Taking Care of Our Veterans: A Promise We Can't Break

Every man and woman who puts on the uniform makes a deal with this country: I'll risk my life for yours. In return, we promise to take care of them when they come home. That's not a political talking point — it's a sacred obligation. And we're failing at it.

The Problem Is Real — And It's Personal to Nevada

Nevada is home to more than 200,000 veterans. Many of them live in the rural and remote communities of District 4 — places like Hawthorne, Pahrump, Tonopah, Beatty, and Yerington. These are communities where the nearest VA facility can be hours away. Where a veteran needing mental health support might have to drive across a county — or two — just to see someone.

That's not acceptable. A veteran in Hawthorne deserves the same quality of care as a veteran in Las Vegas or Washington, D.C. Geography should not determine whether someone who served this country gets the help they need.

Fix the VA — Don't Just Throw Money at It

The VA's budget has grown significantly over the past two decades. And yet, veterans are still waiting months for appointments. Still getting lost in bureaucratic mazes. Still falling through the cracks of a system that was supposed to catch them.

More money isn't the answer when the system itself is broken. Here's what I'll fight for:

• Cut the wait times: No veteran should wait months to see a doctor. Expand community care options so veterans can see local providers when the VA can't deliver timely care.
• Accountability for VA leadership: When VA facilities fail veterans, someone needs to answer for it. I support making it easier to remove underperforming VA employees and leadership who aren't getting the job done.
• Simplify the system: The VA claims process is a nightmare of paperwork, delays, and denials. Veterans shouldn't need a lawyer to access benefits they earned with their service. Streamline it.
• Telehealth expansion: For veterans in rural Nevada, telehealth can be a lifeline. Expand virtual care options for mental health, primary care, and follow-up appointments so distance isn't a barrier to treatment.

Mental Health: The Invisible Wound

Every day, roughly 17 veterans take their own lives. Seventeen. That number should haunt every member of Congress who votes on veterans' policy.

PTSD, traumatic brain injuries, depression, substance abuse — these are the invisible wounds of war. And for too many veterans, especially in rural areas, help is either unavailable or stigmatized to the point where they won't seek it.

We need to:

• Fund community-based mental health programs: Not every veteran wants to walk into a VA clinic. Meet them where they are — through local organizations, peer support networks, and community mental health centers.
• Expand the Veterans Crisis Line: Make sure every call gets answered quickly, and that follow-up care is available — not just a phone number and a prayer.
• End the stigma: Military culture often discourages asking for help. We need to change that narrative. Seeking help is strength, not weakness.

Housing and Homelessness

On any given night, tens of thousands of veterans across America are homeless. In Nevada, the problem is compounded by rising housing costs and a lack of transitional housing options, especially outside of Las Vegas.

No one who wore the uniform should sleep on the street. I support:

• Expanding transitional housing: More programs that help veterans move from homelessness to stable housing — with wraparound services like job training, mental health support, and substance abuse treatment.
• Partnering with local organizations: The federal government doesn't have to do everything itself. Empower local nonprofits and community organizations that are already doing this work on the ground.
• Preventing homelessness before it starts: Early intervention — catching veterans who are at risk before they lose their housing — is cheaper and more effective than picking up the pieces after.

Jobs and the Transition Home

The transition from military to civilian life is one of the hardest things a veteran will ever do. You go from a structured environment where your purpose is clear to a world where you have to figure it all out on your own — often with skills that don't translate neatly to a civilian resume.

We can do better:

• Skills translation: Military training produces some of the most disciplined, capable people in the world. Help employers understand that, and help veterans translate their experience into civilian credentials.
• Support veteran-owned businesses: Veterans are natural entrepreneurs — they're trained to lead, adapt, and solve problems. Cut the red tape that makes it hard for them to start businesses.
• Apprenticeship and trade programs: Not every veteran wants a desk job. Expand apprenticeship programs in trades like construction, welding, electrical work, and mechanics — industries that are booming in Nevada.

Hawthorne: A Community Built on Service

Hawthorne, Nevada — right here in District 4 — is home to the Hawthorne Army Depot, one of the largest ammunition storage facilities in the world. This community has a deep, proud connection to our military. The people of Hawthorne understand service. They understand sacrifice.

And they deserve a representative who understands it too. Not someone who talks about veterans during campaign season and forgets about them the rest of the year. Someone who shows up. Someone who fights for them every single day they're in office.

The Bottom Line

Our veterans didn't ask for a handout. They asked for a fair deal. They held up their end. It's time we held up ours.