As your candidate for the North Carolina House of Representatives, District 94, I am committed to working for the betterment of our community in every possible way. Today, I want to talk to you about an issue near and dear to my heart—the support of our Veteran community.
Our veterans have sacrificed so much for each of us, effectively signing a blank check in defense of our Nation. In return for their service and sacrifice, at the minimum, we must ensure our Veterans and their families receive the respect, care, and support they deserve. In this newsletter, I highlight some key initiatives I plan to address should I be elected to the House of Representatives and how these initiatives will better serve our beloved Veterans.
Expanding Access to Quality Healthcare:
Healthcare and the speed at which it is administered is crucial for our Veteran community. Injuries, both mental and physical that our Veterans have acquired through years of faithful service should not be placed on the backburner by our system. Our Veteran populations should be the priority. I am not alone in my convictions. Many leaders at the both the State and Federal level know that there are flaws with the current system, and that there is room for us to improve the quality of care veterans receive. With the right leaders in Raleigh, it will.
Job Opportunities and Education:
My friends, there's no simpler way to put it: transitioning from military service to civilian life is not easy. Our Veterans spend their military careers being taught very specific skills, mastering those skills to defend our Nation. Sadly, for many Veterans, those skills honed over a career in the military go unseen in the civilian workforce. Craftsmen, engineers, computer technicians, future leaders…all get lost in the crowd. This cannot be allowed to continue. Our Veterans must have the opportunity for a smooth transition into civilian life, where their skills and talents are acknowledged and turned into gainful employment. I will work on policies promoting job training programs and expand upon our Veterans' already established educational opportunities.
Veteran Homelessness:
Homelessness amongst our Veteran populations is at an all-time high. Studies show that 1 out of every 10 individuals considered homeless is a Veteran. That means that of the 630,000 homeless in America, almost 70,000 of those are from Veteran populations. This is an absolute travesty and is an issue that has gone unaddressed by our state leaders for too long. I will support initiatives that provide housing and support for homeless Veterans so they can rebuild their lives with dignity. Sadly, the current priorities of our state and federal leaders are to invest more taxpayer dollars into a person who crosses our border illegally than the Men and Women who defend it! I will do everything in my power to make the term "homeless veteran" an oxymoron.
Mental Health Support:
Due to the nature of war and the difficult circumstances that often coincide with military service, Veterans often face unique mental health challenges. The battle within facing our Veterans is often waged silently and goes unnoticed, often until it's too late. As your leader in Raleigh, I will push for increased funding and support for Veteran-focused mental health services, ensuring that no man or woman who defended our Nation is left without the care they need. Veterans are committing suicide at an alarming rate because they cannot get the help they need in the time they need it. We need to offer quality rehabilitation programs for our addicted or struggling Veteran populations who turned to quick relief mechanisms like drugs and alcohol to try to cope when they thought the world had abandoned them. North Carolina needs to be at the top of the list when it comes to serving our Veterans.
Recognizing Veterans' Contributions:
There are many challenges facing our men and women in uniform, but it is equally important to recognize and celebrate the many contributions of our Veterans. Our military heroes deserve to know that their hard work and efforts do not go unnoticed. I will work to promote local events and programs that acknowledge the service and sacrifice of the bravest people District 94 has ever known.
I invite you to join me in this vital mission to support our Veterans. They have given so much to our country, and it's our turn to give back. If you have any suggestions or concerns or would like to get involved in supporting our Veterans, please reach out to me.
Together, we can make North Carolina a place where our Veterans receive the respect and care they have earned through their service to our great nation.
Thank you for your time, and I look forward to working with you to make a positive difference for our Veterans.
Lastly, if you are a Veteran and are reading this message, just as I tell my son, who is currently serving active duty in the United States Army, you are loved. You are appreciated, and I couldn't be more thankful for all you have done for our Nation.
"The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation." – George Washington