012, Lieutenant Colonel
*Frank Crocker, Colorado State Director; U.S. Marine Corps 2011-2015
*Eve Allen, Pennsylvania State Director
*Paul Carlson, Minnesota State Director
 
===Advisory Board===
As of July 2016 (No longer list on website as of April 2018):<ref>Concerned Veterans for America, [http://cv4a.org/advisory-board/ Advisory Board], organizational website, accessed July 6, 2016.</ref>
*Amber Smith, Military Advisor
*Darin Selnick, Executive Director of CVA’s Fixing Veterans Health Care Taskforce and Senior Veterans Affairs Advisor for Concerned Veterans for America
*Karen Vaughn, Senior Military Families Advisor
*Jason Beardsley, Special Operations Advisor for Concerned Veterans for America
*Jason Redman, Military Advisor
==Related Organizations==
==Contact Information==
Address:Concerned Veterans for America<br>1405 S1310 N. Courthouse Rd. Fern St, #197Suite 700<br>Arlington, VA 2220222201<br>Media contactPhone: Emily Laird, (571703) 302224-09733200<br>Email: press@cv4a.org<br>Website: http://cv4a.org<ref namebr>Twitter:https://twitter.com/ConcernedVets<br>Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ConcernedVetsforAmerica ==Resources=====IRS Form 990 Filings===<div style="summer tourcolumn-count:2;-moz-column-count:2;-webkit-column-count:2">'''2015'''{|align=left|{{#widget:Iframe|url=https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/5980900-Concerned-Veterans-for-America-2015-990.html}}|}{{Clear}}'''2014'''{|align=left|{{#widget:Iframe|url=https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/4444570-CVA-2014-990.html}}|}{{Clear}}'''2013'''{|align=left|{{#widget:Iframe|url=https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/4444569-CVA-2013-990.html}}|}{{Clear}}'''2012'''{|align=left|{{#widget:Iframe|url=https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/4444567-CVA-2012-990.html}}|}{{Clear}}'''2011'''{|align=left|{{#widget:Iframe|url=https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/4444566-CVA-2011-990.html}}|}</div>
==References==
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