This Veterans Day Democrats running for president are highlighting their healthcare ideas for those who served. Senator Bernie Sanders has a new campaign ad out today (watch above) saying, “If a country is worth anything, it is how we treat those people who put their lives on the line to defend us.” The ad touts his work to reform the Department of Veteran’s Affairs. Sanders remarked, “5 years ago, John McCain and I expanded health benefits for veterans. When I am president, we will keep our promise to our veterans.”
Pete Buttigieg, a veteran himself, also rolled out a plan today to help those who served. The plan “ensures all veterans and their family members have access to affordable healthcare,” that the VA is adequately staffed, guaranteed access to mental health care, suicide prevention, and a way to combat homelessness. NBC quotes the South Bend mayor as saying:
“It’s clear we have to do better if we want to see more people getting access to the care that they need… We have a system of veteran service officers in counties whose job is it to help people navigate and to advocate for people and really fight for them as they are battling bureaucracy. And those folks do really good work, but it shouldn’t be so hard.”
This Veterans Day, we pause to honor the courage and sacrifice of all those who've stepped up to serve. Let us also reflect on the promises our country must make to them in return. Fellow veterans, I am proud to stand with you: https://t.co/WAR4khZphL pic.twitter.com/xvHqHww4Rk
— Pete Buttigieg (@PeteButtigieg) November 11, 2019
Senator Kamala Harris released her plan earlier this year for veterans saying:
By the end of Kamala’s first term, the VA will expand access to health care and housing assistance available to veterans with “other-than-honorable” discharges.
Kamala will end the bureaucratic games we make our veterans who are seeking VA services endure and will instead establish a presumption of eligibility for these veterans who seek VA healthcare and housing.
We owe our veterans and their families our endless gratitude for their service and sacrifice. This #VeteransDay, let’s honor them by ensuring every veteran has access to housing, physical and mental health care, and are supported as they return home.
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) November 11, 2019
And Senator Elizabeth Warren laid out her plan pointing out:
Less than 1% of the U.S. population currently serves in uniform. And while Americans rightly honor their service on November 11, too often the day-to-day sacrifices of military families go unseen and unremarked. Parades and salutes to the troops are important ways that Americans express their gratitude, but they’re only platitudes if they’re not backed up with meaningful action and policies that support our military both during and after service – not just on Veterans Day, but every day.
On #VeteransDay, we honor our veterans and thank them for their service. But we have to back our platitudes with meaningful action and policies that support our military both during and after service—not just today, but every day. https://t.co/unAWettx2K
— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) November 11, 2019
And here are some of the other messages candidates released.
On this #VeteransDay, I want to say thank you to all those who have served and continue to serve our country—who have shown through unimaginable sacrifice what it is to love and fight for your country. pic.twitter.com/71YgBpepP0
— Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) November 11, 2019
Spending this #VeteransDay honoring all who served our country — like my dad (US Army, 1950-52). Today, we’re reminded of the exceptional commitment & extraordinary service that our democracy demands, and of all the brave men and women who have stepped forward to protect it. pic.twitter.com/oasVjCkhgG
— Amy Klobuchar (@amyklobuchar) November 11, 2019
On this day and every day, let us all pledge — as Americans, as patriots, as those who love our country — to honor our men and women in uniform by making sure that no veteran is left behind, that they’re always taken care of. #VeteransDay #TULSI2020 pic.twitter.com/05C2mG5Wd6
— Tulsi Gabbard (@TulsiGabbard) November 11, 2019
We owe our Veterans more than we can ever repay. https://t.co/14pRjwA0pT Lets celebrate this Veterans Day by doing more for them. ????
— Andrew Yang? (@AndrewYang) November 11, 2019