Dozens of veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan will lobby on Capitol Hill this week.

Jessica Forres reports...



At Garrett's in Georgetown, local veterans are socializing. They're part of the 4th annual "Storm the Hill" campaign organized by the group...Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.

Patrick Campbell says 120 meetings with Senators and Congressmen will take place over the next four days...

WE'RE JUST GOING TO GO TELL OUR STORY AND THAT STORY IS GOING TO BE THE STORY OF 1.8 MILLION VETERANS FROM IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN.

He says the group's priority is the budget for the Department of Veterans Affairs....

THE VA IS CONSTANTLY GETTING THEIR BUDGET LATE. YOU CAN'T PAY RENT IF YOU DON'T GET YOUR PAYCHECK, THEY CAN'T PAY STAFF OR THE APPROPRIATE PEOPLE TO RUN THE VA. SO WE ARE GOING TO GET THAT BUDGET APPROVED A YEAR IN ADVANCE SO EVERYONE WILL BE ABLE TO GET THE QUALITY CARE THEY NEED.

Washingtonian Sam Corum served two tours in Iraq......

I WANT BETTER BENIFTS FOR VETERANS, ALL VETERANS, BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT WE GO THROUGH AND THE SACRIFICES WE MAKE.

Mandatory counseling for returning veterans is another of the group's concerns.

Jessica Forres WAMU 885 News